File photo of the Long Beach Airport.

For the third consecutive quarter, Long Beach Airport (LGB) has the lowest average airfare in California and the second lowest in the continental United States, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. The average round-trip domestic airfare at LGB was $229 during the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to the national average of $368 during the same period.

LGB had the third largest decrease in the country in average airfares from the third quarter to the fourth quarter, 2 percent, which also was the largest decrease in the state of California. The average fare at U.S. airports increased 2.1 percent in the same time period.

“Long Beach Airport is consistently working toward providing service above expectations and making sure our customers get the best bargain is a big part of it,” said Airport Director Mario Rodriguez.

On a year-to-year basis, Long Beach Airport experienced a 2 percent drop in the price of airfares from the fourth quarter of 2010 to the fourth quarter of 2011, while the average airfare price rose 10 percent nationally. Again, LGB had the third largest decrease nationally, and the largest decrease in California.

The study also looked at airfares over the long term, and concluded that the average airfare at LGB decreased 23.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to the same quarter in 2000, while the national average increased 8.3 percent. LGB’s decrease was third largest decrease nationally, and the largest decrease in California.

The study was conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Fares were based on the total ticket value including taxes and fees at time of purchase price, but did not include other fees such as baggage fees paid at the airport or aboard the plane. The calculations did not include airports in Alaska, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico. For more information, visit http://1.usa.gov/JaTdO3