According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for airline fares are 600.13% higher in 2026 versus 1977 (a $600.13 difference in value).
Between 1977 and 2026, Airfare experienced an average inflation rate of 4.05% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, airfare costing $100 in the year 1977 would cost $700.13 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.53% during this same period, inflation for airfare was higher.
In the year 1977: Pricing changed by 5.69%, which is above the average yearly change for airfare during the 1977-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1977 (6.50%), inflation for airfare was lower.
Airfare prices are up 22.4% over the past year, but your own inflation rate depends on everything you buy. The personal inflation calculator works it out from your budget.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Airfare, over time, for $100 beginning in 1977. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | $100.00 | 5.69% |
| 1978 | $104.67 | 4.67% |
| 1979 | $112.97 | 7.92% |
| 1980 | $156.36 | 38.41% |
| 1981 | $196.80 | 25.86% |
| 1982 | $216.90 | 10.21% |
| 1983 | $229.44 | 5.79% |
| 1984 | $243.28 | 6.03% |
| 1985 | $258.62 | 6.31% |
| 1986 | $269.20 | 4.09% |
| 1987 | $282.34 | 4.88% |
| 1988 | $285.59 | 1.15% |
| 1989 | $302.62 | 5.96% |
| 1990 | $341.05 | 12.70% |
| 1991 | $356.72 | 4.59% |
| 1992 | $356.88 | 0.04% |
| 1993 | $410.86 | 15.13% |
| 1994 | $426.40 | 3.78% |
| 1995 | $436.07 | 2.27% |
| 1996 | $442.41 | 1.45% |
| 1997 | $457.99 | 3.52% |
| 1998 | $471.90 | 3.04% |
| 1999 | $502.89 | 6.57% |
| 2000 | $550.40 | 9.45% |
| 2001 | $550.36 | -0.01% |
| 2002 | $532.34 | -3.28% |
| 2003 | $531.70 | -0.12% |
| 2004 | $522.32 | -1.77% |
| 2005 | $543.95 | 4.14% |
| 2006 | $568.45 | 4.50% |
| 2007 | $578.59 | 1.78% |
| 2008 | $648.27 | 12.04% |
| 2009 | $593.04 | -8.52% |
| 2010 | $639.51 | 7.84% |
| 2011 | $698.91 | 9.29% |
| 2012 | $701.03 | 0.30% |
| 2013 | $718.87 | 2.54% |
| 2014 | $707.38 | -1.60% |
| 2015 | $671.79 | -5.03% |
| 2016 | $649.56 | -3.31% |
| 2017 | $633.98 | -2.40% |
| 2018 | $608.99 | -3.94% |
| 2019 | $610.12 | 0.19% |
| 2020 | $500.11 | -18.03% |
| 2021 | $500.11 | 0.00% |
| 2022 | $650.90 | 30.15% |
| 2023 | $614.30 | -5.62% |
| 2024 | $601.26 | -2.12% |
| 2025 | $589.14 | -2.02% |
| 2026 | $700.13 | 18.84%* |
* 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 | 256.277 | 304.556 |