It has become more expensive to fly since the war in Iran began. But by how much?
Data from the flight search engine Skiplagged shows ticket prices for popular domestic routes rose 35% this summer compared with last year, reversing three years of price declines. Fares for popular international routes are up by about 15%.
Routes booked in May for June and early July are often some of the most expensive fares of the year, behind only those routes during the holiday season. Domestic passenger prices this summer are the highest they’ve been since 2022.
At first blush, the smaller increase in international fares may be surprising: Flights abroad are generally longer and require more jet fuel, which has nearly doubled in price since the start of the war.
According to airline analysts, prices for international routes may have spiked less because of lower demand for travel to the U.S. and because it’s harder for airlines to make route changes and cut flights. By contrast, airlines can more easily pull back capacity on domestic flights when there’s weak demand, increasing scarcity and leaving prices high.