U.S. airlines spent $6.66 billion on jet fuel in May, marking the second consecutive month that industry fuel costs exceeded $6 billion, according to new data released by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The total represented an 84% increase compared with May 2025, underscoring the financial impact of elevated energy prices on the aviation sector. Fuel spending had already reached $6.47 billion in April, highlighting the sustained pressure on airline operating expenses.

The sharp rise in spending was driven primarily by higher fuel prices rather than increased fuel consumption. U.S. airlines used approximately 1.63 billion gallons of jet fuel during May, slightly less than the same month a year earlier. The average price paid for jet fuel was $4.09 per gallon, only marginally lower than April's average of $4.11, but dramatically higher than the $2.21 per gallon recorded in May last year. The figures illustrate how rising fuel prices have significantly increased costs even as airlines have maintained relatively stable fuel usage.

Airlines across the industry have responded by increasing ticket prices, introducing higher service fees, and adjusting flight schedules in an effort to offset growing operating expenses. Fuel remains one of the largest costs for commercial airlines, making carriers particularly sensitive to fluctuations in global energy markets.

The increase in fuel prices followed heightened tensions in the Middle East earlier this year, which disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil exports. Although fuel prices have moderated in recent weeks after an interim ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, uncertainty remains. Recent attacks involving commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and renewed U.S. restrictions on Iranian oil exports have raised fresh concerns about energy supply stability.

Investors will be closely watching the upcoming earnings season, beginning with Delta Air Lines, whose quarterly results are expected to provide insight into how airlines are managing higher operating costs and whether recent declines in jet fuel prices could improve profitability in the months ahead. Meanwhile, the Argus U.S. Jet Fuel Index showed the average price at major airline hubs had fallen below $3 per gallon in recent weeks, offering cautious optimism that fuel costs may continue easing if geopolitical tensions do not escalate further.