U.S. Airlines' September 2026 Aviation Fuel Costs Fall 4.3% Month-on-Month

Data released by the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) on November 5, 2026 show that U.S. scheduled-service airlines' total aviation fuel expenditure in September 2026 was $5.90 billion, down 4.3% month-on-month, but up 69.2% year-on-year from $3.49 billion in September 2025. Fuel consumption that month was 1.527 billion gallons, down 7.8% month-on-month and up 0.9% year-on-year; cost per gallon was $3.86, up 14 cents (3.7%) month-on-month and up $1.56 (67.7%) year-on-year. The report did not mention earlier statistics, and there are no apparent contradictions.