Delta and Northwest Post Wider Losses

Delta Air Lines Inc. and Northwest Airlines Corp. had wider first-quarter losses and JetBlue Airways Corp.’s profit fell as fuel prices rose to records.

The net loss at Delta, the third-largest U.S. airline, tripled to $1.07 billion, while the loss for No. 4 Northwest doubled to $450 million from a year earlier, the companies said Thursday. JetBlue, a low-cost carrier based in New York, said net income fell 54% to $6.97 million.

Airlines’ expenses surged in the quarter as the average price of jet fuel, their second-biggest cost, after labor, climbed 46% from a year earlier. U.S. airlines, which had combined losses of $33 billion from 2000 to 2004, have tried to return to profitability by lowering other costs and boosting passenger traffic.

Atlanta-based Delta’s loss amounted to $7.64 a share. A year earlier, it had a loss of $383 million, or $3.12 a share. Sales rose 3.3% to $3.65 billion.

Delta said rising fuel prices had put it behind on a plan, outlined last year, to reduce annual costs by $5 billion.

Shares of Delta rose 21 cents, or 5.7%, to $3.86 on the New York Stock Exchange. On Nasdaq, JetBlue rose $1.28, or 6.6%, to $20.75, and Northwest gained 51 cents, or 9.4%, to $5.91.

Northwest’s net loss was $5.28 a share, compared with $223 million, or $2.67 a share, a year earlier, Eagan, Minn.-based Northwest said. Sales rose 7.5% to $2.8 billion.

The company said it was “imperative” for it to reach lower-cost labor contract agreements this year, including a second round of concession talks with its pilots.

JetBlue’s net income fell to 6 cents a share, from $15.2 million, or 14 cents a share, a year earlier, the company said. Sales rose 29% to $374 million.

The carrier expects to remain profitable throughout the year, even as continued high fuel prices and costs erode its operating margin, said Chief Executive David Neeleman.

Alaska Air Group Inc., parent of Alaska Airlines, said its first-quarter net loss widened to $80.5 million, mainly because of costs related to a change in how the company accounts for aircraft maintenance.

The loss was $2.39 a share, compared with $42.7 million, or $1.59 a share, a year earlier, the Seattle-based company said. Sales at the company, which also owns commuter carrier Horizon Air, rose 7.4% to $642 million.