Flagship carrier CSA Czech Airlines' profit jumped last year but missed the company's target as rising revenue failed to offset high fuel costs, the firm said on Thursday.

Net profit reached CZK250 million koruna (USD$10.6 million), a sharp rise from CZK70.6 million (USD$3 million) in 2003 but well below the planned CZK622 million (USD$35.5 million).

CSA said transport revenue rose 18 percent to CZK17.1 billion (USD$728.7 million) while overall operating revenue of CZK19.7 billion (USD$840.3 million) exceeded the planned CZK18.7 billion (USD$796.8 million). The company gave no comparative figure for 2003.

"The reason (for lower profit) is unambiguously the rising prices of fuel. CSA paid more than CZK900 million above the original plan," the airline said in a statement. "High crude oil prices are causing problems to most airlines."

The results are according to Czech accounting standards.

CSA transported 4.34 million customers last year, up 21 percent year-on-year, and cargo shipments increased 8 percent to 22,735 tonnes.

CSA is a candidate for eventual privatization but no concrete plans to sell the firm have been drafted.