MINNEAPOLIS — You're not imagining things when it feels like you're paying significantly more to fly out of the Twin Cities.
Research released Monday by USA Today says the average airfare at MSP International Airport was $422 in 2023, a bump of $136 from 2021. That's a 48% increase, the highest percentage of any airport in the country, according to USA Today.
USA Today said Spokane International in Washington was second at 46%, followed by Chicago O'Hare International and Philadelphia International (43%) and Pensacola International (42%). Overall, the cost of flights at America’s 100 busiest airports is up 29% since 2021, but things are trending better in the short term: between 2022 and 2023 most flight prices leveled off and even slightly dropped.
If you're looking for the cheapest airports to fly in and out of, major tourist destinations like Orlando and Las Vegas are usually the ticket. Of the top 100 busiest domestic airports, Orlando-Sanford is the cheapest airport to fly out of with an average airfare price of $144.
The most expensive place to fly out of is our border-sharing neighbor to the east. Taking off from Dane County Regional Airport in Madison, Wisconsin costs an average of $548.
Surveys of 2,000 people across the nation who have flown in the past year show that the bottom line has become the biggest factor in how people decide whether to fly or drive. More than 40% of travelers say cost was the lead determining factor, followed by travel time and flight availability.
For more on the research, check out the USA Today website.
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