Fewer people are passing through U.S. airport security checkpoints this year, on track for the first annual decline since 2020, but airlines say higher fares matter more than full planes. Airfares in September were up more than 22% from a year earlier as jet fuel costs climbed. American's load factor fell to 83.4% in the third quarter from 86%, and Southwest's average fare was $231.69, up nearly $50, while its passenger count fell 3.2% to about 33.5 million, beating expectations. American, United, Delta and Southwest all cut 2026 profit forecasts, and Bank of America said Spirit Airlines' shutdown may have led some customers to stop flying.
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SPY
• NeutralSPDR S&P 500 ETF
Relevance: low
| Market | US stocks |
|---|---|
| Sector | ETF |
| Close on 10/23/2026 | 759.97 |
| Change that session | -0.52% |
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