CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Government statistics show that airfares for Charleston, South Carolina, have been dropping in recent years.

The Post and Courier newspaper (http://goo.gl/DvV61e ) reports that the average cost to fly out of the Charleston airport fell to around $381 in the first quarter of 2016. The newspaper cited U.S. Department of Transportation statistics.

That’s a drop of about 17 percent since the same time in 2011. It’s also about a 4 percent drop from the same time last year.

Charleston International Airport is the busiest in South Carolina.

The trend for Charleston owes to increased competition and lower fuel costs. Airfares are also dropping around the country.