NEW YORK — Two of the nation’s biggest airlines boosted round-trip fares by as much as much as $50 heading into the weekend, raising the stakes in their fight against rapidly rising fuel costs and putting pressure on competitors to follow suit.
United Airlines, the second-largest U.S. carrier, led the latest round of increases late Thursday, hours after crude oil prices surged to a new record of $111 a barrel. Continental Airlines Inc. matched the increases Friday. At least two other carriers said they were studying the move.
It was the fourth week in a row that carriers have raised ticket prices, and the second round of increases led by Chicago-based United in as many weeks, according to a tally by airline ticket pricing Web site FareCompare.com.
The increase was among the largest in recent years, FareCompare.com Chief Executive Rick Seaney said.
“We’re in completely uncharted territory for domestic airfare increases,” Seaney said. “It’s like the jump in (oil prices) has totally changed the playing field.”
United spokesman Robin Urbanski said the higher fares are based on the length of the flight, meaning that trips of under 500 miles will cost travelers $4 to $10 more round-trip. Journeys of more than 1,500 miles are now $12 to $50 more expensive than before the increase.
Atlanta and Seattle, Boston and Denver, and San Francisco and Philadelphia were among the thousands of city pairs that will now cost travelers $50 more round-trip on United, Seaney said.
Other carriers will likely be tempted to match the increase, especially in cities where there is little competition, industry observers said. However, airlines also run the risk of driving down demand ahead of the peak summer travel season if they push prices too high.
“The family going on vacation who now has to pay an extra $200 probably will think twice,” airline industry consultant Robert Mann said.
United’s latest increase comes just a week after the carrier increased its domestic fuel surcharge by an additional $6 to $10 per round trip, effectively raising fares. United’s fuel surcharge now stands at $50 round-trip in markets where the airline does not compete against low-cost carriers, Urbanski said.
“Fuel is our highest expense. The cost of it clearly continues to rise,” Urbanski said. “We must be able to pass along these costs just like other businesses do.”
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