Airline ticket prices drop

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The average price of an airline ticket dropped 2.5 percent last month, the Air Transport Association Office of Economics said Monday.

Coach fares were down 2.5 percent and first-class fares decreased 1 percent in March compared to the same month a year ago.

"A weak U.S. economy has softened the demand for air travel," said ATA Chief Economist David A. Swierenga. "Falling corporate earnings and a more cautious consumer outlook has resulted in downward pressure on airline ticket prices."

Information in the report is compiled from actual prices paid by consumers, which are provided by air carriers to ATA. Data covered more than 85 percent of domestic air travel.

The Air Transport Association of America is a trade association for U.S. airlines.

Air Transport Association

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