|
NEW YORK (AP) - Two of the nation's biggest airlines boosted round-trip fares by as much as much as $50 heading into the weekend, raising the stakes in their fight against rapidly rising fuel costs and putting pressure on competitors to follow suit.
United Airlines, the second-largest U.S. carrier, led the latest round of increases late Thursday, hours after crude oil prices surged to a new record of $111 a barrel. Continental Airlines Inc. matched the increases Friday. At least two other carriers said they were studying the move.
It was the fourth week in a row that carriers have raised ticket prices, and the second round of increases led by Chicago-based United in as many weeks, according to a tally by airline ticket pricing Web site FareCompare.com.
|