Airfare surged 20% over pre-pandemic levels in March as inflation hit vacations

Travelers wait in line at the Delta Air Lines check-in area at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., on Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021.

Strong travel demand and higher fuel prices are driving up the cost of flights.

According to data from the Adobe Digital Economy Index that was published Tuesday, consumers spent more on airline tickets last month than they did in March. The rise in bookings was only 12%.

Consumers at gas stations, supermarkets and in the housing market are being hit by higher fares.

Airline executives have been confident that they could pass along the bulk of the surge in jet fuel to travelers, who have been willing to shell out more for travel after two years of Covid lockdowns.

Delta Air Lines executives will give an outlook on travel demand and fares before the market opens on Wednesday.

Online spending is up 8% for travel from June through August, and bookings are up 3%, according to the Adobe data.