A technician prepares to refuel a Delta Airlines aircraft at Austin-Bergrstrom International Airport April 10, 2026 in Austin, Texas.
Brandon Bell | Getty Images
U.S. airlines spent 56.4% more on jet fuel in March, the month after the U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran began, than in February, according to U.S. government data released Wednesday.
U.S. carriers spent $5.06 billion on fuel in March, up from $3.23 billion in February. That was 30% more than what they paid in March 2025, according to the Department of Transportation.
Airlines have lowered or even abandoned their forecasts for 2026 due to rising fuel prices, their biggest expense after labor. Some carriers have scaled back their growth plans to reduce costs and avoid having too expensive capacity on the markets.
The rise in jet fuel prices was even steeper, exceeding $4 per gallon in some markets in April, as the war continued and the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed.
Spirit Airlines collapsed over the weekend and the carrier said rising jet fuel costs thwarted its plans to emerge from bankruptcy mid-year.
Other major carriers told Wall Street as they reported results last month that they expected customers to cover higher jet fuel costs by early 2027 or even the end of this year.
So far, booking trends show that consumers are still traveling. In March, travel agency ticket sales rose 12% from a year ago to $10.4 billion, with the number of domestic trips up 5% and the number of international trips up 1%, according to Airlines Reporting Corp.
