U.S. Jet-A Fuel Average Rises to $8.49 Per Gallon in September, Up $1.96 Year-Over-Year
Why It MattersRegional price spreads, from $7.57 in the Central region to $9.16 in the Western Pacific, show fuel costs remain uneven, shaping where operators fuel and how they plan trip economics.
What happened
U.S. retail Jet-A fuel averaged $8.49 per gallon in September 2026, according to a fuel survey of U.S. fixed-based operators conducted by the Aviation Research Group. That figure was up 18 cents from August and $1.96 above the level recorded a year earlier. Prices were reported by more than 200 FBOs nationwide and include all taxes and fees.
The Southwest region recorded the largest monthly increase, rising 28 cents in September compared with August. The Western Pacific region posted the smallest monthly gain, up 7 cents, but remained the most expensive region at $9.16 per gallon. The Central region was the least expensive at $7.57 per gallon.
Industry impact & what to watch
Monthly FBO fuel surveys like this one give operators, brokers and flight departments a common reference point for what Jet-A actually costs across the country, since posted prices vary widely by region and even by airport. The gap between the Central region's $7.57 and the Western Pacific's $9.16 per gallon illustrates how fuel remains one of the least uniform cost inputs in trip planning, alongside handling fees and ramp charges.
Whether the September increase continues into subsequent months will depend on the next survey reading from the Aviation Research Group, which will show whether the Southwest's sharper monthly rise was a one-month move or the start of a wider regional pattern.
