[FAIR USE FOR EDUCATION AND RESEARCH ONLY]

U.S. Northwest Airlines Raises Ticket Prices

Story Filed: Friday, March 17, 2000 3:48 AM EST

LOS ANGELES (March 16) XINHUA - U.S. Northwest Airlines Thursday raised fares throughout its entire domestic system, by as much as 40 U.S. dollars per round-trip, in an attempt to counter historically high fuel prices.

News release from the No. 4 U.S. airlines said it raised unrestricted, or business, fares by 20 to 40 dollars round-trip, and leisure fares by 10 to 20 dollars round-trip. Other fares, such as senior fares, military fares, some Internet offers and consolidator fares, vary in their levels of increase.

Northwest also increased fees for services such as excess luggage, pet transportation, lost ticket replacement and other handling fees by 5-25 dollars.

Observers expected other airlines to follow suit. "This will probably be one of the fastest fare hike matches," said Tom Parsons, who tracks fares for on-line travel company Bestfares.com.

Northwest executives, including chief executive John Dasburg, have recently said current fuel price levels threaten airline profitability.

Fuel price, rising to more than 30 dollars per barrel, is the second-largest cost for airlines after labor.

Gordon Bethune, chief executive officer of Continental Airlines, also said recently that fares would have to rise to offset fuel prices.

Copyright ) 2000, Xinhua News Agency, all rights reserved.

http://library.northernlight.com/FA20000317460000029.html?cb=200&dx=2006&sc=0#doc

-- (Dee360Degree@aol.com), March 17, 2000