America's largest budget airline reports 71% jump in airfare

Summary

• Frontier Airlines reported a 71% increase in airfare in the third quarter to pass along higher jet fuel prices.
• Fare revenue averaged $67.82 per passenger in the third quarter, up from $39.74 the previous year.
• Total revenue per passenger, including fees for luggage, rose 30% to $138.22.
• Passenger count increased 18% to more than 9.8 million, a difference of 1.5 million from last year.
• The company recorded a net loss of $104 million compared with a $77 million loss a year earlier.
• A $134 million charge tied to the return of Airbus aircraft contributed to the net loss.
• Excluding one-time charges, Frontier posted an adjusted profit of $40 million.
• The fuel bill soared 82% to $425 million.
• Frontier forecast potential adjusted profit in the fourth quarter, expecting adjusted earnings between a 15-cent loss and a 5-cent gain per share.
• Frontier shares rose close to 12%.
• Frontier had eclipsed Spirit Airlines as the largest discount carrier in the country before Spirit collapsed in May.