NEW YORK (AP) - United Airlines raised round-trip fares by $10 to $20 on nearly all of its domestic routes, prompting a similar move by Delta Air Lines Co. on Thursday.
The increases are the latest in a series of price hikes by U.S. carriers. The airlines, which have struggled to return to profitability in recent years, say the increases are necessary to keep pace with rising fuel costs.
A United spokeswoman said the Chicago-based carrier raised one-way fares by $5 on most routes under 1,500 miles and $10 on flights longer than that. About 96 percent of the carrier's domestic routes are included in the increase, she said.
'Fares are still relatively low despite the cost of fuel, which has become our largest expense in operating flights,' said the spokeswoman, Robin Urbanski.
A Delta spokeswoman said the airline implemented similar increases, but did not say what portion of routes were affected. Flights into and out of Florida, along with 'other select markets' were not included in the increase.
'We continue to face cost pressures, including fuel,' said Delta spokeswoman Betsy Talton.
American Airlines, operated by AMR Corp., last week raised many domestic by $5 one-way, but left prices unchanged on routes where it competes with low-cost carriers. That increase sparked a round of price jostling by competitors.
Then on Monday, Southwest Airlines Co. raised fares $10 each way on longer flights to and from Dallas Love Field, its hometown airport. American matched the increase shortly afterward.
Airlines have also recently raised fares to and from Hawaii.
The increases by United are significant because they apparently include routes served by discount carriers such as Southwest and Frontier Airlines Holdings Inc.
'We believe that discounter-led increases remain more relevant, given they tend to affect the lower-end/higher-volume portion of the fare structure,' JPMorgan airline analyst Jamie Baker said in a note to investors Thursday.
The increase, if it sticks, would mark the eighth time major carriers succeeded in raising prices this year, Baker said.
Shares of Chicago-based UAL Corp., United's parent, fell $1.36, or 2.7 percent, to $48.30 in afternoon trading. Delta shares gave up 19 cents, to $20.21.
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