12:02 PM EDT, 03/24/2026 (MT Newswires) -- United Airlines (UAL) Chief Executive Scott Kirby said in an interview with Bloomberg TV Tuesday that ticket prices may have to increase by 20% if fuel prices stay at current levels.

Reiterating the airline's previous forecast, Kirby said oil prices could climb to as much as $175 per barrel, and remain at over $100 a barrel until next year.

Kirby said United has reduced its capacity by 5%, especially on routes that are deemed unprofitable.

"What we're doing right now really is taking out flying that... is pretty marginal even in good times. And when oil prices double, it would lose money. And so there's just no point in flying flights that are gonna lose money that can't cover the cost of fuel," Kirby told Bloomberg TV.

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