Excluding the foreign exchange gain, income tax and impairment loss, Thai Airways made a profit of 4.4 billion baht, versus a loss of 3.3 billion baht a year earlier. Operating revenue rose 3.4 percent, while total expenses fell 11.6 percent after fuel costs dropped in line with global oil prices. ($1 = 33.7800 baht) (Reporting by Khettiya Jittapong; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell and Keith Weir)