United Airlines CEO Warns Summer Ticket Prices Could Rise 20%

Travelers planning summer flights should prepare for higher fares. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby told investors and the public this week that airfares could climb as much as 20 percent this summer as the airline works to offset a dramatic surge in jet fuel costs.

What Kirby Said

During an April 22 appearance on CNBC's "Squawk Box," Kirby stated that yields — a measure of revenue per mile flown — need to increase by roughly 15 to 20 percent. He described the adjustment as something that needs to happen "as quickly as possible" to protect the airline's margins.

The comments came one day after United reported its first-quarter 2026 earnings, which showed total operating revenue up more than 10 percent year-over-year at $14.6 billion.

The Fuel Problem