Major Airlines Raise Hub Airfares Up To 338% On Nonstop Routes Over Last Summer's Airfares

We believe the major airlines will only be able to demand this premium surcharge for the privilege to fly nonstop over the peak summer family travel period through the end of August or Labor Day.

As we enter the fall travel period, we expect these airfares that were higher to be rolled back on many routes. Travelers who have travel plans during this slow travel period including September, October and as early as November should wait this out.

We have seen the major airlines raise airfares 13 times since December 20, 2007 on non-competitive routes by as much as $340 roundtrip. They have attempted to raise airfares on routes also served by low-cost carriers such as Southwest Airlines, Virgin America, Jet Blue and Spirit, but most of these attempts have failed.

Due to the high demand for summer travel, the major airlines that control hub cities are betting that they can charge more money for the privilege to fly nonstop, even on routes where they compete with low-cost carriers that only offer one-stop or connecting service.

Travel to west coast destinations including California, Oregon or Washington from many east coast and midwest cities, or between the east coast and midwest to Florida where you find many nonstop flights being offered by the low-cost airlines, has not risen as much as the nonstop routes with no nonstop service offered by the low-cost carriers.

Listed below is a chart showing the cost of a roundtrip nonstop flight purchased during the first week of June 2007 for travel during the week of July 22, 2007 and the new price if purchased today for a roundtrip nonstop flight for the week of July 22, 2008.

You may also want to review our master chart showing the roundtrip airfare increases since last summer vs. this summer from several U.S. hub cities and nonstop routes:

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