U.S. scheduled passenger airlines reported a second-quarter 2026 after-tax net gain of $16 million, a sharp decline from $4 billion in the same quarter a year earlier, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
The 22 scheduled U.S. passenger airlines that filed quarterly reports posted a pre-tax operating profit of $3.0 billion in the second quarter, down from $5.0 billion a year prior. Total operating revenue was $75.6 billion, with airfares accounting for $55.9 billion, or 73.9 percent.
Domestic operations reported an after-tax loss of $484 million for the quarter, compared to a gain of $2.2 billion in the second quarter of 2025. International operations showed an after-tax profit of $500 million, down from $1.8 billion a year earlier.
Fuel costs rose significantly, contributing to lower profitability. Domestic fuel expenses reached $11.7 billion, or 21.7 percent of operating expenses, up from 15.0 percent a year earlier. International fuel costs reached $5.8 billion, or 31.1 percent of expenses, compared to 20.9 percent a year prior. Labor costs rose to $24.0 billion systemwide, or 33.0 percent of operating revenue.
Data are compiled from reports filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics as of August 28, 2026.