Delta Charges For Second Bag

By D’Chell Crayton

ATLANTA- Due to is fuel costs, Delta Air Lines plans to begin charging customers an extra $25 – or $50 a round trip – for checking a second bag.

The new charge will go in effect May 1, following moves by other carriers to add similar fees for transporting a second piece of luggage, which previously has been included in the ticket.

Delta spokesman Kent Landers said “The change is due to rising fuel costs and … the changing competitive environment we face today.” Delta estimated that its fuel will generate about $100 million in cost savings per year, according to the Associated Press.

Landers declined to say how much money Delta expects to generate from the new fee.

Last week, Delta announced it plans to cut about 2,000 jobs and to ground dozens of jets to reduce its domestic flying 10 percent.

Delta Chief Executive Richard Anderson said, “ We’re anticipating that our fuel costs will increase by somewhere between $1 [billion] to $2 billion year-over-year, so we’re going to take steps to rapidly work to cover those costs.”

FULL REPORT: Check out Delta’s story