Airlines accused of price gouging as Hurricane Milton evacuees fled Florida

Several major airlines, including United and American, are facing backlash for raising fares dramatically during Hurricane Milton evacuations, sparking accusations of price gouging.

Sharon Kelly reports for DeSmog.

In short:

• Airlines reportedly hiked ticket prices as Floridians evacuated ahead of Hurricane Milton, with some fares jumping to more than $2,000.
• United and American Airlines defended their actions, citing fare caps and additional flights, but reports of inflated prices persisted.
• Critics point to airline industry consolidation and long-standing resistance to climate regulations as factors contributing to the current crisis.

Key quote:

“I would argue that the reason [price gouging] happened is because we have four airlines controlling 80 percent of the market. They’re behaving badly because they can.”

— William J. McGee, author of the book Attention All Passengers

Why this matters:

Price gouging during emergencies like hurricanes can put lives at risk by making evacuation unaffordable for many. With climate change intensifying storms, such unethical practices could affect millions in future disasters.