04/20/2021

Cincinnati Business Courier / Chris Wetterich / April 20, 2021

Fares at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport hit their lowest level in 25 years for the fourth quarter of 2020, the latest period for which data is available.

CVG’s average fare for the quarter was $237, well below the national average of $261. CVG’s fares were the 20th-cheapest in the nation out of the top 100 domestic airports.

The pandemic has drastically reduced fares at CVG and most airports nationwide, with demand for travel reduced compared to before the pandemic. However, bookings continue to increase and airlines believe passengers are ready to travel to leisure destinations, while they await the return of lucrative business travelers.

In the fourth quarter of 2019, CVG’s average fare was $335.96, not adjusted for inflation.

As it has for years now, CVG's fares are lower than all other nearby airports. It also was the fourth-cheapest airport to fly from in the Midwest, with fares being less expensive at both Chicago airports and Cleveland’s Hopkins International Airport.

The most-expensive airport to fly to or from was Fayetteville, Ark., with a $337 average fare, while the cheapest was Sanford, Fla., with a $104 average fare.

In May, CVG will offer new service, including:

• May 14: Flights on Sun Country Airlines to Minneapolis.
• May 20: Flights on Alaska Airlines to Seattle
• May 27-29: United Airlines begins service to four new leisure destinations, Pensacola, Fla.; Portland, Maine; Charleston, S.C.; and Hilton Head Island, S.C.
• May 29: Viva Aerobus begins service to Los Cabos.

FULL STORY HERE (subscription-based)