Get Ready for Higher Fares and Fees to Jolt Sagging U.S. Airline Profits
- Carriers are assessing options to offset higher jet-fuel costs
- Southwest, JetBlue are already increasing ancillary charges
This article is for subscribers only.
U.S. airlines, bruised by higher fuel prices, are stepping up efforts to raise fares and increase fees to avoid a third straight year of declining profits.
“Carriers have struggled to keep pace with the rising cost of fuel, among many others,” John Heimlich, chief economist of Airlines for America, a trade group, told reporters on a conference call Wednesday. “I can assure you carriers are looking at every aspect of their revenue arsenals and cost elements to try to right the ship.”