Portland holiday airfares hit decade highs as jet fuel costs rise
Airfare from Portland International Airport has risen sharply for Thanksgiving and Christmas, driven by higher jet fuel prices and reduced seat availability on several routes.
Airfare for Thanksgiving and Christmas travel from Portland International Airport has climbed to its highest level in ten years, according to data from travel-booking platform Hopper and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The average domestic fare in the second quarter of 2026 was about $437, a 14% increase from the same period a year earlier, while the national average rose 15.5% to $445.
Hopper economist Hayley Berg attributed the surge to "months of elevated jet fuel costs due to the conflict in Iran," noting that U.S. benchmark jet fuel reached $4.90 per gallon in late October, roughly double pre-conflict levels. The International Air Transport Association estimates fuel now accounts for about one-third of airlines’ operating costs worldwide.
Airlines have responded by raising ticket prices and, in some cases, reducing seat capacity on popular routes. Alaska Airlines, which carries the largest share of Portland passengers, reported a 13% increase in revenue per mile despite fewer seats filled, and its chief commercial officer said the carrier is willing to leave seats empty if higher fares can be charged. Southwest Airlines saw average fares rise about 27% and cut its planned seat additions by roughly half, while United and American airlines announced cancellations of some December flights.
Port of Portland officials expect more than 1.4 million travelers to pass through the airport during the Thanksgiving and December holiday periods, a 7% increase from the previous year. The port projects an 11% rise in flights and seats from mid-September through February, though specific routes such as Portland-Las Vegas and Portland-Los Angeles have seen seat reductions of 19.4% and 11.3% respectively.
Travel experts advise booking holiday flights before Halloween to secure lower fares, and suggest flying on less popular travel dates. Hopper’s analysis indicates that flying during the week of Christmas rather than the preceding week could save up to 18% on domestic economy tickets and 34% on international economy flights.