Seattle-area travellers planning summer trips are being urged to book flights now as airfare climbs on the back of surging jet fuel costs tied to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with prices expected to rise further in the months ahead.
Oil prices have topped $100 a barrel as the war continues to disrupt global energy supply, pushing jet fuel costs up sharply and nearly doubling them in just over a month. Airlines say fuel accounts for roughly 30% of their operating expenses, and those increases are already feeding through to ticket prices. Airlines have indicated they may need to raise fares by as much as 20% above current levels to fully offset the rise in fuel costs.
Brian Kelly, founder of travel site The Points Guy, said travellers who wait risk paying significantly more. “Gasoline has spiked. That almost goes up immediately, but airfare has only gone up about 15%. So there’s still a lot to go up, unfortunately,” Kelly said. “My tip is book your airfare now. We’re going to see a lot more surcharges. And even JetBlue this week announced they’re going to be increasing fees as well, like checked baggage. So there’s more to come. So I would say lock in prices now.”
June and July will be the most expensive months to fly, Kelly said, with long-haul routes and shorter domestic trips already selling out. Seattle faces additional demand pressure this summer from FIFA World Cup travel, with the city hosting matches at Lumen Field and drawing visitors from across North America. That surge in demand is compounding the fuel-driven price increases on routes in and out of Sea-Tac.
Experts recommend booking as early as possible, using travel points where available, and maintaining flexibility on travel dates to avoid peak pricing windows. Tracking fares now and moving quickly when prices dip is advisable, as both fuel costs and summer demand show no signs of easing before the season begins.
