Airline Ticket Prices Could Jump Again As Jet-Fuel Crunch Reaches Summer Travel
Swiss International Air Lines says its jet fuel stockpile should last around six weeks, but the carrier is already weighing backup refuelling strategies as fuel supply worries shift from earnings pressure to day-to-day operations, with the summer rush looming. CEO Jens Fehlinger told NZZ supplier outlooks are “currently good,” according to Reuters, though both SWISS and parent Lufthansa are considering tankering—hauling extra fuel from airports with better supply—and making extra stops to top up, just in case. The crunch comes down to timing. Airlines haven’t pulled flights so far, since jet fuel is still available. But according to the Financial Times, Goldman Sachs flagged that European reserves are sliding toward dangerous lows. That could force airlines to make tougher calls on which routes to keep, as higher prices start biting.