Airlines Follow United’s Fare Increase

AMR Corp.’s American Airlines, Delta Air Lines Inc. and US Airways Group Inc. followed UAL Corp.’s United Airlines in raising some U.S. fares 5%.

America West Airlines, Continental Airlines Inc. and Northwest Airlines Corp. also have matched the higher fares. United, the No. 2 carrier behind American, raised about 15% of its fares late Wednesday. The increases included both leisure tickets and business fares, which typically are bought closer to the date of travel and cost more.

Airlines’ sales have been hurt this year by a decline in business travel as companies reduced travel budgets in response to the slowing U.S. economy. UAL Chairman Jim Goodwin last week said leisure travel demand is holding steady, though American has said leisure sales have softened.