The Financial Post reports in its Friday edition that Canada's two largest airlines could face headwinds in 2018 thanks to a recent rally in jet fuel prices. The Post's Alicja Siekierska writes that according to S&P Global Platts, global jet fuel prices as of Dec. 29 hit $81.3 per barrel, an increase of 21.1 per cent from the same time in 2016 (all figures U.S.). As of Wednesday, Platts said jet fuel prices had hit $82.76 per barrel. While jet fuel prices tend to spike in December because of increased travel, a major factor behind the surge is the increase seen in the oil complex in general. On Thursday, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude closed at $63.80, up 23 cents, to its highest since December, 2014. Michael Rousseau, Air Canada's chief financial officer, told a conference in Toronto on Thursday: "Fuel has gone up in the last little while. We'll continue to try and raise prices when the opportunity presents itself. We're not conservative about trying to raise prices. We'll manage through it." Air Canada previously hedged up to 40 per cent of its fuel consumption on a quarterly basis. While WestJet may get hit by higher fuel prices, the rising cost of oil could benefit the economy in Alberta.