Major U.S. Airports Ranked by Affordability

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A recent analysis of 200 of the busiest U.S. airports found major differences in average domestic airfares, with Washington Dulles International Airport ranking as the most expensive at $475 per ticket and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport being the most affordable at $281 per ticket. The report also highlighted that travelers in multi-airport regions can find significant savings by choosing a less expensive departure point, though factors like travel time and parking fees should also be considered.

Why it matters

The wide variation in airfare costs across U.S. airports can have a major impact on travel budgets, especially for families. This data provides helpful insights for travelers looking to maximize their savings when booking flights.

The details

The analysis, conducted by Savings.com, looked at domestic airfare data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics for the first half of 2025. It found that while the average U.S. domestic airfare was $391, down 1.3% year-over-year, there were significant disparities between the most and least expensive major airports. In addition to Dulles, Salt Lake City International ($461) and Charlotte Douglas International ($445) were among the priciest. The most affordable major airports were Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood ($281), Orlando International ($289), and Harry Reid International in Las Vegas ($291). Smaller, secondary airports like St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Orlando Sanford, and Punta Gorda also offered very low average fares, often under $150.

• The analysis looked at domestic airfare data from the first half of 2025.