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United Airlines CEO Says Prices Would Need to Rise 20% if Oil Stays High (Full Interview)
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March 24, 2026
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9:44Now PlayingUnited Airlines CEO Scott Kirby discusses company performance and challenges facing the airline industry, including the DHS shutdown and rising oil prices due to the war in Iran. He speaks with Bloomberg's Lisa Abramowicz from Los Angeles. United Airlines Holdings Inc. Chief Executive Officer Scott Kirby said ticket prices may have to go up by 20% if jet fuel prices remain elevated for longer.
The airline expects some consumer pushback and fewer people to travel if ticket prices continue to rise, Kirby said in a Bloomberg TV interview on Tuesday. The airline has already reduced 5% of its capacity on routes that are not profitable and don’t cover higher fuel prices, Kirby said.
Still, at the moment, demand remains very strong, Kirby said. United, the world’s largest airline by capacity, has previously said it expects oil prices to rise to as much as $175 a barrel in a worst-case scenario and trade at over $100 a barrel through 2027.
Airlines globally are grappling with a painful spike in oil prices amid a supply crunch because of the war in Iran. Major US carriers like United are not hedged on fuel, leaving them without protection from volatile price jumps. The broader industry has already responded with fare increases and fuel surcharge to claw back some of the elevated costs.
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