31.   The airlines say the higher business fares reflect the higher level of service that business passengers expect.

32.   The business fare?

33.   The fact that business fares are high and getting still higher was underscored anew by the American Express business air-fare index released Tuesday.

34.   The new business fares are still much higher than leisure fares, which require a Saturday stay over.

35.   The new discounts come against the backdrop of mounting political pressures in state legislatures and in Congress to rein in rising business fares.

36.   The rising business fares have led to a growing chorus of complaints about airline deregulation and have increased pressure on the Clinton administration and Congress to take action.

37.   These stay-over-Saturday lower fares are incentives to discretionary travelers while business fares during the week remain higher.

38.   Under the new structure, negotiated corporate discounts will apply to some lower-priced business fares, but not to leisure fares, the airline said.

39.   Typical business fare generally means the lowest fare available with the least restrictions.

40.   Airlines imposed six fare hikes last year for leisure travelers and raised business fares three times, he said.