A United Airlines flight lands in front of the U.S. Capitol at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport as the Trump administration warns of impending cuts to commercial airline operations more than a month into the continuing U.S. government shutdown in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., on Nov. 7, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
CHICAGO—United Airlines is cutting more unprofitable flights over the next two quarters as it prepares for a prolonged period of high jet fuel prices due to the Iran war, even as strong travel demand has allowed U.S. carriers to raise fares.
Chief Executive Scott Kirby said in a staff memo on Friday the airline is preparing for oil to rise as high as $175 a barrel and remain above $100 until the end of 2027. At those levels, United’s annual fuel bill would rise by about $11 billion, more than twice the profit it earned in its “best year ever,” he said.
