Airlines Take $100 Billion Jet Fuel Hit—Plunging Profits By 50% In 2026

Airlines face profit crash: 2026 earnings nearly halved as fuel shock hits aviation

Airlines' 2026 profit halved to $23B from $41B as jet fuel costs spike 39% and Middle East conflict disrupts routes worldwide. Consolidation wave in aviation expected to accelerate; digital transformation in route optimization and supply-chain AI become critical survival tools.