Fares at Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky Airport continued to fall in the second quarter of 2009, helping to further shed its status as the most expensive airport in the nation.

Of the top 100 U.S. airports, Cincinnati ranked 12th in the second quarter for average fares, according to a report released by the Department of Transportation. Fares at Cincinnati averaged about $364, based on round-trip or one-way tickets. Recent fare cuts from Delta, Cincinnati's busiest carrier, helped lower the ranking for the airport that had been the most or second-most expensive for several years.

Airports offering the highest second -quarter fares: were in Huntsville, AL, followed by Grand Rapids, MI; Savannah, GA; Washington Dulles; and Houston Bush. 

The lowest fares in the nation during the period were at Atlantic City, NJ, followed by Long Beach, CA; Dallas Love; Orlando, FL; and Fort Lauderdale, FL.

The biggest year-to-year average decrease was 38.7 percent in Cincinnati, followed by Madison, WI; Minneapolis/St. Paul; Charlotte, NC and Harrisburg, PA.

The largest average fare increase from the second quarter of 1995 to the second quarter of 2009 was at Dallas Love followed by Houston Hobby; El Paso, TX; Reno, NV; and Las Vegas.

The largest average fare decrease from the second quarter of 1995 to the second quarter of 2009 was at White Plains, NY.  The other top average fare decreases over this period took place at Manchester, NH; Buffalo/Niagara, NY; Rochester, NY; and Akron/Canton, OH

Average domestic air fares in the second quarter of 2009 fell to their lowest April-to-June level since 1998, dropping 13.0 percent from the second quarter of 2008 in the largest year-to-year decline on record.

The 13 percent year-to-year drop exceeded the previous largest decline of 11.8 percent from the fourth quarter of 2000 to the fourth quarter of 2001, which took place following the 9/11 attacks. The $301 average second quarter fares were almost equal to the second quarter 1998 average fare. 

Second quarter average fares were down 3.8 percent from the first quarter of 2009, the largest first quarter to second quarter decline since 2001.