Attention, Passengers: High Airfares May Be Here to Stay
Published . Updated .
Ticket prices jumped after fuel costs spiked because of the war with Iran, but airlines say even an end to the conflict will not bring fares back down quickly.
Directly affected
- No company is named in this report.
Indirectly affected
- FRO Frontline+4.7%
Tanker operators earn more when freight rates spike
- INSW International Seaways+0.8%
Tanker operators earn more when freight rates spike
- DHT DHT Holdings
Tanker operators earn more when freight rates spike
- TNK Teekay Tankers
Tanker operators earn more when freight rates spike
- USO United States Oil Fund+8.2%
Oil prices move when Iranian supply is at risk
- XLE Energy Select Sector SPDR+7.4%
Energy companies move with Iran supply risk
- LMT Lockheed Martin+14.2%
Defense contractors get more work when conflict spending rises
- RTX RTX-2.2%
Defense contractors get more work when conflict spending rises
- XOM Exxon Mobil+11.0%
Oil producers earn more when crude prices rise
- DAL Delta Air Lines-3.8%
Airlines pay more for fuel when oil prices jump
Price reaction, T-5 to T+3
| Ticker | T-5 | T-3 | T-1 | T0 | T+1 | T+2 | T+3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRO | -4.16% | -3.04% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| INSW | -5.43% | +0.49% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| DHT | -6.23% | -1.71% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| TNK | -4.67% | -3.50% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| USO | -5.13% | -5.78% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| XLE | -2.19% | -1.69% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| LMT | -9.31% | -8.71% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| RTX | +0.57% | +0.33% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| XOM | -2.72% | -2.80% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| DAL | -2.77% | +1.20% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
Closing-price change versus T-1, the last close before the story. T0 to T+3 fill in after each market close. Prices: Alpaca IEX.
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Ticket prices jumped after fuel costs spiked because of the war with Iran, but airlines say even an end to the conflict will not bring fares back down quickly.
Source: The New York Times
Defense
| Company | When | Move | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAL | three days earlier | +1.20% | final price |
| DAL | five days earlier | -2.77% | final price |
| DHT | three days earlier | -1.71% | final price |
| DHT | five days earlier | -6.23% | final price |
| FRO | three days earlier | -3.04% | final price |
| FRO | five days earlier | -4.16% | final price |
| INSW | three days earlier | +0.49% | final price |
| INSW | five days earlier | -5.43% | final price |
| LMT | three days earlier | -8.71% | final price |
| LMT | five days earlier | -9.31% | final price |
| RTX | three days earlier | +0.33% | final price |
| RTX | five days earlier | +0.57% | final price |
| TNK | three days earlier | -3.50% | final price |
| TNK | five days earlier | -4.67% | final price |
| USO | three days earlier | -5.78% | final price |
| USO | five days earlier | -5.13% | final price |
| XLE | three days earlier | -1.69% | final price |
| XLE | five days earlier | -2.19% | final price |
| XOM | three days earlier | -2.80% | final price |
| XOM | five days earlier | -2.72% | final price |
Trades by members of Congress and officials in the stocks in this story
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold Lockheed Martin (LMT) (jointly held), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 23 Sep 2026. That is 31 days before publication. Filed 13 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold Lockheed Martin (LMT) (jointly held), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 23 Sep 2026. That is 31 days before publication. Filed 13 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold Lockheed Martin (LMT) (jointly held), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 17 Sep 2026. That is 37 days before publication. Filed 13 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) (jointly held), worth $100,001 - $250,000 on 31 Aug 2026. That is 54 days before publication. Filed 25 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, bought ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM), worth $250,001 - $500,000 on 31 Jul 2026. That is 85 days before publication. Filed 22 Sep 2026. View the filing.
Public disclosure filings, not a recommendation. The filing link is the source document. News use of these reports still sits under 5 U.S.C. § 13107(c).
How solid “Attention, Passengers: High Airfares May Be Here to Stay” looks
12 out of 100
“Attention, Passengers: High Airfares May Be Here to Stay” scores 12 out of 100. The score uses 1 sources.