- Consumers spent $8.8 billion on domestic flights in March, Adobe data shows.
- Bookings rose 12% in March, but online spending on airfare rose 28%.
- Travelers are feeling the impact of strong demand and an increase in jet fuel prices.
Airfare is surging as higher fuel prices and strong travel demand drive up the cost of flights.
Consumers spent $8.8 billion on domestic U.S. airline tickets last month, up 28% compared with March 2019, before the Covid pandemic, while fares surged 20%, according to data from the Adobe Digital Economy Index that was published Tuesday. Bookings only rose 12%.
Higher fares are one of the latest examples of inflation, which is hitting consumers at gas stations, supermarkets and in the housing market.