According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for airline fares were 201.90% higher in 1990 versus 1979 (a $201.90 difference in value).
Between 1979 and 1990:Airfare experienced an average inflation rate of 10.57% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, airfare costing $100 in the year 1979 would cost $301.90 in 1990 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 5.49% during this same period, inflation for airfare was significantly higher.
In the year 1979: Pricing changed by 7.92%, which is below the average yearly change for airfare during the 1979-1990 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1979 (11.25%), inflation for airfare was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Airfare, over time, for $100 beginning in 1979. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | $100.00 | 7.92% |
| 1980 | $138.41 | 38.41% |
| 1981 | $174.21 | 25.86% |
| 1982 | $192.00 | 10.21% |
| 1983 | $203.10 | 5.79% |
| 1984 | $215.35 | 6.03% |
| 1985 | $228.93 | 6.31% |
| 1986 | $238.29 | 4.09% |
| 1987 | $249.92 | 4.88% |
| 1988 | $252.81 | 1.15% |
| 1989 | $267.88 | 5.96% |
| 1990 | $301.90 | 12.70% |
| 1991 | $315.77 | 4.59% |
| 1992 | $315.91 | 0.04% |
| 1993 | $363.69 | 15.13% |
| 1994 | $377.45 | 3.78% |
| 1995 | $386.01 | 2.27% |
| 1996 | $391.62 | 1.45% |
| 1997 | $405.41 | 3.52% |
| 1998 | $417.72 | 3.04% |
| 1999 | $445.16 | 6.57% |
| 2000 | $487.21 | 9.45% |
| 2001 | $487.18 | -0.01% |
| 2002 | $471.22 | -3.28% |
| 2003 | $470.66 | -0.12% |
| 2004 | $462.35 | -1.77% |
| 2005 | $481.50 | 4.14% |
| 2006 | $503.19 | 4.50% |
| 2007 | $512.16 | 1.78% |
| 2008 | $573.85 | 12.04% |
| 2009 | $524.95 | -8.52% |
| 2010 | $566.09 | 7.84% |
| 2011 | $618.67 | 9.29% |
| 2012 | $620.55 | 0.30% |
| 2013 | $636.34 | 2.54% |
| 2014 | $626.17 | -1.60% |
| 2015 | $594.66 | -5.03% |
| 2016 | $574.98 | -3.31% |
| 2017 | $561.20 | -2.40% |
| 2018 | $539.07 | -3.94% |
| 2019 | $540.07 | 0.19% |
| 2020 | $442.69 | -18.03% |
| 2021 | $442.70 | 0.00% |
| 2022 | $576.18 | 30.15% |
| 2023 | $543.78 | -5.62% |
| 2024 | $532.24 | -2.12% |
| 2025 | $521.51 | -2.02% |
| 2026 | $561.45 | 7.66%* |
* 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 | 256.277 | 275.905 |