Airlines Raise Ticket Prices
Increased fuel costs cited as major reason.
May 27, 2004--Fuel prices keep hammering away at businesses and consumers. On Wednesday, United Airlines, the world's second largest airline, raised its existing $10 fuel surcharge to $15 each way.
The increase applies to almost all of its North American flights and is effective immediately.
At the same time, America West announced a 5% increase on most fares for flights between mid-June and mid-August, peak travel months. The company gave increased demand and high fuel costs as the reasons.
Several other airlines followed United and America West's lead. Northwest and Continental Airlines matched the 5% hike in competitive markets. American Airlines, the largest airline in the world, adopted both the general rate increase and the fuel surcharge in certain markets.
All this comes at a time when United Airlines is battling bankruptcy again. In a legal brief filed last week, the company disclosed it expects its fuel costs for 2004 to be $750 million more than it projected six months ago.
The ultra-competitive airline industry has tried several times to raise prices this year. Efforts have failed because discounters like Southwest have rejected the moves.
