Virgin America introduced a USD$15 fee to check a single bag, falling in line with other US carriers that use such fees to generate revenue as the economic recession weighs on travel demand.

The low-cost US airline, which is partly owned by Britain's Virgin Group, said on Thursday it would charge its passengers USD$15 for the first checked bag and USD$15 for each subsequent checked back.

Previously, the airline charged nothing to check a single bag, USD$25 for a second and USD$50 for a third.

"Because we fly to primary airports, we mainly compete with the large network carriers - all of whom already charge this fee," Diana Walke, Virgin Americas vice president of planning and sales, said in a statement. "We're following the trend in domestic travel both here and abroad."

But the airline said it has lowered its fee for ticket changes or cancellations made on its web site to USD$50 from USD$75.