Southwest Airlines, other carriers increase airfares on several U.S. routes

The prices of air tickets on several routes within the United States have increased after a three-month break on airfare hike ended.

Southwest Airlines along with other U.S. carriers have resorted to airfares hike by $4 to $10 round-trip on several domestic routes in the United States.

Southwest Airlines flights saw airfares hike this weekend. Earlier, United Airlines was the first U.S. carrier to go in for price increase late last week. Among other carriers to increase airfares include Virgin America, JetBlue Airways, Delta Air Lines, US Airways and American Airlines.

Media reports said that the airlines have resorted to the latest increase even as the airlines moved up fall fare sales, which were not usually available until the start of the school year.

This year the airlines have increased the airfares for the fourth time. In 2011, the airfares were hiked nine times.

Travel experts say the airlines think of raising the airfares only when the competition is on the same lines and they get a feeling that the customers won’t balk with the hike.