Declining Airfare Prices Could Make 2024 the Perfect Year for Travel

The current trend in airfare prices suggests that 2024 might be a good year to book a flight with ticket prices becoming more affordable.

Data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, released on Tuesday, revealed that the average domestic airfare for 2023 was $382. This marks a decrease of 3.1% from the inflation-adjusted average fare of $394 in 2022 and a significant 36.4% decrease from the peak fare of $600 in 2000.

The announcement arrives amid a steady increase in expenses across various industries, despite the persistent urge to go on trips.


According to the Department of Transportation’s press release, passenger demand for U.S. airlines rose significantly in the first quarter of 2023, with 75.4 million originating passengers. This is a 138.8% increase from the 31.6 million passengers reported in the fourth quarter of 2020. In the same period, passenger fares accounted for 74.2% of the total operating revenue of $39.2 billion for U.S. airlines, which is lower compared to 88.5% in 1990.

The statistics for this year show that airfares decreased by 7.1% in March when compared to the corresponding month in 2023. Additionally, airfares have only increased by 2.6% since 2019, before the onset of the pandemic.

Despite slightly lower prices, airlines such as Delta are still reaping the rewards of the current surge in travel. According to Delta’s first-quarter earnings report, the company made a profit of $37 million thanks to high demand. The airline predicts that this trend will persist throughout the summer.