A 62-percent increase in aircraft sales helped NetJets revenues overall climb 16 percent in the second quarter and 6 percent in the first half, parent company Berkshire Hathaway reported. But those returns were tempered by lower flight operations revenues that came from lower fuel cost recoveries and unfavorable foreign currency effects, the company said. That, coupled with other general/administrative expenses such as aircraft cancellation fees, led to a 17-percent decline in earnings in the second quarter. NetJets earnings, however, are still up 14 percent for the first half, Berkshire Hathaway said.

Berkshire Hathaway also owns FlightSafety International but did not address the training provider’s results in the second quarter report. 

Both FlightSafety and NetJets are included in Berkshire Hathaway’s service and retailing group, which also includes companies such as Business Wire, Dairy Queen, TTI and BH Media, among others. Collectively the service and retailing segment posted a 75-percent increase in second quarter revenues to $6.3 billion and a 10-percent increase in earnings to $498 million. For the first half, the group combined for a 55-percent increase in revenues to $10.8 billion and a 19-percent increase in earnings to $882 million.

Berkshire Hathaway recently announced plans to acquire Precision Castparts.