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TIA offers air travel bargains

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By TED JACKOVICS

tjackovics@tampatrib.com

Published: May 12, 2009

TAMPA - Tampa International Airport reported the 14th-lowest average airfares in 2008 among the nation's 100 largest airports, at $286 for roundtrip and one-way bookings, $70 less than the national average.

"This is always great news because it clearly demonstrates that we have a wide distribution of low-fare airlines and not one airline dominating a market," TIA director Louis Miller said. "The traveling public enjoys a tremendous benefit and saves money."

Cincinnati's average fares were the highest at $554.33, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation report.

Dallas Love Field, Southwest Airlines' longstanding mainstay airport, and here Delta Air Lines is moving in and American Airlines is pulling out, was the lowest at $240.51.

Spirit, AirTran, JetBlue, Southwest and Frontier Airlines, which serve TIA, posted operating profits throughout their systems in the fourth quarter of 2008, as did Allegiant Air, which serves St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport. Continental, Delta, American, US Airways, United and Northwest posted operating losses in the fourth quarter.

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

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