New York  - Record fuel prices pushed US Airways into the red for the first quarter, the sixth largest US carrier said Thursday.

The airline lost 236 million dollars in the first quarter down from earnings of 66 million dollars in the year-earlier period, the Tempe, Arizona-based firm said.

Revenue rose 4 per cent to 2.8 billion dollars, but could not keep up with rising fuel costs.

All six traditional carriers have reported losses for the quarter. A weaker economy has led some airlines to consider mergers, with Delta and Northwest agreeing to come together as the world's largest airline. (dpa)