Airline fares inflation
Airline fares prices since 2000
Up 29%
An average of 0.99% a year, compared with 95% for all U.S. prices (overall CPI). $100 of 2000 airline fares costs $129.38 in August 2026.
Last 12 months (to August 2026)
23.4%
All U.S. prices, same period
3.4%
Data since
1964
How much airline fares prices have risen
| Since | Airline fares | All U.S. prices | $100 then costs now |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | +994% | +763% | $1,094.47 |
| 1980 | +355% | +307% | $455.49 |
| 1990 | +109% | +156% | $208.72 |
| 2000 | +29% | +95% | $129.38 |
| 2010 | +11% | +54% | $111.34 |
| 2020 | +42% | +29% | $142.38 |
Calculate airline fares inflation
Inflation rate by year
Every year since 1964
| Year | Index | Change | $1 then costs now |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 256.1 | -2.1% | $1.21 |
| 2024 | 261.6 | -2.1% | $1.18 |
| 2023 | 267.2 | -5.6% | $1.16 |
| 2022 | 283.1 | 30.2% | $1.09 |
| 2021 | 217.5 | 0.0% | $1.42 |
| 2020 | 217.5 | -18.0% | $1.42 |
| 2019 | 265.4 | 0.2% | $1.17 |
| 2018 | 264.9 | -3.9% | $1.17 |
| 2017 | 275.8 | -2.4% | $1.12 |
| 2016 | 282.6 | -3.3% | $1.10 |
| 2015 | 292.2 | -5.0% | $1.06 |
| 2014 | 307.7 | -1.6% | $1.01 |
| 2013 | 312.7 | 2.5% | $0.99 |
| 2012 | 304.9 | 0.3% | $1.02 |
| 2011 | 304.0 | 9.3% | $1.02 |
| 2010 | 278.2 | 7.8% | $1.11 |
| 2009 | 258.0 | -8.5% | $1.20 |
| 2008 | 282.0 | 12.0% | $1.10 |
| 2007 | 251.7 | 1.8% | $1.23 |
| 2006 | 247.3 | 4.5% | $1.25 |
| 2005 | 236.6 | 4.1% | $1.31 |
| 2004 | 227.2 | -1.8% | $1.36 |
| 2003 | 231.3 | -0.1% | $1.34 |
| 2002 | 231.6 | -3.3% | $1.34 |
| 2001 | 239.4 | 0.0% | $1.29 |
| 2000 | 239.4 | 9.4% | $1.29 |
| 1999 | 218.8 | 6.6% | $1.42 |
| 1998 | 205.3 | 3.1% | $1.51 |
| 1997 | 199.2 | 3.5% | $1.55 |
| 1996 | 192.5 | 1.5% | $1.61 |
| 1995 | 189.7 | 2.3% | $1.63 |
| 1994 | 185.5 | 3.8% | $1.67 |
| 1993 | 178.7 | 15.1% | $1.73 |
| 1992 | 155.2 | 0.0% | $2.00 |
| 1991 | 155.2 | 4.6% | $2.00 |
| 1990 | 148.4 | 12.8% | $2.09 |
| 1989 | 131.6 | 6.0% | $2.35 |
| 1988 | 124.2 | 1.1% | $2.49 |
| 1987 | 122.8 | 4.9% | $2.52 |
| 1986 | 117.1 | 4.1% | $2.65 |
| 1985 | 112.5 | 6.3% | $2.75 |
| 1984 | 105.8 | 6.0% | $2.93 |
| 1983 | 99.8 | 5.7% | $3.10 |
| 1982 | 94.4 | 10.3% | $3.28 |
| 1981 | 85.6 | 25.9% | $3.62 |
| 1980 | 68.0 | 38.2% | $4.55 |
| 1979 | 49.2 | 8.1% | $6.30 |
| 1978 | 45.5 | 4.6% | $6.81 |
| 1977 | 43.5 | 5.8% | $7.12 |
| 1976 | 41.1 | 8.2% | $7.54 |
| 1975 | 38.0 | 8.9% | $8.15 |
| 1974 | 34.9 | 8.4% | $8.87 |
| 1973 | 32.2 | 3.5% | $9.62 |
| 1972 | 31.1 | 2.6% | $9.96 |
| 1971 | 30.3 | 7.1% | $10.22 |
| 1970 | 28.3 | 8.0% | $10.94 |
| 1969 | 26.2 | 7.4% | $11.82 |
| 1968 | 24.4 | 2.1% | $12.69 |
| 1967 | 23.9 | 0.4% | $12.96 |
| 1966 | 23.8 | 0.0% | $13.01 |
| 1965 | 23.8 | 0.4% | $13.01 |
| 1964 | 23.7 | $13.07 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U series CUUR0000SETG01, not seasonally adjusted. Index values are relative (only the changes matter), so they can't be compared across categories.
Questions
- How much have airline fares prices gone up since 2000?
- Airline fares prices rose 29% from 2000 to August 2026, slower than overall prices (95%).
- What is the inflation rate for airline fares right now?
- Airline fares prices were 23.4% higher in August 2026 than a year earlier.
- What did $100 of airline fares in 2000 cost in August 2026?
- $129.38.
- Where does this data come from?
- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics price index for airline fares (series CUUR0000SETG01), part of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. It tracks price changes for the same kind of item over time, not average prices.