JFK is one of nation’s most expensive airports as flight prices surge across country: study

New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport is one of the priciest airports in the country — with average plane tickets topping $400 as a majority of Americans say increasing costs are keeping them out of the air, a new study showed.

Average airfares at JFK in 2026 were $404.59 as of May, earning it ninth place among the country’s most expensive travel hubs, according to a study from Local Insider.

The Queens airport missed the top five slots by less than $10. Houston’s George Bush Airport took the number 5 spot with an average of $413.60 per plane ticket.

JFK International Airport was one of the most expensive travel hubs to fly out of as of May 2026, a new study found. VICTOR TORRES/Stocksy – stock.adobe.com

Washington Dulles was the most expensive in the US at $439.39 average airfare, Salt Lake City International was the second with a $434.16 average ticket, Charlotte Douglas International was third at $432.16 and San Francisco International was the fourth most expensive at $422.17 per ticket on average.

New York City’s LaGuardia Airport, however, was far from the top ranks, coming in at number 39 on the list — but monetarily it was not far behind, with average tickets costing about $333.25 on average in 2026.

Newark Liberty International just missed the top 10 at number 13, with flights averaging $397.45 a ticket this year, Local Insider found.

The study used figures from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics to reach its conclusions, and also polled 1,500 Americans about their experiences travelling by air this year.

Airline costs have been on the rise amid the ongoing war in Iran, which has sent oil prices skyrocketing, with the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping corridor almost completely closed for weeks.

Many travelers reported delaying trips because of prices — with 68% saying they expect tickets to be unaffordable soon. Bloomberg via Getty Images

The situation has prompted some airlines to begin passing their increased fuel costs onto customers. Delta and United Airlines have jacked up ticket and baggage prices to make up the difference.

And travelers are not responding well, with more than half — 53% — saying they’d already postponed travel plans to wait for prices to cool, while 63% said they expect to fly less than they normally would this year because of prices.

Another 47% have booked earlier than they normally would to try to get the best price they can.

And 68% said air travel could soon be completely unaffordable for them — while 93% reported feeling the average traveler probably could no longer afford tickets.