Airlines spent 56.4% more on jet fuel after Iran war began: DOT
A technician prepares to refuel a Delta Airlines aircraft at Austin-Bergrstrom International Airport in Austin, Texas, on April 10, 2026.
Brandon Bell | Getty Images
US airlines spent 56.4% more on jet fuel in March than in February, a month after US-Israeli attacks on Iran began, according to US government data released Wednesday.
U.S. carriers spent $5.06 billion on fuel in March, up from $3.23 billion in February. This was 30% more than what they paid in March 2025, according to the report. Ministry of Transport.
Airlines either lowered or completely shelved their 2026 forecasts due to the increase in fuel, which is their biggest expense after labor. Some carriers have scaled back their growth plans to cut costs and avoid having too much expensive capacity in markets.
As the war continued and the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed, the rise in jet fuel became even sharper, reaching over $4 per gallon in some markets in April.
Spirit Airlines collapsed over the weekend, and the airline said a rise in jet fuel costs had scuppered plans to emerge from bankruptcy in the middle of the year.
Other major carriers told Wall Street when reporting profits last month that they expected customers to absorb higher jet fuel costs by early 2027, if not by the end of this year.
So far, booking trends show that consumers are still traveling. Travel agent ticket sales in March rose 12% from the previous year to $10.4 billion, according to Airlines Reporting Corp.; The number of domestic trips increased by 5% and the number of international trips increased by 1%.
