Fuel spikes, flight delays and storms threaten US spring break travel

Spring breakers in the US could see their long-awaited trips to party destinations disrupted by a trifecta of issues: airport security delays, high gas prices, and chaotic weather.
The potential for flight delays comes as US airlines expect that they will see a record-shattering spring travel season. Airlines for America, an aviation industry group, said that 171 million passengers are expected to fly – a 4% increase from the 2025 spring travel period.
US airlines are expected to transport 2.8 million passengers every day between 1 March and 30 April. Airlines will provide 2% more flights and seats, the group said.
But Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents working at the nation’s airports have gone weeks without pay, spurring long security lines at some travel hubs. Several airline CEOs have made public entreaties to end the impasse.
The Department of Homeland Security, which includes the TSA, has not been funded since mid-February. Democrats said they will not vote to approve DHS’s operations unless Republicans agreed to new rules governing federal agents’ manner of immigration enforcement.
Congressional Democrats want federal agents to show identification and cease wearing masks. They also want agents to stop detaining people on the street.
“It’s not sustainable, and what’s going to happen is lines are just going to continue to get longer and longer as spring breaks goes on,” Cameron Cochems, vice-president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 1127 and a lead TSA officer based in Boise, Idaho, told the Hill.
“What’s going to happen is longer wait times. Passengers are going to get more frustrated. They’re going to take their anger out on, who do you think? Us,” Cochems also reportedly said. “We’re not the ones in charge of any of this, and so they’re going to continue to push back on us.”
While the spring breakers driving to sunny climes or apres-ski hotspots won’t contend with airport delays, they will see outsized gas prices due to the Iran war. A gallon of regular-grade gasoline currently costs $3.79, up from $2.92 one month ago and $3.08 one year ago, according to AAA.
Patrick De Haan, a top petroleum analyst, said Tuesday morning on X: “Americans today alone will spend $330m more on gasoline than a month ago.” Some areas in the US have already seen regular gas exceed $4 per gallon.
Oil and gas prices rose Tuesday morning after Iran attacked petroleum production facilities. While Iran has attacked refineries, storage sites and terminals, this is the first time the country has successfully carried out an attack on production facilities.
The United Arab Emirates said that a drone hit the Shah natural gasfield, which is one of the world’s largest, resulting in fire. Iranian drones and missiles also hit an oilfield in Iraq as well as the UAE’s largest storage and port facility.
Meanwhile, the strait of Hormuz remains cut off by Iran, further snarling worldwide oil and gas shipments. The instability could set the stage for increased gas and airfare during the upcoming summer travel season.
Storms across the US have also roiled air travel. A powerful storm system that dumped snow and rain between the US and east coast, and brought heavy winds and biting temperatures, prompted thousands of flight delays and cancellations.
According to Flight Aware, there have been 3,255 delays for flights within, into, or out of the US. There have been 975 cancellations of flights.
Even if spring breakers navigate airport chaos and spiking gas prices, they might not have as much fun as expected. Local officials in some popular destinations such as Panama City, Florida, have even banned alcohol on the beach during March.
JR Talamantez, the Panama City Beach police chief, said: “Our Spring Break initiatives and ordinances have been proven effective in maintaining order and protecting our community from the chaos of the past.”