US Airways Group on Wednesday posted a quarterly profit against a year-ago loss as the industry extends a recovery from the most recent economic downturn, and its shares gained in trading before the bell.

The company said fourth-quarter net income came to $28 million, or 17 cents a share, compared with a year-earlier loss of $79 million, or 49 cents a share.

Analysts expected a profit of 6 cents a share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Revenue rose about 11 percent to $2.91 billion. Operating expenses rose 7 percent.

The airline said the results marked its first profitable fourth quarter since 2006.

The company's shares were up about 3 percent to $10.43 in trading before the market opened.

(Reporting by Karen Jacobs, with added reporting by Kyle Peterson in Chicago; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn, Dave Zimmerman)

U.S.