Thai Airways Q4 profit up 35 percent as steady traffic offsets oil prices.

Feb. 16--Thai Airways International yesterday reported a 35 percent rise in quarterly net profit as steady passenger traffic and foreign-exchange gains offset higher fuel prices.

While stubbornly firm crude oil prices and a tourism slowdown after the December tsunami disaster hang over the airline, a firmer baht and an eventual rebound in passenger numbers are expected to help, Asia's seventh-biggest carrier by market value deliver double-digit full-year profit growth, analysts said.

Profit in the financial year to Sept 30 is likely to rise to 13.7 billion baht from 10 billion in the previous year, when rising jet fuel costs and outbreaks of bird flu dented …