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8-K - 8-K - SKYWEST INCa18-38229_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 Third Quarter 2018 Profit

 

Third Quarter Highlights:

 

·                  Net income of $83 million, or $1.57 per diluted share, up from $54 million or $1.01 per diluted share in Q3 2017

·                  Pre-tax income of $110 million, up from $87 million in Q3 2017

·                  SkyWest Airlines agreed to a multi-year extension with United Airlines for 60 CRJ-200s

·                  ExpressJet pilots approved new labor contract and SkyWest Airlines pilots approved a pay agreement amendment, further enhancing pilot career opportunities at both operating units

 

ST. GEORGE, UTAH, October 30, 2018 — SkyWest, Inc. (NASDAQ: SKYW) (“SkyWest”) today reported financial and operating results for Q3 2018, including net income of $83 million, or $1.57 per diluted share, compared to net income of $54 million, or $1.01 per diluted share for Q3 2017. Q3 2018 pre-tax income of $110 million increased 27% from Q3 2017, primarily due to SkyWest’s ongoing fleet transition. Since Q3 2017, SkyWest added 34 new E175 aircraft and one new CRJ900 aircraft, and removed 65 older aircraft from its fleet.

 

Commenting on the results, Chip Childs, Chief Executive Officer and President of SkyWest, said “We are focused on remaining disciplined in delivering a product that meets the evolving needs of our customers. We expect the flying and labor agreements announced this quarter to contribute to our ongoing fleet transition and help position us well for current and future market opportunities. I am proud of the outstanding product our professionals consistently deliver to our customers.”

 

1


 

Financial Highlights

 

Revenue was $829 million in Q3 2018, up from $813 million in Q3 2017. The increase in revenue included the net impact of adding 34 new E175 aircraft and other economic improvements within SkyWest’s fleet mix since Q3 2017, partially offset by the removal of aircraft from unprofitable or less-profitable contracts over the same period.

 

Operating expenses were $691 million in Q3 2018, down from $700 million in Q3 2017. The decrease in operating expenses was primarily due to the reduction in direct operating costs from 30 fewer net aircraft in service since Q3 2017.

 

The tax rate for Q3 2018 was 24.5% compared to 38% in Q3 2017. The lower tax rate in Q3 2018 was primarily due to the reduced federal rate under the new tax law enacted in Q4 2017.

 

Operational Update

 

Flying contract extension

 

SkyWest Airlines announced today that it has agreed to a multi-year extension with United Airlines (“United”) for 60 CRJ-200s currently under a capacity purchase agreement.  These 60 aircraft originally had various contract maturities over the next few years.

 

Deliveries under previously announced agreements

 

SkyWest Airlines took delivery of 12 new E175 aircraft during Q3 2018 and is scheduled to take delivery of eight new E175 aircraft during Q4 2018. SkyWest Airlines expects to have 146 E175 aircraft in its fleet by the end of 2018.

 

SkyWest Airlines also took delivery of one CRJ900 aircraft during Q3 2018 under a previously announced agreement with Delta for 20 new CRJ900s. Under this agreement, Delta will finance the 20 aircraft and SkyWest Airlines will operate these aircraft for a nine-year term. SkyWest Airlines anticipates taking delivery of four CRJ900s in Q4 2018 and the remaining 15 CRJ900s between Q1 2019 and mid-2020 under this agreement. SkyWest expects to remove 20 CRJ700s from contracts with Delta as each of these 20 CRJ900s are placed into service.

 

CRJ700 aircraft in transition:

 

During Q3 2018, SkyWest Airlines placed four used CRJ700s into service under a previously announced agreement for 20 aircraft with American Airlines (“American”). These CRJ700s will

 

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be sourced from within SkyWest’s existing fleet through other contract expirations and all 20 aircraft are scheduled to be in service with American by early 2019.

 

ExpressJet continued the previously-announced wind down of its flying agreement with Delta during the quarter. At the end of Q3 2018, ExpressJet had 12 CRJ700s in service under its Delta agreement and expects its contract with Delta will terminate by the end of 2018. Also, at the end of Q3 2018, ExpressJet had 16 CRJ700 aircraft in service under its contract with American and expects its contract with American will terminate by early 2019.

 

ExpressJet is currently operating 12 CRJ700s that are expected to be removed from service and returned to lessors by mid-2019. SkyWest also anticipates it will remove 30 owned CRJ700s from flying contracts from early to mid-2019 and as previously announced is pursuing alternative opportunities to utilize these aircraft in 2019.

 

CRJ200 aircraft in transition:

 

During Q3 2018, ExpressJet began the transition for 20 CRJ200 aircraft to be placed into service under a previously announced three-year agreement with United Airlines (“United”). The aircraft will be sourced from within SkyWest’s existing fleet through other contract expirations. The first aircraft was placed into service in October 2018 and all 20 CRJ200 aircraft are scheduled to be placed into service with United by early 2019.

 

New pilot agreements:

 

During Q3 2018, ExpressJet pilots voted in favor of a new three-year pay agreement effective through October 2021. Separately, in October 2018 SkyWest Airlines pilots voted in favor of a new four-year pay agreement effective through December 2022. The financial terms of these agreements were not disclosed, but each agreement provides additional compensation to the respective pilot groups, and will allow each operating entity to provide outstanding career opportunities for pilots. These multi-year contracts provide better visibility to pursue current and future market opportunities.

 

Operating Performance:

 

Flight completion rates at SkyWest Airlines and ExpressJet for Q3 2018 and Q3 2017 were as follows:

 

3


 

 

 

SkyWest Airlines

 

ExpressJet

 

 

 

Q3 2018

 

Q3 2017

 

Q3 2018

 

Q3 2017

 

Adjusted Completion *

 

99.9

%

99.9

%

99.8

%

99.9

%

Raw Completion

 

98.9

%

98.9

%

97.2

%

95.3

%

 


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

 

Capital and Liquidity

 

SkyWest had $705 million in cash and marketable securities at September 30, 2018, up from $649 million at June 30, 2018. During the third quarter of 2018, SkyWest:

 

·                  Used $43 million toward the purchase of 12 E175 aircraft

·                  Used $15 million to repurchase stock under its $100 million share repurchase program, of which $55 million remains authorized

·                  Used $30 million for other capital investments, primarily related to aircraft parts and maintenance assets

 

Total debt at September 30, 2018 was $3.1 billion, up $140 million from June 30, 2018, which included debt issued for 12 E175 aircraft acquired during the quarter, partially offset by scheduled principal payments.

 

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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 third quarter 2018 results today, October 30, 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/1088/27694. This press release and additional information regarding SkyWest, including access information for the digital rebroadcast of the third quarter 2018 earnings call, participation at investor conferences, investor presentations and monthly traffic statistic releases, can be accessed at inc.skywest.com.

 

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 agreements with Delta and American, and the related removal from service and/or placement into service of certain aircraft, the scheduled aircraft deliveries for SkyWest Airlines in upcoming years, and the associated improvement in fleet mix and positioning for current and future market opportunities, 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 statements for any reason. 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.

 

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SkyWest, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

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

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30

 

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

2018

 

2017

 

OPERATING REVENUES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flying agreements

 

$

816,057

 

$

800,965

 

$

2,377,659

 

$

2,317,218

 

Airport customer service and other

 

13,218

 

11,708

 

40,531

 

34,133

 

Total operating revenues

 

829,275

 

812,673

 

2,418,190

 

2,351,351

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries, wages and benefits

 

301,378

 

304,014

 

901,775

 

896,476

 

Aircraft maintenance, materials and repairs

 

142,285

 

148,787

 

423,665

 

433,467

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

86,088

 

74,095

 

246,386

 

215,415

 

Aircraft rentals

 

36,827

 

54,976

 

119,015

 

168,098

 

Aircraft fuel

 

30,258

 

22,791

 

87,208

 

61,295

 

Airport-related expenses

 

25,655

 

30,209

 

80,852

 

91,106

 

Other operating expenses

 

68,859

 

65,432

 

206,511

 

190,235

 

Total operating expenses

 

691,350

 

700,304

 

2,065,412

 

2,056,092

 

OPERATING INCOME

 

137,925

 

112,369

 

352,778

 

295,259

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

2,283

 

1,408

 

5,692

 

3,398

 

Interest expense

 

(31,440

)

(27,101

)

(86,485

)

(78,713

)

Other income (loss), net

 

1,157

 

 

3,470

 

 

Total other expense, net

 

(28,000

)

(25,693

)

(77,323

)

(75,315

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

 

109,925

 

86,676

 

275,455

 

219,944

 

PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES

 

26,879

 

32,960

 

62,189

 

80,966

 

NET INCOME

 

$

83,046

 

$

53,716

 

$

213,266

 

$

138,978

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE

 

$

1.60

 

$

1.04

 

$

4.10

 

$

2.68

 

DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE

 

$

1.57

 

$

1.01

 

$

4.03

 

$

2.62

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

52,039

 

51,833

 

52,002

 

51,801

 

Diluted

 

52,981

 

53,080

 

52,976

 

53,087

 

 

6


 

SkyWest, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Summary of Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Dollars in Thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

September 30,
2018

 

December 31,
2017

 

Cash and marketable securities

 

$

704,803

 

$

685,295

 

Other current assets

 

347,269

 

309,838

 

Total current assets

 

1,052,072

 

995,133

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net

 

4,847,688

 

4,134,003

 

Deposit on aircraft

 

27,579

 

49,000

 

Other long-term assets

 

257,521

 

296,264

 

Total assets

 

$

6,184,860

 

$

5,474,400

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current portion, long-term debt

 

$

357,327

 

$

309,678

 

Other current liabilities

 

556,118

 

511,147

 

Total current liabilities

 

913,445

 

820,825

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt, net of current maturities

 

2,751,722

 

2,377,346

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

590,820

 

521,907

 

Stockholders’ equity

 

1,928,873

 

1,754,322

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

6,184,860

 

$

5,474,400

 

 

Unaudited Operating Highlights

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

Change

 

2018

 

2017

 

Change

 

Block hours

 

448,025

 

469,901

 

(4.7

)%

1,323,566

 

1,389,684

 

(4.8

)%

Departures

 

261,382

 

281,921

 

(7.3

)%

756,070

 

826,109

 

(7.4

)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Passengers carried

 

12,812,370

 

13,475,674

 

(4.9

)%

36,472,231

 

38,861,025

 

(6.1

)%

Passenger load factor

 

82.2

%

80.0

%

2.2

pts

80.5

%

80.2

%

0.3

pts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average passenger trip length

 

519

 

503

 

3.2

%

522

 

511

 

2.2

%

 

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SkyWest, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Additional Operational Information (unaudited)

 

SkyWest’s total fleet in service increased by nine aircraft during Q3 2018, as follows:

 

Aircraft in scheduled service at June 30, 2018:

 

 

 

583

 

Additions:

 

 

 

 

 

New E175 aircraft:

 

12

 

 

 

New CRJ900 aircraft:

 

1

 

 

 

Total new aircraft added:

 

 

 

13

 

Removals, net:

 

 

 

 

 

CRJ200 aircraft:

 

(13

)

 

 

CRJ700 aircraft:

 

(9

)

 

 

Total net aircraft removed:

 

 

 

(22

)

Aircraft in scheduled service at September 30, 2018:

 

 

 

574

 

 

SkyWest’s total fleet in service decreased by 30 aircraft over the last twelve months, as follows:

 

Aircraft in scheduled service at September 30, 2017:

 

 

 

604

 

Additions:

 

 

 

 

 

New E175 aircraft:

 

34

 

 

 

New CRJ900 aircraft:

 

1

 

 

 

Total new aircraft added:

 

 

 

35

 

Removals, net:

 

 

 

 

 

CRJ900 aircraft:

 

(24

)

 

 

CRJ700 aircraft:

 

(17

)

 

 

ERJ145/135 aircraft:

 

(18

)

 

 

CRJ200 aircraft:

 

(6

)

 

 

Total net removals:

 

 

 

(65

)

Aircraft in scheduled service at September 30, 2018:

 

 

 

574

 

 

8


 

SkyWest, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Additional Operational Information (continued and unaudited)

 

Completed Block Hours by Aircraft Type and by Airline

 

 

 

Three months ended September 30

 

Nine months ended September 30

 

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

Variance
%

 

2018

 

2017

 

Variance
%

 

By Aircraft Type:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

E175s

 

120,694

 

99,069

 

21.8

%

329,669

 

269,048

 

22.5

%

CRJ700/900s

 

120,914

 

150,334

 

(19.6

)%

372,659

 

432,760

 

(13.9

)%

Dual-class aircraft

 

241,608

 

249,403

 

(3.1

)%

702,328

 

701,808

 

0.1

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CRJ200s

 

137,858

 

136,898

 

0.7

%

412,635

 

407,649

 

1.2

%

ERJ145/135s

 

68,559

 

83,600

 

(18.0

)%

208,603

 

280,227

 

(25.6

)%

50-seat aircraft

 

206,417

 

220,498

 

(6.4

)%

621,238

 

687,876

 

(9.7

)%

Total Block Hours

 

448,025

 

469,901

 

(4.7

)%

1,323,566

 

1,389,684

 

(4.8

)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended September 30

 

Nine months ended September 30

 

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

Variance
%

 

2018

 

2017

 

Variance
%

 

By Airline:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SkyWest Airlines

 

355,264

 

326,608

 

8.8

%

1,028,492

 

908,364

 

13.2

%

ExpressJet

 

92,761

 

143,293

 

(35.3

)%

295,074

 

481,320

 

(38.7

)%

Total Block Hours

 

448,025

 

469,901

 

(4.7

)%

1,323,566

 

1,389,684

 

(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)

 

(Actual)

 

(Estimate)

 

Fleet (1):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

E175s

 

107

 

112

 

126

 

138

 

146

 

CRJ700/900s

 

181

 

169

 

159

 

151

 

142

 

CRJ200s

 

195

 

199

 

198

 

185

 

187

 

ERJ145s/135s

 

112

 

100

 

100

 

100

 

100

 

Totals

 

595

 

580

 

583

 

574

 

575

 

 

 

 

Q4-2017

 

Q1-2018

 

Q2-2018

 

Q3-2018

 

Q4-2018

 

Total 2018

 

 

 

(Actual)

 

(Actual)

 

(Actual)

 

(Actual)

 

(Estimate)

 

(Estimate)

 

Production (2):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Block Hours

 

450,095

 

436,367

 

439,174

 

448,025

 

431,000

 

1,755,000

 

 


(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.

 

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