U.S. airlines spend on jet fuel rises sharply again in May, according to government data released this week. Multiple outlets report that airlines paid about $6.6 billion for jet fuel in May 2026—specifically $6.66 billion in one figure cited across the articles. The data also show this is the second consecutive month that monthly jet-fuel spending exceeds $6 billion, with April also topping that threshold, as noted by one outlet. Compared with May of the previous year, jet-fuel costs increase by 84%, reflecting a substantial year-over-year jump in fuel expenses. The reports cite the Bureau of Transportation Statistics as the source of the figures, which are based on U.S. airlines’ fuel expenditures. While one article links the increase to geopolitical pressures, the core reported facts across sources focus on the spending level, the month-over-month threshold being surpassed, and the 84% increase from the prior year. No additional causes beyond the published spending figures are consistently detailed across all reports.