AIRLINES

Carriers Cut Fares on Least-Traveled Holidays: Major airlines reduced fares by about 35% on 12 of the least popular travel days surrounding Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. Delta Air Lines started the sale with the usual restrictions of a 14-day advance purchase and a Nov. 10 deadline to buy tickets. USAir went further, waiving those restrictions. Other airlines, which historically match competitor discounts, were expected to waive them as well. The sale applies to tickets bought for flights on Nov. 17, 21, 24 and 25; Dec. 15, 19, 20, 28 and 29, and Jan. 4-6. The tickets are non-refundable and apply only to the 48 contiguous states. Some discounts are for as much as 45%, but more typical cuts are between 30% and 40%.