Among the earnings projection stories for Wednesday, Jan. 7, from AP Financial News:

US Airways Group Inc. said on Wednesday that it will post a loss in 2008, something analysts had already been expecting.

US Airways Group Inc. said Wednesday its traffic fell 1.1 percent in December compared with a year earlier, a smaller decline than reported at several other large hub-and-spoke airlines.

Goldman Sachs upgraded shares of Continental Airlines Inc. on Monday and raised price targets on several other airline stocks, but lowered its target for Southwest Airlines Co.

A Muslim family that was ordered off an AirTran Airways flight on New Year's Day received an apology and refund on Friday from the airline, which said its decision to bar the passengers was necessary.

The meteoric rise and fall of the price of oil was the story for the airline industry for much of 2008, but as the year that brought big losses and hefty stock declines for many carriers drew to a close the erosion of demand for seats due to the recession was the main headline.

Northwest Airlines, due to poor market conditions in light of the weakened global economy, is the latest carrier seeking to delay or cut back long-coveted U.S.-China service.

US Airways Group Inc. said Thursday that some of its frequent fliers will have their preferred bonus miles and preferred minimum miles reinstated as the airline attempts to keep that segment of its customer base happy during worsening economic conditions.

Low-cost carriers top the rankings of U.S. airlines for being on-time and uniting bags with passengers, while big guys such as AMR Corp.'s American Airlines are bringing up the rear, according to a new study on airline quality.

Average U.S. air fares jumped 8.1 percent in the second quarter to their highest level since the government started keeping track 13 years ago.

One-quarter of travel managers have made emergency spending cutbacks because of the financial crisis, according to a new survey released on Monday.

Shares of some top airlines companies were up at the close of trading:

Shares of some top airlines companies are down at noon:

Airline stocks slipped in midday trading Thursday, following a trend in the broader market and ignoring another drop in oil prices.

Shares of some top airlines companies are down at 10 a.m.: