Fuel ranks just between 10% and 20% of expenses for airline companies, according to the air transport association. u.s. airlines will pay more than $28 billion in fuel costs in 2005, rising by $6.7 billion from 2004. to control the fluctuations in fuel costs, many carriers have expanded hedging of energy purchases with the goal to control energy costs, maintain low airfares, and not imposing the jet fuel surcharges being levied by air freight companies.