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U.S. airlines spent $6.66 billion on jet fuel<\/a> in May, the second straight month that fuel costs topped $6 billion, according to government data released Tuesday.<\/p>\n The May figure was 84% higher than a year earlier. Airlines spent $6.47 billion on fuel in April<\/a>, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics said.<\/p>\n The higher year-over-year spending has been driven mostly by pricier jet fuel rather than a significant increase in how much of it airlines consumed. U.S. carriers used 1.627 billion gallons in May, down 0.6% from May 2025. Consumption was also slightly lower in April compared with a year earlier.<\/p>\n The average price airlines paid for fuel in May was $4.09 per gallon, down slightly from $4.11 in April but 85% higher than the $2.21 they paid in May 2025, the agency said.<\/p>\n Airlines worldwide have responded to the jump in fuel costs by raising fares and fees<\/a> and trimming flight schedules<\/a>. Fuel is typically one of the industry\u2019s largest operating costs, leaving carriers particularly vulnerable to swings in energy prices.<\/p>\n The latest figures show that the continued impact of the sharp rise in energy costs after the conflict in the Middle East<\/a> started this year and disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz<\/a>, a key route for global crude and fuel supplies.<\/p>\n Fuel prices have eased from their spring highs since the U.S. and Iran<\/a> reached an interim ceasefire agreement, offering some relief to airlines after a costly spring. But the truce remains fragile.<\/p>\n