Airlines charge more for fuel prices

It looks like airlines are charging more to fly.

American Airlines added fuel surcharges of as much as $5 each way on most routes. And United Continental Holdings Inc. has its own $3 each-way surcharge.

Rick Seaney, the CEO of FareCompare.com, says it’s the fifth increase since December. He says U.S. Airways Group Inc. and Delta Air Lines Inc. have matched the increases on some routes.

The big question is whether Southwest will match the increases.

Seaney says airlines haven’t used fuel surcharges since 2008, when oil prices spiked.

J.P. Morgan analyst Jamie Baker says airlines would need to raise prices further, or cut capacity, to make up for the recent increases in jet fuel prices.

American is a unit of AMR Corp.
Source: AP