Earlier than reserving that subsequent flight from Houston, you might need to double test these ticket costs: A brand new report has revealed George Bush Intercontinental Airport is among the most costly airports in America in 2025.
IAH climbed into the eleventh spot in journey journal LocalsInsider’s rankings of “The Most and Least Reasonably priced U.S. Airports,” printed March 4. The report ranked 50 of the busiest U.S. airports based mostly on common ticket costs for home flights utilizing the most recent accessible information from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).
The common worth of a home flight at IAH got here out to $391.86, which is the eleventh priciest fare nationwide. That is additionally greater than the nationwide common airfare.
“In 2025, airline ticket costs have elevated by 7.1 p.c year-over-year, and the typical airfare is $365.64, in accordance with the latest information from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics,” the report stated.
William P. Pastime Airport additionally appeared among the many prime 50 priciest airports, rating thirty fourth. The common worth for a home flight at HOU is $341.28, the report discovered.
Sadly for vacationers reserving flights in Washington, D.C., Washington Dulles Worldwide Airport is the No. 1 most costly U.S. airport in 2025. Common airfares at IAD come out to $472.61, which is 1.4 p.c costlier than final yr.
All main Texas airports
IAH wasn’t the one costly Texas airport that appeared in LocalsInsider’s prime 15 least inexpensive American airports.
Dallas/Fort Value Internatinal Airport ranked one spot above Houston, showing because the tenth least inexpensive airport nationally, with airfares hovering to $392.31 on common.
Austin-Bergstrom Worldwide Airport and San Antonio Worldwide Airport weren’t too far behind, touchdown within the No. 14 and No. 15 spots, respectively. Common ticket costs in Austin are simply 12 cents cheaper than San Antonio’s, at $384.64 versus $384.52 within the Alamo Metropolis.
Nevertheless, Austin airport ticket costs have skyrocketed greater than practically each different U.S. airport. 12 months-over-year BTS information discovered AUS airfare has risen practically 8 p.c. Solely John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California eclipsed Austin with a close to 12 p.c worth improve since 2024.
Well-liked journey hack
With flights changing into costlier, many vacationers are turning in direction of an uncommon methodology of attending to their vacation spot.
The report unveiled “skip-lagging” – the method of reserving a flight with a layover and exiting throughout the layover fairly than persevering with to journey to the ultimate vacation spot – is rising in popularity in three main Texas cities.
Houston, Dallas, and Austin all appeared among the many report’s record of prime 25 U.S. cities the place “skip-lagging” is gaining reputation, since flights with layovers are sometimes extra inexpensive than nonstop flights to the identical metropolis.
Though vacationers could get monetary savings utilizing this “hack,” the report warns that they could get in hassle for it.
“Though skip-lagging supplies vacationers with the chance to bypass greater fares, it’s essential to remember that airways discourage this journey hack, they usually could even impose penalties on repeat offenders,” the report stated.
As a substitute, LocalsInsider suggests vacationers ebook midweek flights one to a few months upfront that depart on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (which are typically cheaper than weekend flights), and seek for any regional airports which will provide extra inexpensive airfare than main journey hubs. Google Flights additionally presents a useful function to assist budget-savvy vacationers observe their flight pricing.
The highest 10 most costly American airports are:
- No. 1 – Washington Dulles Worldwide Airport
- No. 2 – John Wayne Airport–Orange County Airport
- No. 3 – San Francisco Worldwide Airport
- No. 4 – Salt Lake Metropolis Worldwide Airport
- No. 5 – Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport
- No. 6 – Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport
- No. 7 – Charlotte Douglas Worldwide Airport
- No. 8 – John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport
- No. 9 – Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Worldwide Airport
- No. 10 – Dallas/Fort Value Worldwide Airport