Airlines are preparing for the worst as Iran war enters its fourth week. But demand is still strong, and travelers are willing to pay higher fares

Kirby gestures (Credit: Heather Diehl—Getty Images)

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby is preparing for the worst: a future where oil prices reach as high as $175 per barrel and stay above $100 until the end of 2027. 

With the U.S.-Israel war on Iran now in its fourth week, the airline industry is staring down its biggest disruption since the pandemic as the global oil market suffers a supply shock.