Delta tacks $20 to round-trip fare

By Steve Huettel, Times Staff Writer
Posted: May 08, 2008 11:53 AM

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Delta Air Lines raised prices by $20 round trip on domestic flights Wednesday night, the fifteenth attempted price increase by a major airline this year.

The move "essentially reflects the impact of the rising cost of fuel on our business," said Delta spokeswoman Susan Elliott.

If the increase sticks, Delta's fuel surcharge will rise to $130 round trip for flights within the United States. American Airlines had matched the increase Thursday morning, while Continental matched it on selected routes, said Rick Seaney, chief executive of FareCompare.com. Ten attempted increases in base fares and fuel surcharges have been widely adopted by network carriers so far this year, he said.

Delta is the nation's third-largest airline and No. 2 at Tampa International Airport behind Southwest Airlines.