Delta Air Lines hopped aboard a trend...

Delta Air Lines hopped aboard a trend of modest improvement in the airline industry, reporting a $7.1-million profit Thursday for the second quarter.

But the Atlanta-based airline still closed its fiscal year with the worst loss in company history--$1 billion. The large loss was caused in part by a one-time charge of $817.9 million, taken after taxes, to cover a change in accounting for retirement benefits.

The quarterly profit was the first for Delta since 1991’s third quarter, when the carrier had net income of $13 million. Delta’s quarterly earnings contrasted with a loss of $180.2 million in the same period of 1992.

After subtracting the dividends paid to preferred stockholders, the company lost 41 cents per common share in the most recent quarter. A year ago, the company lost $3.72 per share.