American Airlines plans to offer a version of the low-fare, no-frills approach to flying that is boosting profit margins at discount carriers.<br />Officials at American, the world's biggest airline, say they need to fight back against small but fast-growing rivals including Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines, which are known for cheap fares, lots of extra fees, and poor service.<br />American has many frequent fliers who will pay more for premium service, said Scott Kirby, the airline's president.<br />American disclosed its plans as executives discussed the company's record-breaking third-quarter profit.<br />American Airlines Group Inc. reported that net income jumped 80 percent to $1.69 billion thanks to a huge drop in fuel spending.
