According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for airline fares are 12.28% higher in 2025 versus 2002 (a $12.28 difference in value).
Between 2002 and 2025: Airfare experienced an average inflation rate of 0.50% per year. In other words, airfare costing $100 in the year 2002 would cost $112.28 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.52% during this same period, inflation for airfare was lower.
In the year 2002: Pricing changed by -3.27%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for airfare during the 2002-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2002 (1.59%), inflation for airfare was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Airfare, over time, for $100 beginning in 2002. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | $100.00 | -3.27% |
| 2003 | $99.88 | -0.12% |
| 2004 | $98.12 | -1.77% |
| 2005 | $102.18 | 4.14% |
| 2006 | $106.78 | 4.51% |
| 2007 | $108.69 | 1.78% |
| 2008 | $121.78 | 12.04% |
| 2009 | $111.40 | -8.52% |
| 2010 | $120.13 | 7.84% |
| 2011 | $131.29 | 9.29% |
| 2012 | $131.69 | 0.30% |
| 2013 | $135.04 | 2.54% |
| 2014 | $132.88 | -1.60% |
| 2015 | $126.19 | -5.03% |
| 2016 | $122.02 | -3.31% |
| 2017 | $119.09 | -2.40% |
| 2018 | $114.40 | -3.94% |
| 2019 | $114.61 | 0.19% |
| 2020 | $93.94 | -18.03% |
| 2021 | $93.95 | 0.00% |
| 2022 | $122.27 | 30.15% |
| 2023 | $115.40 | -5.62% |
| 2024 | $112.95 | -2.12% |
| 2025 | $112.28 | -0.59%* |
* 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 | 260.010 |