The war in the Middle East has spread to suitcases! Several US airlines have announced an increase in checked baggage fees, with a maximum of $200 pe

According to Reuters, Delta Air Lines said on Tuesday local time that it will raise the fees for checked baggage on domestic flights in the United States and some short-haul international routes to offset the soaring aviation fuel costs due to the escalating tensions in the Middle East.

The report said that this price increase marks Delta Air Lines' first increase in domestic baggage fees in the United States in two years, and its competitors, United Airlines and JetBlue Airways, have also taken similar measures.

Delta Air Lines said that the fees for the first and second checked bags booked on or after Wednesday will each increase by $10, while the fee for the third checked bag will increase by $50. Therefore, the fee for the first checked bag will increase to $45, the second to $55, and the third to $200.

It is reported that after the tensions in the Middle East disrupted the important oil transportation corridor, the Strait of Hormuz, global airlines are struggling to cope with the sharp rise in fuel prices, which has pushed up operating costs and squeezed profit margins.

Data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) shows that before the attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel in February, the average price of aviation fuel was about $85 to $90 per barrel, and it has now soared to about $209 per barrel.

It is reported that different from other competitors, Delta Air Lines' subsidiary owns an oil refinery in Pennsylvania, which can meet nearly three-quarters of its fuel needs. However, it is still affected by the soaring crude oil prices. (Sina Finance)