United Airlines plans to reduce less popular flights, including certain midweek and overnight routes, through the fall as surging jet fuel prices tied to the war in Iran continue to rattle the airline industry.

In a company memo on Friday, United CEO Scott Kirby said jet fuel prices have “more than doubled in the last three weeks,” forcing the carrier to scale back service on weaker-performing routes.

According to Argus Media data cited in the memo, U.S. jet fuel prices climbed to $4.56 per gallon on Friday, sharply up from $2.50 per gallon on February 27, before the war began. Kirby warned the spike could saddle United with an additional $11 billion in costs this year alone — more than double the airline’s profit during its strongest year.

Industry experts say travelers are likely to feel the impact soon, as airlines move to pass the sharply higher fuel costs on to customers in the weeks and months ahead.

The warning comes even as major U.S. airlines report strong booking demand. Earlier this week, United, Delta, and American all pointed to continued strength in ticket sales despite the turmoil.

Delta CEO Ed Bastian said five of the airline’s top 10 ticket sales days have come since the start of the war, though he also said Delta has already absorbed about a $400 million blow from higher fuel prices.

Meanwhile, Qatar Airways has reportedly moved more than a dozen of its largest aircraft to a long-term storage facility in Spain, according to the Financial Times, in what appears to be a sign the airline is preparing to reduce flights as well.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)