FORT WORTH, Texas – Major carriers followed Continental Airlines’ move Monday morning in rolling back a $20 roundtrip fare increase, the farewatcher farecompare.com said.

American, Delta and United airlines rolled their increases back. American launched the fare hike Friday. By Sunday, all of the six major traditional airlines were on board with the increase, including Continental and US Airways. But Northwest Airlines was the lone holdout.

Monday morning, Continental then rolled back its increase. Northwest, “as is usual, turned up late to the party and matched the $20 increase,” farecompare said in an email message. “Expect them to remove it either tonight…or tomorrow morning.”

Farecompare said “this marks the first unsuccessful hike in airfare prices since Delta’s failed attempt to add $10 in fuel surcharges at the end of March. With six successful increases in the last two months, this could be the first sign that demand is softening.”

All of the carriers “have left active” a $40 increase on fares to Hawaii, farecompare said.

American initiated a $20 roundtrip fare hike across a third of its routes, then expanded the increase on Saturday across the bulk of its network.

Continental, Delta, United, and US Airways matched American’s increase over the weekend, leaving Northwest Airlines as the only traditional major carrier that hadn’t matched as of late Sunday.

The airlines have tried to raise fares 17 times this year, with 12 successful, as they try to cope with skyrocketing fuel prices.

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AP-NY-06-09-08 1643EDT