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Report: PDX ranks among nation’s most expensive airports to fly from

Travelers arrive at the Portland International Airport, December 24, 2020 (KOIN)

(NEXSTAR) – When it comes to air travel within the U.S., your ticket might get cheaper just based on where you depart from.

Data from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation show the average cost of a domestic flight departing from 45 of the nation’s busiest airports – valuable information in 2022 as airplane ticket costs continue to march higher.

In April, airfares soared a record 18.6%, the largest monthly increase since record-keeping began in 1963. And hotel prices jumped 1.7% from March to April.

Southwest Airlines said last month that it foresees much higher revenue and profits this year as Americans flood airports after having postponed travel for two years. Southwest said its average fare soared 32% in the first three months of the year from the same period last year.

When it comes to the cheapest average fare, it pays to fly out of Florida. Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, took the top spot with an average cost of $233.36. Orlando International Airport came in second, at $241.01. Miami International ($236.76) and Tampa International (270.88) rounded out the top five after Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas ($247.53).

Fares are based on the total ticket value, including the price set by the airlines as well as any taxes and fees charged by an outside entity at purchase. The cost doesn’t include the price of optional services, such as baggage fees or frequent flyer and excludes any frequent-flyer or “zero” fares.

Based on the latest available data from the last quarter of 2021, these are the 10 cheapest airports:

RankAirportStateAvg. airfare
1Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport FL$233.36
2Orlando International AirportFL$241.01
3Harry Reid International AirportNV$247.53
4Miami International AirportFL$236.76
5Tampa International Airport FL$270.88
6Chicago Midway AirportIL$271.84
7Dallas Love FieldTX$278.31
8Oakland International AirportCA$279.15
9New Orleans International AirportLA$281.04
10LaGuardia AirportNY$289.65
(Bureau of Transportation Statistics)

The top three most expensive airports to fly from are Dulles International Airport in Washington D.C. ($408.08), followed by San Francisco International Airport ($400.66) and Detroit Metro Airport ($364). PDX ranks just behind them at No. 4 with an average airfare of $364.40.

RankAirportStateAvg. airfare
1Dulles International AirportDC$408.08
2San Francisco International AirportCA$400.66
3Detroit Metro AirportMI$366.33
4Portland International AirportOR$364.40
5John F. Kennedy International AirportNY$360.94
6Charlotte/Douglas International AirportNC$356.60
7Salt Lake City International AirportUT$356.30
8San Diego International AirportCA$352.58
9Los Angeles International AirportCA$350.25
10Boston Logan International AirportMA$347.43
(Bureau of Transportation Statistics)

While it certainly isn’t always practical to change one’s departure airport, for those who are lucky enough to have multiple airports to choose from a little planning might save a substantial amount of cash.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.