Jet fuel is one of the highest, yet least controllable, expenses in aviation. Prices fluctuate constantly: Jet A is commonly quoted at around $10 per gallon and the same product can be found for only $4 per gallon elsewhere. For operators, the tab translates to roughly $4.50-$7.00 per gallon, and typical missions illustrate the burden. A two-hour light-jet sortie burns about 300 gallons, so at the mid-point of $6.00 per gallon the fuel bill is $1,800. A Gulfstream G280 takes about $8,000 to top off, and filling a Boeing 747 can reach $450,000. VIP charter clients should therefore expect to devote roughly $4,200 of the total price to fuel alone.
Expert behind this article
Jim Goodrich
Jim Goodrich is a pilot, aviation expert and founder of Tsunami Air.
How much does it cost to fuel an airplane?
The cost to fuel an airplane varies with size. Small airplane fuel cost starts at about $5 per gallon of avgas. A Cessna 172 burns 7-9 gal each hour (26.5-34.1 L/h), so one hour costs $42-$54. A private pilot who logs 100 h a year will spend $2,500-$5,000 annually on fuel. Light jets burn 150-500 gal (567.8-1,892.7 L) per hour, so at $4.50-$7.00 per gallon a 2-hour trip in a 300-gal (1,135.6 L) light jet runs $1,000-$4,000. Midsize jets need 190-250 gal per hour (719-946 L per hour), heavy jets 330-500 gal (1,249-1,893 L) per hour, and ultra-long-range or VIP jets 500-1,000 gal (1,893-3,785 L) per hour, pushing hourly fuel cost from $500 up to $18,000 depending on price and sector length.
Airline-scale jets use Jet A, which trades between $4 and $8 per gallon depending on region and day. At the 2024 worldwide average of 192.6 gal ($5-$6), filling a common 3,500-gallon narrow-body costs about $7,070. A Boeing 747-400 carries 3,240 gal (12,263 L) per hour, and at that price the tankful works out to roughly $450,000 and each hour of cruise burns $6,240 worth of kerosene, or about $6,053 for a 747-8. The same airplane consumes 5 gal per mile (18.93 L per km), so every seat-mile costs just 0.01 gal (0.03785 L), yet the absolute bill climbs with distance: New York JFK-London Heathrow needs about 5,000 gal (18,927.06 L) and $27,270, while the return leg runs $33,411. Across a 10-hour mission a 747 can burn 36,000 gal (136,274 L), illustrating why fuel still accounts for 20-40% of airline expenditure and up to 70% of a small operator's variable cost.
What is the best airplane fuel?
The best airplane fuel is Jet A-1 for turbine-powered aircraft and Avgas 100LL for piston-powered aircraft. Jet A-1 is the most common jet fuel worldwide. It is a clear, refined kerosene-based type of fuel. Jet A-1 is designed for high performance and efficiency in aircraft with turbine engines and turboprops. It has a freeze point of -47°C (-52.6°F). Jet A-1 is produced to a standardized international specification. It is the international standard with a lower freezing point than Jet A. Jet A-1 can be used in existing aircraft without requiring modifications. It is slightly less expensive overall than Jet A. Jet A-1 is used for international flights through varying climates. It is straw-coloured and the most common type of jet fuel for commercial aviation outside the USA. JJet A-1 is the most common jet fuel for international flights, IATA flights, ICAO flights, EU flights, NATO flights, mail transport flights, and cargo flights.
Avgas 100LL is the most common type of avgas for general aviation. It is a low-lead fuel with a maximum lead content of 0.56 grams of lead per liter (0.047 pounds of lead per gallon). Avgas 100LL has an octane rating of 100 and is dyed blue for identification. Avgas 100LL contains tetraethyl lead as an antiknock agent. Avgas 100LL is the most common avgas in the United States. It is used for aircraft with piston engines.
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a type of biofuel made from renewable sources. It is used as a drop-in replacement for traditional jet fuel. SAF can be blended with conventional jet fuel without mechanical changes to the aircraft. It aims to reduce carbon emissions as it delivers lower levels of GHG and particle emissions. It is being incorporated into commercial aviation. SAF can be used in general, private, military, cargo, and humanitarian aviation. SAF can be used in search-and-rescue missions, medical evacuation, and fire-fighting missions.
The best airplane fuel is not a matter of preference but must be considered based on suitability. For high-compression reciprocating engines, the best choice is 100LL avgas as its upper octane grade stops harmful pre-ignition and risky knocking that could provoke serious motor injury. For turbine-powered aircraft, Jet-A fit the requirements.
Where to buy airplane fuel?
Operators can purchase aviation fuel from established networks that serve thousands of fixed-base operators. Air BP supplies products and services in over 40 countries and around 600 locations, while World Fuel Services delivers premium aviation fuel to more than 4200 international locations and 2900 airports. Titan Aviation Fuels supports FBO and flight department partners with an expansive network and thousands of FBO locations accept the TITAN Contract Fuel+ card. Sunoco LP supplies avgas and other aviation fuels and can assist with specific enquiries.
For smaller or self-serve requirements, Finleyville Airport provides the 100LL Reciprocating Engine (AVGAS) at a self-serve station that offers some of the most reasonably priced aircraft fuel in the area. Anchorage-Merrill Field supplies Avgas 100LL and Jet A-50. Crowley Fuels Alaska offers 24-hour self-service cardlock stations and scheduled delivery into wing, belly, and bulk storage tanks, together with marine transportation of aviation fuels to shoreline docks for seaplanes and floatplanes. Each supplier gives crews multiple points of access, competitive pricing, and flexible ordering tools, assuring that aircraft can be fueled efficiently at home base or en route.
I found that buying gasoline straight from a fixed-base operator at a leading airfield was the straightforward choice. A line skilled worker would quickly see to the supplying procedure, and the service was incorporated seamlessly into the aerodrome's processes. I examined gas costs through technical air technologies and saw substantial monetary funds at smaller domestic aerodromes, which often provided rival rates.
Jim GoodrichPilot, Airplane Broker and Founder of Tsunami Air
