Alaska Air reports narrower first quarter loss SEATTLE (AP) =97 Alaska Air Group narrowed its first quarter loss by 34% to= =20 $56.3 million as it struggled with higher fuel costs, the weak economy and= =20 a war-related downturn in travel. The net loss was equivalent to $2.12 per= =20 share, compared with a net loss of $85.1 million, or $3.21 a share, a year= =20 earlier. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call projected a loss of $2.05 a= =20 share. Revenue for the three-month period ended March 31 was $518.7=20 million, compared with $500.1 million a year earlier. "We're finding that=20 we can continue to grow contrary to most of the industry, but it's clear=20 that we'll need to continue to adjust our business model by achieving our=20 cost management goals," said John Kelly, Alaska Air chairman and chief=20 executive. Passenger traffic increased for both Alaska Airlines and its=20 sister regional carrier Horizon, but lower ticket prices and increased fuel= =20 costs offset these improvements, the company said. *************************************************** The owner of Roger's Trinbago Site/TnTisland.com Roj (Roger James) escape email mailto:ejames@xxxxxxxxx Trinbago site: www.tntisland.com Carib Brass Ctn site www.tntisland.com/caribbeanbrassconnection/ Steel Expressions www.mts.net/~ejames/se/ Site of the Week: http://www.pscutt.com TnT Webdirectory: http://search.co.tt *********************************************************