This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_000D_01C51BF3.EFE6A440 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Delta, United Match Northwest Fare Hike <http://money.excite.com/img/dji.gif> Friday February 25, 5:14 PM EST NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Major airlines Friday matched a fare hike by Northwest Airlines Corp. (NWAC <http://money.excite.com/jsp/qt/full.jsp?time=0&symbol_search_text=NWAC> ), raising hopes among investors that the higher prices will stick. Officials with Delta Air Lines Inc. (DAL <http://money.excite.com/jsp/qt/full.jsp?time=0&symbol_search_text=DAL> ) and UAL Corp.'s (UALAQ <http://money.excite.com/jsp/qt/full.jsp?time=0&symbol_search_text=UALAQ > ) United Airlines said they matched Northwest's higher fares. On Thursday, Northwest boosted rates on all flights in the U.S. and Canada by $5 each way for flights shorter than 1,000 miles, and $10 each way for longer flights. And earlier Thursday, AMR Corp.'s (AMR) American Airlines boosted fares in some markets by $5 each way. The moves marks the first time since Delta introduced a new, lower fare structure that any airline has attempted to lead a round of fare hikes. Airlines have attempted throughout 2004 to raise fares, but mostly failed because of stiff competition, particularly with low-cost carriers. One analyst who declined to be named said the latest fare hike just might stick, particularly since Delta is participating. Delta spokesman Anthony Black said the airline matched the Northwest fares on routes where the two airlines compete. He added that the higher fares don't change Delta's new fare cap of $499 each way. In January, Delta simplified its fare structure and cut its highest fares in half. Robin Urbanski, a spokeswoman for United, said the carrier matched "broadly," on most routes. -By Elizabeth Souder, Dow Jones Newswires ------=_NextPart_000_000D_01C51BF3.EFE6A440 Content-Type: image/gif; name="dji.gif" Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64 Content-Location: http://money.excite.com/img/dji.gif R0lGODlhiAAnAPQAAP///yMfIMjHx1pXWJGPj0xJSqyrq3ZzdNbV1Z6dnePj4zEtLvHx8T87PGhl Zrq5uYSBggAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACwAAAAA iAAnAAAF/yAAFEFZDgQjroJjLoc6mCJiDiJhQmYitqZATPQwOVaLEkEQDOYaQQdiRa1ar9istfma injcAmNWEh1uImhgcC4JADpuQxUvKQAK0yPBDTQAZE0LXlqFhoVMfWtfigEEbQEADEknAEVuJGV8 igeAQQSWJgqQBQOmEAZBaiVHh66vK6klBUAmCIklPi4lDXUAspW7fyYNeSadYAELAKvKcCXLmQEq K7sBEJJosNuGyaCTetY4ALiOJgLNC8YBBrgOpD9BDFwGZDgvAvlvgQsQDw/5CHEbaCXQAxGBNpUw EM9EnTo9oP1ySIldQzdcBqiBUM6JwhegCIrcIkpERYh3AP8oXABMTUU1oJJ99ALMXAlIJgzU1IbT 4cifAGxIJBekZjUjHdlxuWPQiZkbwtbZSnaAgNWDP6wNBUoQGA4G0hqUEyG1XZMDHTsBIFZOhYKK BtQcCVQmUMqgpgYwfEaDK8E6BxI0eyCVwANpBYgGUdBxitA1844JCLtWSSgTiT9ZJQBsAcA6y/wO pHsWoaJBeILgKDcOGKieXXBhXaVX0UcuIUVvqxhkQe63cggFeVNuL6SDYPskIGCNd6Pnqq8KuKtb S968BwxQW8EAQqYBCbYDMtVq/AAHAh7JIyJNUQNTVhPoo26Icb7lBEwteE9AfvX/h7TnxwHNYOYA Z9MBeMX/LQRAMEABDiQgkIL/SdUHCgZMSOEhDAiw14a6IZAAaQNmCOKJKBrywAHONZAdfSnGGOOK zhUgoYw44qgABDUmAGMWEBzR3RE3/jDAG9ww4AJWOfpVTxMN+MhNAWoVgA1LKxTxoyFVISBekwQp QABvMGhYBQMEiGnJAwgw1IsPLImIBwFtDuIDAwmEZwBhBuQWFJ0CLFAemGH2FOWXWMwABR8OODgP FEw8sMAy7yUAQQMkAOLAAgUsimlKDzTgwABFfEjoNqM0UYCphqTCxGQ8LhFAEXwAcMBcC4wxgINM oJUKAjZgI0IBVh0Zyamo9nQkNwQUIOk8JKBArLSTOdAn/y2zPuiCAg80C4eDKzgCnrfIwnKLPvkQ 5ICLCCggxQDANsqAAQ4wcIA/uwLibprnIQCBLqSukB9Dt5bbZJQzgsWkwSnmd8CW/z3oJ8MUV2zx xRhzcy6603GsjwgdosvALT+QlQ81AZ0pX7sep0wOuvblE/PJP6T7S3gvE4euFzYLwHMNNG+zawEQ El2AAnzkGYClxyoZwGRiHFClWwGI8dSEEerQ7AxJi5tY0jzkkR2xMFyzAJJ8IBPh10sDECQf+SU2 wz4hJRaUEIh2M56uqz39KgDl8YGAC3CkNKsIi+RwLBXH9oKADra+WkQ+T4+wFijdyvd0O/GkWTk7 f+uz+f/TOnSyxN2GT+zKQab80vqrr55ew9I6DB6PsIk/s4UPnOlulod+k36QIx6y+SqwnafCFHqV i54e6VCI+UYqezkiUuuA0MIH5QmoFe6t7KhFAKaIj6N7FdDsBTlRCTiQGBPtI34rkn+z4Mj6poTO /ahwpFLVGyxSi/UIgj2NqIdyBzAfQkqxhpA0ahprMd/6qFAHOhyrV1YiSgLLR4t4IKlz+Dtb8xDY CzgI4AxosZVGEKe6VxSwb5RLDwO2o7W5pWEGw2vN+pCEADa54A07JF0AGEO6OzgCIHeoHwiPlb8R xm4aSzDGdEwxxMuVTGjjeF3wpgOQLAmxBv64RgQRsr6zkJwwDUC84NMm9yo1OWKGoFCiAlJhmABM gQ36e2J69rE5pTHEemjixguJEsPIcWcahxGBf8i3CAGggIk/yBUzFOdB2FXuHnGMY+VyYMMGDE8A 88AGoNZIOuI8DQIzFIIV+/SAQRXCAJPKUCxJQLSqkeCDgMCDWuKUhBksYAC/hIJGLkgebCAACtig ZR5qWctUvMc3I6gaC4hWg/OEJBVsiObR/OAihCSAJan4pR9mwJkGhAAAOw== ------=_NextPart_000_000D_01C51BF3.EFE6A440--
