United, Northwest Match ATA Increase

UAL Corp.’s United Airlines, US Airways Group Inc., AMR Corp.’s American Airlines and Northwest Airlines Corp. matched a $3 fare increase on routes where they compete with ATA Holdings Corp., whose increase Monday marked the second time since Friday that some U.S. airlines tried to offset rising oil costs.

ATA said it added the $3 fee for about half its fares because of higher fuel prices.

American and Continental Airlines Inc. were among the airlines that tried to raise prices by $20 for all round-trip tickets Friday and Saturday. That increase was dropped after Northwest matched it only on some of its lowest fares.