US Airways traffic falls

US Airways, the nation's fifth largest airline after merging with America West, yesterday said the combined company's traffic fell 5.5 percent in January as capacity declined. The Tempe, Ariz.-based carrier said last month it flew 4.66 billion revenue passenger miles, defined as one paying customer flown one mile, down from 4.93 billion revenue passenger miles a year ago. Load factor, or occupancy, edged up to 70.6 percent from 69.6 percent. By division, US Airways mainline traffic fell 11.7 percent, US Airways Express traffic rose 12.6 percent, and America West's traffic edged up 2.5 percent.

Collins moves to St. Clair Hospital

James M. Collins, the chief executive officer at West Penn Hospital in Bloomfield since 1999, will become the CEO of St. Clair Hospital in Mt. Lebanon on April 1. Mr. Collins succeeds Benjamin E. Snead, CEO at St. Clair since 1974. The position of CEO at West Penn will be assumed for the immediate future by Jerry J. Fedele, who also will continue as CEO of the West Penn Allegheny Health System.

State shuts Net operation

The state attorney general's office said yesterday that it shut down an Internet sales operation after complaints from consumers that they had failed to receive designer goods, Xboxes and DVD video cameras that they had purchased. The department said it barred Sharon Hunsicker, of Walnutport, Northampton County, from doing business on eBay and other auction sites, and ordered her to pay $7,400 in restitution and fines, and to refund payments to consumers. Consumers must file a complaint with the attorney general's office by April 28 to obtain a refund. To file a complaint, call 610-821-6690 or visit the Web site www.attorneygeneral.gov.

Also in business ...

Mylan Laboratories received Food and Drug Administration approval to market Cyclobenzaprine Hydrochloride tablets, the generic version of McNeil's muscle relaxant Flexeril. ... Shares of Alcoa advanced 5 percent yesterday after a J.P. Morgan analyst said higher aluminum prices will generate stronger earnings this year. Alcoa shares finished at $32.03, up $1.45. ... Moody's Investors Service raised the ratings on Koppers Inc. and Koppers Holdings Inc. debt, and said the rating outlook for both companies was stable. Moody's cited the debt reduction through Koppers' recent initial public offering and said the businesses were "benefiting from strong aluminum, steel and railroad demand."