US Airways Posts 4Q Profit

US Airways Group Inc., which is pushing to buy rival Delta Air Lines Inc. in a hostile takeover bid, on Tuesday said it swung to a profit in the fourth quarter, as strength in both mainline and express operations helped offset high fuel costs.

The airline said it posted a profit of $12 million, or 13 cents per share, compared with a loss of $261 million, or $3.27 per share during the same period in 2005.

The results included special items, such as an outstanding fuel hedge contracts, expenses from the America West merger, and a debt conversion payment, that totaled $74 million. Excluding special items, the company said it posted a profit in the quarter of $86 million, or 91 cents per share.

Analysts polled by Thomson Financial forecast a profit of 80 cents per share. Thomson estimates usually exclude special items.

Revenue grew 9 percent to $2.79 billion from $2.56 billion during the same period a year earlier. Analysts expected revenue of $2.84 billion.

Its shares fell 69 cents, or 1.3 percent, to $53.74 in morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange. They have traded in a 52-week range of $28.35 to $63.27.

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