Since the Iran war led to the closing of the Strait of Hormuz, about 20 percent of global oil supply has been choked off, sending prices sky high, especially for jet fuel. So far, the war may already be costing the airline industry an additional $15 billion. Airlines have responded by raising ticket prices, charging more for bag fees, and cutting flights that they’ve deemed unprofitable because of higher fuel costs.
This price shock was a deciding factor in the May 2026 closure of Spirit Airlines. When a low-cost airline like Spirit goes under, it has a ripple effect through the entire industry, canceling flight routes and raising ticket prices all around.
But even if the war were to end and fuel costs stabilize, major airlines might not be willing to bring their prices back down. In fact, corporations seem all but guaranteed to take advantage of pressuring consumers to pay more to fly.
For over 40 years, flying has been an affordable way to travel. We’ve been living in an era of cheap flights that has shifted air travel from a luxury experience to a globalized mode of public transportation. This video explains how that era might be coming to an end.
Read more about the state of the airline industry and the impact of the war in Iran:
- Changes in airfare in the US
- Reuters’ analysis of how the war is costing airlines
- Bill McGee on NPR discussing the state of the airline industry
- Peter Campbell’s Financial Times piece on the Iran war and the future of cheap flights
- The Today, Explained newsletter covers the Spirit Airlines shutdown
The post How the war in Iran could end affordable air travel appeared first on Vox.
