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A recent analysis of data from the US Department of Transportation has revealed the most expensive transcontinental flights in the United States by gross fare, including taxes and fees. The report highlights that while American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and JetBlue operate many popular routes, the highest average fares are not necessarily what most passengers pay. These figures represent averages across all classes and fluctuate due to factors such as competition, taxes, and seat availability.
The busiest and most lucrative transcontinental routes connect New York with Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). According to the analysis, American Airlines' route from New York JFK to Los Angeles had the highest average fare for 2024 at $520. This number reflects all cabin classes, including premium seats.
Other high-fare routes include United Airlines' Newark (EWR) to San Francisco (SFO) service at $480 on average, Delta Air Lines’ New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX) at $414, Delta’s JFK-San Francisco at $397, United’s Newark-Los Angeles at $359, JetBlue’s JFK-San Francisco at $355, and JetBlue’s JFK-Los Angeles at $348. Passenger counts on these routes ranged from 416,000 to over a million in 2024. These numbers exclude international connecting traffic or other domestic transfers beyond the listed airports.
