Alaska Air Profit Jumps On Higher US Travel

Alaska Air Group, the parent of Alaska Airlines, reported a 42 percent rise in second-quarter profit, helped by increased US travel and lower oil prices.

The carrier's net income rose to USD$234 million, from USD$165 million a year earlier.

Revenue rose 4.5 percent to USD$1.44 billion as the number of passengers carried rose 9.1 percent.

Alaska Air's fuel cost fell to an average of USD$2.12 per gallon in the three months to June 30 from USD$3.20 a year earlier.

The company said it expects capacity to increase by about 8 percent in the current quarter.