What Happened
Rising Jet Fuel Costs Force Airlines to Rework Networks
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom has warned of potential capacity adjustments due to high jet fuel prices, which have surged to $4.53 USD per gallon, an 80% increase from a year ago. The airline has already scaled back operations on multiple domestic flights and cancelled several high-profile routes to Middle Eastern cities. Other airline executives, including those from United and Southwest, have also expressed concerns about the impact of rising jet fuel costs on profitability. This story was originally published by TheStreet on Sep 19, 2026.