Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 17, 1990 TAG: 9003172188
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: ATLANTA LENGTH: Short
American Airlines plans to impose a new fare system March 17 that will more closely base prices on the length of trips.
The action by American, the nation's largest carrier, follows a similar, unpublicized move by Trans World Airlines earlier this month.
The moves are an attempt to return discount fares to a more strict mileage basis, where longer flights cost more than shorter ones. Since the last time airlines did this, in November 1988, competition has skewed pricing on some routes.
"Generally the shorter-trip fares will fall and the longer-trip fares will rise," said American spokeswoman Mary O'Neill.
American said the less-restrictive seven-day advance purchase fares would be 20 percent higher than the deeply discounted 14-day advance purchase fares.
Discount fares will be 15 percent higher on the busiest travel days.
Full coach fares would not be affected.
A spokesman for TWA said that carrier's average fares will rise $4, though some will fall slightly. For example, TWA's cheapest Atlanta to St. Louis fare will fall from $260 to $238.
- Cox News Service
by CNB