US Aviation Fuel Prices Hit Six-Month High in September 2026, Jet-A Averages Near $8 Per Gallon
Why It MattersDivergent survey methodologies and sharp regional spreads mean operators face materially different fuel-cost realities depending on where they base and fly, complicating cost forecasting across the business and general aviation segment.
What happened
Aviation fuel prices in the United States climbed to multi-year highs in September 2026, according to multiple industry surveys compiling data from fixed-base operators. GlobalAir, which compiles reports from FBOs, said Jet-A's September national average finalized at $7.99 per gallon — the third record high of 2026 — with its live national average already exceeding $8.00 at the time of reporting. Aviation Research Group, which surveys U.S. FBOs and includes all taxes and fees, put Jet-A at $8.49 per gallon in September, up 18 cents from August and $1.96 higher than a year earlier. AirNav, tracking prices at approximately 3,586 FBOs nationwide, reported a Jet-A average of $7.68 in its October 6 data.
GlobalAir reported that the September national average for 100LL avgas reached $7.59 per gallon, up 8 cents from August and a new record, surpassing the previous peak of $7.55 set in July 2022. GlobalAir noted that Jet-A's national average has exceeded 100LL's for the past seven consecutive months. Blended sustainable aviation fuel rose 23 cents in September to a national average of $10.23 per gallon.
Regional price differences were significant. AirNav's October 6 data showed Alaska as the most expensive region, with a 100LL average of $10.58 and Jet-A at $9.25, while the Central region was the least expensive at $6.99 for 100LL and $6.90 for Jet-A. Aviation Research Group found the Western Pacific region had the highest Jet-A price at $9.16 per gallon, while the Southwest recorded the largest monthly increase at 28 cents. GlobalAir's 30-day national average for full-service 100LL was $7.69, putting a 40-gallon fill-up at approximately $308.
AAA reported that September 2026 was a record month for retail gasoline, with the national average reaching $4.33 per gallon — 50 cents above the previous September record. Crude oil prices had recently dipped into the $90-per-barrel range, lowering the national gasoline average slightly, though prices remained the highest ever for that time of year. GlobalAir entered October with a live national Jet-A average of $8.26, well above September's finalized figure.
Industry impact & what to watch
This set of surveys belongs to a broader run of fuel-cost records spanning both aviation and road transport, with 100LL, Jet-A, SAF and retail gasoline all setting or approaching new highs within the same reporting month. The gap between the three aviation surveys — GlobalAir at $7.99, Aviation Research Group at $8.49, and AirNav at $7.68 for Jet-A — shows how differently each tracker samples FBOs and handles taxes and fees, so operators comparing month-to-month trends need to anchor on one consistent source rather than mixing headline figures.
Regional spread is the other structural feature worth tracking: Alaska's Jet-A price of $9.25 against the Central region's $6.90 is a gap of more than two dollars per gallon, which matters directly for trip-planning and tankering decisions on longer itineraries. SAF's premium over conventional Jet-A, now at $10.23 against figures in the high $7 to $8 range, keeps sustainable fuel adoption tied closely to incentive structures rather than organic cost parity.
The early-October data GlobalAir reported, with a live national Jet-A average of $8.26 above September's finalized $7.99, suggests the next monthly close will be the figure to watch for whether September's records mark a peak or a staging point for a fourth record this year.
