JetBlue Airways' profit topped estimates as unit cost decreases outpaced revenue declines, the airline said Thursday.

Fourth-quarter net income of USD$11 million compared with a net loss of USD$58 a year earlier.

JetBlue ended the year with USD$1.1 billion in unrestricted cash and short term investments. The airline generated positive free cash flow for the first time in its history.

JetBlue expects higher costs in the first half of 2010 from the transition to a new customer service system and certain aircraft maintenance to be offset in the second half by higher revenues from product and network initiatives.