U.S. Jet A Averages $8.66 in October as Fuel Prices Rise for Fourth Straight Month
Why It MattersA four-month climb that pushes both Jet A and 100LL to six-month highs shows fuel cost pressure building across turbine and piston segments alike, with the Central region leading the increase.
What happened
U.S. aviation fuel prices rose for the fourth consecutive month in October 2026, with Jet A continuing to outpace 100LL nationwide, according to figures from iFlightPlanner. Jet A Full Service reached a national average of $8.66, up $0.30 (3.6%) from September. Excluding Alaska and Hawaii, the Lower-48 average was $8.60, an increase of $0.29 (3.5%).
The national average for 100LL Full Service reached $7.85, up $0.10 (1.3%). 100LL Self Service rose $0.15 (2.3%) to $6.82, about 13% cheaper than Full Service, down slightly from 14% in September. Alternative fuels also moved higher: UL94 Self Service increased $0.19 (2.5%) to $7.87, while Mogas climbed $0.17 (3.1%) to $5.79.
In the Central region, Jet A Full Service averaged $8.40, up $0.58 (7.4%), the largest month-over-month percentage increase among Lower-48 fuel categories. Central 100LL Full Service averaged $7.29, up $0.15 (2.1%), and 100LL Self Service averaged $6.58, up $0.18 (2.8%).
Jet A and 100LL Full Service both set new six-month highs. Since May, Jet A Full Service has climbed $0.59 (7.3%), from $8.07 to $8.66, while 100LL Full Service has increased $0.36 (4.8%), from $7.49 to $7.85. After a brief decline in June, prices rose steadily through October, marking four consecutive months of increases for both fuels.
The figures rest on pricing data collected directly by iFlightPlanner from 3,367 FBOs and fuel service providers across the United States. The average age of the reported prices is 9.6 days.
Industry impact & what to watch
Fuel is one of the largest variable costs for turbine operators, and a Jet A price that has risen in each month since June feeds directly into trip pricing for charter and fractional programs. Because retail Full Service prices tend to move with a lag and carry FBO margins on top of the underlying commodity cost, a four-month run like this one usually shows up in quoted trip costs before it shows up anywhere else.
The piston segment faces the same direction at a gentler pace: 100LL Full Service rose 1.3% in October against 3.6% for Jet A, and the gap between Full Service and Self Service pricing at 100LL narrowed slightly, from 14% to about 13%. Alternative fuels such as UL94 and Mogas rose too, so there is no obvious cheaper substitute absorbing demand.
The Central region's 7.4% jump in Jet A Full Service stands apart from the 3.5% Lower-48 average. The next monthly iFlightPlanner reading will show whether that regional spike is the start of a broader move or a one-month outlier, and whether the post-June streak extends to a fifth month.
