Air fares are rising at greater than twice the speed of inflation, as carriers money in on hovering demand for journey that has defied broader financial headwinds.

Common ticket costs on greater than 600 of the world’s hottest routes rose at an annual price of 27.4 per cent in February, the newest month for which knowledge is obtainable, marking the fifteenth consecutive month of double-digit development, in accordance with a Monetary Instances evaluation of knowledge from aviation firm Cirium.

In contrast, US inflation, a proxy for world inflation in developed economies, has grown at lower than half that over the identical interval.

The info analysed costs on well-liked routes flown the world over and used common one-way fares in economic system, excluding taxes and costs.

It discovered vital value rises throughout many routes this 12 months, in comparison with pre-pandemic ranges.

The common one-way economic system class transatlantic flight from London Heathrow to New York’s JFK was $343 in February this 12 months, 23 per cent greater than in the identical month in 2019.

Fares between New York and Singapore have been 45 per cent greater at $887, whereas Dubai to Frankfurt tickets have been 51 per cent up at $360.

Sixty routes with at the least one leg in North America out of a complete of greater than 300 routes have set new highs prior to now 12-months, together with seven setting a brand new peak in February.

Fares between Miami and Bridgetown, Barbados grew 126 per cent within the 12 months to February and ticket costs between Los Angeles to Mexico Metropolis Worldwide nearly doubled — the very best 12 months on 12 months modifications in air fares since at the least 2014, the primary 12 months for which knowledge is obtainable.

Passengers’ willingness to pay excessive fares underlines the livid rebound in demand for flying over the previous 12 months, and the way airways are having fun with a pointy turnaround in fortunes following the pandemic.

“Airways are operating out of hyperbole to explain demand energy,” Bernstein analyst Alex Irving stated.

American Airways reported file first-quarter income in its most up-to-date outcomes, whereas Lufthansa stated it expects adjusted earnings to surpass 2019 ranges this spring. British Airways proprietor IAG and Air France each additionally predicted bumper summer time seasons this week.

The excessive demand for journey comes at a time when airways are passing on elevated prices to prospects, together with gas, labour and the sturdy greenback for non-US carriers.

Costs have additionally risen as a result of many carriers have been sluggish in rebuilding their pre-pandemic flight schedules, partially due to a worldwide scarcity of plane.

Analysts stated the comparatively restricted provide of seats at a time of excessive demand has helped assist costs, and stopped a glut of latest capability flooding the market and driving down fares.

Luis Gallego, chief government of IAG, stated “it’s in our curiosity to supply aggressive pricing”. However he added that airways wanted to move on rising prices within the “excessive inflation” setting.

Airways usually forecast demand with “unimaginable accuracy”, which means they know a 12 months prematurely which flights can be full, and might cost excessive fares from when tickets are first placed on sale in response, stated Oliver Ranson, managing director of consultancy Airline Income Economics.

However he stated the pandemic has difficult this mannequin as demand patterns are nonetheless in flux, which means airways have typically gone again to a cruder mannequin of elevating costs consistent with gross sales, and elevating costs for individuals reserving on the final minute.

Airways have been one of many worst hit sectors in the course of the pandemic and are rebuilding their funds after shedding a mixed almost $200bn between 2020 and 2022, in accordance with trade physique Iata.

The excessive ticket costs come amid rising scrutiny of firms utilizing excessive inflation as cowl to boost costs opportunistically, a phenomenon dubbed “greedflation”.

Rory Bolland, journey editor of UK client rights group Which?, stated passengers should not undergo from a rerun of the widespread journey disruption seen final 12 months.

“Costs and earnings at many airways are hovering, so the least passengers ought to obtain in return is a reliable service,” he stated.

Nevertheless, Hugh Aitken, vice-president for strategic flights and trade partnerships at value comparability web site Skyscanner, stated there have been nonetheless “offers” available, as fares are usually not rising uniformly.

“Even throughout busy journey durations like summer time, costs are usually not rising on all routes, nor on the similar price,” he stated.