United Airlines Raises Roundtrip Fares

As if on cue, airlines are responding to oil’s latest surge by pushing ticket prices even higher.

Roundtrip domestic fares began rising $10 to $20 or later Thursday, as crude futures crossed the once-unthinkable $100-a-barrel mark. Several major carriers increased prices, with each citing higher fuel costs as the reason.

The widespread increases follow nearly two dozen attempted system-wide fare hikes in 2007, or about double the number during the previous year, according to data compiled by FareCompare.com, which tracks airfare changes.

Passengers hoping for relief in the new year are likely to be disappointed. United Airlines, the second-largest U.S. carrier, led with the biggest round of increases Thursday night.

The Air Transport Association said higher fuel costs will likely limit U.S. airlines’ profits to between $3.5 billion and $4.5 billion this year, down from an estimate of $5 billion last year.