Airlines in different parts of the world have started increasing ticket prices after fuel costs surged following the conflict involving Iran. Several carriers say the sudden jump in jet fuel prices has made it necessary to raise fares to manage rising operating costs.
Australia’s Qantas Airways, Scandinavian airline SAS and Air New Zealand announced fare increases on Tuesday, linking the move to the sharp rise in fuel prices caused by the Middle East conflict, reported Reuters.
Jet fuel prices, which were earlier around $85 to $90 per barrel before the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, have recently climbed to between $150 and $200 per barrel. Air New Zealand said the situation has created so much uncertainty that it has also suspended its financial outlook for 2026.
The conflict has disrupted shipping through a key global oil export route, pushing oil prices higher. As a result, airline tickets on some routes have become much more expensive, and there are growing concerns that travel demand could weaken if the situation continues.