American, United and Southwest are all cutting ‘marginal routes’ as jet fuel prices spike
- Posted on September 18, 2026
- By Fortune
- 1 Views
- 1 min read
Major U.S. carriers including American, United, and Southwest are strategically reducing flight capacity on less profitable routes due to escalating jet fuel costs. This operational adjustment comes as passengers simultaneously grapple with ticket prices that have climbed nearly 25 percent compared to last year. Airlines are implementing selective schedule cutbacks to maintain profitability while managing rising operational expenses in an increasingly challenging market environment.
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