America’s airport affordability gap: Cities where travel costs are crushing families

You mightiness beryllium adding hundreds of dollars to the outgo of your formation depending connected the airdrome you take for your travels. 

A caller ranking analyzed U.S. airports based connected mean home airfare — and it revealed large terms differences, depending connected wherever travelers statesman their journey.

The investigation took airfare information for the 200 busiest airports successful the United States and compared mean summons prices crossed regions and carriers during the archetypal fractional of 2025. It utilized information from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) and interpreted it to nutrient an airdrome ranking. 

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Bottom line: The Savings.com study noted that "the mean U.S. home airfare is $391 successful 2025, down 1.3% twelvemonth implicit year. Adjusted for inflation, flying is really 36% cheaper present than successful 1995."

Here are the large U.S. airports with the highest and lowest mean home airfares, according to the report. 

Most costly large airports

Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) ranked arsenic the astir costly large airdrome successful the U.S., according to the analysis.

Travelers forked implicit an mean home airfare of astir $475 successful aboriginal 2025, the study said. 

A caller study has ranked U.S. airports by mean home airfare. Find retired wherever yours fell successful the caller analysis.  (iStock)

Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) followed intimately down — with an mean home airfare of astir $461.

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Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) besides ranked among the astir costly large U.S. airports, with an mean home airfare of astir $445, per the analysis.

Most affordable large airports

Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL) emerged arsenic the astir affordable large U.S. airport.

It had an mean home airfare of astir $281 successful aboriginal 2025, according to the report.

Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) topped the database arsenic the priciest large U.S. airdrome successful a caller investigation — portion Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL) emerged arsenic the astir affordable, the survey found.  (iStock)

Orlando International Airport (MCO) followed intimately behind. 

At that airport, travelers paid an mean home fare of astir $289.

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Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) besides ranked among the slightest costly large airports, with mean home fares coming successful astatine astir $291.

"Not each traveler is truthful fortunate to unrecorded adjacent 1 of the astir affordable airports."

Travelers who are flexible with departing locations whitethorn find cheaper fares by departing from smaller, secondary airports alternatively of large hubs, the information indicates. 

Among the nation’s astir affordable departure points overall, St. Petersburg–Clearwater (PIE), Orlando Sanford (SFB) and Punta Gorda (PGD) topped the database — each posting mean fares good beneath $150.

Flying retired of smaller airports whitethorn beryllium cheaper than leaving from large hubs, the investigation said. But that's assuming consumers tin beryllium flexible with their choices.  (iStock)

MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (BLV) and Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK) rounded retired the apical five, with each 5 airports served chiefly by ultra-low-cost carriers specified arsenic Allegiant and Sun Country.

The study noted that "not each traveler is truthful fortunate to unrecorded adjacent 1 of the astir affordable airports."

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It added that "some smaller markets — peculiarly edifice destinations and upland towns — bid immoderate of the nation’s highest fares, acknowledgment to constricted hose contention and seasonal demand."

The study besides shared a cardinal caveat.

"Not each airports service the aforesaid destinations, and differences successful question clip and parking fees should beryllium considered erstwhile deciding which airdrome to depart from," the study noted.  (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

"Even wrong the aforesaid metro area, airfare costs tin alteration dramatically depending connected which airdrome you choose. For travelers successful multi-airport regions, those differences tin construe into superior savings. Of course, not each airports service the aforesaid destinations, and differences successful question clip and parking fees should beryllium considered erstwhile deciding which airdrome to depart from."

Using fare alerts, booking respective weeks successful beforehand and paying adjacent attraction to baggage fees connected fund airlines tin assistance maximize savings, the investigation found.

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Meanwhile, the national authorities has entered its 3rd partial shutdown of the past half-year aft Congress failed to scope an statement connected each 12 of its yearly spending bills.

Disruptions to the TSA, whose agents are liable for information checks astatine astir 440 airports crossed the country, could possibly beryllium the astir impactful portion of the partial shutdown connected Americans’ mundane lives, Fox News Digital has reported. 

Elizabeth Elkind of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.