Biggest US airlines have combined 1Q loss over $1B

The total loss was only about $100 million larger than a year ago, even though jet fuel spending jumped by 28 percent, nearly $1.9 billion. Airlines were able to narrow the difference in fuel spending with a 12 percent increase in revenue.

They have raised fares seven times since the start of the year and would like to keep doing that to offset higher fuel costs.

"We must fully recapture our costs on every flight, every day, to maintain and improve our earnings performance," said Delta CEO Richard Anderson.

Delta Air Lines Inc., which reported a $318 million loss on Tuesday, said fare increases covered 70 percent of the run-up in fuel costs for the first quarter. That's not enough.

US Airways Group Inc. lost $114 million in the quarter. On Tuesday, it announced new reductions to its flying schedule in the second half of the year, which should cut costs and perhaps drive up fares.