United trims summer schedule

United Airlines is cutting about 5% of its planned flights for the second and third quarters as jet fuel costs surge. (aviationweek.com) Chief Executive Scott Kirby said on March 20 that the cuts target flights that are not profitable at current fuel prices, including some off-peak and redeye service. He said United plans to restore the full schedule in the fall. (aviationweek.com) United also raised checked-bag fees by $10 for tickets purchased on or after April 3 for travel in the United States, Mexico, Canada and Latin America. Most travelers now pay $45 for a first checked bag if they prepay, or $50 if they pay within 24 hours of departure; a second bag costs $55 prepaid or $60 closer to departure. (cnbc.com) The airline said the fee increase is its first bag-fee change in two years. United Chase cardholders, MileagePlus Premier members, active military members and passengers in premium cabins still get a free checked bag on eligible trips. (abcnews.com) The changes come after jet fuel prices roughly doubled following the start of the Iran conflict on February 28, pushing up one of airlines’ biggest costs after labor. Argus data cited by United and industry outlets put jet fuel in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and New York at about $4.88 a gallon on April 2. (aviationweek.com) (cnbc.com) Kirby told employees that if fuel stayed at those levels, United’s annual jet-fuel bill would rise by about $11 billion. Speaking to investors in March, he said the conflict had already added roughly $400 million to operating costs. (aviationweek.com) (usnews.com) Other carriers are making similar moves. JetBlue raised bag fees earlier that same week, and Associated Press reported that Delta Air Lines and American Airlines had told investors they were facing comparable fuel-cost pressure. (cnbc.com) (usnews.com) United says demand is still holding up, and it is not pulling back on aircraft deliveries. Kirby said the airline still plans to take about 120 new aircraft in 2026 and another 130 by April 2028, even as it trims summer flying. (aviationweek.com) For travelers, the result is fewer flights on some routes and higher trip costs for anyone checking bags. United’s current plan is to keep those cuts in place through summer, then bring the full schedule back in the fall. (aviationweek.com)