https://edition.cnn.com/2026/04/20/business/jet-fuel-airlines-iran-warOn top of higher airfares and fees because of the war in Iran, airlines in Europe and Asia, many of which depend on imported jet fuel, are now facing a potential shortage, raising the odds of flight cancellations and schedule cuts.The US is in no immediate danger of running out of jet fuel, but the global shortage is driving up fuel prices for US carriers. They are cutting back on cheap airfares and less profitable flights, a move that’s likely to drive up airfares for US travelers particularly in the summer months.Even if the US and Iran reach a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz today, the die is cast for summer travel. Airlines are planning routes and setting airfares for months in the future.United, for example, has cut its previously planned schedule by about 5% over the next six months.Airlines — and their passengers — likely won’t see any relief until deep into the summer, if then. That’s because it will take months to resume normal supplies of oil and jet fuel.“It’s going to take until at least July,” said Matt Smith, head US analyst at energy consulting firm Kpler. “And even that may be optimistic at this point.” Fuel is the second-largest cost for airlines, just behind labor. A single-aisle commercial jet burns roughly 800 gallons of jet fuel an hour. Widebodies generally burn even more.The four largest US airlines – United, American, Delta and Southwest — spent about $100 million a day on average among them on fuel last year.Those costs are up dramatically since the war began. Delta last week said it could spend an additional $2 billion on fuel this year, even though it owns its own refinery. United could spend an extra $11 billion on fuel this year if things stay as they are, United CEO Scott Kirby told employees in March.
Last-minute walk-up fares to hot vacation destinations, such as US flights to the Caribbean, are up 74% from earlier this month, according to data from Deutsche Bank, while those fares to Hawaii from the mainland were up 21%.US airlines don’t have to worry about shortages as much as foreign carriers. The United States is the world’s largest oil producer and one of the leading exporters of jet fuel.But some of the other leading exporters of jet fuel are Kuwait and Bahrain, whose product is trapped because of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, according to data from Kpler. Over 20% of global seaborne jet-fuel supply passed through the Strait of Hormuz last year, with just over two-thirds going to Europe. Much of the world’s jet fuel is refined in Asia; South Korea is the world’s No. 1 exporter. But much of the crude that Asian countries use to make jet fuel comes from the Middle East.Asian countries are starting to limit jet-fuel exports, Willie Walsh, director of the International Air Transport Association, said last week. That could put more pressure on the price of US jet fuel.Even if the strait does reopen for good, and soon, it will take weeks for oil and jet fuel trapped by the strait’s closure to reach customers in Europe and Asia. Not to mention the time it will take to restart the oil and jet fuel production halted by the war. Higher fuel prices could be catastrophic for struggling airlines.Budget carrier Spirit Airlines has filed for bankruptcy twice in the last 18 months. Just days before the war started, it announced a plan to emerge from bankruptcy by the summer. But the airline warned in a March annual financial report that the jump in fuel costs would have an “immediate and substantial negative impact” on results, perhaps upending its deals with lenders and pushing it into liquidation.
Upstart discount airlines, an important supply of cheap seats, have struggled financially since the pandemic. “Financially weaker airlines that may struggle to absorb these combined pressures could default and/or return aircraft early,” Fitch Ratings warned earlier this month.A shakeout among the discount carriers that takes cheaper flights out of the system could cause fares to rise across the board.Major carriers are already cutting back their flight schedules, focusing on more profitable routes. Fewer available seats means the ones that are left will likely get more expensive as a result.“There’s just no point in flying flights that are going to lose money that can’t cover the cost of fuel,” United’s Kirby told Bloomberg late last month.
>>1508108>airlines in Europe and Asia, many of which depend on imported jet fuel, are now facing a potential shortage,>The US is in no immediate danger of running out of jet fuel, Should've helped us out with Iran, cunts. Honestly, the US should just pull out of NATO completely. Fuck 'em.
>>1508124We're now the ones blockading Iran. If anything this might genuinely get them to support Iran over us.
>>1508124Everyone is blaming the dickheads that started the war though
Why don''t airplanes use solar or wind? Honestly, I'm shocked no one thought of this before. They fly way up high above the clouds and they encounter a lot of wind. They could put up a sail and fly all day.Are they saying that renewable energy doesn't work that well?
>>1508126Jimmy Carter? I'd say that is fair.
>>1508128I'd put it more on Reagan's treason.
>>1508133Plenty of blame to go around. We replaced their elected leader with our "shah" back when Ike was president.There is only one true enemy and it's been the same since WWII at least ... Jews.
>>1508136But it was mainly Reagan since he went behind the US's back to conspire with the Shah to ensure they'd not only stay in power, but he'd give them weapons, after Iran elected a more moderate president who campaigned on releasing the hostages.Classic case of republicans fucking things up.
>>1508140Hard to believe that Reagan didn't see the overthrow of the Shah coming from a mile away.
>>1508128The war started on 28th February 2026 when the US and Israel attacked Iran. This is objectively true and real
>>1508124>...but the global shortage is driving up fuel prices for US carriers. They are cutting back on cheap airfares and less profitable flights, a move that’s likely to drive up airfares for US travelers particularly in the summer months.
>>1508150Yeah but Dr Trump the President said the US has all the fuel
>>1508140Ollie North crying on Fox about Iran having weapons is the funniest thing TV has ever produced. Absolute peak comedy. You just can't top it.
>>1508142Actually it wasn't the Shah. Reagan conspired with the Ayatollah, the guy who took the hostages.
>>1508128>Donald J. Trump? I'd say that is fair.ftfy
>>1508166yep. He didn't care who was in charge, he just wanted to win the election and show up Carter by announcing the imminent release on Election Night.Trump is a mix of Harry Truman and Reagan, but full of bitter hate. Reagan never told the American people any bad news. Trump never tells us any good news.
>>1508124>US should just pull out of NATO completelyAmerican imperialists leaving a country voluntarily?She don't want a dumb American(Dumb American, Dumb American, she don't want the Dumb American)(All right)But she wants the smart Canadian >>1508124>US should just pull out of NATO completelyAmerican imperialists leaving a country voluntarily?She don't want a dumb American(Dumb American, Dumb American, she don't want the Dumb American)(All right)But she wants the smart Canadianhttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mXE50Zc6EFw
>>1508124If they were serious about ending the problem they'd join the war on Iran's side. You don't want that.
>>1508203>join the war on Iran's sideAnd nip nong ching chong to you too, young lady.
