AMR Corp. 3Q Profit Increases

FORT WORTH, Texas – AMR Corp., the parent of American Airlines, the nation’s largest airline, reported Wednesday its third-quarter profit surged from the year-ago period when the carrier took a $99 million charge on fuel-hedging contracts.

AMR reported net income of $175 million, or 61 cents per share, compared with $15 million, or 6 cents per share, during the same period a year earlier.

The most recent results include a charge of $40 million, or 13 cents per share, related to salary and benefit expenses.

Analysts polled by Thomson Financial had projected earnings, on average, of 73 cents per share. Such forecasts typically exclude one-time costs.

Shares rose 71 cents, or 2.94 percent, to $24.83 in midday trading.

Revenue for the quarter increased slightly, to $5.95 billion from $5.85 billion last year.

Analysts forecast revenue would grow 2 percent to $5.96 billion.

"Record fuel prices in the third quarter were a reminder of the external challenges that we continue to face," Chairman and CEO Gerard Arpey said in a statement.