Southwest Airlines Co. has raised its fares by $1 to $3 one-way in most markets because of fuel costs.
Southwest spokeswoman Linda Rutherford said Sunday that the fare increases implemented Friday had been long planned and were not in response to fare increases announced by other airlines late last week.
Rutherford said Southwest’s increases were effective for all but a few markets, including Pittsburgh, where Southwest is entering the market in May.
Several major airlines have increased fares in the past two weeks by as much as $20 each way to offset the soaring cost of jet fuel. The second fare increase in as many weeks was initiated Thursday by Northwest Airlines Corp. and broadly matched by many of its competitors, including AMR Corp., America West Holdings Corp., Continental Airlines Inc., Delta Air Lines Inc. and Air Canada.
