Travelling this Christmas? Get ready for sky-high airfares

Travelers alarmed at sky-high airfares this Christmas can add soaring fuel prices spurred in part by geopolitics affecting energy resources to the list of factors to blame.

The price of jet fuel — which typically accounts for around a quarter of an airline's total operational costs — is on a tear.

The jump this year is more than double the gains in crude oil, reflecting both the pent-up demand for air travel after the virus as well as dislocations in energy markets due to the war in Ukraine and the pandemic.

Russia's decision to curb supplies of natural gas to Europe has sparked a full-blown power crisis and spurred a rush for alternatives such as diesel that can be used for heating, industry and electricity generation. That's creating a shortage of jet fuel — which is made from the same type of oil as diesel — just as demand soars.

Airline staff shortages 

Airlines have been struggling to cope with what's been described as "revenge travel" after a prolonged period of lockdowns and closed borders. A shortage of staff has led to flight cancellations, huge check-in lines and eye-wateringly high ticket prices.

Global seat capacity — the number of seats offered by airlines — is currently 14% below 2019 levels, according to OAG, an aviation analytics firm.

Frenzied travel demand

"Airfares to Europe and the Americas from Asia have at least doubled from pre-pandemic levels on the back of limited capacity, as well as the jump in jet fuel prices," said Mayur Patel, head of Asia at OAG.

Prices aren't likely to get back to 2019 levels until at least early 2023, as it will take a while for "the frenzied travel demand that has built up in recent years" to taper off, he said.

The surge in aviation fuel is most pronounced in Europe, where the energy crisis is most acute. Prices there are up about 56% this year, with Asia and the US not far behind. By comparison, global oil benchmark Brent crude has risen around 21%.

Jet fuel price forecast

Fitch Solutions raised its forecast for global jet fuel prices last month, and now expects them to average $141 a barrel this year. That compares with Brent crude, which is currently trading near $94 a barrel. Strong demand for diesel will continue to depress output of aviation fuel, Fitch said in a note.

Refineries process crude into petroleum products through a distillation process. Fuels such as diesel, kerosene and jet fuel — the so-called middle-distillates — are derived from the same portion of the distilled oil.

So when demand for one of those products is particularly high, output of the others can suffer.

Firmer year-end travel demand and increased consumption of kerosene for heating will boost jet fuel prices further, said Daphne Ho, a senior analyst at industry consultant Wood Mackenzie Ltd. Aviation fuel will continue to trade at a premium to diesel in the fourth quarter, she said.

Globetrotters face sky-high airfares 

Stockpiles of diesel are already critically low at a time they typically build ahead of peak demand during the Northern Hemisphere winter. That will in turn cause even more scarcity for jet fuel, which means only one thing for airfares.

"We expect surging demand for holiday travel and higher fuel prices to drive airfares up in November and December," said Hayley Berg, lead economist at US travel booking app Hopper.

Ticket prices could be around 20% higher than 2019 levels, she said.