Skift Take
The airlines’ slight increases overtime don’t significantly effect demand as infrequent fliers likely don’t notice the $4 to $10 increase and business travelers will have to fly anyway.
Southwest raised fares $4 to $10 round trip, depending on the length of the trip, according to fare-tracking site FareCompare.com. And many other airlines have followed with similar increases.
United had filed for a comparable price boost earlier last week, then rolled it back on Thursday when other major carriers outside of Delta refused to follow.
United’s price increase last week — now driven by Southwest’s increase — was the 14th attempt by U.S. airlines to raise fares this year, as they’ve sought to deal with volatile jet fuel prices and post profits.
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Tags: airfares, southwest airlines