NEW YORK -- JetBlue Airways Corp. has reported a narrower than expected first-quarter loss as slower growth helped the discount airline keep a lid on its costs despite skyrocketing fuel prices.

JetBlue, based in Forest Hills, N.Y., said today that it lost $8 million, or 4 cents a share, during the first three months of 2008, an improvement from the loss of $22 million, or 12 cents a share, a year earlier.

Revenue rose to $816 million from $608 million in the first quarter of 2007, a 34 percent increase.

Analysts polled by Thomson Financial had expected a loss of 7 cents a share on revenue of $786 million.