Airfare prices expected to stay high for holidays

(CNN)– If you’re planning to fly for the holidays, the time to buy your flights is now.

Thanksgiving airfare is up nearly 40% compared to this time last year, and tickets for the period around Christmas are up more than 20% from a year ago.

It’s a result of higher fuel costs and steady demand.

Bookings remain steady despite the surge in ticket prices.

Airline executives say don’t expect pricing to go down this holiday season.

They say if anything, airfares will only get more expensive.