The Globe and Mail reports in its Monday edition that soaring jet fuel prices driven by conflict in the Middle East are likely to push more airlines into bankruptcy and spur more sector consolidation this year and next, the head of the global airline body said on Saturday. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe says global airlines are grappling with higher fuel costs driven by the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, which has choked jet fuel supplies and disrupted key air corridors, forcing costly detours. Budget carriers have been among the hardest hit, lacking higher-margin revenue streams such as premium cabins, high-paying travellers and credit-card loyalty programs. The strain is already showing: U.S. budget airline Spirit Airlines collapsed last month, and it will not be the last, said Willie Walsh, who heads the International Air Transport Association, the industry's main trade body. Airlines are also expected to protect margins by cutting unprofitable routes, while fares, which have surged since the outbreak of the Iran war, are unlikely to come down soon, Mr. Walsh said. Adding to the strain is the slow pace of aircraft deliveries from Boeing and Airbus, along with engine delays from GE Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney.