HOUSTON, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Big U.S. airlines including Continental Airlines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines all reported strong third-quarter gains on Thursday, indicating that the industry is coming out of the recession.

Delta, American Airlines, U.S. Airways and Jetblue also reported third-quarter profits as the industry benefits from higher fares and growing travel demand.

Southwest Airlines, the largest U.S. discount airline, said on Thursday it earned 205 million U.S. dollars in the third quarter.

The Dallas, Texas-based carrier said its third-quarter revenue also rose to 3.19 billion dollars, thanks to increased travel demand.

In the same quarter a year earlier, the company posted a loss of 16 million dollars on revenue of 2.67 billion.

Continental Airlines posted 354 million dollars in third- quarter earnings, compared with a loss of 18 million in the same period last year. The company's revenue was 4 billion, a 19.2- percent growth over the year-earlier period.

United Airlines reported a third-quarter revenue of 5.4 billion.

U.S. Airways, the fifth-biggest airline in the country, said its third-quarter revenue jumped almost 17 percent to 3.18 billion in "a modestly improving economy." Net income was 240 million.

The company lost 80 million during the same period last year, as the recession kept business travelers home.

American Airlines posted a 143-million-dollar profit for the third quarter, its first quarterly profit in two years.

Jetblue Airways said its third-quarter profit shot almost fourfold to 59 million.

Delta's third-quarter earnings were the largest among the big carriers, at 929 million U.S. dollars. Its revenue rose 18 percent to 8.95 billion. (yan)