United Airlines Says Ticket Prices May Rise by up to 20 Percent to Offset Jet Fuel Surge

The announcement from the US company comes as airlines around the world take steps to mitigate the spike in aviation fuel.

A United Airlines flight passes the U.S. Capitol as it lands in front of at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va., on Nov. 7, 2025. Reuters/Nathan Howard

United Airlines may have to raise ticket prices by up to 20 percent to offset the spike in jet fuel costs driven by the ongoing war in Iran, the company revealed on April 22.

The airline’s CEO, Scott Kirby, announced the move to investors during a quarterly earnings call, saying the company’s goal “is to do whatever it takes to recover 100 percent of the increase in jet fuel prices as quickly as possible.”