The fat years for US airlines come to an end as costs increase

Dallas

AMERICA'S passenger carriers have discovered that it's getting more expensive to run an airline these days.

While summertime profits were fine, and travel demand remains robust, a number of airlines are facing higher bills from a variety of factors: labour contracts, significant airport renovation projects, technology spending, and fleet upgrades. The increase in expenses is creeping into 2018 and threatens to spoil higher revenues just as executives are crowing about how they will keep fares up for the holidays.