Trending Now - Rising Fuel Costs Threaten Summer Travel Plans Amid Global Tensions
WHO:
President Trump is mentioned in relation to the Iran war.
Deutsche Bank analysts conducted an analysis of U.S. airline ticket prices.
Khalid Usman is an aviation expert with management consulting firm Oliver Wyman.
Julian Kheel is the creator of Points Path, a flight awards search engine.
Ben Mutzabaugh is the managing editor of The Points Guy.
Scott Keyes is the founder of flight deals site Going.com.
Airlines mentioned include Qantas and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS).
WHAT:
The disruption caused by the Iran war is costing the tourism sector at least $600 million a day in lost international visitor spending.
Oil prices surged above $100 a barrel in the past week before easing, up roughly 38% from $73 just before the war started.
The average cost of gasoline in the U.S. was $3.63 a gallon as of March 13th, 2026.
The federal tax on gasoline is 18.4 cents per gallon, with state taxes averaging about 34 cents per gallon.
Airlines including Emirates and Qatar Airways have had to reroute flights due to closed airspace, burning more fuel and increasing costs.
The World Travel & Tourism Council had forecast travelers would spend $207 billion in the region in 2026 before the conflict began.
Average domestic airfares for travelers booking flights later in March 2026 have climbed by between 15% and 124%.
The cost of a flight on Spirit Airlines for late-March 2026 increased from $86 to $193.
The average fare for transcontinental flights has increased over 100%.
Qantas International announced an increase in fares due to rising costs, including jet fuel prices.
SAS introduced a "temporary fuel-related price adjustment."
Fuel prices account for about one-fifth of airlines' operating expenses.
WHERE:
The analysis pertains to airline ticket prices in the United States.
Qantas and SAS are international airlines, with Qantas based in Australia and SAS based in Scandinavia.
WHEN:
The articles were published on March 13th, 2026.
The conflict in Iran is noted to be nearing its second week as of March 13th, 2026.
Airlines are expected to increase fares this week in response to rising costs.
WHY:
Rising oil prices are attributed to the ongoing Iran war, which has sharply boosted the cost of driving and flying.
Sustained elevated price levels for jet fuel could pose an "existential threat" to the airline industry.
HOW:
Airlines are switching to longer routes due to closed airspace, which increases fuel consumption and costs.
Airlines are likely to cancel flights due to changing fuel prices, as seen with Air New Zealand.
Airlines have added surcharges to ticket prices to offset higher oil costs.
Experts recommend booking the lowest available airfares now due to expected continued high oil prices.
Travelers are advised to consider buying changeable or refundable fares in case prices drop later.
(UPDATED March 13, 2026 23:08 UTC)
The ongoing war in Iran is severely impacting the tourism sector, with losses estimated at $600 million a day in international visitor spending. In the past week, oil prices surged above $100 a barrel, marking a significant increase of about 38% from $73 just before the conflict began, while the average cost of gasoline in the U.S. is currently $3.63 a gallon. Airlines like Emirates and Qatar Airways are rerouting flights due to closed airspace, which not only increases their fuel consumption but also raises operational costs, leading to potential flight cancellations as seen with Air New Zealand.
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(UPDATED March 13, 2026 21:09 UTC)
Today, President Trump is mentioned in connection with the ongoing conflict in Iran, which is now nearing its second week. Meanwhile, a recent analysis by Deutsche Bank reveals that average domestic airfares in the U.S. have surged by as much as 124% for flights booked later this month, with Spirit Airlines raising its fares from $86 to $193. Experts suggest that travelers should secure the lowest available airfares now and consider changeable or refundable tickets, as airlines are expected to continue increasing prices due to rising jet fuel costs linked to the war.