Airline hikes fare 600%, draws senator's ire

PITTSBURGH - U.S. Senator Bob Casey says a big fare increase planned by U.S. Airways is "exorbitant."

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports Wednesday that Casey sent a letter to the company questioning the planned increase on the Pittsburgh to Philadelphia route.

A round-trip ticket is set to rise from $118 to $698 in January, after competitor Southwest Airlines drops the route. That's before taxes.

Casey says the fare hike would have a detrimental impact on businesses and individuals, the paper reports.

Earlier this week a spokeswoman for US Airways told the paper that ticket prices are based on what the market will bear.