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8-K - 8-K - SKYWEST INCa18-17786_18k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

NEWS RELEASE

 

CONTACT:

Investor Relations

Corporate Communications

 

435.634.3200

435.634.3553

 

Investor.relations@skywest.com

corporate.communications@skywest.com

 

SkyWest, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2018 Profit

 

Second Quarter Highlights:

 

·                  Net income of $76 million, or $1.43 per diluted share, up from $50 million or $0.95 per diluted share in Q2 2017

 

·                  Pre-tax income of $98 million, up 21% from $81 million in Q2 2017

 

·                  New agreement to operate 20 new CRJ900s for Delta Air Lines under a nine-year term, replacing 20 CRJ700s expiring from contract

 

·                  New agreement to place 20 used CRJ700s with American Airlines under a four-year term

 

·                  Three-year extension on 19 CRJ700s scheduled to expire in 2019/2020 with United Airlines

 

·                  New agreement to place 20 internally-sourced CRJ200s under a three-year contract with United

 

ST. GEORGE, UTAH, July 26, 2018 — SkyWest, Inc. (NASDAQ: SKYW) (“SkyWest”) today reported financial and operating results for Q2 2018, including net income of $76 million, or $1.43 per diluted share, compared to net income of $50 million, or $0.95 per diluted share for Q2 2017.  Q2 2018 pre-tax income of $98 million increased 21% from Q2 2017 and was primarily due to SkyWest’s ongoing fleet transition. Since Q2 2017, SkyWest added 23 new E175 aircraft and removed 34 CRJ700/CRJ900 aircraft and 32 CRJ200/ERJ145 aircraft.

 

Commenting on the results, Chip Childs, Chief Executive Officer and President of SkyWest, said “We are focused on remaining disciplined in our execution of fleet solutions that meet the needs of our customers.  The agreements and extensions announced this quarter are expected to continue to improve our fleet mix in alignment with our overall fleet transition strategy. I appreciate the dedicated service our professionals consistently provide to our customers.”

 

1



 

Flying Agreement Announcements

 

Delta:

 

SkyWest Airlines, Inc. (“SkyWest Airlines”) reached an agreement with Delta Air Lines (“Delta”) to operate 20 new Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft under a nine-year flying contract.  The aircraft will be acquired by Delta under a previously announced agreement with Bombardier and operated by SkyWest Airlines.  SkyWest Airlines anticipates placing the 20 CRJ900s into service beginning late 2018 through 2020. These aircraft will have the ATMOSPHÈRE cabin with a 70-seat, dual-class configuration and will replace 20 CRJ700s scheduled to expire under SkyWest’s flying contracts with Delta.

 

American:

 

SkyWest Airlines reached an agreement with American Airlines (“American”) to place 20 used CRJ700s under a four-year contract.  The 20 CRJ700s are expected to be sourced from within SkyWest’s fleet.  The first aircraft in this agreement was placed into service in June 2018 and all 20 aircraft are scheduled to be in service by early 2019.

 

United:

 

SkyWest Airlines reached an agreement with United Airlines (“United”) to extend their existing flying contract on 19 CRJ700s operated by SkyWest Airlines.  These aircraft previously had contract expirations scheduled for mid-2019/2020 and were extended for three years.

 

Separately, ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. (“ExpressJet”) reached an agreement with United to a three-year contract for 20 used CRJ200s.  The 20 CRJ200s are expected to be sourced from within SkyWest’s fleet through contract expirations with other partners scheduled for the second half of 2018.  The 20 CRJ200s are expected to be placed into service with United between the latter part of 2018 and early 2019.

 

Financial Highlights

 

Revenue was $806 million in Q2 2018, up from $792 million in Q2 2017. The increase in revenue included the net impact of adding 23 new E175 aircraft and other economic improvements within SkyWest’s fleet mix since Q2 2017, partially offset by the removal of unprofitable or less-profitable aircraft over the same period.

 

2



 

Operating expenses were $679 million in Q2 2018, down from $685 million in Q2 2017.  The decrease in operating expenses was primarily due to the reduction in direct operating costs with the net removal of 43 aircraft from service.

 

The effective tax rate for Q2 2018 was 23% compared to 38% in Q2 2017.  The lower tax rate in Q2 2018 was primarily due to the reduced federal rate under the new tax law enacted in Q4 2017.

 

Operational Update

 

SkyWest Airlines took delivery of 14 new E175/E175 SC aircraft during Q2 2018.  The following summarizes the anticipated delivery dates for three E175 aircraft to be placed under contract with Alaska Airlines and 17 E175 SC aircraft to be placed under contract with Delta for the second half of 2018:

 

 

 

In-service

 

Scheduled E175/E175 SC
aircraft deliveries

 

Anticipated
in-service

 

 

 

June 30, 2018

 

Q3 2018

 

Q4 2018

 

Dec 31, 2018

 

Total E175/E175 SCs:

 

126

 

15

 

5

 

146

 

 

ExpressJet continued the previously-announced wind down of its flying agreement with Delta during the quarter.  At the end of Q2 2018, ExpressJet had 22 CRJ700s remaining in service under the Delta agreement.  ExpressJet continues to engage in discussions around the CRJ700s scheduled to come out of service with Delta later this year and remains positive with alternative opportunities to utilize these CRJ700 aircraft.

 

ExpressJet anticipates its flying contract with American for 12 CRJ700s scheduled to terminate in early 2019 will not be extended.  These aircraft are expected to be returned to the lessors following removal of service with American.

 

3



 

Operating Performance:

 

Flight completion rates at SkyWest Airlines and ExpressJet for Q2 2018 and Q2 2017 were:

 

 

 

SkyWest Airlines

 

ExpressJet

 

 

 

Q2 2018

 

Q2 2017

 

Q2 2018

 

Q2 2017

 

Adjusted Completion *

 

99.9

%

99.9

%

99.9

%

99.9

%

Raw Completion

 

98.9

%

98.9

%

98.8

%

97.6

%

 


* Adjusted Completion excludes weather cancellations. Raw Completion includes weather cancellations.

 

Capital and Liquidity

 

SkyWest had $649 million in cash and marketable securities at June 30, 2018, slightly up from March 31, 2018. During the second quarter of 2018, SkyWest:

 

·                  Used $50 million toward the purchase of 14 E175 aircraft

 

·                  Used $35 million for other capital investments, including spare engines and aircraft parts

 

Total debt at June 30, 2018 was $3.0 billion, up $193 million from March 31, 2018, which included debt issued for 14 E175 aircraft acquired during the quarter, partially offset by scheduled principal payments.

 

About SkyWest

 

Based in St. George, Utah, SkyWest, Inc. is the holding company for two scheduled passenger airline operations and an aircraft leasing company with more than 17,000 employees. SkyWest’s airline companies provide commercial air service in cities throughout North America with nearly 3,000 daily flights carrying approximately 50 million passengers annually. SkyWest’s airline companies operate through partnerships with United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines.

 

SkyWest will host its conference call to discuss second quarter 2018 results today, July 26, 2018, at 2:30 p.m. Mountain Time. The conference call number is 1-877-418-5293 for domestic callers, 1-866-605-3852 for Canada callers and 1-412-717-9593 for other international callers. Please call up to ten minutes in advance to ensure you are connected prior to the start of the call. The conference call will also be available live on the Internet at https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1088/26425.  This press release and additional information regarding SkyWest, including access information for the digital rebroadcast of the second quarter 2018 earnings call, participation at investor conferences, investor presentations and monthly traffic statistic releases, can be accessed at inc.skywest.com.

 

4



 

Forward Looking-Statements

 

In addition to historical information, this release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “forecasts”, “expects,” “intends,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “estimates”, “should,” “likely” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the continued demand for our product, the wind-down of ExpressJet’s flying agreement with Delta, and the related removal from service and/or placement into service of certain aircraft, the scheduled aircraft deliveries for SkyWest Airlines for 2018, as well as SkyWest’s future financial and operating results, plans, objectives, expectations, estimates, intentions and outlook, and other statements that are not historical facts. 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, 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 existing or other carriers to fly new aircraft, ongoing negotiations between SkyWest, SkyWest Airlines and ExpressJet and their major partners regarding their contractual obligations, uncertainties regarding operation of new aircraft, the ability to attract and retain qualified pilots, 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 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 challenges and costs of integrating operations and realizing anticipated synergies and other benefits from the acquisition of ExpressJet; 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; 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; significant aircraft lease and debt commitments; residual aircraft values and related impairment charges; labor relations and costs; the impact of global instability; rapidly fluctuating fuel costs, and 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 materially from management’s current expectations are contained in SkyWest’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

 

5



 

SkyWest, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

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

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
June 30

 

Six Months Ended
June 30

 

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

2018

 

2017

 

OPERATING REVENUES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flying agreements

 

$

793,637

 

$

781,724

 

$

1,561,602

 

$

1,516,253

 

Airport customer service and other

 

11,878

 

9,788

 

27,313

 

22,425

 

Total operating revenues

 

$

805,515

 

$

791,512

 

$

1,588,915

 

$

1,538,678

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries, wages and benefits

 

$

293,677

 

$

294,795

 

$

600,396

 

$

592,462

 

Aircraft maintenance, materials and repairs

 

139,774

 

152,356

 

281,380

 

284,681

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

82,714

 

71,206

 

160,298

 

141,320

 

Aircraft rentals

 

37,508

 

55,413

 

82,188

 

113,123

 

Aircraft fuel

 

30,011

 

20,071

 

56,950

 

38,504

 

Airport-related expenses

 

25,890

 

28,949

 

55,197

 

60,897

 

Other operating expenses

 

69,263

 

62,126

 

137,653

 

124,801

 

Total operating expenses

 

$

678,837

 

$

684,916

 

$

1,374,062

 

$

1,355,788

 

OPERATING INCOME

 

$

126,678

 

$

106,596

 

$

214,853

 

$

182,890

 

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

$

1,705

 

$

1,330

 

$

3,409

 

$

1,990

 

Interest expense

 

(28,811

)

(27,063

)

(55,045

)

(51,612

)

Other income (loss), net

 

(1,245

)

 

2,313

 

 

Total other expense, net

 

$

(28,351

)

$

(25,733

)

$

(49,323

)

$

(49,622

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

 

$

98,327

 

$

80,863

 

$

165,530

 

$

133,268

 

PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES

 

22,468

 

30,386

 

35,310

 

48,005

 

NET INCOME

 

$

75,859

 

$

50,477

 

$

130,220

 

$

85,263

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE

 

$

1.46

 

$

0.98

 

$

2.51

 

$

1.65

 

DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE

 

$

1.43

 

$

0.95

 

$

2.46

 

$

1.61

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

52,046

 

51,751

 

51,983

 

51,785

 

Diluted

 

52,913

 

52,977

 

52,973

 

53,090

 

 

6



 

SkyWest, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Summary of Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Dollars in Thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

June 30,
2018

 

December 31,
2017

 

Cash and marketable securities

 

$

649,090

 

$

685,295

 

Other current assets

 

326,135

 

309,838

 

Total current assets

 

$

975,225

 

$

995,133

 

Property and equipment, net

 

4,610,204

 

4,134,003

 

Deposit on aircraft

 

49,000

 

49,000

 

Other long-term assets

 

278,664

 

296,264

 

Total assets

 

$

5,913,093

 

$

5,474,400

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current portion, long-term debt

 

$

353,743

 

$

309,678

 

Other current liabilities

 

524,852

 

511,147

 

Total current liabilities

 

$

878,595

 

$

820,825

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt, net of current maturities

 

2,615,637

 

2,377,346

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

558,209

 

521,907

 

Stockholders’ equity

 

1,860,652

 

1,754,322

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

5,913,093

 

$

5,474,400

 

 

Unaudited Operating Highlights

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
June 30,

 

Six Months Ended
June 30,

 

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

Change

 

2018

 

2017

 

Change

 

Block hours

 

439,174

 

467,100

 

(6.0

)%

875,541

 

919,783

 

(4.8

)%

Departures

 

255,561

 

280,326

 

(8.8

)%

503,688

 

544,188

 

(7.4

)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Passengers carried

 

12,339,631

 

13,364,974

 

(7.7

)%

23,659,861

 

25,385,351

 

(6.8

)%

Passenger load factor

 

81.9

%

81.8

%

0.1

pts

79.7

%

80.3

%

(0.6

)pts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average passenger trip length

 

522

 

511

 

2.2

%

523

 

515

 

1.6

%

 

7



 

SkyWest, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Additional Operational Information (unaudited)

 

SkyWest’s total fleet in service increased by three aircraft during Q2 2018, as follows:

 

Aircraft in scheduled service at March 31, 2018:

 

 

 

580

 

Additions:

 

 

 

 

 

New E175/E175 SC aircraft:

 

 

 

14

 

Removals, net:

 

 

 

 

 

CRJ900 aircraft:

 

(6

)

 

 

CRJ700 aircraft:

 

(4

)

 

 

CRJ200 aircraft:

 

(1

)

 

 

Total net removals:

 

 

 

(11

)

Aircraft in scheduled service at June 30, 2018:

 

 

 

583

 

 

SkyWest’s total fleet in service decreased by 43 aircraft over the last twelve months, as follows:

 

Aircraft in scheduled service at June 30, 2017:

 

 

 

626

 

Additions:

 

 

 

 

 

New E175/E175 SC aircraft:

 

 

 

23

 

Removals, net:

 

 

 

 

 

CRJ900 aircraft:

 

(28

)

 

 

CRJ700 aircraft:

 

(6

)

 

 

ERJ145/135 aircraft:

 

(24

)

 

 

CRJ200 aircraft:

 

(8

)

 

 

Total net removals:

 

 

 

(66

)

Aircraft in scheduled service at June 30, 2018:

 

 

 

583

 

 

8



 

SkyWest, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Additional Operational Information (continued and unaudited)

 

Completed Block Hours by Aircraft Type and by Airline

 

 

 

Three months ended June 30

 

Six months ended June 30

 

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

Variance
%

 

2018

 

2017

 

Variance
%

 

By Aircraft Type:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

E175s

 

109,383

 

90,051

 

21.5

%

208,975

 

169,979

 

22.9

%

CRJ700/900s

 

122,930

 

145,565

 

(15.5

)%

251,745

 

282,426

 

(10.9

)%

Dual-class aircraft

 

232,313

 

235,616

 

(1.4

)%

460,720

 

452,405

 

1.8

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CRJ200s

 

139,768

 

137,477

 

1.7

%

274,777

 

270,751

 

1.5

%

ERJ145/135s

 

67,093

 

94,007

 

(28.6

)%

140,044

 

196,627

 

(28.8

)%

50-seat aircraft

 

206,861

 

231,484

 

(10.6

)%

414,821

 

467,378

 

(11.2

)%

Total Block Hours

 

439,174

 

467,100

 

(6.0

)%

875,541

 

919,783

 

(4.8

)%

 

 

 

Three months ended June 30

 

Six months ended June 30

 

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

Variance
%

 

2018

 

2017

 

Variance
%

 

By Airline:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SkyWest Airlines

 

344,284

 

303,921

 

13.3

%

673,228

 

581,756

 

15.7

%

ExpressJet

 

94,890

 

163,179

 

(41.8

)%

202,313

 

338,027

 

(40.1

)%

Total Block Hours

 

439,174

 

467,100

 

(6.0

)%

875,541

 

919,783

 

(4.8

)%

 

Quarterly Fleet and Block Hour Production Forecast for 2018

 

 

 

As of
12/31/2017

 

As of
3/31/2018

 

As of
6/30/2018

 

As of
9/30/2018

 

As of
12/31/2018

 

 

 

 

 

(Actual)

 

(Actual)

 

(Actual)

 

(Estimate)

 

(Estimate)

 

 

 

Fleet (1):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

E175/175SCs

 

107

 

112

 

126

 

141

 

146

 

 

 

CRJ700/900s

 

181

 

169

 

159

 

150

 

142

 

 

 

CRJ200s

 

195

 

199

 

198

 

197

 

197

 

 

 

ERJ145s/135s

 

112

 

100

 

100

 

100

 

100

 

 

 

Totals

 

595

 

580

 

583

 

588

 

585

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q4-2017

 

Q1-2018

 

Q2-2018

 

Q3-2018

 

Q4-2018

 

Total 2018

 

 

 

(Actual)

 

(Actual)

 

(Actual)

 

(Estimate)

 

(Estimate)

 

(Estimate)

 

Production (2):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Block Hours

 

450,095

 

436,367

 

439,174

 

445,000

 

432,000

 

1,752,000

 

 


(1)  Fleet count excludes aircraft removed from scheduled service. Actual fleet counts may vary from the forecast due to timing of aircraft removed from service, timing of aircraft transitioned into service and timing of new aircraft deliveries.

 

(2)  Actual production may vary from estimates for various reasons including, but not limited to, timing of aircraft removals and deliveries and anticipated flight completion rates. SkyWest has discontinued providing ASM forecasts, as ASMs are not a meaningful metric in SkyWest’s capacity purchase agreements.

 

9