US Airways loses $794 million in quarter: Airline anticipates profits may emerge as soon as 2004

ARLINGTON, Va. - US Airways lost $794 million in the final threemonths of 2002, but said its plan to emerge from bankruptcy by theend of March remains on track.

The losses are an improvement compared to the $1.16 billion inlosses for the final quarter of 2001, when aviation security rules atmetro Washington's Reagan National Airport prohibited flights. USAirways is the airport's largest carrier.

For the year, the company, which has major hubs in Pittsburgh andPhiladelphia, lost $1.65 billion on revenue of $7 billion, comparedto losses of $2.1 billion on revenue of $8.3 billion in 2001.

Several West Virginia cities are served by regional airlinesflying as US …