Delta Air Lines Inc., the third largest airlines in the United States, reported on Thursday that it lost 1.13 billion dollars in the third quarter of this year resulting mainly from high fuel costs.

The Atlanta-based airline, which is now operating under bankruptcy protection, said its huge loss in the third quarter ending on Sept. 30 compared to a loss of 651 million dollars for the same period a year ago.

Revenue in the quarter increased by 8.9 percent to 4.22 billion dollars compared to 3.87 billion dollars recorded in the same period of last year.

For the first nine months of the year, Delta lost 2.60 billion dollars comparing with a loss of 3.01 billion dollars for the same period a year ago

As of last September, Delta's total red ink increased to over 11 billion dollars since January 2001. The airline filed for bankruptcy protection in September this year.

Source: Xinhua