The ongoing US-Iran war, which erupted in late February 2026, has imposed severe disruptions on global aviation through energy supply shocks and heightened military risks. Iran’s restrictions on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a conduit for about 20 to 30 percent of the worlds oil, have slashed jet fuel availability, particularly affecting Europe and Asia that rely heavily on Middle Eastern supplies. Jet fuel prices doubled in the wars initial weeks, forcing airlines like United to cut scheduled flights by 5 percent in a move its CEO called tactical pruning.
Military actions compound the chaos. Iranian fighter jets, including F-5s, conducted early sorties penetrating US-designed air defenses to strike bases in Iraq, Kuwait, and Qatar, while Irans integrated air defense network downed over 170 enemy aircraft, including 16 fighters. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has seized vessels and threatened mine-laying in the strait, sustaining an asymmetric naval posture despite losses to conventional forces. A Pakistani-brokered ceasefire took effect April 8, but Iran maintains war footing, refining targets and equipment.
US operations, including a third carrier in the region, enforce a blockade on Iranian ports amid persistent IRGC swarm activity. These factors have led to airlines trimming schedules, carrying extra fuel, and facing higher costs from less efficient older fleets, as supply chains strain under the conflicts protracted friction.