According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for airline fares were 845.53% higher in 2023 versus 1970 (a $16,065.05 difference in value).
Between 1970 and 2023: Airfare experienced an average inflation rate of 4.33% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, airfare costing $1,900 in the year 1970 would cost $17,965.05 in 2023 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.96% during this same period, inflation for airfare was higher.
In the year 1970: Pricing changed by 7.87%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for airfare during the 1970-2023 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1970 (5.83%), inflation for airfare was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Airfare, over time, for $1,900 beginning in 1970. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | $1,900.00 | 7.87% |
| 1971 | $2,039.11 | 7.32% |
| 1972 | $2,093.93 | 2.69% |
| 1973 | $2,165.30 | 3.41% |
| 1974 | $2,343.20 | 8.22% |
| 1975 | $2,553.67 | 8.98% |
| 1976 | $2,766.74 | 8.34% |
| 1977 | $2,924.47 | 5.70% |
| 1978 | $3,061.00 | 4.67% |
| 1979 | $3,304.06 | 7.94% |
| 1980 | $4,572.62 | 38.39% |
| 1981 | $5,755.33 | 25.87% |
| 1982 | $6,343.33 | 10.22% |
| 1983 | $6,709.99 | 5.78% |
| 1984 | $7,114.40 | 6.03% |
| 1985 | $7,563.28 | 6.31% |
| 1986 | $7,872.54 | 4.09% |
| 1987 | $8,256.78 | 4.88% |
| 1988 | $8,351.93 | 1.15% |
| 1989 | $8,849.95 | 5.96% |
| 1990 | $9,974.22 | 12.70% |
| 1991 | $10,432.42 | 4.59% |
| 1992 | $10,436.55 | 0.04% |
| 1993 | $12,015.41 | 15.13% |
| 1994 | $12,469.98 | 3.78% |
| 1995 | $12,752.86 | 2.27% |
| 1996 | $12,938.51 | 1.46% |
| 1997 | $13,393.60 | 3.52% |
| 1998 | $13,800.60 | 3.04% |
| 1999 | $14,707.16 | 6.57% |
| 2000 | $16,096.22 | 9.44% |
| 2001 | $16,095.18 | -0.01% |
| 2002 | $15,568.21 | -3.27% |
| 2003 | $15,549.59 | -0.12% |
| 2004 | $15,274.99 | -1.77% |
| 2005 | $15,907.46 | 4.14% |
| 2006 | $16,624.22 | 4.51% |
| 2007 | $16,920.65 | 1.78% |
| 2008 | $18,958.51 | 12.04% |
| 2009 | $17,343.16 | -8.52% |
| 2010 | $18,702.22 | 7.84% |
| 2011 | $20,439.42 | 9.29% |
| 2012 | $20,501.54 | 0.30% |
| 2013 | $21,023.15 | 2.54% |
| 2014 | $20,686.97 | -1.60% |
| 2015 | $19,646.18 | -5.03% |
| 2016 | $18,996.07 | -3.31% |
| 2017 | $18,540.64 | -2.40% |
| 2018 | $17,809.59 | -3.94% |
| 2019 | $17,842.69 | 0.19% |
| 2020 | $14,625.44 | -18.03% |
| 2021 | $14,625.63 | 0.00% |
| 2022 | $19,035.49 | 30.15% |
| 2023 | $17,965.05 | -5.62% |
| 2024 | $17,583.80 | -2.12% |
| 2025 | $17,232.80 | -2.00%* |
* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Airline fares:
| Year | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| CPI | 23.700 | 23.667 | 23.833 | 23.820 | 23.900 | 24.440 | 26.200 | 28.262 | 30.331 | 31.146 | 32.208 | 34.854 | 37.985 | 41.154 | 43.500 | 45.531 | 49.146 | 68.015 | 85.608 | 94.354 | 99.808 | 105.823 | 112.500 | 117.100 | 122.815 | 124.231 | 131.638 | 148.362 | 155.177 | 155.238 | 178.723 | 185.485 | 189.692 | 192.454 | 199.223 | 205.277 | 218.762 | 239.423 | 239.408 | 231.569 | 231.292 | 227.208 | 236.615 | 247.277 | 251.686 | 281.998 | 257.971 | 278.186 | 304.026 | 304.950 | 312.709 | 307.708 | 292.227 | 282.557 | 275.783 | 264.909 | 265.401 | 217.546 | 217.549 | 283.143 | 267.221 | 261.550 | 256.329 |