The airport you choose when flying can make a big difference in terms of how much you pay for airfare, according to a new analysis from data insights firm CivMetrics.
The organization analyzed average fare data at the 100 busiest U.S. airports during the third quarter of 2022. CivMetrics then compiled a list of the most expensive and least expensive airports in terms of what travelers pay for airfare.
Following are the airports where you are likely to pay the most — or the least — the next time you fly.
The most expensive airports
Following is a list of airports where fares are likely to be highest when you travel. Passenger data comes from the Federal Aviation Administration.
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10. Portland International
Location: Portland, Oregon
Location identifier: PDX
Service level: Primary commercial service
Number of paying passengers that board aircraft at this airport annually: 5,759,879 as of 2021
Airport’s average airfare: $443 as of the third quarter of 2022, according to the nonprofit publication CivMetrics
9. Pensacola International
Location: Pensacola, Florida
Location identifier: PNS
Service level: Primary commercial service
Number of paying passengers that board aircraft at this airport annually: 1,168,575 as of 2021
Airport’s average airfare: $445 as of the third quarter of 2022, according to the nonprofit publication CivMetrics
8. Charlotte Douglas International
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Location identifier: CLT
Service level: Primary commercial service
Number of paying passengers that board aircraft at this airport annually: 20,900,875 as of 2021
Airport’s average airfare: $458 as of the third quarter of 2022, according to the nonprofit publication CivMetrics
7. San Francisco International
Location: San Francisco
Location identifier: SFO
Service level: Primary commercial service
Number of paying passengers that board aircraft at this airport annually: 11,725,347 as of 2021
Airport’s average airfare: $467 as of the third quarter of 2022, according to the nonprofit publication CivMetrics
6. Piedmont Triad International
Location: Greensboro, North Carolina
Location identifier: GSO
Service level: Primary commercial service
Number of paying passengers that board aircraft at this airport annually: 627,000 as of 2021
Airport’s average airfare: $477 as of the third quarter of 2022, according to the nonprofit publication CivMetrics
5. Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Location identifier: BHM
Service level: Primary commercial service
Number of paying passengers that board aircraft at this airport annually: 1,081,328 as of 2021
Airport’s average airfare: $479 as of the third quarter of 2022, according to the nonprofit publication CivMetrics
4. Greenville-Spartanburg International
Location: Greer, South Carolina
Location identifier: GSP
Service level: Primary commercial service
Number of paying passengers that board aircraft at this airport annually: 878,450 as of 2021
Airport’s average airfare: $493 as of the third quarter of 2022, according to the nonprofit publication CivMetrics
3. Washington Dulles International
Location: Dulles, Virginia
Location identifier: IAD
Service level: Primary commercial service
Number of paying passengers that board aircraft at this airport annually: 7,227,875 as of 2021
Airport’s average airfare: $508 as of the third quarter of 2022, according to the nonprofit publication CivMetrics
2. Dane County Regional-Truax Field
Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Location identifier: MSN
Service level: Primary commercial service
Number of paying passengers that board aircraft at this airport annually: 699,167 as of 2021
Airport’s average airfare: $534 as of the third quarter of 2022, according to the nonprofit publication CivMetrics
1. Ted Stevens Anchorage International
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Location identifier: ANC
Service level: Primary commercial service
Number of paying passengers that board aircraft at this airport annually: 2,184,959 as of 2021
Airport’s average airfare: $540 as of the third quarter of 2022, according to the nonprofit publication CivMetrics
The cheapest airports
Following is a list of airports where fares are likely to be lowest when you travel.
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10. Metro Oakland International
Location: Oakland, California
Location identifier: OAK
Service level: Primary commercial service
Number of paying passengers that board aircraft at this airport annually: 4,011,953 as of 2021
Airport’s average airfare: $284 as of the third quarter of 2022, according to the nonprofit publication CivMetrics
9. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Location identifier: FLL
Service level: Primary commercial service
Number of paying passengers that board aircraft at this airport annually: 13,598,994 as of 2021
Airport’s average airfare: $279 as of the third quarter of 2022, according to the nonprofit publication CivMetrics
8. Bob Hope (Hollywood Burbank Airport)
Location: Burbank, California
Location identifier: BUR
Service level: Primary commercial service
Number of paying passengers that board aircraft at this airport annually: 1,942,417 as of 2021
Airport’s average airfare: $278 as of the third quarter of 2022, according to the nonprofit publication CivMetrics
7. Orlando International
Location: Orlando, Florida
Location identifier: MCO
Service level: Primary commercial service
Number of paying passengers that board aircraft at this airport annually: 19,618,838 as of 2021
Airport’s average airfare: $276 as of the third quarter of 2022, according to the nonprofit publication CivMetrics
6. Kahului
Location: Kahului, Hawaii
Location identifier: OGG
Service level: Primary commercial service
Number of paying passengers that board aircraft at this airport annually: 2,933,315 as of 2021
Airport’s average airfare: $262 as of the third quarter of 2022, according to the nonprofit publication CivMetrics
5. Ellison Onizuka Kona International at Keahole
Location: Kona, Hawaii
Location identifier: KOA
Service level: Primary commercial service
Number of paying passengers that board aircraft at this airport annually: 1,404,584 as of 2021
Airport’s average airfare: $260 as of the third quarter of 2022, according to the nonprofit publication CivMetrics
4. Harry Reid International
Location: Las Vegas
Location identifier: LAS
Service level: Primary commercial service
Number of paying passengers that board aircraft at this airport annually: 19,160,342 as of 2021
Airport’s average airfare: $256 as of the third quarter of 2022, according to the nonprofit publication CivMetrics
3. Myrtle Beach International
Location: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Location identifier: MYR
Service level: Primary commercial service
Number of paying passengers that board aircraft at this airport annually: 1,579,987 as of 2021
Airport’s average airfare: $240 as of the third quarter of 2022, according to the nonprofit publication CivMetrics
1. Orlando Sanford International (tie)
Location: Sanford, Florida
Location identifier: SFB
Service level: Primary commercial service
Number of paying passengers that board aircraft at this airport annually: 1,174,471 as of 2021
Airport’s average airfare: $147 as of the third quarter of 2022, according to the nonprofit publication CivMetrics
1. St. Pete-Clearwater International (tie)
Location: St. Petersburg, Florida
Location identifier: PIE
Service level: Primary commercial service
Number of paying passengers that board aircraft at this airport annually: 1,021,007 as of 2021
Airport’s average airfare: $147 as of the third quarter of 2022, according to the nonprofit publication CivMetrics
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