NEW YORK -- The average round trip airline ticket within the U.S., including taxes, reached $509.15 in the first six months of this year, up nearly $14 from the same period last year, according to an analysis of data from the Airlines Reporting Corp.
Domestic airfare continues to outpace inflation, rising 2.7 percent compared with the 2.1 percent gain in the Consumer Price Index.
Airfare has gone up 10.7 percent in the past five years -- after adjusting for inflation -- according to Airlines Reporting Corp. data. The company processes ticket transactions for airlines and more than 9,400 travel agencies, including websites such as Expedia and Orbitz.
The formula for rising fares seems simple, but it eluded the airlines for years: match the supply of seats to passenger demand.
"Airlines have reduced the number of seats while more people want to fly because of the economic recovery. All this leads to higher airfares," said Chuck Thackston, managing director of data and analytics at Airlines Reporting Corp. "This trend in airfares is likely to continue for the near future, as the economy continues to grow."
Once on the ground, travelers aren't going to find much relief. The average nightly price of a hotel room in the U.S. during the first half of this year was $113.80, according travel research company STR. That's up $4.47, or 4 percent, from the same period in 2013.
Most people are traveling for work. And when the economy is strong, they do more flying. Data released by the government last week shows that economic growth bounced back after a brutal winter, businesses are creating jobs at a steady pace and consumer spending is on the rise.
The Global Business Travel Association predicts that worldwide business travel will grow 6.9 percent this year to $1.18 trillion, a new record. The United States is the largest business travel market, with travelers spending $274 billion last year, a 4.5 percent increase over 2012.
The rise in airfare doesn't take into account the fees travelers now face for checking bags, getting extra legroom, boarding early or purchasing a pair of headphones. Those fees now draw $3.3 billion a year for U.S. airlines and have helped them return consistent annual profits for the past four years.
Baggage fees and some others were introduced in 2008 to offset losses from rising fuel prices. However, this year airlines are actually paying less for fuel -- $2.96 a gallon so far, 7.2 percent less than last year, when adjusted for inflation.
Passengers aren't seeing any of those savings. One reason is that airlines no longer need to entice fliers with lower fares. There are simply fewer choices today.
A wave of consolidation that started in 2008 has left four U.S. airlines -- American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines -- controlling more than 80 percent of the domestic air travel market. Discount airlines such as Allegiant Air and Spirit Airlines have grown at breakneck speed but carry only a fraction of overall passengers.
That control of the market has enabled the bigger airlines to charge more for tickets and not worry about being undercut by the competition. Those higher fares, in turn, have led to record profits. In April, May and June, the four largest U.S. airlines earned a combined $2.9 billion. Airlines are earning so much money that they are starting to pay dividends to shareholders -- something unheard of in an industry that just a decade ago was struggling with a wave of bankruptcies.
Airlines for America, the industry's U.S. trade and lobbying group, said passengers should blame the government, not the carriers, for higher fares. Last month, increased fees linked to the Transportation Security Administration took effect. Fliers will now pay a flat fee of $5.60 each way, up from $2.50 each way for nonstop flights and $5 for trips with connections.
But taxes and government fees still remain a small portion of what passengers pay. On a $500 round trip ticket between New York and Seattle, they make up 12 percent of the price.
Business on 08/05/2014