5th November 2006

US Air Fares Up Again

US air fares have jumped up again, only a week after deciding the traveling public wouldn't stand for an air fares hike.

A week ago, all the angst was over a $6 increase. But this time it's a $20 increase in the price of your flight tickets... and it looks like staying.

American Air Lines and Delta Air Lines boldly led the movement, and were followed by the others. And a leading analyst on Wall Street expects the higher fares to last.

American Airlines raised their fares on most of their routes on Thursday night, except for those to and from Dallas. It is struggling with Southwest Airlines in a air fare price war there.

Delta Airlines upped their airfares pretty much across the board, except for where they are competing with Southwest and the other low-cost airlines.

Continental Airlines and US Airways both said they would match the increased air fares. By the weekend, United Airlines was still considering the issue, but it raised other fares by up to $50 one-way. Northwest Airlines Corp. reported it had matched the raise.