Almost two dozen US airlines reported an operating profit margin of almost 9% in the second quarter of 2007, the highest profit margin since 2000.
It was also the first time since 2000 that airlines have had five consecutive profitable quarters, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the US Department of Transportation said in a release of preliminary data.
The airline group included the seven largest airlines, as well as low-cost and regional carriers.
BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the profit margin in the April-to-June period was the fifth consecutive quarter with a profit margin for the group after a loss in the first quarter of 2006.
The top operating profit margins were reported by network carrier US Airways and low-cost carriers Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways.
Report by David Wilkening
