Airfares have risen sharply, averaging 24% higher in August compared to a year earlier, with holiday fares up 31% for Thanksgiving. Spirit Airlines shut down this spring after bankruptcy, removing a key source of low-cost competition. Cirium found fares on former Spirit routes increased 5–6% in June year-over-year, with one Cleveland-Las Vegas route jumping over 40% to $272 from $192.
In Detroit, median fares on former Spirit routes rose from $125 to $227 summer-over-summer. Across 1,126 city pairs Spirit served, over 90% saw fare increases, with a median rise of 25.3%. Even routes without Spirit saw an 18.3% median increase.
Experts cite rising fuel and labor costs, strong summer demand, and limited seat additions as compounding factors. Remaining ultra-low-cost options include Frontier Airlines and Allegiant Air, which charge fees for bags, seats, and refreshments. JetBlue Airways offers a hybrid model strong in the Eastern U.S. Travelers are advised to compare carriers and monitor deals amid elevated prices.
来源: New York Times Top Stories · 由HeadlinesBriefing整理摘要