United Airlines (UAL) traded higher Tuesday as energy prices reversed lower, reducing the immediate margin pressure investors had been discounting into airline shares. The stock’s gain tracks a broader “risk-on” tape in which the market responded positively to a retreat in crude prices following prior-session geopolitical jitters.

Airlines are highly sensitive to jet-fuel costs, so the day’s move in oil acted as the primary catalyst. Brent crude fell about 3.3% to roughly $110.70 after briefly topping $115, helping relieve concerns that higher fuel would rapidly squeeze airline profitability and force more aggressive fare actions.

United has leaned into premium demand and network strength, but fuel remains one of the industry’s largest variable costs and can quickly overwhelm pricing gains when crude spikes. Tuesday’s oil pullback reduces the urgency of worst-case fuel assumptions that weighed on the group during recent Middle East headlines, supporting a rebound in UAL and other carriers.