Airlines raise air fares heading into Christmas

NATION
Airlines raise air fares heading into Christmas
ATLANTA -- Heading into the Christmas holiday, some major carriers have raised air fares to offset added cost pressures.
American Airlines, a unit of Fort Worth, Texas-based AMR Corp., raised its ticket prices Thursday between 10 and 40 for round-trip fares, depending on the miles traveled. Also Thursday, Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines Inc. raised its one-way fares 10 in most domestic markets.
US Airways spokeswoman Andrea Rader said the airline also will raise prices. She said it would increase fares 5 each way for trips of 500 miles or less; 10 each way for trips between 500 and 1,000 miles; 15 each way for trips between 1,000 and 2,000 miles; and 20 each way for any flight of 2,000 miles or more.
Chrysler plans jobcuts, plant closings
DETROIT -- DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group will unveil a restructuring plan that includes job cuts and plant closures when it releases its 2006 earnings in February, a company official said Friday.
The official, who did not want to be identified because he is not authorized to speak about the plan, said the restructuring won't be as drastic as in 2001, when Chrysler shed 40,000 employees with layoffs and the sale of component plants.
Company spokesman Jason Vines would not comment on the plan, details of which were reported by The Detroit News on Friday.
DaimlerChrysler's shares fell 47 cents to 60.76 in afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
Industry analysts have predicted job cuts and up to two plant closures as Chrysler moves to stem losses. The company lost 1.5 billion in the third quarter, and its sales were down 7.7 percent through November compared to sales in the first 11 months of last year.
Microsoft Corp. extendswarranty on its Xbox 360
REDMOND, Wash. -- Microsoft Corp. is extending its warranty on the Xbox 360 video game console to one year from the previous limit of 90 days. The change announced Friday applies to future and present owners.
The move matches the one-year warranty that Sony Corp. and Nintendo Co. already offer on their latest video game consoles, the PlayStation 3 and the Wii.
Associated Press