1.   American tried to cut business fares and simplify the rest of its fare structure.

2.   American Express said the typical business fare during the first quarter of this year was almost four times the lowest discount fare.

3.   An inability to raise business fares or attract enough business travelers can hurt profits.

4.   Analysts said Monday that airlines could do little to counter the increases other than raise business fares.

5.   As business fares have risen and delays have mounted, the basic time-value proposition of business travel has deteriorated, particularly against bandwidth-Webcasting alternatives.

6.   A slowing economy and continued increases in business air fares are causing many large companies to curtail travel plans this year.

7.   Business fares are those available during peak travel times, such as early Monday morning and late Friday afternoon.

8.   But the fact remains that business fares have risen drastically at a time when overall inflation is at a record low.

9.   But the sharp rise in business fares recently may have improved the political climate for such changes.

10.   But the traveling public still loses, especially in the current era of rising leisure fares and astronomically high business fares.