Virgin Blue Holdings says H1 profit down 8.8 pct

SYDNEY, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Australian airline Virgin Blue Holdings Ltd (VBA.AX: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Wednesday its first-half profit fell 8.8 percent, and said second-half earnings would be affected by high fuel costs.

Virgin Blue, Australia's second-largest airline, reported net profit of A$113.3 million ($104 million) for the six months ended December, down from A$124.3 million reported a year earlier.

Three analysts on average had forecast Virgin's profit to be A$128.4 million.

Virgin Blue shares are down about 30 percent in 2008, compared with a 11.4 percent fall in the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index . ($1=A$1.09) (Reporting by Denny Thomas;) (denny.thomas@reuters.com; +61 2 9373 1812; Reuters Messaging: denny.thomas.reuters.com@reuters.net))