The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched an inquiry into the ticket pricing practices of Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and JetBlue. Announced on October 28, the inquiry involves requests for information from nine companies, including Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart, Target and Walmart. The companies have been given 45 days to provide details about the artificial intelligence systems, algorithms and customer data used in their pricing practices.
The investigation will examine whether passengers’ browsing histories, location data, purchasing habits and participation in loyalty programmes influence airfares. The FTC aims to distinguish between dynamic pricing, which adjusts fares based on demand and seat availability, and personalised pricing based on individual customer data.
The inquiry follows scrutiny of Delta’s AI-powered pricing technology in 2025 and controversy surrounding JetBlue in April 2026, when a passenger’s ticket price reportedly increased by $230 within a single day. Both airlines previously denied allegations that they used personal data to set individualised fares for passengers.
The FTC’s inquiry does not, in itself, establish that any of the companies have engaged in unlawful practices.
