Three Major US Airlines to Scale Back Operations Amid Soaring Fuel Costs

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Three major US airlines—American Airlines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines—are scaling back their planned operations in response to further increases in fuel prices. Executives from the three carriers disclosed this on the 16th at a conference hosted by Morgan Stanley. American Airlines CFO Devon May said fourth-quarter fuel prices have risen by about one dollar per gallon from assumptions made in July, adding roughly one billion dollars to fourth-quarter costs, and indicated the airline will continue adjusting seat capacity. United Airlines CFO Michael Leskinen said the carrier is canceling some flights planned for December and may make further adjustments from the first quarter of next year onward. Southwest Airlines had planned to expand seat capacity by 2 to 3 percent in 2026, but has cut that growth to about half amid soaring fuel costs, and CFO Tom Doxey indicated the airline could reduce further if fuel costs remain elevated.

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American Airlines is scaling back seat capacity as fuel costs add roughly $1 billion to Q4 costs.

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