US Airways and Jet Blue in profit

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Airlines US Airways and JetBlue have returned to profit, but they said an industry recovery was not likely to come quickly.

US Airways said it made a profit of $58m (£35m) in the second quarter, compared with a £568m loss a year ago.

JetBlue said its net profit for the quarter was $20m, after making a loss of $9m a year ago.

Many global airlines have been struggling as demand for air travel has fallen during the economic downturn.

In particular, there has been a decline in business-class and first-class travel. But airlines have been helped by lower fuel costs.

"Looking forward to the second half of 2009, the revenue environment continues to be difficult to forecast," US Airways chief executive Doug Parker says.

"We have seen an encouraging, though modest, improvement in revenue over the past several weeks," he said.

"But we are not counting on a quick recovery."

Rivals United and Southwest also made a profit in the second quarter, they announced on Tuesday.

However, Continental Airlines made a loss and said it would cut 1,700 jobs amid a slump in revenue and passenger numbers.