How is the Iran war affecting air travel ahead of Memorial Day weekend?
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A holiday weekend is on the horizon for many Minnesotans, meaning a trip to the lake or cabin for some, or a trip farther away for others.
But high fuel prices amid the war in Iran may curb the appeal of a road trip or a last-minute flight.
Kyle Potter with Thrifty Traveler joined Morning Edition to talk about travel during a tumultuous few months for the airline industry.
“Things have gotten ugly, no question,” Potter said. “The average price of a gallon of jet fuel has hovered around $4 to $4.20 a gallon, so it feels similar” to gasoline. “But that said, the amount of money that airlines spend on jet fuel is absolutely enormous. So, it is hitting airlines incredibly hard, and I think everyday travelers are feeling that too, in the form of higher fares.”
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Jet fuel supply, however, hasn’t been an issue in the U.S., despite some shortages in Europe and Asia.
As far as the shuttering of Spirit Airlines and Allegiant Air’s acquisition of Minnesota-based Sun Country Airlines, what it means for consumers remains an open question, Potter said, because it will take a long time for the two air carriers to integrate.
“Will Allegiant, as it swallows Sun Country, still offer the same cheap fares to as many destinations as Sun Country serves from Minneapolis today? That's a big question,” he said. “In the short term, no question, there aren't going to be any significant changes. But longer term, that's where I start to have some questions and concerns.”
Most people who are traveling by air over Memorial Day weekend bought their tickets weeks or months ago, and so there’s not been a major decline in broad, nationwide travel numbers, Potter said.
“I think we're in a weird intermediary period with travel, where it's hard to tell exactly where things are going to go, and, of course, it all hinges on what the prices of jet fuel and, therefore, tickets are in the weeks and months to come,” Potter said.
Listen to the full conversation by clicking the player button above.
