Airlines Confidential · Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Several major US airlines, including American, United, and Southwest, are planning to reduce capacity this winter due to persistently high fuel prices. These airlines estimate their fuel bills will significantly increase, prompting a reconsideration of planned flying, especially on marginal routes.
“This past week, several airlines presenting at the Morgan Stanley conference in California talked about reducing capacity this winter if prices stay high.”
“American estimates that its fourth quarter fuel bill will be roughly a billion dollars higher because of the higher fuel prices.”
“Sharply higher fuel prices are prompting them to reduce or reconsider planned flying, particularly marginal routes later this year and in 2027.”