Houston-based Texas Air, the nation’s largest air...

Houston-based Texas Air, the nation’s largest air carrier, said its third- quarter profit rose 82%, an increase which is the latest sign of the industry’s return to financial health from major problems earlier this year. Texas Air now controls Eastern, Continental, New York Air, People Express and Frontier airlines. The company said that a 58% profit increase at Continental, as well as the sale of landing slots and airport gates to Pan American World Airways, were largely responsible for the profit increase.