Tightening fuel supply\u2014and the ensuing surge in oil prices\u2014has quickly become one of the most impactful forces reshaping where, when and how people can travel in 2026.<\/p>\n
At the center of it all is the disruption to global oil flows from the war on Iran, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, which remains a critical chokepoint for energy shipments. The result has been a sharp spike in jet fuel prices, which have nearly doubled in some regions \u2014 including the U.S. \u2014 since the conflict began on February 28.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re planning on flying any time soon, keep fluctuating flight schedules \u2014 and these tips for managing them \u2014 in mind.<\/p>\n
The price of jet fuel in the U.S. has climbed from $2.50 a gallon on February 27 to $4.88 a gallon by April 2 (1).<\/p>\n
Moreover, the Argus US jet fuel index has averaged $2.97\/USG in 2026, which is up by 74\u00a2\/USG (or 33%) compared to last year (2). The war has elevated the average spot price by $2.20\/USG to around $4.70\/bl.<\/p>\n
For airlines, fuel is one of the largest operating costs. When prices surge and supply becomes uncertain, the response tends to be swift: raise ticket prices, cut flights and protect margins. And that\u2019s exactly what travelers are seeing now.<\/p>\n
\u201cTravel has gotten a lot more expensive in Asia, with many airlines adding fuel surcharges or downright canceling flights,\u201d senior oil market analyst for Sparta Commodities, June Goh, shared on X in early March (3). \u201cEurope is facing imminent jet fuel supply shortages. Brace yourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n
Willie Walsh, Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), told reporters at the IATA World Data Symposium in Singapore that it will likely take months for jet fuel prices and supply to restabilize (4).<\/p>\n
“If [the Strait of Hormuz] were to reopen and remain open, I think it will still take a period of months to get back to where supply needs to be given the disruption to the refining capacity in the Middle East, which is a critical part of the global supply of refined products \u2014 and not just jet fuel, for other products, as well,” Walse said.<\/p>\n
Ryanair, which is Europe’s largest airline, is reportedly considering reducing routes as a result of potentially limited jet fuel supply going forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t expect any near-term fuel shortages, but the situation is fluid,\u201d a Ryanair spokesperson shared with Moneywise. \u201cAt present, our fuel suppliers can guarantee supply to mid-end May. If the Iran war finishes soon then supply will not be disrupted. If the closure of the Hormuz Straits continues into May or June then we cannot rule out risks to fuel supplies at some airports in Europe.\u201d<\/p>\n
With jet oil prices doubling during March, the spokesperson said Ryanair expects all airlines to pass on elevated costs in the form of increased air fares later this summer.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for Scandinavian Airlines told The Wall Street Journal in March that it would cut about 1,000 flights due to the surge in jet fuel costs (5). Around the same time, a spokesperson for Lufthansa told Bloomberg that the airline has put teams in place to develop crisis response plans, which include grounding up to 40 aircrafts (6). Neither Scandinavian Airlines nor Lufthansa immediately responded to Moneywise\u2019s request for comment.<\/p>\n
A growing number of Asian airlines \u2014 many of which operate directly within and around the Middle East \u2014 are also cutting costs by cutting flights, including Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air and Bamboo Airways.<\/p>\n
AirAsia X founder Tony Fernandes told the Qatar Tribune that higher prices are simply \u201cunavoidable\u201d amid the ongoing conflict, and the airline is cutting capacity on routes where it doesn\u2019t \u201cbelieve [it] can cover the cost of the fuel (6).\u201d<\/p>\n
Back on home soil, United Airlines was among the first to make a public statement regarding the war and its impact on fuel costs and flights.<\/p>\n
Chief Executive Scott Kirby said in a staff memo, which was shared with Moneywise, that United is preparing for rising oil prices to inflate the airline\u2019s annual fuel bill by about $11 billion \u2014 more than twice the profit it earned in its \u201cbest year \u200bever (7).\u201d For that reason, the airline wants to \u201cbe smart and nimbly manage [its] schedule.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the short term, that means tactically pruning flying that\u2019s temporarily unprofitable in the face of high oil prices,\u201d Kirby wrote. \u201cOur current plan is to restore the full schedule this fall \u2026 But there’s no point in burning cash in the near term on flying that just can’t absorb these fuel costs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Delta has also said it would cut capacity by around 3.5 percentage points.<\/p>\n
“We are taking actions to protect our margins and cash flow,\u201d Chief Executive Ed Bastian said in the airline\u2019s first-quarter 2026 earnings report (8). \u201cThis includes meaningfully reducing capacity growth, with a downward bias until the fuel environment improves, and moving quickly to recapture higher fuel costs.”<\/p>\n
Read More: How to apply Dave Ramsey\u2019s 7 Baby Steps to your own life<\/a><\/p>\n In December (before the conflict kicked off), a report from the International Air Transport Association predicted there will be strong travel demand in 2026, with 5.2 billion people expected to travel by air (9). That marks a 4.4% increase from last year\u2019s record-breaking passenger counts. But the war\u2019s impact on fuel \u2014 and, as such, flights \u2014 means less options and more fees for travelers.<\/p>\n Even when flights aren\u2019t being outright canceled, they\u2019re becoming increasingly more expensive to operate (and take). Flights that are lifting off are fuller, pushing prices higher and diminishing last-minute deals. The cost is being passed on to travelers<\/a> in the form of fare bumps, baggage fees and pared-back perks.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also becoming increasingly difficult to reach different destinations due to restricted airspace. Longer routes that avoid restricted airspace burn more fuel, further compounding costs.<\/p>\n A spokesperson at Ryanair told Moneywise that the airline urges all passengers to book their flights as soon as possible to be \u201cinsulated from inevitable airfare and accommodation cost increases.\u201d<\/p>\n Travelers should also:<\/p>\n Enable price alerts. Tools like Google Flights and Hopper track fares to help you monitor changes and jump on potential dips.<\/p>\n Be wary of extra fees. While one flight might appear cheaper, increased baggage fees can it pricier than another flight with a slightly higher fare. What looks like a cheap ticket upfront might still give you stickershock by the time you checkout.<\/p>\n Book directly with airlines. If complications do arise, it\u2019s generally easier to navigate them when you\u2019ve booked directly with an airline instead of a third-party site with stipulations of its own.<\/p>\n Pay with points where possible. Jordan Rozum, Director of Loyalty at point.me, tells Moneywise that point.me data shows two prices right now: the rising cash fare and the awards flights booked with points.<\/p>\n \u201cThe pricing gap between cash and rewards points exists right now because airlines offer reward seats through their frequent flyer programs that are priced differently than cash tickets,\u201d Rozum noted. \u201cCash ticket prices are much more volatile, while reward seats use fixed charts that are less subject to change. It typically takes airlines much longer to adjust reward seat pricing than it does for them to adjust cash pricing.\u201d<\/p>\n Rozum recommends that travelers transfer any points from a travel credit card to a loyalty program. Travelers with bank points can also transfer them directly to airlines, which opens up more opportunities to book flights at significantly lower rates than what bank portals may show.<\/p>\n \u201cPrograms like Virgin Atlantic Flying Club offer exceptional value in economy class, while Air France\/KLM Flying Blue offer great premium economy and business class pricing across their wide network,\u201d he adds. \u201cMany programs also allow you to pool miles across accounts. Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France\/KLM Flying Blue, British Airways Club, JetBlue TrueBlue, United MileagePlus and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club all let members create groups to pool miles to use towards award flights.\u201d<\/p>\n Moreover, flexibility is non-negotiable for travelers during this time. Being open to midweek departures, layovers and alternate airports can also save money.<\/p>\n If an airline cancels a flight you already booked, it\u2019s also important to know your rights as a traveler.<\/p>\n Under U.S. Department of Transportation rules, if an airline cancels your flight, you are entitled to a full cash refund \u2014neven if your ticket was non-refundable \u2014 if you ultimately decide not to take another flight.<\/p>\n \u201cA consumer is entitled to a refund if the airline canceled a flight, regardless of the reason, and the consumer chooses not to travel or accept travel credits, vouchers, or other forms of compensation offered by the airline,\u201d according to the US Department of Transportation\u2019s refund policy (10).<\/p>\n Either way, airlines are required to notify you of your rights to refunds. You do not need to accept an alternate route the airline may offer if you prefer a refund.<\/p>\n Join 250,000+ readers and get Moneywise\u2019s best stories and exclusive interviews first \u2014 clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now.<\/a><\/p>\n We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.<\/p>\n Airlines for America (1<\/a>); Argus (2<\/a>); State of Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (3<\/a>); The Wall Street Journal (4<\/a>); Bloomberg (5<\/a>); Qatar Tribune (6<\/a>); United Airlines (7<\/a>); Delta Airlines (8<\/a>); International Air Transport Association (9<\/a>); US Department of Transportation (10<\/a>)<\/p>\n This article originally appeared on Moneywise.com<\/a> under the title: The Iran war is spiking jet fuel prices and cutting flights \u2014 what American travelers need to do now<\/a><\/p>\n This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. 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