JetBlue Airways on Tuesday reported a net loss, reversing a year-ago profit, on rising fuel costs and said it has suspended its near-term growth plans.

The low-cost carrier said it lost USD$7 million in the second quarter, compared with a net profit of USD$21 million a year earlier.

The company reported operating revenue of USD$859 million, a gain of 17.7 percent from a year ago.

"We are also encouraged to see continued strength in our bookings throughout the summer," JetBlue Chief Executive Dave Barger said in a statement. "However, revenue gains are clearly not keeping pace with the extraordinary increase in the price of jet fuel."

JetBlue said its fuel bill rose 63.7 percent in the quarter to USD$370 million. The entire airline industry has been battered by high fuel costs that have eroded financial progress made through a series of fare increases since 2006.

The company said it would suspend its near-term growth plans beginning in September, when it expects capacity to be down about 10 percent year over year. The airline said it does not plan to grow in 2009.

JetBlue ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents amounting to USD$846 million and USD$397 million of investment securities.