Alaska Air Posts Loss as Fares Fall

Alaska Air Group Inc., the parent of Alaska Airlines, had a second-quarter loss of $4.5 million because fares declined after the Sept. 11 attacks.

The West Coast carrier’s loss of 17 cents a share contrasts with restated net income of $3.9 million, or 15 cents, a year earlier, the company said. The results were better than a predicted loss of 38 cents. Sales fell less than 1% to $574.1 million.

Alaska Air Group shares fell 75 cents to $19.65 on the NYSE.