Jet‑fuel spike forces airlines to raise summer fares
- United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Alaska Air are cutting summer flying and warning of higher ticket prices after a conflict-driven jump in jet fuel costs upended 2026 travel plans. - United said fares may need to rise 15% to 20%; Delta cut June-quarter growth by 3.5 points; Alaska said second-quarter fuel costs will run about $600 million higher. - The squeeze is tied to war-related disruption around the Strait of Hormuz, a route carrying roughly 25% to 30% of global jet fuel. (cnbc.com)
Airlines are raising summer fares and cutting flights after jet fuel prices jumped sharply in April. (abcnews.com) (cnbc.com) United Airlines told travelers fares may need to rise 15% to 20% to cover fuel, and Chief Executive Scott Kirby said the carrier is passing through the higher cost. (abcnews.com) Delta Air Lines removed all planned June-quarter capacity growth, trimming supply by about 3.5 percentage points from its original plan as fuel prices squeezed margins. (wtvbam.com) Alaska Air withdrew its 2026 profit forecast and said second-quarter fuel expense will be about $600 million higher than previously expected. (cnbc.com) (abcnews.com) Travelers are already seeing the effect. Kayak historical data cited by ABC News showed average domestic airfare up $55 from a year earlier. (abcnews.com) Between Delta, United and American, more than 5,000 routes from May through September have been canceled, or about 33 flights a day, according to ABC News. (abcnews.com) The pressure starts in the fuel market. CNBC reported that Europe may have about six weeks of jet fuel left, according to the International Energy Agency. (cnbc.com) About 25% to 30% of the world’s jet fuel moves through the Strait of Hormuz, and the conflict around Iran has disrupted oil and refined-fuel flows through that corridor. (cnbc.com) The United States is less exposed to outright shortages because it produces more fuel domestically, but U.S. airlines still pay higher market prices when global supplies tighten. (cnbc.com) For summer travelers, the immediate changes are simpler: higher fares, thinner schedules and fewer backup options when a flight is delayed or canceled. (abcnews.com) (cnbc.com)
