According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for airline fares are 122.61% higher in 2024 versus 1986 (a $122.61 difference in value).
Between 1986 and 2024: Airfare experienced an average inflation rate of 2.13% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, airfare costing $100 in the year 1986 would cost $222.61 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.80% during this same period, inflation for airfare was lower.
In the year 1986: Pricing changed by 4.09%, which is above the average yearly change for airfare during the 1986-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1986 (1.90%), inflation for airfare was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Airfare, over time, for $100 beginning in 1986. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | $100.00 | 4.09% |
| 1987 | $104.88 | 4.88% |
| 1988 | $106.09 | 1.15% |
| 1989 | $112.42 | 5.96% |
| 1990 | $126.70 | 12.70% |
| 1991 | $132.52 | 4.59% |
| 1992 | $132.57 | 0.04% |
| 1993 | $152.62 | 15.13% |
| 1994 | $158.40 | 3.78% |
| 1995 | $161.99 | 2.27% |
| 1996 | $164.35 | 1.46% |
| 1997 | $170.13 | 3.52% |
| 1998 | $175.30 | 3.04% |
| 1999 | $186.82 | 6.57% |
| 2000 | $204.46 | 9.44% |
| 2001 | $204.45 | -0.01% |
| 2002 | $197.75 | -3.27% |
| 2003 | $197.52 | -0.12% |
| 2004 | $194.03 | -1.77% |
| 2005 | $202.06 | 4.14% |
| 2006 | $211.17 | 4.51% |
| 2007 | $214.93 | 1.78% |
| 2008 | $240.82 | 12.04% |
| 2009 | $220.30 | -8.52% |
| 2010 | $237.56 | 7.84% |
| 2011 | $259.63 | 9.29% |
| 2012 | $260.42 | 0.30% |
| 2013 | $267.04 | 2.54% |
| 2014 | $262.77 | -1.60% |
| 2015 | $249.55 | -5.03% |
| 2016 | $241.30 | -3.31% |
| 2017 | $235.51 | -2.40% |
| 2018 | $226.22 | -3.94% |
| 2019 | $226.64 | 0.19% |
| 2020 | $185.78 | -18.03% |
| 2021 | $185.78 | 0.00% |
| 2022 | $241.80 | 30.15% |
| 2023 | $228.20 | -5.62% |
| 2024 | $222.61 | -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 |