Fort Worth-based American Airlines Inc. has decided to charge $50 fee for a second checked bag on some international routes.

The additional fee would be charged from passengers flying from United States to India and some of the European countries such as France, England, Germany, Spain, Italy, Ireland and the like.

It will take effect for tickets bought from September 14. First bag still may be checked for nothing.

Major airlines have started imposing additional fees to counterbalance hike in fuel prices.

However, the fee will not apply to the elite members of American Airlines' frequent flier program, US military personnel, passengers in first and business class.

In the recent trading, American Airlines' shares closed at $5.18, gaining 2.4 per cent.