=20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SF Gate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/news/archive/2003/08/27/f= inancial0917EDT0038.DTL ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday, August 27, 2003 (AP) Taiwan's China Airlines blames loss in first half on SARS (08-27) 06:17 PDT TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) -- Taiwan's largest commercial carrier, China Airlines Ltd., swung to a loss in the first half as the SARS outbreak left most of its flights empty during the second quarter. The company said Wednesday it lost 905.0 million New Taiwan dollars ($26.45 million) in the six months ended June 30, in contrast to a profit of 1.34 billion New Taiwan dollars a year earlier. Revenue fell to 33.05 billion New Taiwan dollars ($966 million) from 38.= 91 billion New Taiwan dollars in the first half a year ago. "SARS was the culprit for the loss," said John Chang, vice president of the company's finance division. Taiwan was one of the hardest hit regions during the SARS outbreak in the second quarter. The island recorded more than 600 infections and 84 deaths from severe acute respiratory syndrome. The travel and tourism industry suffered heavily as Taiwan implemented strict quarantine measures to curb the spread of the virus and a number of countries and organizations advised against travel to SARS-affected areas. =20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2003 AP