Airline fares hit all-time high

(CNN) - Airline passengers spent a record amount, on average, to fly in the first quarter of this year.

The Department of Transportation says the average price of a domestic ticket soared to $373 in the first three months of 2012. That's a nearly five percent jump over the same period a year earlier. The previous all-time high was $370, set last spring.

But the ticket price surge wasn't a boon for carriers. US Airlines reported a $1.7 billion loss for the quarter, according to an industry spokesman.

Among the top 100 airports, Cincinnati passengers paid the highest average fare with a whopping $526 per trip. Atlantic City, N.J. was the lowest average, at $157.