00:00Delta Airlines raised its checked bag fees by $10 starting Wednesday,
00:05bringing the cost of a first domestic bag to $45,
00:08following similar moves last week by United Airlines and JetBlue.
00:12The culprit is jet fuel, which has nearly doubled in price,
00:16up 88% since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in late February,
00:21as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues to choke global fuel supplies.
00:25Airlines are scrambling to offset surging fuel costs.
00:29Their biggest expense after labor, through fee hikes,
00:32even as strong passenger demand provides some cushion.
00:35Delta reports first quarter earnings Wednesday,
00:38where investors will be watching closely
00:40to see how well the carrier is managing the historic fuel price spike.
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