Fuel costs for US airlines rose 78% year-on-year in April to nearly $6.5 billion as the Middle East conflict pushed up the price of kerosene, the US Department of Transportation said on Monday, Reuters reports.

The increase was 26% compared to March, and air operators used 2.6% less fuel in April compared to March, according to the USDOT’s monthly report, cited by Agerpres.

In April, the cost of a gallon of fuel (3.78 liters) in the US reached $4.11, an increase of $1.81 compared to April 2025, a trend that is already affecting the aviation sector, the authorities said.

In May, U.S. ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines went out of business, saying it had no choice but to shut down after rising jet fuel prices. Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines account for about 80 percent of U.S. domestic flights.

The International Air Transport Association, which represents more than 370 airlines, accounting for about 85 percent of global air traffic, said in its annual report on Sunday that it expects the industry to post a combined net profit of $23 billion in 2026, well below a previous forecast of about $41 billion and down from $45 billion in 2025.

The revised estimate underscores airlines’ vulnerability to geopolitical shocks and fuel volatility, even as passenger demand remains resilient, planes fly fuller and combined revenues are set to rise to more than $1.1 trillion.

Average prices for flights originating in the U.S. have risen 31% this year for domestic travel and 22% for international travel, according to KAYAK data.

The Middle East conflict has also forced airlines to reroute flights, increasing the burden of fuel costs and affecting capacity.

IATA expects airlines’ fuel bills to rise to about $350 billion this year, up from about $252 billion in 2025, with fuel accounting for nearly a third of operating costs.