Rep. Ritchie Torres to Airline CEOs: Commit to Lowering Prices If Fuel Costs Fall

Rep. Torres calls out Delta CEO for vowing to pocket savings rather than pass them to travelers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15) sent a letter to the CEOs of Delta, United, Southwest, and JetBlue demanding they publicly commit to lowering prices for consumers if jet fuel costs decline, after all four airlines raised baggage fees in response to rising fuel costs driven by President Trump’s war with Iran.

Rep. Torres zeroed in on Delta CEO Ed Bastian, who said falling fuel costs would “certainly help us boost our margins” rather than offering any relief to travelers, and separately dismissed concerns about the Middle East conflict by suggesting Delta’s “premium customers” aren’t affected by it.

The full letter reads:

“I write to express serious concern regarding a recent statement from the CEO of Delta Air Lines, Ed Bastian. When asked if Delta would lower prices if jet fuel costs decline, Mr. Bastian responded by saying that lower fuel costs would “certainly help us boost our margins this year and clearly into next year as well.” This statement is tone-deaf and reflects a broader pattern of corporate indifference to the financial pressures facing everyday Americans. At a time when families across the country are grappling with an affordability crisis, the suggestion that a company would take advantage of a global market catastrophe is deeply troubling. Additionally, Mr. Bastian stated that, “I think as difficult it is to see what’s going on with the conflict in the Middle East, I’m not sure that our premium customers are feeling affected by that.” This sentiment exemplifies that Delta does not take everyday Americans into account when pricing.

“President Trump’s war with Iran has disrupted oil markets, which has caused jet fuel prices to rise 88% to $4.69 a gallon since February 28. In response to this, your companies have raised prices on checked bags to cover the increased costs of fuel. Delta, Southwest, and United have all increased the price of a single checked bag. Additionally, JetBlue announced it would increase the cost of checking a bag by $9 on peak days, charging $49, and by $4 on nonpeak days, charging $39. Peak days include the most popular family travel times, including Memorial Day weekend and the majority of June, July, and August.

“If airline pricing is truly tied to global fuel costs, then it must be equally responsive when those costs decline. Pricing cannot be a one-way street. Raising prices in response to external pressures and keeping them artificially high when those pressures ease takes advantage of a deadly international conflict for profit. Mr. Bastian’s statements suggest Delta is doing just that: a willingness to raise prices in times of crisis, but an unwillingness to provide relief when conditions improve.

“This is particularly difficult to justify given that Delta reported $5 billion in pre-tax profits in 2025, while United reported $4.3 billion in pre-tax profits. In a survey from April 2025, people planning vacations dropped 7%, with two thirds of those respondents citing increased cost as the main reason. With millions of Americans being priced out of air travel, airlines should be doing more to keep fares affordable.

“I urge you and your respective organizations to reject this approach. I call on you to publicly commit to lowering costs associated with air travel should jet fuel prices decline. The American people deserve fairness and pricing models that do not only reflect market conditions, but also economic justice.

“Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your response.”

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