Air fares are surging as the aviation industry grapples with the fallout from the Iran conflict, in what a leading global airline chief described as a crisis comparable to the period after the September 11 attacks. Speaking at a summit in Brussels, he warned that transatlantic routes between the United States and the United Kingdom are expected to be among the first and hardest hit, although the disruption is not as severe as during the coronavirus pandemic.

Rising jet fuel prices are driving the increases, with European fuel costs nearly doubling since the conflict began. Carriers in the United States, which tend to buy less fuel in bulk, are passing higher costs on to passengers more quickly, prompting competitors to follow. While airlines are reluctant to cut capacity, they are adjusting ticket prices to avoid falling into debt.

Some European airlines have already begun scaling back flights or announcing fare increases, and there are concerns that prolonged disruption could lead to fuel shortages, particularly if shipping routes remain blocked. Government officials are preparing contingency plans in case supplies become constrained, raising the prospect of wider fare hikes and potential travel disruption if the conflict continues into the summer.