The airline posted profits of $25.3 million, or 46 cents a share, compared with $5.17 million in the quarter a year ago.

Analysts said that, except for an extraordinary gain, the airline would have posted a large loss in the quarter on a net basis.

But airlines and consumer stocks that tend to do well in a slowing economy also posted strong advances.

The airline still beat Wall Street's expectations and posted a thin profit.

It was the third time in 18 quarters that the airline posted a net profit.

In their best year, 1988, the airlines posted an anemic 2.6 percent margin.

In the late 1970's many airlines simply posted signs saying that the X-raying of film was completely safe.

The airline last year posted its first loss as a public company and blamed Asia's economic crisis and high labor costs.

By contrast, in 1990 the airline posted a profit of £130 million.

The airline then embarked on a restructuring exercise and posted its first profit in mid-2009.