Jet‑fuel spike hits fares

Jet fuel has surged to roughly $185 to $200 a barrel in April, and airlines are warning that summer tickets are getting more expensive as fuel and supply pressures spread. (iata.org) (businessinsider.com) In the U.S., the Argus jet-fuel index tracked by Airlines for America hit $4.08 a gallon on April 10. Fuel is one of airlines’ biggest costs after labor, and carriers have less room to absorb a sudden spike during the peak summer booking season. (airlines.org) (cnbc.com) The price shock is already showing up in fares. Travel reports published April 20 said some 2026 routes were selling for as much as 50% more than a year earlier, and airfare data trackers have also reported year-over-year increases in U.S. ticket prices this spring. (aol.com) (nerdwallet.com) Airlines are also trimming schedules instead of flying money-losing routes. KLM said April 17 that it would cancel 80 return flights from Amsterdam Schiphol because higher kerosene costs made those services no longer financially viable, and Ryanair said it was considering route reductions if supply disruptions continued. (businessinsider.com) In Vietnam, the pressure has already moved from pricing to service cuts. Vietnam Airlines suspended seven domestic routes from April 1 and said it could reduce monthly flying by 10% to 20% in the next quarter if jet fuel stays in a $160 to $200 per barrel range. (bloomberg.com) (businessinsider.com) U.S. travelers face a second squeeze from capacity limits at major hubs. On April 20, the Federal Aviation Administration published an order capping Chicago O’Hare at 2,708 daily operations from May 17 through October 24, down from more than 3,080 planned peak-day flights. (federalregister.gov) (faa.gov) The Federal Aviation Administration said the cap is meant to prevent worse delays during runway and taxiway construction, after less than 60% of O’Hare arrivals and departures were on time last summer. Fewer seats at one of the country’s busiest hubs can keep fares elevated even on routes not directly hit by fuel shortages. (faa.gov) (federalregister.gov) Booking advice has shifted with the market. Fare watchers told USA Today in March that domestic summer travelers should book about two to eight months ahead, while points and miles can soften the hit when cash prices jump quickly. (usatoday.com) (nerdwallet.com) The immediate test is the May-to-August rush, when airlines usually depend on full planes and high fares to make their year. If fuel stays near April levels and schedules keep shrinking, travelers will be paying more for fewer options. (iata.org) (faa.gov)