U.S. airlines' fuel spending falls in September as per-gallon costs rise
Monthly operating costs for U.S. scheduled airlines ease in September 2026 as carriers buy less fuel than in August. The decline in total spending comes even as the average fuel price per gallon moves higher, leaving costs far above year-earlier levels.
Highlights
- U.S. scheduled service airlines spend $5.90 billion on fuel in September 2026, down 4.3% from August but up 69.2% year-over-year.
- Fuel consumption drops to 1.527 billion gallons in September 2026, 7.8% less than August but 0.9% higher than September 2025.
- Average jet fuel cost per gallon increases to $3.86 in September 2026, up 3.7% from August and 67.7% higher than September 2025.
September fuel spending and consumption trends
As reported by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, U.S. scheduled service airlines spend $5.90 billion on fuel in September 2026, down 4.3% from $6.17 billion in August 2026 and up 69.2% from $3.49 billion in September 2025.Airlines use 1.527 billion gallons of fuel in September, 7.8% less than the 1.656 billion gallons used in August 2026. Compared with September 2025, fuel consumption is 0.9% higher than the 1.514 billion gallons recorded a year earlier.
Price pressure remains elevated for carriers
The average fuel cost per gallon reaches $3.86 in September 2026, up 14 cents, or 3.7%, from $3.72 in August 2026. From September 2025, the per-gallon cost is higher by $1.56, or 67.7%, versus $2.30.The figures indicate that lower monthly fuel spending is driven by reduced consumption rather than easing unit prices. For airlines, that keeps fuel as a significant operating cost despite the month-to-month decline in overall expenditure.
In our earlier article on the surge in crude oil shipping costs, we explained how conflict-related risks are disrupting major tanker routes and pushing freight and insurance premiums sharply higher. That jump has made transport a much larger component of oil pricing, with increases that can filter through into gasoline and broader consumer costs—keeping fuel price pressure elevated even when volumes fluctuate.
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