Why flying is so expensive

This video brilliantly shows why airfares cost what they cost. At the end of the video, it also discusses the effects of competition on airfares. New York to Los Angeles flights sometimes end up costing less than $300 round trip. But, very short flights from Denver to Gunnison, Colorado, may cost more than $500. Why? Competition. On the NYC to LA flight there is competition from many airlines. On the Denver to Gunnison flight there is only United Airlines flying the route.

Using statistics from the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Airbus and Delta Airlines, Wendover Productions calculated the costs based on an Airbus A320 travelling at full capacity (154 passengers), one-way between John F. Kennedy International Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport.

Although the figures are calculated using US costs, they could be applied to air travel anywhere else in the world, with a few adjustments to account for varying taxes and charges.

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