This article from NYTimes.com has been sent to you by psa188@juno.com. Big Airlines Take Another Run at a Fare Increase February 19, 2003 By REUTERS CHICAGO, Feb. 18 (Reuters) - The big airlines, having failed last week to push through a fare increase, tried on a smaller scale today to raise fares or add a fuel surcharge. Several attempts to raise fares have failed the last two years, the latest on Monday when several large carriers abandoned a bid to raise fares $10 each way on most routes to offset rising fuel costs because Northwest Airlines decided not to match it on all routes. But the $3 fuel surcharge added each way on most fares for American Trans Air showed some signs of sticking today, an air fare expert said. American Trans Air, a discount carrier, is a unit of ATA Holdings. Northwest, American Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways all matched the ATA surcharge on competing routes. American and Northwest matched ATA as a fuel surcharge. United and US Airways called their matches fare increases intended to offset rising fuel costs. "This is hit-and-miss as every airline jockeys for position," said Terry Trippler, an air fare expert who works for Cheapseats.com. But, he added, "you could just bet the rent that when the dust settles this will be pretty much systemwide for all airlines." The leading airlines had net losses totaling more than $11 billion in 2002. http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/19/business/19AIR.html?ex=1046665327&ei=1&en=eb39cc4ff8a169f6 HOW TO ADVERTISE --------------------------------- For information on advertising in e-mail newsletters or other creative advertising opportunities with The New York Times on the Web, please contact onlinesales@nytimes.com or visit our online media kit at http://www.nytimes.com/adinfo For general information about NYTimes.com, write to help@nytimes.com. Copyright 2002 The New York Times Company