AIRLINES

USAir Chairman to Retire: A day after forecasting a surprising profit for the year, USAir Group Inc. announced that Chairman and Chief Executive Seth Schofield would retire. Schofield, 58, who worked his way up from a baggage handler and spent 38 years at USAir, agreed to stay on until a successor is named. The board formed a committee of non-management directors to conduct a search. The Arlington, Va.-based carrier said it expected to report a pre-tax profit for the third quarter and the full year. Schofield had been struggling to get the airline’s 45,000 workers to give up $500 million in wages and benefits, cuts considered crucial to reducing the carrier’s expenses, which are the highest in the industry. Schofield dropped the demands after intense labor talks in July. Some analysts said the retirement is linked to this decision.