Most Expensive of the 100 Busiest U.S. Airports: 2025 Airfares
2025 Average Domestic Airfares Across BTS's 100 Busiest U.S. Origin Airports
This ranking compares average domestic itinerary airfares at the 100 U.S. airports with the highest BTS 2025 originating domestic passenger ranks. The numeric source is the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) annual airport table, covering January–December 2025; the selected airports follow its updated 2025 originating-passenger ranks. Unit: nominal U.S. dollars per itinerary; higher fares rank as more expensive. All 100 ranking values are official_value; there are no modeled projections. Source retrieval: October 28, 2026. This is not a ranking of the 100 highest airfares across every U.S. airport.
Unlike a single flight-leg price, a BTS itinerary fare includes a round-trip ticket or a one-way ticket with no return purchased. The page adds historical 2024 comparisons, premium versus the BTS $387.74 figure in its 2025 airport table, and comparisons with 2025 passenger rank. Those differences and percentages are calculated from observed inputs, not an official forecast/projection.
Anchorage (ANC), Alaska; 2025 passenger rank #69.
Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Florida; fare rank #100.
100 BTS official_value airport fares; 2025 U.S. and Puerto Rico origins.
National 2025 itinerary average from BTS airport table; nominal USD.
Overview: What the Fare Ranking Shows
Anchorage (ANC) is the most expensive among these 100 busiest origin airports at $521.54 per domestic itinerary. Birmingham (BHM) is second at $497.72, followed by Madison (MSN) at $491.19. Fort Lauderdale (FLL) is last in the fare ranking at $269.20. The resulting $252.34 range means the leader is 93.7% higher than the lowest-fare airport in this defined sample.
The median of the 100 airport averages is $393.78 (unweighted across airports, from the middle pair $394.47 and $393.08). This is not the BTS nationwide itinerary average of $387.74. Among the selected 100 airports, 58 are above the BTS national figure and 42 are below it. Because the airports are selected by 2025 originating passenger rank and then reordered by fare, the sample deliberately excludes smaller origin airports whose averages may be much higher or lower. Tallahassee (TLH), for example, is outside this table at 2025 passenger rank #140 despite a BTS average itinerary fare of $601.93, above Anchorage. This is not an all-airports most-expensive ranking.
Airfare rank and passenger rank answer different questions: Los Angeles (LAX) is #1 by BTS 2025 originating domestic passengers but only #21 by average fare at $423.63. Washington-Dulles (IAD) is #35 by passengers but #4 by fare at $468.84. No fare-cause or route-specific price claim follows from these comparisons alone.
Top 10 Highest Fares Within BTS's 100 Busiest U.S. Origin Airports
The first ten entries are sorted from highest to lowest published 2025 average domestic itinerary fare, not by passenger volume. The final column shows 2025 passenger rank and the premium above the BTS national average of $387.74.
| Rank | Airport | Avg. fare | Region / note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage (ANC) | $521.54 | West · AK; BTS 2025 official_value; passenger #69; +34.5% vs. BTS U.S. benchmark. |
| 2 | Birmingham (BHM) | $497.72 | South · AL; BTS 2025 official_value; passenger #79; +28.4% vs. BTS U.S. benchmark. |
| 3 | Madison (MSN) | $491.19 | Midwest · WI; BTS 2025 official_value; passenger #90; +26.7% vs. BTS U.S. benchmark. |
| 4 | Washington-Dulles (IAD) | $468.84 | South · DC; BTS 2025 official_value; passenger #35; +20.9% vs. BTS U.S. benchmark. |
| 5 | Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP) | $460.01 | South · SC; BTS 2025 official_value; passenger #86; +18.6% vs. BTS U.S. benchmark. |
| 6 | Greensboro/High Point (GSO) | $458.73 | South · NC; BTS 2025 official_value; passenger #99; +18.3% vs. BTS U.S. benchmark. |
| 7 | Fayetteville (XNA) | $458.69 | South · AR; BTS 2025 official_value; passenger #95; +18.3% vs. BTS U.S. benchmark. |
| 8 | Salt Lake City (SLC) | $457.57 | West · UT; BTS 2025 official_value; passenger #29; +18.0% vs. BTS U.S. benchmark. |
| 9 | San Francisco (SFO) | $453.22 | West · CA; BTS 2025 official_value; passenger #10; +16.9% vs. BTS U.S. benchmark. |
| 10 | Little Rock (LIT) | $451.63 | South · AR; BTS 2025 official_value; passenger #94; +16.5% vs. BTS U.S. benchmark. |
BTS 2025 nominal USD; published airport fares are official_value. Rankings and premiums are StatRanker-calculated from the published values.
Chart: Top 20 Airport Fares
Bar widths use the exact same 2025 values as the ranking table. Anchorage at $521.54 is the 100% reference bar, not the national average.
Chart scope: the 20 highest average fares within the 100-airport BTS passenger-rank selection. Dollar values, not passenger counts.
Methodology, Sources and Comparability
Metric, unit, direction
BTS annual domestic itinerary fare, in current-dollar ticket prices. Airport fare rank = descending published 2025 average fare. A ticket can represent round-trip travel or a one-way trip with no return purchased; it is not a fixed single flight-leg fare.
Coverage and selection
Airports with BTS 2025 originating domestic passenger rank 1–100 are included, including San Juan, Puerto Rico. Exactly 100 airport identifiers have confirmed 2025 values and matching 2024 entries. The current BTS passenger-order presentation lists Ontario (ONT) #52 and Wichita (ICT) #100; older archived table versions included West Palm Beach (PBI) at #52 and positioned Wichita at #101. This study uses the current 1–100 list, excluding PBI. The data are a fare ranking of the passenger Top 100, not the 100 most expensive fares among all U.S. airports.
Source roles and status
Numeric: BTS 2025 and 2024 annual airport fare tables, one publishing organization. Each airport's main value is official_value. Methodology/validation: BTS fare definitions and the April 2026 release. Geographic classification: Census regions; Puerto Rico shown separately. No forecast or mixed-provider ranking values.
Years and sample transition
Both years use full-year nominal fares, not inflation-adjusted amounts. BTS says the ticket-sampling rate changed from 10% before July 1, 2025 to 40% beginning July 1, 2025. Consequently, 2025 includes a sampling-method transition; 2024–2025 changes should not be assigned to inflation, competition or causation without further evidence.
StatRanker-derived formulas: national premium (%) = ((airport 2025 fare / $387.74) − 1) × 100; 2024–2025 nominal change (%) = ((airport 2025 fare / airport 2024 fare) − 1) × 100; gap = $521.54 − $269.20 = $252.34. The median is the mean of the 50th and 51st sorted airport fares because the sample has 100 airports. Regional count share = regional airports / 20 for Top 20, or / 100 for the full selection. Original BTS airport fares are shown to two decimal places, with derived percentages rounded to one decimal.
Conflict and limitations: the annual BTS airport table reports $387.74 as its 2025 national average, while the BTS April 24, 2026 press release describes the annual U.S. figure as $387. These two BTS publications do not display the same national result at this precision; their difference is not assumed to be rounding, and no unsupported cause is assigned. For reproducibility, all airport premiums here use $387.74, the exact comparator displayed within the 2025 airport table. Both publications come from BTS; they are not independent numeric sources, and the results are not averaged. Optional baggage and seat charges paid separately are excluded. Zero fares, frequent-flyer and certain extreme observations are excluded by BTS; the displayed averages are not fare quotes for identical routes, dates, cabins or distance bands.
Retrieval and selection verification: October 28, 2026. The ranking uses the BTS presentation with ONT #52 and ICT #100. Previous cached versions of the table can have different passenger ranks. Year of every ranked primary value: 2025. Historical inputs: 2024, using the same BTS table series and airport identifiers. No imputation of missing years, no aggregation of airlines by airport, and no 2026 projections.
Full Ranking: 100 Busiest U.S. Airports by 2025 Domestic Itinerary Fare
Search by airport, city, state or code; filter by Census region or published-value status. Sort by airfare, passenger rank, year-over-year change or airport name. Top 10/Top 20 always refers to the highest-fare original ranks, even after re-sorting.
Ranking values: BTS annual fare, official_value, 2025. Historical 2024 and premium calculations shown as method notes. Use of nominal fares means year-on-year changes are not inflation-adjusted.
| Rank | Airport | Average fare | Region / source / method note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage (ANC) | $521.54 | West · AK; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $530.75; nominal YoY −1.7% (calculated_value); passenger #69; vs. U.S. +34.5%. |
| 2 | Birmingham (BHM) | $497.72 | South · AL; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $496.14; nominal YoY +0.3% (calculated_value); passenger #79; vs. U.S. +28.4%. |
| 3 | Madison (MSN) | $491.19 | Midwest · WI; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $499.58; nominal YoY −1.7% (calculated_value); passenger #90; vs. U.S. +26.7%. |
| 4 | Washington-Dulles (IAD) | $468.84 | South · DC; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $490.14; nominal YoY −4.3% (calculated_value); passenger #35; vs. U.S. +20.9%. |
| 5 | Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP) | $460.01 | South · SC; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $462.97; nominal YoY −0.6% (calculated_value); passenger #86; vs. U.S. +18.6%. |
| 6 | Greensboro/High Point (GSO) | $458.73 | South · NC; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $471.50; nominal YoY −2.7% (calculated_value); passenger #99; vs. U.S. +18.3%. |
| 7 | Fayetteville (XNA) | $458.69 | South · AR; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $464.78; nominal YoY −1.3% (calculated_value); passenger #95; vs. U.S. +18.3%. |
| 8 | Salt Lake City (SLC) | $457.57 | West · UT; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $434.26; nominal YoY +5.4% (calculated_value); passenger #29; vs. U.S. +18.0%. |
| 9 | San Francisco (SFO) | $453.22 | West · CA; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $452.89; nominal YoY +0.1% (calculated_value); passenger #10; vs. U.S. +16.9%. |
| 10 | Little Rock (LIT) | $451.63 | South · AR; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $453.62; nominal YoY −0.4% (calculated_value); passenger #94; vs. U.S. +16.5%. |
| 11 | Charlotte (CLT) | $445.92 | South · NC; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $422.67; nominal YoY +5.5% (calculated_value); passenger #26; vs. U.S. +15.0%. |
| 12 | Oklahoma City (OKC) | $440.46 | South · OK; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $442.33; nominal YoY −0.4% (calculated_value); passenger #67; vs. U.S. +13.6%. |
| 13 | Tucson (TUS) | $438.77 | West · AZ; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $447.17; nominal YoY −1.9% (calculated_value); passenger #74; vs. U.S. +13.2%. |
| 14 | Tulsa (TUL) | $432.81 | South · OK; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $436.69; nominal YoY −0.9% (calculated_value); passenger #78; vs. U.S. +11.6%. |
| 15 | New York-JFK (JFK) | $431.32 | Northeast · NY; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $427.07; nominal YoY +1.0% (calculated_value); passenger #13; vs. U.S. +11.2%. |
| 16 | Detroit (DTW) | $429.65 | Midwest · MI; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $431.74; nominal YoY −0.5% (calculated_value); passenger #20; vs. U.S. +10.8%. |
| 17 | Atlanta (ATL) | $425.96 | South · GA; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $409.34; nominal YoY +4.1% (calculated_value); passenger #4; vs. U.S. +9.9%. |
| 18 | Palm Springs (PSP) | $425.17 | West · CA; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $428.31; nominal YoY −0.7% (calculated_value); passenger #98; vs. U.S. +9.7%. |
| 19 | Newark (EWR) | $424.88 | Northeast · NJ; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $426.52; nominal YoY −0.4% (calculated_value); passenger #6; vs. U.S. +9.6%. |
| 20 | Houston-Intercontinental (IAH) | $424.21 | South · TX; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $406.23; nominal YoY +4.4% (calculated_value); passenger #16; vs. U.S. +9.4%. |
| 21 | Los Angeles (LAX) | $423.63 | West · CA; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $407.41; nominal YoY +4.0% (calculated_value); passenger #1; vs. U.S. +9.3%. |
| 22 | Milwaukee (MKE) | $423.55 | Midwest · WI; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $394.91; nominal YoY +7.3% (calculated_value); passenger #55; vs. U.S. +9.2%. |
| 23 | Minneapolis (MSP) | $422.93 | Midwest · MN; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $392.71; nominal YoY +7.7% (calculated_value); passenger #15; vs. U.S. +9.1%. |
| 24 | Kansas City (MCI) | $422.15 | Midwest · MO; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $401.47; nominal YoY +5.2% (calculated_value); passenger #37; vs. U.S. +8.9%. |
| 25 | Dallas-DFW (DFW) | $421.77 | South · TX; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $415.35; nominal YoY +1.5% (calculated_value); passenger #7; vs. U.S. +8.8%. |
| 26 | Santa Ana (SNA) | $420.58 | West · CA; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $430.95; nominal YoY −2.4% (calculated_value); passenger #47; vs. U.S. +8.5%. |
| 27 | Wichita (ICT) | $420.56 | Midwest · KS; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $436.63; nominal YoY −3.7% (calculated_value); passenger #100; vs. U.S. +8.5%. |
| 28 | Omaha (OMA) | $420.32 | Midwest · NE; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $423.30; nominal YoY −0.7% (calculated_value); passenger #59; vs. U.S. +8.4%. |
| 29 | Fresno (FAT) | $418.87 | West · CA; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $445.25; nominal YoY −5.9% (calculated_value); passenger #92; vs. U.S. +8.0%. |
| 30 | Pensacola (PNS) | $416.73 | South · FL; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $411.93; nominal YoY +1.2% (calculated_value); passenger #87; vs. U.S. +7.5%. |
| 31 | Memphis (MEM) | $415.81 | South · TN; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $411.66; nominal YoY +1.0% (calculated_value); passenger #62; vs. U.S. +7.2%. |
| 32 | Philadelphia (PHL) | $415.17 | Northeast · PA; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $394.54; nominal YoY +5.2% (calculated_value); passenger #17; vs. U.S. +7.1%. |
| 33 | Colorado Springs (COS) | $413.96 | West · CO; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $402.21; nominal YoY +2.9% (calculated_value); passenger #88; vs. U.S. +6.8%. |
| 34 | San Antonio (SAT) | $412.25 | South · TX; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $398.90; nominal YoY +3.3% (calculated_value); passenger #45; vs. U.S. +6.3%. |
| 35 | Jacksonville (JAX) | $411.85 | South · FL; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $404.13; nominal YoY +1.9% (calculated_value); passenger #53; vs. U.S. +6.2%. |
| 36 | Louisville (SDF) | $409.27 | South · KY; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $389.45; nominal YoY +5.1% (calculated_value); passenger #66; vs. U.S. +5.6%. |
| 37 | Albuquerque (ABQ) | $408.65 | West · NM; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $409.64; nominal YoY −0.2% (calculated_value); passenger #63; vs. U.S. +5.4%. |
| 38 | Spokane (GEG) | $408.17 | West · WA; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $427.07; nominal YoY −4.4% (calculated_value); passenger #70; vs. U.S. +5.3%. |
| 39 | St. Louis (STL) | $408.09 | Midwest · MO; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $397.36; nominal YoY +2.7% (calculated_value); passenger #34; vs. U.S. +5.2%. |
| 40 | Albany (ALB) | $407.82 | Northeast · NY; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $429.69; nominal YoY −5.1% (calculated_value); passenger #77; vs. U.S. +5.2%. |
| 41 | Seattle (SEA) | $404.21 | West · WA; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $396.60; nominal YoY +1.9% (calculated_value); passenger #8; vs. U.S. +4.2%. |
| 42 | Richmond (RIC) | $404.06 | South · VA; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $407.10; nominal YoY −0.7% (calculated_value); passenger #57; vs. U.S. +4.2%. |
| 43 | Portland (PWM) | $403.80 | Northeast · ME; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $418.28; nominal YoY −3.5% (calculated_value); passenger #93; vs. U.S. +4.1%. |
| 44 | Columbus (CMH) | $402.24 | Midwest · OH; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $395.21; nominal YoY +1.8% (calculated_value); passenger #48; vs. U.S. +3.7%. |
| 45 | Knoxville (TYS) | $401.63 | South · TN; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $426.22; nominal YoY −5.8% (calculated_value); passenger #84; vs. U.S. +3.6%. |
| 46 | Norfolk (ORF) | $398.46 | South · VA; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $415.07; nominal YoY −4.0% (calculated_value); passenger #61; vs. U.S. +2.8%. |
| 47 | Grand Rapids (GRR) | $397.75 | Midwest · MI; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $408.04; nominal YoY −2.5% (calculated_value); passenger #65; vs. U.S. +2.6%. |
| 48 | Bozeman (BZN) | $395.77 | West · MT; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $424.00; nominal YoY −6.7% (calculated_value); passenger #96; vs. U.S. +2.1%. |
| 49 | El Paso (ELP) | $394.71 | South · TX; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $399.24; nominal YoY −1.1% (calculated_value); passenger #68; vs. U.S. +1.8%. |
| 50 | Boise (BOI) | $394.47 | West · ID; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $408.16; nominal YoY −3.4% (calculated_value); passenger #60; vs. U.S. +1.7%. |
| 51 | Syracuse (SYR) | $393.08 | Northeast · NY; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $375.19; nominal YoY +4.8% (calculated_value); passenger #75; vs. U.S. +1.4%. |
| 52 | Austin (AUS) | $392.40 | South · TX; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $398.98; nominal YoY −1.6% (calculated_value); passenger #25; vs. U.S. +1.2%. |
| 53 | Indianapolis (IND) | $392.27 | Midwest · IN; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $385.38; nominal YoY +1.8% (calculated_value); passenger #39; vs. U.S. +1.2%. |
| 54 | Savannah (SAV) | $392.08 | South · GA; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $399.56; nominal YoY −1.9% (calculated_value); passenger #82; vs. U.S. +1.1%. |
| 55 | Sacramento (SMF) | $391.75 | West · CA; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $387.84; nominal YoY +1.0% (calculated_value); passenger #31; vs. U.S. +1.0%. |
| 56 | Portland (PDX) | $389.93 | West · OR; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $393.33; nominal YoY −0.9% (calculated_value); passenger #27; vs. U.S. +0.6%. |
| 57 | Reno (RNO) | $389.78 | West · NV; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $388.44; nominal YoY +0.3% (calculated_value); passenger #72; vs. U.S. +0.5%. |
| 58 | Honolulu (HNL) | $389.54 | West · HI; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $369.74; nominal YoY +5.4% (calculated_value); passenger #32; vs. U.S. +0.5%. |
| 59 | Des Moines (DSM) | $380.79 | Midwest · IA; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $395.07; nominal YoY −3.6% (calculated_value); passenger #76; vs. U.S. −1.8%. |
| 60 | Cincinnati (CVG) | $380.58 | Midwest · OH; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $360.66; nominal YoY +5.5% (calculated_value); passenger #46; vs. U.S. −1.8%. |
| 61 | Ontario (ONT) | $379.35 | West · CA; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $374.08; nominal YoY +1.4% (calculated_value); passenger #52; vs. U.S. −2.2%. |
| 62 | Boston (BOS) | $379.09 | Northeast · MA; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $369.65; nominal YoY +2.6% (calculated_value); passenger #5; vs. U.S. −2.2%. |
| 63 | Hartford (BDL) | $377.74 | Northeast · CT; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $375.58; nominal YoY +0.6% (calculated_value); passenger #51; vs. U.S. −2.6%. |
| 64 | Washington-Reagan National (DCA) | $375.92 | South · DC; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $379.60; nominal YoY −1.0% (calculated_value); passenger #21; vs. U.S. −3.0%. |
| 65 | Chicago-O'Hare (ORD) | $374.28 | Midwest · IL; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $376.15; nominal YoY −0.5% (calculated_value); passenger #2; vs. U.S. −3.5%. |
| 66 | San Diego (SAN) | $371.54 | West · CA; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $373.79; nominal YoY −0.6% (calculated_value); passenger #18; vs. U.S. −4.2%. |
| 67 | Phoenix (PHX) | $370.91 | West · AZ; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $370.82; nominal YoY +0.0% (calculated_value); passenger #11; vs. U.S. −4.3%. |
| 68 | Cleveland (CLE) | $370.35 | Midwest · OH; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $362.71; nominal YoY +2.1% (calculated_value); passenger #40; vs. U.S. −4.5%. |
| 69 | Rochester (ROC) | $368.08 | Northeast · NY; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $386.48; nominal YoY −4.8% (calculated_value); passenger #83; vs. U.S. −5.1%. |
| 70 | Baltimore (BWI) | $366.07 | South · MD; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $362.30; nominal YoY +1.0% (calculated_value); passenger #23; vs. U.S. −5.6%. |
| 71 | Pittsburgh (PIT) | $364.79 | Northeast · PA; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $367.09; nominal YoY −0.6% (calculated_value); passenger #41; vs. U.S. −5.9%. |
| 72 | White Plains (HPN) | $363.26 | Northeast · NY; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $350.97; nominal YoY +3.5% (calculated_value); passenger #81; vs. U.S. −6.3%. |
| 73 | Denver (DEN) | $360.65 | West · CO; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $351.81; nominal YoY +2.5% (calculated_value); passenger #3; vs. U.S. −7.0%. |
| 74 | Houston-Hobby (HOU) | $359.07 | South · TX; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $350.10; nominal YoY +2.6% (calculated_value); passenger #49; vs. U.S. −7.4%. |
| 75 | Charleston (CHS) | $358.65 | South · SC; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $359.39; nominal YoY −0.2% (calculated_value); passenger #58; vs. U.S. −7.5%. |
| 76 | Nashville (BNA) | $357.76 | South · TN; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $357.19; nominal YoY +0.2% (calculated_value); passenger #28; vs. U.S. −7.7%. |
| 77 | New York-La Guardia (LGA) | $357.40 | Northeast · NY; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $331.91; nominal YoY +7.7% (calculated_value); passenger #12; vs. U.S. −7.8%. |
| 78 | San Jose (SJC) | $352.42 | West · CA; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $336.26; nominal YoY +4.8% (calculated_value); passenger #36; vs. U.S. −9.1%. |
| 79 | Raleigh/Durham (RDU) | $351.86 | South · NC; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $364.02; nominal YoY −3.3% (calculated_value); passenger #30; vs. U.S. −9.3%. |
| 80 | Long Beach (LGB) | $346.38 | West · CA; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $329.02; nominal YoY +5.3% (calculated_value); passenger #73; vs. U.S. −10.7%. |
| 81 | Miami (MIA) | $346.25 | South · FL; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $340.57; nominal YoY +1.7% (calculated_value); passenger #24; vs. U.S. −10.7%. |
| 82 | Fort Myers (RSW) | $343.02 | South · FL; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $343.86; nominal YoY −0.2% (calculated_value); passenger #50; vs. U.S. −11.5%. |
| 83 | Dallas-Love Field (DAL) | $340.29 | South · TX; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $337.15; nominal YoY +0.9% (calculated_value); passenger #38; vs. U.S. −12.2%. |
| 84 | Asheville (AVL) | $335.31 | South · NC; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $329.04; nominal YoY +1.9% (calculated_value); passenger #97; vs. U.S. −13.5%. |
| 85 | New Orleans (MSY) | $333.40 | South · LA; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $333.69; nominal YoY −0.1% (calculated_value); passenger #43; vs. U.S. −14.0%. |
| 86 | Sarasota/Bradenton (SRQ) | $333.11 | South · FL; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $334.80; nominal YoY −0.5% (calculated_value); passenger #80; vs. U.S. −14.1%. |
| 87 | Oakland (OAK) | $332.28 | West · CA; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $319.09; nominal YoY +4.1% (calculated_value); passenger #42; vs. U.S. −14.3%. |
| 88 | Burbank (BUR) | $331.16 | West · CA; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $317.95; nominal YoY +4.2% (calculated_value); passenger #54; vs. U.S. −14.6%. |
| 89 | Providence (PVD) | $330.75 | Northeast · RI; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $342.14; nominal YoY −3.3% (calculated_value); passenger #64; vs. U.S. −14.7%. |
| 90 | Buffalo (BUF) | $327.40 | Northeast · NY; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $338.73; nominal YoY −3.3% (calculated_value); passenger #56; vs. U.S. −15.6%. |
| 91 | Tampa (TPA) | $327.29 | South · FL; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $330.30; nominal YoY −0.9% (calculated_value); passenger #22; vs. U.S. −15.6%. |
| 92 | Chicago-Midway (MDW) | $312.18 | Midwest · IL; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $306.96; nominal YoY +1.7% (calculated_value); passenger #33; vs. U.S. −19.5%. |
| 93 | Kahului (OGG) | $307.98 | West · HI; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $283.32; nominal YoY +8.7% (calculated_value); passenger #71; vs. U.S. −20.6%. |
| 94 | Kona (KOA) | $297.60 | West · HI; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $281.52; nominal YoY +5.7% (calculated_value); passenger #85; vs. U.S. −23.2%. |
| 95 | San Juan (SJU) | $286.40 | Puerto Rico · PR; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $277.90; nominal YoY +3.1% (calculated_value); passenger #44; vs. U.S. −26.1%. |
| 96 | Las Vegas (LAS) | $285.46 | West · NV; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $285.46; nominal YoY +0.0% (calculated_value); passenger #14; vs. U.S. −26.4%. |
| 97 | Myrtle Beach (MYR) | $285.41 | South · SC; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $281.65; nominal YoY +1.3% (calculated_value); passenger #89; vs. U.S. −26.4%. |
| 98 | Lihue (LIH) | $283.60 | West · HI; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $266.94; nominal YoY +6.2% (calculated_value); passenger #91; vs. U.S. −26.9%. |
| 99 | Orlando (MCO) | $274.11 | South · FL; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $275.79; nominal YoY −0.6% (calculated_value); passenger #9; vs. U.S. −29.3%. |
| 100 | Fort Lauderdale (FLL) | $269.20 | South · FL; BTS 2025 official_value; 2024 BTS $265.32; nominal YoY +1.5% (calculated_value); passenger #19; vs. U.S. −30.6%. |
Showing 100 of 100 airports. No JavaScript is required to see the full ranking.
Four Findings From the Verified 2025 Data
Key Insight: The National Fare Premium
Anchorage's $521.54 is $133.80 above the BTS 2025 national figure of $387.74, a 34.5% premium. The calculation uses the BTS all-airport U.S. average as denominator, not the mean of the Top 100 subset.
Notable Pattern: 2024–2025 Changes
Across the same 100 airports, nominal published averages rose at 53, fell at 46, and were unchanged at one (Las Vegas, $285.46 in each year). Kahului (OGG) had the largest percentage rise, +8.7% ($283.32 to $307.98), calculated from observed values.
Regional Concentration: Southern Airports
11 of the 20 highest-fare airports (55%) are in the Census South region, compared with 39 of 100 (39%) in the entire passenger-ranked sample. Puerto Rico, which is outside the four Census regions, is shown separately.
Outlier: Passenger Rank Is Not Fare Rank
Anchorage is #69 by originating passengers yet #1 by fare ($521.54). Los Angeles is #1 by passengers but #21 by fare ($423.63). Both ranks come from the same BTS 2025 airport selection.
What These Airport Fares Mean
Use the list to compare the average observed ticket-itinerary value of domestic journeys originating at different airports. A $450 airport mean does not imply a $450 fare for a specific one-way leg or round trip, and airports may have different route lengths, trip-type mixes and destination patterns. Selecting the same destination and travel dates is necessary for a direct shopping comparison.
The BTS published values and passenger ranks are official observations; the airfare order, gap, regional distribution, median, nominal 2024–2025 rates and U.S. premiums are StatRanker calculations. The method change in the 2025 ticket sample limits interpretations of year-on-year movement, and these data do not establish airport fees, competition, local incomes or traveler behavior as causes of high fares. This ranking also excludes airports outside the 2025 passenger Top 100: for example, Tallahassee (TLH) has a BTS fare of $601.93 but is omitted because its passenger rank is #140.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which of the 100 busiest U.S. airports was the most expensive to fly from in 2025?
Anchorage (ANC) led by average BTS domestic itinerary fare at $521.54, compared with the national 2025 figure of $387.74 from the annual airport table.
Which airport had the lowest average domestic airfare in this ranking?
Fort Lauderdale (FLL) was #100 in descending fare order, at $269.20. This does not mean it was the cheapest of every U.S. airport: smaller airports outside the selected 100 are excluded.
Is a BTS itinerary fare the cost of a single flight?
No. BTS records the total domestic ticket itinerary: normally round-trip, or one-way when no return is purchased. It is not a per-flight-leg price or a quote for a specific route.
Are these 2025 or 2026 prices?
All 100 ranking fares are full-calendar-year 2025 observations, retrieved October 28, 2026. There is no 2026 fare projection or synthetic 2025 value.
Why compare only 100 airports if BTS also publishes smaller airports?
The study takes passenger ranks 1–100 (including Wichita, excluding West Palm Beach) from the verified BTS 2025 airport table and orders these by fare. This provides a clearly bounded comparison among relatively busy origins; an unrestricted all-airport ranking would include very small airports with different traffic and fare patterns.
Are the 2024–2025 percentages official BTS rates?
No. BTS published the underlying nominal 2024 and 2025 airport averages. The percentages here are calculated_value: (2025 fare ÷ 2024 fare − 1) × 100. They are not inflation-adjusted and are not forecasts.
How is the premium versus the U.S. average calculated?
Each airport's official 2025 average is compared with $387.74, the 2025 national figure printed on the same BTS annual table. Formula: (airport fare ÷ 387.74 − 1) × 100. This is a calculated comparison, not a separately published BTS premium.
Why does the 2025 sampling change matter?
The BTS annual series changed from a 10% ticket sample in the first half of 2025 to 40% starting July 1. Year-on-year differences may therefore reflect changes in data collection or composition as well as market changes; the ranking does not quantify their separate effects.
Does the ranking include U.S. territories?
It includes San Juan (SJU), Puerto Rico, because BTS lists it among the 100 busiest domestic origins in 2025. Puerto Rico is filtered separately, since it is not within the Census Bureau's four state regions.
Sources and Provenance
BTS — Annual Average Domestic Airline Itinerary Fares, 2025
Primary published airport average fares; current 2025 passenger-order list (ONT #52; ICT #100); U.S. national benchmark $387.74; fare definition. Every primary ranking row refers to this source.
https://www.transtats.bts.gov/AverageFare/?Year=2025BTS — Annual Average Domestic Airline Itinerary Fares, 2024
Historical published 2024 fares for the same 100 airport codes (including ICT), used only as observed inputs for nominal year-on-year comparisons. Same publishing organization as the 2025 table.
https://www.transtats.bts.gov/AverageFare/?Year=2024BTS — 2025 Annual Average Domestic Air Fare Release
Explains the July 2025 10%-to-40% ticket-sample transition, ticket contents and exclusions, and the separately reported national release figure (not assumed to be a rounding of the airport-table figure). Not a second independent organization.
https://www.bts.gov/newsroom/2025-annual-average-domestic-air-fare-decreases-2024U.S. Census Bureau — Geography Program Glossary
Definitions of Northeast, Midwest, South and West Census regions; confirms Puerto Rico is outside those state-based regions. No airfare figures taken from this source.
https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/geography/about/glossary.html