According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for airline fares are 718.38% higher in 2026 versus 1972 (a $718.38 difference in value).
Between 1972 and 2026:Airfare experienced an average inflation rate of 3.97% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, airfare costing $100 in the year 1972 would cost $818.38 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.87% during this same period, inflation for airfare was higher.
In the year 1972: Pricing changed by 2.69%, which is below the average yearly change for airfare during the 1972-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1972 (3.27%), inflation for airfare was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Airfare, over time, for $100 beginning in 1972. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | $100.00 | 2.69% |
| 1973 | $103.40 | 3.40% |
| 1974 | $111.88 | 8.20% |
| 1975 | $121.94 | 8.99% |
| 1976 | $132.13 | 8.36% |
| 1977 | $139.65 | 5.69% |
| 1978 | $146.17 | 4.67% |
| 1979 | $157.76 | 7.92% |
| 1980 | $218.35 | 38.41% |
| 1981 | $274.83 | 25.86% |
| 1982 | $302.89 | 10.21% |
| 1983 | $320.41 | 5.79% |
| 1984 | $339.73 | 6.03% |
| 1985 | $361.16 | 6.31% |
| 1986 | $375.92 | 4.09% |
| 1987 | $394.28 | 4.88% |
| 1988 | $398.82 | 1.15% |
| 1989 | $422.61 | 5.96% |
| 1990 | $476.27 | 12.70% |
| 1991 | $498.15 | 4.59% |
| 1992 | $498.37 | 0.04% |
| 1993 | $573.76 | 15.13% |
| 1994 | $595.45 | 3.78% |
| 1995 | $608.96 | 2.27% |
| 1996 | $617.82 | 1.45% |
| 1997 | $639.57 | 3.52% |
| 1998 | $658.99 | 3.04% |
| 1999 | $702.27 | 6.57% |
| 2000 | $768.62 | 9.45% |
| 2001 | $768.57 | -0.01% |
| 2002 | $743.39 | -3.28% |
| 2003 | $742.51 | -0.12% |
| 2004 | $729.40 | -1.77% |
| 2005 | $759.60 | 4.14% |
| 2006 | $793.82 | 4.50% |
| 2007 | $807.98 | 1.78% |
| 2008 | $905.29 | 12.04% |
| 2009 | $828.16 | -8.52% |
| 2010 | $893.05 | 7.84% |
| 2011 | $976.01 | 9.29% |
| 2012 | $978.97 | 0.30% |
| 2013 | $1,003.88 | 2.54% |
| 2014 | $987.83 | -1.60% |
| 2015 | $938.13 | -5.03% |
| 2016 | $907.08 | -3.31% |
| 2017 | $885.34 | -2.40% |
| 2018 | $850.43 | -3.94% |
| 2019 | $852.01 | 0.19% |
| 2020 | $698.38 | -18.03% |
| 2021 | $698.39 | 0.00% |
| 2022 | $908.97 | 30.15% |
| 2023 | $857.85 | -5.62% |
| 2024 | $839.65 | -2.12% |
| 2025 | $823.47 | -1.93% |
| 2026 | $818.38 | -0.62%* |
* 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 | 2026 |
| CPI | 23.700 | 23.650 | 23.767 | 23.842 | 23.867 | 24.367 | 26.200 | 28.258 | 30.333 | 31.150 | 32.208 | 34.850 | 37.983 | 41.158 | 43.500 | 45.533 | 49.142 | 68.017 | 85.608 | 94.350 | 99.808 | 105.825 | 112.500 | 117.100 | 122.817 | 124.233 | 131.642 | 148.358 | 155.175 | 155.242 | 178.725 | 185.483 | 189.692 | 192.450 | 199.225 | 205.275 | 218.758 | 239.425 | 239.408 | 231.567 | 231.292 | 227.208 | 236.617 | 247.275 | 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 | 256.510 | 254.924 |