Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines is raising its checked bag fees, joining a wave of U.S. carriers responding to soaring jet fuel prices.
The increase comes as fuel costs ripple through the airline industry, squeezing margins on both domestic and international routes. For Atlanta travelers who depend on Hartsfield-Jackson as a Delta hub, the higher fees add to the cost of flying at a time when gas prices are also climbing above $4 a gallon nationally.
Delta's announcement follows similar moves by other major carriers. The airline industry has been grappling with elevated fuel costs tied in part to global oil market disruptions, including tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane.
For the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic, any Delta pricing change affects millions of travelers passing through Atlanta each year.
