The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that Transat AT is seeking federal government aid after soaring jet fuel costs helped send the airline operator to a $79-million loss in the second quarter. The Globe's Eric Atkins writes that Montreal-based Transat, which flies as Air Transat, said on Thursday its quarterly loss deepened from the year-ago period, when it lost $23-million. Revenue was flat at $1-billion. Transat chief executive officer Annick Guérard called the quarter "disappointing," and blamed "factors largely beyond our control," including the suspension of flights to Cuba in February. Higher fuel costs amounted to $70-million in March and April, while the cancellation of Cuban flights cost $25-million. "Both these factors were exceptional, and unfolded within a very short time frame, limiting our capacity to adjust our operation and cost structure," Ms. Guérard told analysts on a conference call. Transat raised fares and applied fuel surcharges in response, but these only partly mitigated the higher costs. As it grapples with the higher fuel costs, Transat said it will apply for as much as $150-million from an emergency fund announced by Ottawa on Monday intended to stabilize the airline sector.