Why do flights cost so much?

<p>Have you looked at the cost of airline tickets lately? One listener, Sam Kulpinski reached out after seeing the cost to fly from one side of the country to the other. She left a message asking, "why do flights cost so much?"</p><p>The amount of travel, especially around the holidays has rebounded to pre-COVID levels, but one aspect of traveling - business travelers- hasn't rebounded as much. Could this be why flights are so expensive?&nbsp;</p><p>5 Things Sunday host James Brown sat down with USA TODAY travel reporter Zach Wichter and Patrick De Haan of Gas Buddy to to talk about travel and airline prices.</p><p>Not surprisingly, De Hann said the cost of fuel plays a big role in airline prices. He said there are fewer planes available right now and that is also adding to it.</p><p>For more on the cost of airline tickets:</p><p><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-02-11/industrial-strength-aircraft-retirement-party-has-been-postponed-kziq7ouh?leadSource=uverify%20wall" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Industrial strength: The aircraft retirement party has been postponed</a></p><p><a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2019/09/04/american-airlines-md-80-planes-retired-super-80-jets-head-roswell/2209309001/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">American Airlines retires last of its 'workhorse' MD-80 fleet</a></p><p><a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2016/11/16/united-boeing-747s-retired-october-2018/93952294/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">United: Boeing 747s to be retired by October 2018</a></p><p><a href="https://news.aa.com/news/news-details/2020/A-fond-farewell-to-five-fantastic-fleets-FLT-04/default.aspx" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">A fond farewell to five fantastic fleets</a></p><p><a href="https://simpleflying.com/2020-us-airline-retirements/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">What planes have US airlines retired in 2020?</a></p><p><a href="https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/31236-second-l