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Although Airfares Are Sky-High, TIA Has Deals

Tribune file photo by JAY CONNER

Tampa International Airport fares rose 0.5 percent in the first quarter to an average of $273.22, the 17th lowest among 100 major airports.

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By TED JACKOVICS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 24, 2008

TAMPA - Domestic airfares are rising, but Tampa International Airport travelers appear to enjoy bargains compared with those at most other airports, a report issued Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Transportation shows.

Average domestic airfares rose 4.4 percent nationwide to $331.72 in the first quarter this year compared with the year-ago period, the largest year-to-year increase since 2006, the DOT's Bureau of Transportation Statistics said. That average includes round-trip tickets and one-way fares with no return purchased, but it does not include frequent flier discounts.

By comparison, Tampa International fares rose 0.5 percent in the first quarter to an average of $273.22, the 17th lowest among 100 major airports.

Tampa's airfares for the latest period reported remained 9.3 percent lower than its airfares the first quarter of 2001.

"With 45 percent of our seats on low-cost carriers, we have a good balance, and airlines match low fares with where people want to go," Tampa International director Louis Miller said.

Despite the upward trend in airfares, some bargains remain available, such as $205 round trips between Tampa and San Francisco and Seattle, compared with $297 round trips between Tampa and Los Angeles, www.airfarewatchdog.com reported Wednesday.

Cincinnati reported the highest average airfare for the first quarter this year at $535.32, with Atlantic City, N.J., posting the lowest average fare at $108.71.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at tjackovics@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7817.

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