JetBlue Soars Above Sector

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- JetBlue Airways' profit keeps climbing -- which is more than can be said for many other airlines.

The airline carrier swung to a profit in its third quarter, aided mainly by the tailwinds of cheaper fares and lower fuel prices.

During the quarter, the company earned $15 million, or 5 cents a share, compared with a loss of $8 million, or 3 cents a share, in the year-ago period.

Excluding an accounting gain, the company actually earned $12 million, or 4 cents, a penny shy of analysts' forecast.

But these lower fares did chip away at revenue, which slid 5% to $854 million.

Rival Southwest Airlines(LUV Quote) lost $16 million, or 2 cents a share, in its third quarter, while Continental Airlines(CAL Quote) lost $18, million, or 14 cents a share. AMR(AMR Quote), parent company of American Airlines, also swung to a $359 million loss, or a loss of $1.26 a share.

-- Reported by Jeanine Poggi in New York

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