Major U.S. airlines reported that the number...

Major U.S. airlines reported that the number of passengers flying with them in January rose by a surprisingly strong 6%--a gain that analysts said came at the expense of smaller regional and national carriers. The rise is notable because fares were higher last month than they were a year ago, although they were lower than in the fourth quarter, and because business tends to be slow in January, analysts said. They said fare cuts contributed to the increase.