United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby is warning that airfares could increase by up to 20 per cent if jet fuel prices stay high as the war in Iran drags on.

While the war hasn’t resulted in significant changes to now, the CAA’s Julia Kent says the potential impact on travel costs is real.

She says the current geopolitical situation hasn’t resulted in changes to travel costs just yet, but they’re coming. “He’s right. Along with everything else, flights are going to be impacted by the rising cost of fuel, and it’s just a matter of time before consumers and Atlantic Canadians feel that.”

Kent says if ticket costs rise, so too will other travel-related costs.

“When one piece is affected, it does have a snowball effect for the other pieces. So, for example, if flights are more expensive, or there are fewer flights to be had, the price of those flights will rise, but also the price of hotels. Hotel availability will be different, the Airbnbs, the restaurants, the tour operators; all these things will be affected.”