U.S. airlines' fuel costs climbed to $6.17 billion in August 2026, up 4.8% from the previous month, driven by a significant increase in per-gallon prices, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
The cost per gallon reached $3.72 in August, up 32 cents or 9.5% from July's $3.40. Compared to August 2025, fuel costs have surged 60.2%, jumping from $3.85 billion to this month's $6.17 billion.
Airlines consumed 1.656 billion gallons of fuel in August, down 4.4% from July's 1.732 billion gallons and down 1.2% from the previous August.
Data comes from monthly reports filed with the Transportation Department by commercial air carriers, compiled as of September 30, 2026. The agency noted that fuel costs may be affected by hedging—contracts that allow airlines to limit exposure to future price changes—and that the figures are not adjusted for inflation.
Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, which merged, now report combined fuel data under Alaska Airlines.