everal airlines raise fares to offset fuel prices = = = = Wednesday May 19, 4:07 PM EDT = NEW YORK, May 19 (Reuters) - Several U.S. airlines on Wednesday announced= fare hikes to offset soaring jet fuel prices, following Continental Airl= ines' announcement a day earlier to do the same. Continental Airlines (CAL) on Tuesday raised fares worldwide to counter f= uel costs, which have reached 13-year highs in the past month. The airlin= e also warned of a loss in the second quarter and a "significant loss for= 2004 and beyond." Analysts, on average, were expecting a profit of 4 cents for the second q= uarter, and a loss of 90 cents for the year, according to Reuters Researc= h, a unit of Reuters Group, Plc. The Houston-based carrier also said it may have to consider additional fu= rloughs, wage and benefit concessions and reduced pension funding for emp= loyees. It shares fell 3.3 percent, to $9.48 on Wednesday. = United Airlines, which on Wednesday matched Continental's price increase = of $10 each way for flights up to 1,000 miles and $20 each way for flight= s over 1,000 miles, said high jet fuel prices were keeping the bankrupt a= irline from reaching profitability. "If not for fuel prices, I'd be able = to say we'd be profitable this quarter," Glenn Tilton, the chief executiv= e of UAL Corp. (UALAQ), said at an event in New York. UAL shares were up = 4.9 percent at $1.08. The price for May jet fuel jumped 9 cents on Wednesday to $1.38 per gallo= n in the Los Angeles spot market because of an increase in the NYMEX heat= ing oil contract and refiner buying, traders said. Northwest Airlines (NWAC), the No. 4 U.S. airline, said it has selectivel= y matched the increase as well. "We have selectively matched Continental'= s price increase on fares that we offered to compete with low-cost carrie= rs," a spokeswoman said. Its shares were off 2.6 percent at $9. Delta Air Lines (DAL), the No. 3 U.S. carrier, said it has also matched C= ontinental's hike. It shares were up 0.4 percent at $5.17. American Airlines (AMR), the world's largest carrier, earlier this month = also increased fares to help offset a rise in fuel prices. It shares fell= 2.7 percent to $10.54. Several airlines tried earlier this year to add fuel surcharges. But with= relatively weak demand, the hiked fares failed to stick. "This industry = is seemingly incapable of transferring skyrocketing fuel prices to passen= gers," Tilton said, hoping that the increases will stick this time around= =2E Low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines (LUV) said it could consider raising = fares but JetBlue Airways (JBLU) said it did not plan to do so. Southwest= shares dipped 0,8 percent to $14.77. JetBlue shares were up 0.9 percent = at $27.21. Wall Street analysts remain optimistic about the performance of low-cost = airlines. "We strongly favor low-fare carriers, most of whom are well hedged, and a= ll of whom should maintain profitability despite high fuel prices and a w= eak revenue environment," Lehman Brothers analyst Gary Chase wrote in a r= esearch note. Jet fuel makes up 12 to 14 percent of airlines' operating costs and is th= eir second-biggest operating expense after labor. = =A92004 Reuters Limited. = Roger EWROPS