DALLAS — The airlines are at it again, imposing the first fare increase of the new year and the third within a month.
The increase on many domestic routes ranges from $4 to $10 per round-trip ticket, depending on the length of the flight.
Southwest, which boasts of its low fares, appears to be the prime mover behind the latest price hike.
After some airlines made modest increases on flights to and from cities in the Midwest last week, Southwest jumped in and raised prices across most of its routes, according to Rick Seaney, chief executive of the website .
Southwest spokesman Brad Hawkins said the increases would help offset higher fuel and operating costs.
Over the weekend, Southwest’s increases were matched by other major airlines including American, Delta, United, Continental, US Airways and Frontier, making the price hikes likely to stick, Seaney said.
American and US Airways confirmed matching Southwest’s increase, while others did not immediately comment.
The increase mostly covers the usually slow travel period in January and February, and it comes as the airlines are grappling with higher prices for jet fuel.
The airlines have more leverage to raise prices because they’ve cut flights and grounded planes in the last couple of years.
Travel demand was battered during the recession but has been recovering modestly in recent months.
Southwest raised prices $2 each way on trips up to 500 miles, $3 for 501 to 1,000 miles, and $5 each way on longer flights.
Seaney said he thinks the latest hike has more to do with the restricted supply of airline seats than with fuel prices.
