Major Airlines Increase Fares in U.S., Canada

Major airlines raised fares as much as $20 on round-trip flights in the U.S. and Canada, matching an increase by Northwest Airlines Corp. to help blunt rising fuel costs.

American Airlines, Delta Air Lines Inc., Continental Airlines Inc., UAL Corp.’s United and other carriers joined Northwest in adding $5 each way on flights of less than 1,000 miles and $10 each way on longer trips. America West Airlines, AirTran Airways and Air Canada also matched Northwest, spokesmen said Friday. US Airways Group Inc. raised some fares.

U.S. airlines are seeking to increase revenue after fuel prices rose in the last year and competition prevented major carriers from raising fares. U.S. carriers have had combined losses of $33.2 billion in the last four years.

AMR Corp.’s American, the world’s largest carrier, initiated the fare increase Thursday in about a quarter of its U.S. markets, then broadened it to all of the U.S. and Canada after Northwest’s action.