United Still Expects to Pass On 100% of Jet Fuel Costs. Says Industry Is Turning More Premium.

Skift Take United still thinks it can continue to pass on fuel costs through airfare increases, betting that customers are willing to pay more for premium seats and amenities like Starlink. United Airlines chief financial officer Michael Leskinen said he still expects the carrier to recover 100% of jet fuel costs by the end of the year, despite the recent increase in fuel prices. “Fuel prices have spiked pretty rapidly. We've got about 35% of our tickets booked already in the fourth quarter. So you can't go back and reprice those tickets,” he said at the Morgan Stanley Laguna investor conference on Wednesday. “So there's a lag and you all should think about that when you run your models. But there is nothing that is changing that causes us to not be able to pass