How the war in Iran could end affordable air travel

Since the conflict in the Middle East led to the closing of the Strait of Hormuz, about 20 percent of global oil supply has been choked off, sending prices sky-high, especially for jet fuel. So far, the war may already be costing the airline industry an additional $15 billion. Airlines have responded by raising ticket prices, charging more for bag fees, and cutting flights that they’ve deemed unprofitable because of higher fuel costs. This price shock was a deciding factor in the May 2026 closure of Spirit Airlines. When a low-cost airline like Spirit goes under, it has a ripple effect through the entire industry, canceling flight routes and raising ticket prices all around. But even if the war were to end and fuel costs stabilize, major airlines might not be willing to bring their prices back down. In fact, corporations seem all but guaranteed to take advantage of pressuring consumers to pay more to fly. For over 40 years, flying has been an affordable way to travel. We’ve been living in an era of cheap flights that has shifted air travel from a luxury experience to a globalized mode of public transportation. This video explains how that era might be coming to an end. Read more about the state of the airline industry and the impact of the war in Iran: Changes in airfare in the US: https://onemileatatime.com/news/airline-fares-skyrocketing-data/ Reuters’ analysis of how the war is costing airlines: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/iran-war-saddles-global-companies-with-25-billion-bill-counting-2026-05-18/ Bill McGee on NPR discussing the state of the airline industry: https://www.npr.org/2026/04/26/nx-s1-5795931/how-the-iran-war-is-impacting-the-airline-industry Peter Campbell’s piece on the Iran war and the future of cheap flights: https://www.ft.com/content/a8f9aa9b-94f7-4188-8c53-e18b614c373f The Today, Explained newsletter covers the Spirit Airlines shutdown: https://www.vox.com/today-explained-newsletter/487758/spirit-airlines-shutdown Subscribe to our channel! http://goo.gl/0bsAjO Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Check out http://www.vox.com. Watch our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/IZONyE Follow Vox on Facebook: http://goo.gl/U2g06o Or Twitter: http://goo.gl/XFrZ5H