Airline CEOs urged by lawmaker to lower fares if fuel prices come down

A U.S. lawmaker is pressing the leaders of the nation’s largest airlines to pledge that they will reduce airfares and fees if jet fuel costs fall, after a sharp surge in fuel this year helped drive increases in surcharges, baggage fees, and ticket prices.

Fuel is typically airlines’ biggest expense after labor. Jet fuel prices recently spiked to an average of $4.88 per gallon across major U.S. hubs including New York, Houston, Chicago, and Los Angeles as of April 2—up roughly 95% since late February. The jump was even more pronounced in regions with less oil or jet fuel production capacity.

In a letter to the CEOs of Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, JetBlue Airways, and Southwest Airlines, Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) argued that the industry’s pricing should move in both directions with fuel costs, not just when prices rise.

“If airline pricing is truly tied to global fuel costs, then it must be truly responsive when those costs decline. I call on you to publicly commit to lowering costs associated with air travel should jet fuel prices decline. The American people deserve fairness and pricing models that do not only reflect market conditions, but also economic justice.”

United declined to comment on the letter. Other carriers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Fuel spike reshapes capacity and pricing

The run-up in fuel has already begun to reshape airline strategies. Delta said it faces about a $2 billion headwind from fuel this quarter and plans to “meaningfully” scale back its capacity growth. Other carriers are expected to detail similar dynamics as they report results.

Capacity decisions and fuel prices are closely tied to what passengers ultimately pay. When airlines reduce capacity and demand remains strong, fares can rise. Conversely, when fuel prices ease, carriers may be more inclined to add capacity—often putting downward pressure on prices.

Airlines eye “fuel recapture” and margins

Delta CEO Ed Bastian recently emphasized the importance of recovering higher fuel costs through pricing, while also indicating airlines may try to sustain some of the pricing power accrued during the recent industry pullback.

“Fuel recapture is going to be important. No matter what we do, and the degree in which we can retain any of the pricing strength that we talked about from industry rationalization, that will certainly help us boost our margins this year and clearly into next year as well.”

Over the past several weeks, multiple U.S. airlines—including Delta, United, Southwest, JetBlue, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines—have raised baggage fees, while higher base fares and surcharges have appeared across global markets. The lawmaker’s request seeks a clear, public commitment from airline leaders that these increases won’t persist if the core driver—fuel—recedes.

Demand remains resilient, especially at the high end

Despite higher prices, airlines report steady demand, with premium travelers standing out as particularly durable. Bastian described the upper end of the market as less sensitive to ongoing volatility and headlines.

“I think the higher-end consumer, the premium consumer is candidly immune or becoming more immune to the headlines and not delaying their investment in the experience economy, waiting to see what the next headline is going to be, on the margin.”

What’s at stake for travelers

The immediate question for consumers is whether any relief at the fuel pump will translate into lower fares and fees at the gate. Historically, airlines adjust capacity and pricing in response to costs and demand, but the timing and magnitude of those changes can vary widely by carrier and route. The lawmaker’s push aims to ensure that, should fuel costs decline from recent highs, travelers see tangible savings—rather than airlines holding on to elevated prices to bolster margins.

With fuel trends uncertain and peak travel seasons approaching, airlines face competing pressures: protect profitability in a higher-cost environment or pass along savings quickly if costs ease. The requested public commitment would make that calculus more transparent for consumers eager to see the cost of air travel reflect real-time market conditions.