Southwest joins other US airlines in raising fares

DALLAS -- Southwest Airlines Co., the leading carrier at McCarran International Airport, has joined a sweeping increase of $10 in the price of many domestic round-trip airfares, citing the need to offset high fuel prices.

Southwest's action over the weekend may have ensured success for a price hike by major airlines that seemed to be faltering. Southwest carries more U.S. passengers than any airline and wields great influence over prices.

It's the sixth time airlines have raised fares already this year. FareCompare.com CEO Rick Seaney says leisure travelers may now have to pay $260 for a ticket that cost $200 back on Jan. 1.

The airlines say they need the money. "As an industry, we are all feeling the cost pressures surrounding fuel prices," Southwest spokeswoman Ashley Dillon said Monday.

The airline routinely serves more than 1 million arriving and departing customers each month at McCarran International Airport.