According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for airline fares are 472.52% higher in 2024 versus 1978 (a $472.52 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2024: Airfare experienced an average inflation rate of 3.87% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, airfare costing $100 in the year 1978 would cost $572.52 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.47% during this same period, inflation for airfare was higher.
In the year 1978: Pricing changed by 4.67%, which is above the average yearly change for airfare during the 1978-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1978 (7.63%), inflation for airfare was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Airfare, over time, for $100 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | $100.00 | 4.67% |
| 1979 | $107.94 | 7.94% |
| 1980 | $149.38 | 38.39% |
| 1981 | $188.02 | 25.87% |
| 1982 | $207.23 | 10.22% |
| 1983 | $219.21 | 5.78% |
| 1984 | $232.42 | 6.03% |
| 1985 | $247.09 | 6.31% |
| 1986 | $257.19 | 4.09% |
| 1987 | $269.74 | 4.88% |
| 1988 | $272.85 | 1.15% |
| 1989 | $289.12 | 5.96% |
| 1990 | $325.85 | 12.70% |
| 1991 | $340.82 | 4.59% |
| 1992 | $340.95 | 0.04% |
| 1993 | $392.53 | 15.13% |
| 1994 | $407.38 | 3.78% |
| 1995 | $416.62 | 2.27% |
| 1996 | $422.69 | 1.46% |
| 1997 | $437.56 | 3.52% |
| 1998 | $450.85 | 3.04% |
| 1999 | $480.47 | 6.57% |
| 2000 | $525.85 | 9.44% |
| 2001 | $525.82 | -0.01% |
| 2002 | $508.60 | -3.27% |
| 2003 | $507.99 | -0.12% |
| 2004 | $499.02 | -1.77% |
| 2005 | $519.68 | 4.14% |
| 2006 | $543.10 | 4.51% |
| 2007 | $552.78 | 1.78% |
| 2008 | $619.36 | 12.04% |
| 2009 | $566.59 | -8.52% |
| 2010 | $610.98 | 7.84% |
| 2011 | $667.74 | 9.29% |
| 2012 | $669.77 | 0.30% |
| 2013 | $686.81 | 2.54% |
| 2014 | $675.82 | -1.60% |
| 2015 | $641.82 | -5.03% |
| 2016 | $620.58 | -3.31% |
| 2017 | $605.71 | -2.40% |
| 2018 | $581.82 | -3.94% |
| 2019 | $582.90 | 0.19% |
| 2020 | $477.80 | -18.03% |
| 2021 | $477.81 | 0.00% |
| 2022 | $621.87 | 30.15% |
| 2023 | $586.90 | -5.62% |
| 2024 | $572.52 | -2.45%* |
* 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 |
| 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 | 260.671 |