Seattle-area travelers 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.
