A technician prepares to refuel a Delta Airlines plane at Austin-Bergerstrom International Airport on April 10, 2026 in Austin, Texas.
Brandon Bell | getty images
US airlines spent 56.4% more on jet fuel in March than in February, a month after the US-Israeli attacks on Iran began, US government data released on Wednesday showed.
U.S. carriers spent $5.06 billion on fuel in March, up from $3.23 billion in February. According to the transport department, this was 30% more than what they paid in March 2025.
Due to increases in fuel, their biggest expense after labor, airlines have reduced or eliminated their 2026 forecasts altogether. Some carriers have reduced development plans to cut costs and avoid having too much expensive capacity in markets.
Jet fuel prices rose even further to above $4 a gallon in some markets in April as the war continued and the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed.
Spirit Airlines collapsed over the weekend, and the carrier said rising jet fuel costs derailed its plans to emerge from bankruptcy midstream.
Other major carriers told Wall Street as they reported earnings last month that they expect customers to cover higher jet fuel costs by the end of this year, if not early 2027.
So far, booking trends show consumers are still traveling, according to Airlines Reporting Corp. In March, sales of travel agency tickets rose 12% from a year earlier to $10.4 billion, with domestic trips up 5% and international trips up 1%.
