America’s airport affordability gap: Cities where travel costs are crushing families

You might be adding hundreds of dollars to the cost of your flight depending on the airport you choose for your travels. 

A recent ranking analyzed U.S.airports based on average domestic airfare — and it revealed major price differences, depending on where travelers begin their journey.

The analysis took airfare data for the 200 busiest airports in the United States and comparedaverage ticket pricesacross regions and carriers during the first half of 2025.It used data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) and interpreted it to produce an airport ranking. 

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Bottom line: TheSavings.com reportnoted that “the average U.S.domestic airfare is $391 in 2025, down 1.3% year over year.Adjusted for inflation, flying is actually 36% cheaper now than in 1995.”

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Here are themajor U.S.airportswith the highest and lowest average domestic airfares, according to the report. 

Most expensive major airports

Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) ranked as the most expensive major airport in the U.S., according to the analysis.

Travelers forked over an average domestic airfare of about $475 in early 2025, the report said. 

A new report has ranked U.S.airports by average domestic airfare.Find out where yours fell in the new analysis.(iStock)

Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) followed closely behind — with an average domestic airfare of about $461.

Washington Dulles topped the list as the priciest major U.S.airport— while Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood emerged as the most affordable, the study found.(iStock)

Orlando International Airport(MCO) followed closely behind. 

At that airport, travelers paid an average domestic fare of roughly $289.

“Not every traveler is so lucky to live near one of the most affordable airports.”

Travelers who are flexible with departing locations may find cheaper fares by departing from smaller, secondary airports instead of major hubs, the data indicates. 

Among the nation’s most affordable departure points overall, St.Petersburg–Clearwater (PIE), Orlando Sanford (SFB) and Punta Gorda (PGD) topped the list — each posting average fares well below $150.

Flying out of smaller airports may be cheaper than leaving from major hubs, the analysis said.But that’s assuming consumers can be flexible with their choices.(iStock)

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MidAmerica St.Louis Airport (BLV) and Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK) rounded out the top five, with all five airports served primarily by ultra-low-cost carriers such asAllegiant and Sun Country.

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The report noted that “not every traveler is so lucky to live near one of the most affordable airports.”

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It added that “some smaller markets — particularlyresort destinationsand mountain towns — command some of the nation’s highest fares, thanks to limited airline competition and seasonal demand.”

The report also shared a key caveat.

“Not all airports serve the same destinations, and differences in travel time and parking fees should be considered when deciding which airport to depart from,” the report noted.(Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

“Even within the same metro area, airfare costs can vary dramatically depending on which airport you choose.For travelers in multi-airport regions, those differences can translate into serious savings.Of course, not all airports serve the same destinations, and differences in travel time and parking fees should be considered when deciding which airport to depart from.”

“[The] differences can translate into serious savings.”

Using fare alerts, booking several weeks in advance and paying close attention to baggage fees on budget airlines can helpmaximize savings, the analysis found.

Meanwhile, the federal government has entered its third partial shutdown of the last half-year after Congress failed to reach an agreement on all 12 of its annual spending bills.

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Disruptions to the TSA, whose agents are responsible for security checks at nearly 440 airports across the country, could perhaps be the most impactful part of the partial shutdown on Americans�