Is Fare-Stickler Northwest Helping or Hurting the Sector?

In an industry that has lost more than $18 billion over the last two years and has two billion-dollar titans in bankruptcy, you would think that airlines would jump at the chance to raise ticket prices from 15-year lows.

Of course, you'd be wrong -- this is the airline industry, after all.

Early this week, Northwest Airlines (NWAC Quote) thwarted a Continental Airlines(CAL Quote)-led effort to raise ticket prices by $10 each way to compensate for the rising price of fuel. Though Northwest went along with ticket hikes on select lower-price fares, the airline balked at matching rivals hike for hike, as has been the case each time the airlines have tried to raise prices since Sept. 11, 2001. ...