Delta raises domestic fares by $5 each way=20 Wed Jul 26, 2006 3:05pm ET =20 Email This Article | Print This Article | Reprints=20 [-] Text [+] (Adds details, analyst comment, background) NEW YORK, July 26 (Reuters) - Bankrupt U.S. carrier Delta Air Lines Inc. (D= ALRQ.PK: Quote, Profile, Research) raised its ticket prices by $5 one-way o= n most domestic routes to offset high fuel prices, an airline spokeswoman s= aid on Wednesday. Delta increased the fares on Monday night for most of its domestic flights,= including those serving Hawaii, Alaska and Caribbean markets, spokeswoman = Betsy Talton said. United Airlines, a unit of UAL Corp. (UAUA.O: Quote, Profile, Research); Am= erican Airlines, a unit of AMR Corp. (AMR.N: Quote, Profile, Research); and= Northwest Airlines Corp. (NWACQ.PK: Quote, Profile, Research) said they we= re studying Delta's fare increase. Continental Airlines Inc. (CAL.N: Quote,= Profile, Research) did not immediately respond to a request for comment. U.S. airlines, including discount carriers such as JetBlue Airways Corp. (J= BLU.O: Quote, Profile, Research), have been raising fares to good effect on= their bottom lines. Several carriers reported profits in the second quarter despite record high= fuel prices, thanks in part to a series of fare increases, fuller planes a= nd a cut in domestic capacity. However, slower demand in the upcoming autumn season could again put pressu= re on fare prices, and in what could be a sign of things to come, JetBlue o= n Tuesday said it planned to lower fares by 18 percent to 34 percent on som= e seats on selected flights. But for now, the latest fare increase by Delta is likely to be matched by o= ther carriers, J.P. Morgan Securities' analyst Jamie Baker wrote in a resea= rch note. "Given continued mid-East uncertainty and the reality of $74 crude -- and w= ith scant evidence of consumer elasticity as fares push ever higher -- othe= r carriers are likely to match over the next 48 hours," Baker wrote. (Addit= ional reporting by Kyle Peterson and Chris Reiter)=20 =C2=A9 Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved. Roger & Amanda La France