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Airfare Soars In 2008; TIA's Among Cheapest

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By TED JACKOVICS

tjackovics@tampatrib.com

Published: January 31, 2009

TAMPA - Summer 2008's spike in aviation fuel prices led to the highest average U.S. airfare in 13 years - $362 - during the year's third quarter, a federal report states.

The average fare at Tampa International Airport from July through September was $291, the 15th least expensive in the nation, according to the Department of Transportation report released Thursday, which combined one-way and round-trip bookings.

Tampa's fares were the sixth lowest among the nation's 30 busiest airports. Tampa's average was $13.40 lower than for the same period in 1995, compared with a $74.19 increase in U.S. airfares.

"That's because of the mix of low-cost carriers we have," TIA director Louis Miller said. "It's not just Southwest. It's AirTran, JetBlue, Spirit and the others that keep everybody honest."

The lowest average fare was $232 at Dallas Love Field, Southwest's headquarters, and the highest was $597 at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817.

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