US Airways Group, Inc. reported its third quarter 2009 results. For the third quarter, the company reported a net loss of $80 million, or $(0.60) per share. This compares to a net loss of $866 million, or ($8.46) per share for the same period last year. Excluding special items, the Company reported a net loss of $110 million for its third quarter 2009, or ($0.83) per share. This compares to a net loss excluding special items of $243 million, or ($2.36) per share for the same period last year.

The effects of fuel hedging significantly impacted the Company’s financial results. The Company believes an enhanced understanding of fundamental year-over-year financial performance can be gained by adjusting for these hedging impacts. In the third quarter of 2009, the Company reported a realized fuel hedging loss of $50 million, while in the third quarter 2008, the Company reported a realized fuel hedging gain of $68 million. Excluding special items and net realized losses/gains on fuel hedging transactions, the Company reported operating income of $23 million and a net loss of $60 million for its 2009 third quarter. This represents an improvement of $284 million and $251 million, respectively, versus the third quarter 2008 operating loss of $261 million and net loss of $311 million as measured on the same basis.

US Airways Group, Inc. Chairman and CEO Doug Parker stated, “Our third quarter financial results reflect the soft, but improving economic environment. Our team is doing an excellent job of managing through this downturn, including reporting industry leading operations performance, maintaining diligent cost control and delivering meaningful a la carte revenue generation. As we look out at the improving demand environment for both business and leisure travel, US Airways is in an excellent position to capitalize on the recovering economy.”