http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25060931/

Airline industry's fare hike fails

Major carriers wanted to raise roundtrips by $20



NEW YORK - A number of major airlines rolled back a weekend fare increase Monday, the first time in more than half a dozen attempts that a widespread price hike failed to take hold across the struggling industry.
Carriers declined to say whether the shift signaled concerns about falling customer demand. Still, the decision served as a reminder that passengers — many reeling from financial worries of their own — may be nearing a tipping point in terms of how much they will pay to fly.
"This could be the first sign that demand is softening," said Graeme Wallace, chief technology officer of airfare research site FareCompare.com. "Up until now, the (airlines') statements have been that they expect demand to stay high."