Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) said Tuesday it will raise fees for checked baggage on domestic flights and certain short-haul international routes, as carriers seek to manage higher jet fuel costs tied to escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The move marks Delta’s first increase in domestic baggage fees in two years and comes after similar pricing adjustments by United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) and JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ:JBLU).
Airlines globally have been grappling with a sharp rise in fuel prices, which has pushed operating expenses higher and pressured profit margins. The surge in energy costs follows disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East that have affected traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a major global oil transit route.
Delta said that for tickets purchased on or after Wednesday, the fee for the first and second checked bags will rise by $10 each, while the cost of checking a third bag will increase by $50.
Under the new pricing, the first checked bag will cost $45, the second $55, and the third bag $200.