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8-K - 8-K - SKYWEST INCa15-4364_18k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

NEWS RELEASE

 

For Further Information Contact:

Investor Relations

Telephone:  (435) 634-3203

Fax:  (435) 634-3205

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:     February 12, 2015

 

SKYWEST, INC. ANNOUNCES FOURTH QUARTER 2014 RESULTS

 

St. George, Utah—SkyWest, Inc. (“SkyWest”) (NASDAQ: SKYW) today reported financial and operating results for the quarter ended December 31, 2014.  Highlights are as follows:

 

Excluding special items, SkyWest’s pre-tax income was $33.5 million for the December 2014 quarter, an increase of $18.4 million over the December 2013 quarter.  SkyWest’s net loss, including special items, was $(27.9) million, or $(0.54) per diluted share, for the December 2014 quarter, compared to net income of $8.6 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, for the December 2013 quarter.

 

The December 2014 quarter includes special item expenses of $70.0 million pre-tax ($43.6 million after-tax) due to the accelerated retirement of SkyWest’s EMB-120 turboprop aircraft and a code-share agreement modification that shortened the contract term for ExpressJet’s operation of the ERJ145 aircraft type.

 

SkyWest’s pre-tax income for the December 2014 quarter, excluding special items, increased 122% from the December 2013 quarter, despite a 6.6% reduction in departures and a 4.4% reduction in completed block hours, from the December 2013 quarter.  Excluding the special items, the increase in pre-tax income from the December 2013 quarter was primarily due to higher unit revenue from new and renewed flying arrangements at improved rates as described in more detail below.

 

For the 2014 year, SkyWest’s pre-tax income, excluding special items, was $58.4 million, compared to $98.5 million for the 2013 year.  SkyWest’s net loss, including special items, was $(24.2) million, or $(0.47) per diluted share, for the 2014 year, compared to net income of $59.0 million, or $1.12 per diluted share, for the 2013 year.

 

·                  Significant operational and commercial items related to the December 2014 quarter include:

 

·                  SkyWest Airlines took delivery of six E175 aircraft during the quarter under its flying contract with United, which resulted in a total of 20 E175 deliveries for calendar 2014.  SkyWest is scheduled to take delivery of the remaining 20 E175s under its United agreement during the first three quarters of 2015.

 

·                  SkyWest Airlines reached an agreement with Alaska to operate seven new E175 aircraft with deliveries scheduled between the third quarter of 2015 and the first quarter of 2016.

 

·                  SkyWest Airlines reached an agreement with Delta to operate 12 additional used CRJ200

 



 

aircraft that SkyWest Airlines intends to lease from Delta.  The aircraft deliveries started in December 2014 and are scheduled to continue through the second quarter of 2015.

 

·                  SkyWest Airlines started the removal of 43 EMB-120 turboprop aircraft from service and is expected to be an all-jet operator by the conclusion of the second quarter of 2015.  As of December 31, 2014, SkyWest owned 18 EMB-120s and leased 25 EMB-120s.

 

·                  For the second consecutive quarter, ExpressJet’s operational reliability improved year-over-year to a 99.6% adjusted completion rate for the December 2014 quarter compared to 99.1% for the December 2013 quarter.

 

·                  ExpressJet reached an agreement with American to operate 15 used ERJ145 aircraft that ExpressJet intends to lease from American.  The American ERJ145 operation is scheduled to begin during the first quarter of 2015.

 

·                  ExpressJet removed 10 ERJ145s from its United flying contract during the fourth quarter of 2014 and is returning the aircraft to United.  ExpressJet removed a total of 26 ERJ145s from its United flying contract during the 2014 year.  Additionally, 59 ERJ145s and nine ERJ135s are scheduled to be removed from service during 2015 and to be returned to United.  As of December 31, 2014, ExpressJet had 216 ERJ145s and nine ERJ135s operating under the United ERJ contract.

 

Commenting on the results, Jerry C. Atkin, SkyWest’s Chairman and CEO said, “SkyWest made significant progress in executing our long-term strategy in the fourth quarter, including reducing the total number of unprofitable aircraft and flying over time.  We expect these changes to continue through 2017, as we continue to work with our major airline partners to meet their needs with larger RJ opportunities during that same period.  We expect that reducing our total fleet count while improving the overall fleet composition will put us on a path of continued financial and operational improvement.”

 

·                  Other financial items related to the December 2014 quarter include:

 

·                  Total operating revenues, excluding the direct reimbursements for items such as fuel, landing fees, station rents, and engine maintenance received under the flying contracts, increased by approximately $19 million during the December 2014 quarter from the December 2013 quarter.  The improvement was primarily due to the new E175 aircraft operations, improvements in certain contract renewals, increased government subsidies for operating certain routes and financial incentives for operating performance under our flying contracts.

 

·                  Special item expenses (reflected in operating expenses) during the quarter included $70 million (pre-tax) associated with the accelerated removal of the EMB-120 aircraft and anticipated reduction in the future use of the ERJ145 aircraft, of which approximately $60 million consisted of non-cash write down of asset values and approximately $10 million consisted of obligations resulting from the accelerated removal of leased aircraft from service.

 

·                  Total operating expenses, after excluding expenses subject to direct reimbursement under the contract flying arrangements and special items, remained essentially constant during the December 2014 quarter from the December 2013 quarter.

 



 

·                  Capital and liquidity items related to the 2014 year include:

 

·                  SkyWest had $559 million in cash and marketable securities at December 31, 2014.  Cash and marketable securities decreased $111 million during 2014 primarily due to SkyWest’s investment of $82 million towards the E175 ownership and $42 million to acquire E175 spare parts, engines and tooling.

 

·                  Long-term debt increased $275 million from December 31, 2013 to December 31, 2014.  The increase was primarily due to the issuance of $454 million of long-term debt for the 20 E175 aircraft delivered in 2014, partially offset by principal payments made on total outstanding debt.

 

About SkyWest

 

SkyWest is the holding company for two scheduled passenger airline operations and an aircraft leasing company, and is headquartered in St. George, Utah. SkyWest’s scheduled passenger airline operations consist of SkyWest Airlines, Inc. (“SkyWest Airlines”), also based in St. George, Utah, and ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. (“ExpressJet Airlines”), based in Atlanta, Georgia.  SkyWest Airlines operates as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle and US Airways Express under contractual agreements with United Airlines, Inc. (“United”), Delta Air Lines, Inc. (“Delta”), American Airlines, Inc. (“American”) and US Airways, Inc., respectively.  SkyWest Airlines also operates flights for Alaska Airlines under a contractual agreement.  ExpressJet Airlines operates as United Express, Delta Connection, and American Eagle under contractual agreements with United, Delta and American, respectively. System-wide, SkyWest serves markets in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean with approximately 3,600 daily departures and a fleet of approximately 749 regional aircraft.  This press release and additional information regarding SkyWest can be accessed at www.skywest.com.

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

In addition to historical information, this release contains forward-looking statements.  SkyWest may, from time to time, make written or oral forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such statements encompass SkyWest’s beliefs, expectations, hopes or intentions regarding future events.  Words such as “forecasts”, “expects,” “intends,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “estimates”, “should,” “likely” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.  All forward-looking statements included in this release are made as of the date hereof and are based on information available to SkyWest as of such date.  SkyWest assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.  Readers should note that many factors could affect the future operating and financial results of SkyWest, SkyWest Airlines or ExpressJet Airlines, and could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements set forth in this release.  These factors include, but are not limited to, the prospects of entering into agreements with other carriers to fly new aircraft, ongoing negotiations between SkyWest, SkyWest Airlines and ExpressJet Airlines and their major partners regarding their contractual obligations, uncertainties regarding operation of new aircraft, the impact of regulatory issues such as pilot rest rules and qualification requirements, and the ability to obtain aircraft financing.

 

Actual operational and financial results of SkyWest, SkyWest Airlines and ExpressJet Airlines will likely also vary, and may vary materially, from those anticipated, estimated, projected or expected for a number of other reasons, including, in addition to those identified above: the ability of ExpressJet

 



 

Airlines to realize potential synergies and other anticipated financial impacts of the consolidation of its operations, the possibility that future financial and operating results of ExpressJet Airlines may not meet SkyWest’s forecasts and the timing of ongoing consolidation of the operations of ExpressJet Airlines, if achieved; the challenges of competing successfully in a highly competitive and rapidly changing industry; developments associated with fluctuations in the economy and the demand for air travel; the financial stability of SkyWest’s major partners and any potential impact of their financial condition on the operations of  SkyWest, SkyWest Airlines, or ExpressJet Airlines; fluctuations in flight schedules, which are determined by the major partners for whom SkyWest’s operating airlines conduct flight operations; variations in market and economic conditions; labor relationships; the impact of global instability; rapidly fluctuating fuel costs; the degree and nature of competition; potential fuel shortages; the impact of weather-related or other natural disasters on air travel and airline costs; aircraft deliveries; the ability to attract and retain qualified pilots and other unanticipated factors.  Risk factors, cautionary statements and other conditions which could cause SkyWest’s actual results to differ from management’s current expectations are contained in SkyWest’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission; including the section of SkyWest’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, entitled “Risk Factors.”

 

(more)

 


 


 

SKYWEST, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS)

(Dollars and Shares in Thousands, Except per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
 December 31,

 

Twelve Months Ended
December 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

2014

 

2013

 

OPERATING REVENUES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Passenger

 

$

795,946

 

$

790,642

 

$

3,168,000

 

$

3,239,525

 

Ground handling and other

 

17,909

 

13,726

 

69,447

 

58,200

 

Total operating revenues

 

813,855

 

804,368

 

3,237,447

 

3,297,725

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING EXPENSES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries, wages and benefits

 

313,902

 

306,682

 

1,258,155

 

1,211,307

 

Aircraft maintenance, materials and repairs

 

172,868

 

170,875

 

682,773

 

686,381

 

Aircraft rentals

 

72,652

 

80,029

 

305,334

 

325,360

 

Special items

 

69,977

 

 

74,777

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

67,253

 

61,696

 

259,642

 

245,005

 

Aircraft fuel

 

38,828

 

47,374

 

193,247

 

193,513

 

Ground handling services

 

23,471

 

30,885

 

123,917

 

129,119

 

Station rentals and landing fees

 

14,295

 

14,129

 

51,024

 

114,688

 

Other operating expenses

 

60,309

 

61,878

 

263,730

 

239,241

 

Total operating expenses

 

833,555

 

773,548

 

3,212,599

 

3,144,614

 

OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)

 

(19,700

)

30,820

 

24,848

 

153,111

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

488

 

526

 

4,096

 

3,689

 

Interest expense

 

(17,299

)

(16,168

)

(65,995

)

(68,658

)

Other, net

 

 

(87

)

20,708

 

10,390

 

Total other expense, net

 

(16,811

)

(15,729

)

(41,191

)

(54,579

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES

 

(36,511

)

15,091

 

(16,343

)

98,532

 

PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES

 

(8,644

)

6,482

 

7,811

 

39,576

 

NET INCOME (LOSS)

 

$

(27,867

)

$

8,609

 

$

(24,154

)

$

58,956

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BASIC EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE

 

$

(0.54

)

$

0.17

 

$

(0.47

)

$

1.14

 

DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE

 

$

(0.54

)

$

0.17

 

$

(0.47

)

$

1.12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

51,174

 

51,228

 

51,237

 

51,688

 

Diluted

 

51,174

 

52,034

 

51,237

 

52,422

 

 

(more)

 



 

SKYWEST, INC.

SUMMARY OF CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in Thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

December 31,
 2014

 

December 31,
2013

 

Cash, restricted cash, and marketable securities

 

$

559,130

 

$

670,094

 

Other current assets

 

731,873

 

794,343

 

Total current assets

 

$

1,291,003

 

$

1,464,437

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net

 

2,981,188

 

2,611,793

 

Deposit on aircraft

 

40,000

 

40,000

 

Other long term assets

 

97,737

 

116,989

 

Total assets

 

$

4,409,928

 

$

4,233,219

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

$

684,355

 

$

620,464

 

Long-term liabilities

 

2,325,227

 

2,177,816

 

Stockholders’ equity

 

1,400,346

 

1,434,939

 

Total liabilities and stockholder’s equity

 

$

4,409,928

 

$

4,233,219

 

 

Unaudited Operating Highlights

 

Operating Highlights

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
December 31,

 

Twelve Months Ended
December 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

% Change

 

2014

 

2013

 

% Change

 

Passengers carried

 

14,339,705

 

14,829,568

 

(3.3

)%

58,962,010

 

60,581,948

 

(2.7

)%

Revenue passenger miles (000)

 

7,715,787

 

7,931,065

 

(2.7

)%

31,499,397

 

31,834,735

 

(1.1

)%

Available seat miles (000)

 

9,452,653

 

9,692,466

 

(2.5

)%

38,220,150

 

39,207,910

 

(2.5

)%

Block hours

 

559,143

 

584,594

 

(4.4

)%

2,275,560

 

2,380,118

 

(4.4

)%

Departures

 

327,835

 

350,800

 

(6.6

)%

1,357,454

 

1,453,601

 

(6.6

)%

Passenger load factor

 

81.6

%

81.8

%

(0.2

)pts

82.4

%

81.2

%

1.2

pts

Passenger breakeven load factor

 

85.3

%

80.3

%

5.0

pts

83.4

%

79.1

%

4.3

pts

Yield per revenue passenger mile

 

$

0.103

 

$

0.100

 

3.0

%

$

0.101

 

$

0.102

 

(1.0

)%

Revenue per available seat mile

 

$

0.086

 

$

0.083

 

3.6

%

$

0.085

 

$

0.084

 

1.2

%

Cost per available seat mile

 

$

0.090

 

$

0.081

 

11.1

%

$

0.086

 

$

0.082

 

4.9

%

Fuel cost per available seat mile

 

$

0.004

 

$

0.005

 

(20.0

)%

$

0.005

 

$

0.005

 

 

Average passenger trip length

 

538

 

535

 

0.6

%

534

 

525

 

1.7

%

 



 

2015 Quarterly Fleet, Block Hour and ASM Production

 

 

 

As of
March 31, 2015

 

As of
June 30, 2015

 

As of
September 30, 2015

 

As of
December 31, 2015

 

 

 

(Estimate)

 

(Estimate)

 

(Estimate)

 

(Estimate)

 

Fleet Summary **

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regional Jets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

50 seats

 

432

 

425

 

409

 

389

 

65-76 seats

 

226

 

236

 

246

 

247

 

 

 

658

 

661

 

655

 

636

 

Turbo props:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30 seats

 

13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Totals

 

671

 

661

 

655

 

636

 

 


** Available for service

 

 

 

Q1 15

 

Q2 15

 

Q3 15

 

Q4 15

 

Totals

 

 

 

(Estimate)

 

(Estimate)

 

(Estimate)

 

(Estimate)

 

(Estimate)

 

Block hour production

 

515,800

 

527,700

 

523,400

 

496,500

 

2,063,400

 

ASM production

 

8.6b

 

9.2b

 

9.2b

 

8.7b

 

35.7b