A4A CEO Says Airline Fares Will Stabilize

The Iran war, which spiked jet fuel prices earlier this year, will probably not be resolved any time soon, Chris Sununu said.

Zach Vasile

Monday, August 31, 2026 at 10:04 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An employee of a ground service company refuels an aircraft. (Photo: Shutterstock/Karolis Kavolelis)

Key Takeaways:

Airline ticket prices are expected to stabilize over the next several months after significant increases last spring.
This stabilization is attributed to the ongoing stalemate in the Iran war, which has impacted jet fuel prices but is not anticipated to cause further significant price hikes.
Despite past price increases, strong demand and major carriers adding routes are fostering competition, which is beneficial for consumers and the economy.

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After climbing significantly last spring, airline ticket prices will likely stabilize over the next several months, Airlines for America CEO Chris Sununu said Sunday.

During an appearance on NewsNation, the former New Hampshire governor said fares will probably not rise or fall meaningfully in the near term, given the stalemate in the Iran war.

“I don’t think you’re going to see prices go up significantly,” Sununu said. “I think they’re going to kind of stabilize for a while, because we’re not getting out of this Iran thing any time soon, unfortunately. And it’s a bigger issue for places like Asia and Europe.”

Jet fuel prices effectively doubled after Iran closed the Strait for Hormuz in March. That increase has translated to higher air fares, both in the U.S. and globally. According to Airlines for America, U.S. ticket prices are up about 20% compared to the same period last year.

Still, demand is strong, Sununu said, and major carriers are adding routes instead of cutting them. More routes strengthen competition, he added, which is “great for the American consumer.”

“I don’t think it’s going up any more,” Sununu said of ticket prices. “Demand is strong, people are traveling, and that puts money in the economy in a whole lot of different ways, so overall it’s a very good thing economically.”

Data from the International Air Transport Association shows North American jet fuel prices peaked in late April, fell in June with the peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran, and climbed slightly when that deal fell apart in July.