Alexandria, Va. ? A bankruptcy judge gave US Airways Group Inc. temporary permission Monday to use a government loan to fund daily operations — a move expected to allow the airline more time to find alternative financing.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Stephen Mitchell’s ruling came a day after the nation’s seventh-largest airline filed for bankruptcy protection for the second time in two years. The filing came after US Airways was unable to obtain $800 million in annual cost cuts from its workers’ unions that the airline said it needed to stay afloat.

An attorney representing US Airways said at the hearing Monday that the airline had no intention of liquidating.

“This management team isn’t here to preside over a liquidation,” Brian Leitch said, adding that the plan is to transform “into a vibrant competitor.”

But Wall Street was skeptical. US Airways shares tumbled 44 cents to $1.02 per share Monday on the Nasdaq Stock Market.

The company said financial deadlines looming Sept. 30 forced it to file now to conserve cash to navigate bankruptcy. The airline also had a $110 million pension payment due Wednesday if it had not sought protection.

The bankruptcy filing could cost federal taxpayers. The government loaned the airline $900 million last year as part of a special program to assist airlines after the 9-11 attacks, and the airline still owes Uncle Sam $718 million.

US Airways said Sunday it had an agreement in place with the government and with other lenders to use some of its cash reserves to continue operations while in bankruptcy. In its filing, the company listed $8.8 billion in assets, including $1.45 billion in cash and $8.7 billion in liabilities.

However, the airline does not have a new investor lined up to provide additional financing.

US Airways said customers would notice no operational changes as a result of the bankruptcy.

US Airways Chairman David Bronner had warned several weeks ago that the airline would most likely have to liquidate if it filed for bankruptcy. Lakefield subsequently backed off those comments, and on Sunday again sought to assure customers that the airline faced no immediate danger of shutting down.