Delta Raises Baggage Fees Due to Fuel Cost Increases

Delta Air Lines announced on Tuesday that it will increase fees for checked baggage on domestic flights and select short-haul international routes, effective for tickets purchased on or after April 8. The move aims to counter rising jet fuel costs triggered by ongoing tensions in the Middle East, marking the carrier's first such adjustment in two years.

Under the new structure, the fee for a first checked bag will rise to $45, up $10 from the previous $35. A second bag will cost $55, an increase of $10 from $45, while a third bag will jump by $50 to $200. These changes apply only to the specified routes and do not affect long-haul international flights.

The airline attributed the hikes to surging fuel expenses amid a conflict that began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in February. The escalation has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor for about one-fifth of global oil supplies, leading to higher crude prices. Jet fuel, which averaged $85 to $90 per barrel before the strikes, has climbed to around $209 per barrel worldwide, according to the International Air Transport Association. In the U.S., the average price reached $4.69 per gallon on...