Jet fuel crisis lays bare faultlines in US airline industry

the us airline industry is splitting into two camps. delta and united are pulling ahead, while low-cost carriers like southwest and spirit are stuck with too many planes ordered during the post-pandemic boom. the jet fuel crisis has exposed the faultlines. the big two have been buying new, fuel-efficient aircraft and locking in supply chains. the discounters, who bet on a travel surge that never fully materialized, are now sitting on expensive leases and older planes that burn more fuel. spirit has already warned it might not survive. the gap isn't just about planes. delta and united have also built up premium cabin revenue and international routes, giving them pricing power. the low-cost model, built on cheap fares and high utilization, is cracking under higher fuel costs and weaker demand for basic seats.