WASHINGTON — Sure, Labor Day weekend traditionally marks the end of summer merriment. But if the travel itch hasn’t been scratched, there is reason to leave the suitcase out.

For the first time in a long time, airfares are getting cheaper — and not just seasonally.

The Consumer Price Index reported that July over July, airfares dropped 5.6 percent. And the sweet spot on the travel calendar is just days away.

“It’s not just the fuel prices going down, but this is also a very slow period for travel, just after Labor
Day until Thanksgiving,” says George Hobica, founder of airfarewatchdog.com.

He recently spotted one-way fares from Washington to Chicago for $40 and Washington to Miami for $59.

“The last time we saw a big drop was after Sept. 11, [2001]. And after that airlines started to consolidate, and fares went up about 1 percent a year,” he says.

After Thanksgiving, airfares the following two weeks are often the cheapest of the year before rising again around the holidays.