DALLAS — Southwest Airlines broke a string of three straight losing quarters by eking out a small profit despite a downturn in travel.

Dallas-based Southwest said today it earned $54 million, or 7 cents per share in the quarter ended June 30, down sharply from a gain of $321 million, or 44 cents per share, a year earlier.

Excluding one-time items, Southwest said it would have earned $59 million, or 8 cents per share.