These are the most and least expensive airports in the US

Budget travel is more than just booking a flight on the best day or picking an unpopular departure time. Knowing the most cost-efficient cities and airports for travel is also vital.

Finance Buzz reviewed the airfares for domestic flights from 45 of the country’s busiest airports. Their findings provided data on which airlines budget travelers should utilize and avoid.

The price of air travel has bounced back significantly post-pandemic, regardless of your location. The outlet states the national average airfare cost increased by 14.1 percent from 2021 to 2022. The increase included a 23.2 percent inflation adjustment.

45 Busiest Airports

Finance Buzz found the busiest hubs with the most travelers throughout the year.

1. Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)

2. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)

3. Orlando International Airport (MCO)

4. Oakland International Airport (OAK)

5. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)

6. LaGuardia Airport (LGA)

7. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

8. Miami International Airport (MIA)

9. San José Mineta International Airport (SJC)

10. Tampa International Airport (TPA)

11. Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL)

12. Denver International Airport (DEN)

13. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)

14. Nashville International Airport (BNA)

15. Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)

16. Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport

17. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)

18. Sacramento International Airport (SMF)

19. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)

20. Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)

21. St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)

22. San Diego International Airport (SAN)

23. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)

24. Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)

25. John Wayne Airport (SNA)

26. Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)

27. Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)

28. San Antonio International Airport (SAT)

29. Indianapolis International Airport (IND)

30. Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

31. Kansas City International Airport (MCI)

32. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)

33. Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)

34. Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)

35. Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)

36. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)

37. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

38. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

39. Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)

40. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)

41. (tie) Detroit Metro Airport (DTW)

42. (tie) Portland International Airport (PDX)

43. Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)

44. San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

45. Dulles International Airport (IAD)

Least expensive airports and their average airfare costs

1. Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) – $264.24

2. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) – $271.78

3. Orlando International Airport (MCO) – $273.35

4. Oakland International Airport (OAK) – $288.23

5. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) – $303.05

Harry Reid International has owned the title of lowest airfare cost since 2018. The only time it ranked No. 2 was in 2021 when Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International took the top spot. Orlando International has the third least expensive airfare, less than four hours away from Fort Lauderdale. Another West Coast airport, Oakland International, is fourth. The Midwest is represented by Chicago Midway International, with flights averaging $303.05.

Most expensive airports and their average airfare costs

1. Dulles International Airport (IAD) – $494.78

2. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) – $456.86

3. Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) – $444.42

4. Portland International Airport (PDX) and Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) (tie) – $425.35

There is almost a $200 difference between the fifth least expensive airport and the most expensive airport regarding average airfare. Virginia’s Dulles International has an average airfare of almost $500.00, while Detroit Metro and Portland International are tied at $425.35.

Biggest changes in airport cost

San Diego International and Daniel K. Inouye International rose almost 10 spots a piece in their rankings compared to last year’s study. SAN jumped up 16 spots, going from 38th last year to 22nd this year and HNL climbed up 11 places, from 26th to 15th.

Biggest jump in affordability rankings

The outlet states overall fares at the 45 busiest airports in the country rose by $50.67 on average from 2021 to 2022.

Some airports, however, stuck out amongst others.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport rose more than any other airport, increasing by $87.82. The second highest increase was Dulles International, with a $86.70 rise in cost. Dallas Fort Worth came in third with an average cost of $82.12.

Biggest drop in affordability rankings

Dallas Fort Worth’s increase in average price changed its affordability ranking from No. 31 to 40 this year. DFW tied with Newark Liberty International. Newark dropped by nine spots compared to last year, going from 25th in 2021 to 34th in 2022.

Martie Bowser is a journalist and public relations professional in Charlotte, NC. She enjoys amplifying the voices of POC and women that fill a void within their community. Her favorite things to cover include “person of interest” pieces, small business highlights, pop culture commentary, entertainment features, and everything about Beyoncé. Her bylines can be found in Blavity, Black Excellence, Signature Bride, Black Wall Street Times, and HipHop Weekly. Martie can be reached via email at martiebowser@detourxp.com.