AIRLINES

Shareholders Rally Behind ValuJet: Shareholders shrugged off negative publicity after the fatal crash May 11 in Florida. The Atlanta-based carrier said it may fire employees as a result of rising expenses since the crash. It also said it would consider voluntary leaves of absence before firing any employees. ValuJet Inc. stock has fallen since the disaster, raising intense media speculation about the discount carrier’s commitment to safety and its future in a fiercely competitive market. The stock was up 50 cents at $13.125 on Nasdaq, slightly up from Wednesday’s close but well off its high in November of $35. President Lewis Jordan declined to forecast the airline’s performance for the second quarter, ending in June.