The Squeeze on Airlines

Passengers love to accuse the airlines of gouging, and a dizzying array of fares adds to the outrage. But airlines, caught between a steady decline in fares and rising costs, have no choice but to look for every nickel they can find. Passenger tickets now account for just 71% of U.S. airlines' total passenger revenue, down from 88% in 1990, according to the DOT.