NEW YORK: US airlines have used surging oil prices to justify fare increases of up to $60 per ticket since the start of the year. But the rising cost of fuel isn't the only reason it's getting more difficult to find cheap fares. “This is probably going to be the worst year we have seen in 10 years in terms of finding bargains,” said Tom Parsons of BestFares.com, a website for travel deals. Airfares were headed higher for several reasons: q The improving economy. Business travelers are expected to take 441 million trips this year, a 3 percent increase from 2010. As a result, airlines are reserving more seats for pricey last-minute bookings. That leaves fewer cheap fares for leisure travelers, who tend to book further in advance. q Fewer seats. During the recession, airlines reduced the number of routes and planes they fly. As travel demand picks up, this shrunken supply of seats allows the industry to charge more. Planes are 82 percent full on average, compared with 70 percent full before the recession hit in late 2007. q Consolidation.
