Airfare price inflation, 2023→1972

Airfare Inflation Calculator

Prices for Airfare, 2023-1972 ($100)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for airline fares were 88.34% lower in 1972 versus 2023 (a $88.34 difference in value).

Between 2023 and 1972:Airfare experienced an average inflation rate of -4.13% per year. This rate of change indicates significant deflation. In other words, airfare costing $100 in the year 2023 would cost $11.66 in 1972 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of -3.82% during this same period, inflation for airfare was lower.

In the year 2023: Pricing changed by -5.62%, which is below the average yearly change for airfare during the 2023-1972 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2023 (4.12%), inflation for airfare was much lower.

Price Inflation for Airline fares since 1963

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1980 (38.41%), 2022 (30.15%), and 1981 (25.86%).

View price changes for other categories
Alcoholic beverages · Gasoline (all types) · New York · Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas · More

Buying power of $100.00 since 2023

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Airfare, over time, for $100 beginning in 2023. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

Year	USD Value	Inflation Rate
2023	$100.00	-5.62%
2024	$97.88	-2.12%
2025	$95.99	-1.93%
2026	$95.40	-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

Adjust airfare prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 1972 / CPI in 2023* 2023 USD value = 1972 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Airline fares was 267.221 in the year 2023 and 31.150 in 1972:

31.150 / 267.221* $100 = $11.66

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $100 in 2023 has the same "purchasing power" as $11.66 in 1972 (in the CPI category of Airline fares).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Airline fares in 1963. In addition to airfare, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.