Airfare expected to stay high through the holiday season

(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 with 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 said not to expect prices to go down this holiday season. They said, if anything, airfares will only get more expensive.