|
Beginning Wednesday, most domestic and short-haul international
passengers will pay $45 to check one bag, $55 for a second and
$200 for a third, according to Delta. That's an increase of $10
on each of the first two bags and $50 on the third.
The move follows similar announcements from United Airlines and
JetBlue, both of which raised baggage fees last week.
“These updates are part of Delta’s ongoing review of pricing
across its business and reflect the impact of evolving global
conditions and industry dynamics,” the carrier said in a
statement. It marks Delta’s first increase to checked baggage
fees on domestic routes in two years.
Delta said complimentary bags will still be available to
customers in premium cabins, active-duty military personnel,
eligible co-branded credit card holders and members of certain
loyalty tiers. Fees for long-haul international flights are not
affected.
CEO Ed Bastian told investors last month that the jump in jet
fuel prices had already added about $400 million to Delta’s
operating expenses since the conflict began on Feb. 28.
Executives at United and American Airlines reported similar
figures.
Delta is scheduled to report its first-quarter earnings on
Wednesday, kicking off the earnings season for U.S. airlines,
which could offer travelers an early gauge of how rising jet
fuel prices may affect them.
Airlines around the world have been grappling with volatile oil
markets as fighting near the Strait of Hormuz disrupts global
supplies. Roughly a fifth of the world's oil typically passes
through the narrow water way, and the threat to that chokepoint
is pushing up the price of jet fuel, which is refined from
crude.
Fuel typically ranks as the second-largest expense for airlines
after labor.
The average price for a gallon of jet fuel in Chicago, Houston,
Los Angeles and New York was $4.81 on Tuesday, up from $2.50 the
day before the war started, according to Argus Media. The energy
market intelligence company’s U.S. Jet Fuel Index tracks average
prices across those major hubs.
In addition to raising ticket prices, analysts say U.S. carriers
are likely to lean more on ancillary fees to offset the higher
expenses, while many non-U.S. carriers are responding by adding
or increasing fuel surcharges.
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved
|
|
