The Eagan, Minn.-based carrier reported a loss of $8 million, or 3 cents per share, for the quarter. That's down from a loss of $267 million, or $3.06 per share, during the same period in 2006. Northwest's earnings during the fourth quarter of 2006 were...weighed down by bankruptcy-related charges.
The carrier's fourth-quarter results for 2007 include a $14 million pre-tax charge tied to the sale of its stake in regional carrier Pinnacle Airlines. Excluding that charge, Northwest said it would have broken even.
The airline's revenue increased slightly in the fourth quarter to $3.10 billion, up from $2.98 billion during the same period of 2006. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial had estimated Northwest (NYSE: NWA) would report a loss of 8 cents per share on revenue of $3.03 billion.
Improvements in the carrier's fourth-quarter performance came despite a spike in fuel costs. Northwest said its expenses tied to fuel increased by 4.3 percent, or $123 million, to $3 billion, for the quarter.
Shares of Northwest closed up 3 percent Tuesday.
Minneapolis-St.Paul Business Journal
