Charlotte Airfares Top Greensboro’s

By Jefferson George, The Charlotte Observer, N.C.

Jul. 23–For the first time since late 2005, airline tickets cost more on average in Charlotte than Greensboro, according to federal statistics released Wednesday.

The average roundtrip airfare for Charlotte flights in the first three months of this year was about $392, up more than 12 percent from the same period last year. In Greensboro, the average fare was about $387, down 3 percent from the first quarter in 2007.

Earlier this decade, Charlotte was one of the nation’s most expensive airports, due largely to a lack of competition for US Airways, which has its largest hub here. For many area travelers, Greensboro was a low-cost alternative, with average fares that were $100 to $150 less than those in Charlotte.

That began to change three years ago, when US Airways merged with America West Airlines and started to slash prices in Charlotte. Since then, low-cost carriers AirTran and JetBlue have started service at Charlotte/Douglas International, while Greensboro lost some flights.

Last year, however, ultra-low-cost carrier Skybus began service in Greensboro, driving down fares. Although Skybus filed for bankruptcy protection and stopped flying this spring, Greensboro’s average fare has dropped from above $400 in most of 2006 to less than $390 after Skybus began service in the spring of 2007.

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