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Spirit Airlines lost $14.2 million in the fourth quarter and $3.8 million for 2007, according to Department of Transportation data released Monday.

The Miramar-based low-cost airline had 2007 revenue of $761.6 million. In 2006, it lost $79 million on revenue of $540.3 million.

Spirit spent $78 million on fuel in the fourth quarter, making up 38 percent of its expenses, up from 23 percent five years ago, DOT data showed.

Spirit could not immediately be reached for comment.

The DOT’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics also released a report on the airline industry’s fourth quarter and 2007 performance that found a group of 20 passenger airlines, including Spirit, collectively posted its first quarterly operating loss margin since the first quarter of 2006.

The 20-carrier group consists of the largest network, low-cost and regional carriers based on operating revenue.

For the fourth quarter of 2007, the group as a whole reported an operating loss margin of 0.02 percent online payday advance. Operating margin measures profit or loss as a percentage of the airline’s total operating revenue.

Meanwhile, the seven largest airlines, or network carriers, reported an operating loss margin of 1.1 percent, a 2.8 percent decline from the 1.7 percent profit margin in the fourth quarter of 2006.

The network carriers reported a combined operating loss of $274 million in the fourth quarter, compared with a fourth-quarter 2006 operating profit of $392 million, according to the DOT.

Of the expenses, 29 percent went to fuel, compared with 13.5 percent in 2002.

The DOT said its data is compiled from quarterly financial and monthly traffic reports filed by commercial air carriers.

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Filed under: business by Finance Boss