Delta Air Lines Inc. said Tuesday that it will double the fee for checking in a second piece of luggage on domestic flights to help offset increases in the past year in jet fuel prices.

"As fuel costs remain at record levels, Delta believes revising the fee structure for excess bags and specialty items is essential to generate the necessary revenues to offset record fuel costs," Delta said in a news release.

The airline said the change will apply to customers who purchased a ticket on or after Thursday for travel beginning Aug. 5. But fees will remain the same in Brazil and Canada pending approval of tariff changes, the airline said.

Domestic passengers will now pay $50 US to check a second bag, up from $25 US. Fees for specialty items that require special handling, such as surfboards or ski equipment, also will increase on domestic and international flights, the airline said.

The airline said it will still allow passengers on domestic flights to check their first bag for free and those on international flights to check two bags for free.

On July 15, Air Canada started charging $25 for a second bag on domestic and U.S. flights. A spokesman said in an e-mail that Air Canada had no plans to follow Delta's initiative. WestJet does not charge a fee for baggage, a spokeswoman said.

In June 2008, Air Canada cut 2,000 jobs and cut capacity. It had lost $288 million in the first quarter of 2008 and warned that further cuts would take place if fuel prices didn’t drop.