US Airways Group Inc., the carrier pushing for a merger with bankrupt American Airlines, reported fourth-quarter profit higher than analysts estimated on strong travel demand and record revenue.

Earnings excluding one-time items more than doubled to $46 million, or 26 cents a share, from $21 million, or 13 cents, on that basis a year earlier, the Tempe, Arizona-based airline said in a statement Wednesday. That exceeded the 19-cent average of analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg.