Alaska Air Reports 3Q Profit

In this photo taken Feb. 13, 2009, Alaska Airlines planes line-up at the terminal at Seattle-Tacoma...

In this photo taken Feb. 13, 2009, Alaska Airlines planes line-up at the terminal at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Seattle Feb. 13, 2009. Alaska Air Group, the Seattle-based operator of Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air said Thursday it recorded an $87.6 million third-quarter profit, or $2.46 a share, compared to a net loss of $86.5 million, or $2.40 a share, a year ago. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

(AP)

Improvements it has made in on-time performance and being insulated from the slump in international travel helped Alaska Air Group post a profit for the third quarter.

The Seattle-based operator of Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air said Thursday it recorded an $87.6 million third-quarter profit, or $2.46 a share, compared to a net loss of $86.5 million, or $2.40 a share, a year ago.

Revenue fell 9 percent to $967.4 million from $1.07 billion a year ago.

Alaska Air is among a small group of airlines that have profits for the third quarter.

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