The average round-trip domestic airfare stood at $391 last year, the highest since the federal government started tracking the data in 1995. Despite the higher fare, the demand for air travel is not decreasing, with an increase in the percentage of U.S. travelers planning to fly this year, according to a TripAdvisor survey.
Data from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics shows the nation’s airline industry enjoyed record profits for the first quarter of this year, due in part to lower fuel costs and high demand. Delta Air Lines reported a first-quarter net income of $746 million, compared with $213 million in 2014, and predicts it will save $2 billion in fuel costs this year. American Airlines reported a record $932 million, compared with $480 million for the same period in 2014, citing a 42 percent decrease in fuel costs.
According to the federal agency, the 2014 average domestic airfare was higher than the average airfare of $389 in 2013. However, when adjusted for inflation, the average airfare is down 16 percent from the high of $467 in 2000.
A new survey from TripAdvisor reveals demand for air travel will continue to remain strong, with 92 percent of the website’s members planning to take a domestic flight this year. The number is up 3 percent from last year, when 89 percent said they flew domestically. Approximately 67 percent of those who plan to travel expect to take an international flight, compared to 60 percent who did so last year.
“This year, we’re seeing more interest in international flights as favorable exchange rates have piqued the interest of U.S. fliers in traveling abroad,” said Bryan Saltzburg, general manager, TripAdvisor Flights.
Have you found airfare to be more expensive recently? Where do you plan to fly internationally this year? Email us. Please include your full name and location with your email.
Read This Next
Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedDaily
Apr 23, 2024Where to Find Some of Ireland’s Best Lighthouses
Surrounded by ocean on all sides, from the rocky Atlantic Ocean to the Irish Sea in the east and Celtic Sea in the south, Ireland’s beautiful coastlines also come with both historic and captivating lighthouses, many atop dramatic rocks and cliffs.
Sponsored Content
Unearth Seoul’s Hidden Gems
Filled with hidden treasures waiting to be discovered, Seoul invites travelers to unearth its many gems, and Seoul Tourism Organization is here to help travelers do just that. Through thoughtfully created initiatives like the Theme Tourism County Competition, Seoul Tourism Organization works closely with local districts to identify and showcase what makes each district unique and charming in all seasons.
Daily
Apr 22, 2024Meet 5 Women Shaping the Brixen/South Tyrol Travel Experience
Although a destination’s terrain, cuisine and cultural attributes always draw travelers in, it is often the people they meet that make the trip an enduring memory rather than a box to be checked off. It’s a job responsibility that people working around the Plose and adjoining town of Brixen (in Italy’s Trentino-Alto Adige region) take seriously. This is even more true for five women dedicated to introducing visitors to new aspects of the time-honored ski, leisure and hiking mountain destination in the Dolomites.
Daily
Apr 22, 2024Explore The Chatwal Brand from City to Countryside
The Chatwal brand offers guests the opportunity to explore the city or countryside with its properties The Chatwal, New York and The Chatwal Lodge. Part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, these two hotels feature spring and summer experiences for all types of travelers.
Sponsored Content
Exclusive Savings: Cruise Along the Danube River with Global Traveler
Exclusive Sailing with Global Traveler
Cruising
Apr 22, 2024Your Guide to Holland America Line’s “Nieuw Amsterdam”’s Signature Restaurants
Aboard Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam, which sails to Canada, the Pacific Coast of the United States, Alaska, Mexico, Panama and the Caribbean, you’ll find no shortage of dining options. But with such a limited amount of time on board, why not head to the best of the best on the ship?
7 Reasons to Put Curaçao on Your Travel List
Slideshow
Apr 22, 2024Turtle Bay Resort Partners with Salesforce
Daily
Apr 19, 2024Daily
Apr 18, 2024Exclusive Golf and Tennis Itineraries from Kensington Tours
Kensington Tours recently announced a limited series of luxury itineraries centered on golf and tennis, including world-famous events like Wimbledon.
Sponsored Content
Fill Your Heart with Ireland
Whether it's the people, the craic (fun) or the coasts, travelers always find something to love about the island of Ireland. What fills your heart?
Bhutan
Apr 17, 2024Mindfulness City in Kingdom of Bhutan Unveiled as Future Economic Hub
In front of an audience of 30,000 Kingdom of Bhutan residents and officials, His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck presented his vision for a new economic hub in Bhutan. Located between India to the south and China to the north, Bhutan is one of the most beautiful destinations in the world. Bhutan came late to global tourism. It opened its borders to international visitors in 1974 and, while tourism definitely increased, residents are enduring “light” rush-hour traffic in Thimphu, its capital city, as the only Asian capital without traffic lights.
ShareThis