Consumers Could Pay Higher Airline Fares in the First Half of 2025–Here’s Why

U.S. airfares are trending upward when consumer flight demand is soaring, which will lead to prolonged price pressure throughout 2025. That’s the takeaway from Hopper, an airfare price tracking platform. In the company’s Q1 Consumer Travel Index & 2025 Outlook Report, Hopper analysts say U.S. airfare prices are already 12 percent higher than in January 2024. That number should expand as 2025 rolls on. “Prices are expected to remain above 2023 and 2024 levels until mid-year at least,” the study states. “Though late spring and summer prices are forecasted to be above 2024 levels by double digits, it’s important to note that summer 2024 brought some of the lowest prices on record.” Hopper also notes that 76 percent of Americans say they’ll “spend the same or more” on 2025 travel, with rising consumer demand, particularly among younger adults, should drive airline prices up throughout the year. Slow deliveries of much-needed passenger airplanes from manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus and consolidated flight inventory will also likely contribute to higher airfare prices this year. Supply delays are a particularly vexing problem for airlines, which are forced to tighten flight schedules, leading to pricing pressures in the high-demand travel consumer marketplace.

To read what Piotr Ostrowski, Online Travel Operations Director at Oojo, an online travel agency, says, click here.