Airfares are rising to record heights around the country, but nowhere faster than here in Atlanta.

The CEO of FareCompare.com tells the AJC if you plan on flying this summer, especially during peak times, you'll probably pay more for a flight than you ever have before.

You can thank airline mergers and smaller flight schedules for some of those rising costs -- less competition and fewer flights mean higher prices.

And nowhere is it more evident than here in Atlanta. Delta bought Northwest Airlines six years ago, while Southwest Airlines bought AirTran in 2011.

Southwest plans to downsize AirTran's operations.

Flight schedules out of Hartsfield-Jackson Airport have also shrunk recently.

Airfares in Atlanta have risen 1.4%, compared with this time last year. And if you're flying to Europe, you'll pay an average of 6.1% more than 2013.