July 2026 Jet-A and Avgas Fuel Price Trends

Jet-A fuel prices in the United States continued their downward trajectory in July, marking the second consecutive monthly decline. The national average fell to $7.61 per gallon, a decrease of $0.57 from June's figures. Notably, this decline was uniform across all eight FAA regions, suggesting a broad-based softening in fuel costs rather than a localized or anomalous market movement. Avgas, by contrast, averaged $8.13 per gallon nationally—continuing its typical premium over Jet-A, reflecting the smaller, less liquid market for piston fuel and the additional refining and distribution costs associated with 100LL. The data, compiled from a survey of more than 200 FBOs by the Aviation Research Group and analyzed by Argus, offers one of the more reliable snapshots available to operators tracking fuel cost trends month to month.

Regional disparities remain a persistent feature of the U.S. fuel market despite the overall decline. The Western Pacific region held its position as the most expensive market for both fuel types, with Jet-A averaging $8.43 per gallon and avgas reaching $8.66 per gallon. The Central region, conversely, offered the most favorable pricing, with Jet-A at $6.80 and avgas at $7.39. This gap—more than $1.60 per gallon for Jet-A between the two regions—underscores the significant cost variability tied to geography, logistics, refinery proximity, state and local tax structures, and FBO competition within a given market.

For working pilots and flight departments, these trends carry direct operational and budgetary implications. Flight planners and dispatchers for airlines, fractional operators, and Part 135 charter companies routinely factor regional fuel price differentials into tankering decisions—calculating whether it's more economical to carry extra fuel from a cheaper region to avoid purchasing in a high-cost market like the Western Pacific. For Part 91 and 91K flight departments operating business jets, the two-month decline offers welcome relief to operating budgets, though the persistent regional premium in markets like California, Hawaii, and the broader Pacific corridor means trip planning and fuel stop selection remain critical cost levers. General aviation pilots flying piston aircraft face a similar calculus, particularly as avgas prices continue to outpace Jet-A, reinforcing the economic pressure many light GA owners already feel amid rising ownership costs.

More broadly, these fuel trends fit into a larger pattern the industry has watched closely over the past several years: volatile but gradually moderating energy costs following the sharp spikes tied to geopolitical disruptions and refining capacity constraints earlier in the decade. A second straight month of declines, especially one occurring uniformly across all regions, may signal improving crude oil and refined product supply dynamics, though pilots and operators should treat this as one data point in a historically volatile commodity market rather than a guaranteed trend. Fuel remains one of the largest variable costs for any flight operation, and continued monitoring of regional pricing—alongside hedging strategies, fuel card programs, and contract fuel agreements—will remain essential tools for managing margins as the industry heads into the remainder of 2026.