Date: Wednesday, December 2, 2020

The Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) today released U.S. airlines’ October Fuel Cost and Consumption numbers.

Fuel consumed by U.S. airlines scheduled service:

U.S. airlines’ October 2020 fuel consumption was 11% higher than September 2020, 0.7% higher than August 2020, and 81% higher than April 2020. April was the lowest monthly fuel usage on record (447M gallons), dating back to 2000. October 2020 fuel consumption was down 48% from October 2019.

Fuel cost per gallon for U.S. airlines scheduled service:

The October 2020 cost per gallon ($1.14) for aviation fuel was down 3 cents per gallon from September 2020 ($.17) but down 83 cents per gallon from October 2019 ($1.97). The May 2020 cost per gallon ($1.03) was the lowest since April 2004 ($1.01).

Total fuel cost for U.S. airlines scheduled service:

Total October 2020 fuel cost was 8% higher than September 2020 and 83% higher than May 2020, which was the lowest on record dating back to 2000. Total fuel cost in October 2020 was down 70% from October 2019.

The Fuel Cost and Consumption page can be found here: https://www.transtats.bts.gov/fuel.asp Summaries by month are also available.

Preliminary fuel cost and consumption numbers are industry summaries only. Airline fuel costs may be affected by hedging, contracts that allow airlines to limit exposure to future fuel prices changes. The monthly web update with November data is scheduled for Jan. 6.

Individual airline numbers  through June are available on the BTS website. Individual airline numbers for July, August and September will be available with the BTS third-quarter 2020 financial release on Dec. 7. Individual airline numbers for October will be available with the BTS fourth-quarter 2020 financial release on May 3.

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