Fuel spike trims schedules
Jet fuel prices have jumped sharply since the Iran war and airlines are trimming schedules as summer demand rises, driving tighter capacity and higher fares ( ). Delta is one carrier already reacting — the airline is cutting six long‑haul routes in 2026 even after carrying a record 16.1 million international passengers in 2025, and other carriers including Cathay Pacific, United, SAS, Air New Zealand and Vietnam Airlines are also reducing flying as fuel pushes above $200 a barrel ( ).
Airlines are cutting flights and lifting prices as jet fuel costs jump into the summer travel peak. (npr.org) The International Air Transport Association said the global average jet fuel price was $197.83 a barrel last week, far above its earlier 2026 planning assumption of about $88. Airlines for America put the United States jet fuel index at $4.08 a gallon on April 10. (iata.org, airlines.org) The price shock followed disruption around the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane for oil and refined products. National Public Radio reported on April 16 that a European airport group had warned of a “systemic jet fuel shortage” if traffic through the strait did not normalize by the end of April. (npr.org) Carriers are responding first on routes where high fuel burn and weaker loads make flights easiest to cut. Reuters reported this week that airlines have been raising fares, adding surcharges, trimming flying and lowering profit outlooks as fuel moved from roughly $85-$90 a barrel to $150-$200 in recent weeks. (finance.yahoo.com, cnbctv18.com) Delta Air Lines is one example. Simple Flying reported on April 15 that Delta cut six long-haul routes in 2026 after carrying a record 16.1 million long-haul passengers in 2025, including temporary suspension of Boston-Tel Aviv because of the Iran war and earlier exits from Orlando-London Heathrow and Boston-São Paulo. (simpleflying.com) Other airlines are making smaller but broad reductions. The Traveler reported on April 15 that Cathay Pacific plans to cancel about 2 percent of scheduled passenger flights between May 16 and June 30, while HK Express is preparing cuts of about 6 percent from May 11, and United is trimming about 5 percent of planned flying in coming months. (thetraveler.org) Some carriers are passing the cost on in fees before fares fully reset. The Associated Press reported last week that Delta joined other United States airlines in raising checked-bag fees as higher fuel costs spread through the industry. (apnews.com) Budget airlines are also warning that the fuel spike is hitting bookings and earnings. Reuters reported on April 16 that EasyJet expects a deeper first-half loss, said summer bookings are running behind last year, and estimated about £25 million in additional fuel costs in the first half of 2026 from the Middle East conflict. (cnbc.com, lse.co.uk) For travelers, the near-term effect is fewer seats on marginal routes and more expensive tickets on the flights that remain. If fuel stays near current levels into late spring, airlines will enter the busiest months of 2026 selling scarcer capacity at higher operating cost. (npr.org, thetraveler.org)
