SkyWest, Inc. Announces Third Quarter 2016 Profit

ST. GEORGE, Utah, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- SkyWest, Inc. (NASDAQ: SKYW) today reported financial and operating results for the third quarter of 2016, including net income of $41 million or $0.79 per diluted share, up from net income of $36 million or $0.71 per diluted share in Q3 2015.  Excluding the $9 million non-cash impact of early lease return charges on six CRJ700s, adjusted diluted earnings per share was $0.90 in Q3 2016.  Pre-tax income for the third quarter of 2016 was $67 million compared to $60 million in Q3 2015.  

Operating income was $86 million for the third quarter of 2016, compared to $78 million in Q3 2015.  The improvement in operating income was primarily due to new aircraft added to profitable flying contracts, strong operating performance at SkyWest Airlines ("SkyWest Airlines") and ExpressJet Airlines ("ExpressJet") and economic benefit from SkyWest's fleet transition. 

Commenting on the results, Chip Childs, SkyWest, Inc. Chief Executive Officer, said "Since early 2014, we have grown earnings by executing a complex fleet transition that added 67 new E175s and reduced our 50-seat fleet by over 120 aircraft.  Our focus through 2017 will be on reducing the overall risk profile of the company, integrating the remaining deliveries of 37 E175s, optimizing how our assets and capital are deployed and positioning for future growth.  Our employees have delivered amazingly well against challenging goals and have again provided our customers with solid operating performance, despite the significant changes to our fleet during the quarter."

Q3 2016 Financial Highlights

Revenue was $800 million in Q3 2016, up $6 million from Q3 2015.  The increase in revenue included the net impact of adding 24 new E175 aircraft since Q3 2015 and economic improvements in certain existing flying arrangements, partially offset by the removal of 29 CRJ200 and ERJ145 aircraft and nine CRJ700s over the same period.    

Operating expenses were $714 million in Q3 2016, down by $2 million from Q3 2015. The reduction is primarily related to lower direct operating costs from fewer aircraft in service, offset by $9 million in early lease return charges associated with six leased CRJ700s that were removed from service and processed for lease return during Q3 2016.

Q3 2016 Operational Update  

Flight completion rates at SkyWest Airlines and ExpressJet for Q3 2016 and Q3 2015 are summarized as follows:

SkyWest's total fleet in service decreased by 13 aircraft during the third quarter of 2016 as follows:

SkyWest's total fleet in service decreased by 14 aircraft from September 30, 2015 to September 30, 2016 as follows:

During Q3 2016, SkyWest redeployed six CRJ700 aircraft into service under a multi-year agreement with American and redeployed four CRJ700 aircraft into service under a multi-year agreement with Delta.  SkyWest previously operated the combined 10 CRJ700s under an agreement that expired with United.  A total of 37 CRJ700 aircraft with scheduled contract expirations with United are scheduled to be redeployed with American by mid-2017, eliminating the related financing tail risk on these aircraft through 2019.

SkyWest anticipates its CRJ200 fleet and its ERJ145 fleet ("50-Seat Aircraft") will be reduced by approximately 16 aircraft by the end of 2016 as a result of flying agreement expirations with multiple major partners.  During Q3 2016, SkyWest extended the contract term on nine CRJ200s with American from the end of 2016 to the end of Q3 2017.  

Under a previously announced lease return arrangement, SkyWest is currently scheduled to return 11 additional CRJ700s over the next six months.  If the aircraft are returned as scheduled, SkyWest anticipates largely non-cash termination costs of approximately $15-17 million (pre-tax), which will be recognized as the aircraft are removed from service and processed.

The following table outlines SkyWest's anticipated delivery schedule for new E175 aircraft through the end of 2017:

Q3 2016 Capital and Liquidity Update

SkyWest had $564 million in cash and marketable securities at September 30, 2016, an increase of $51 million from June 30, 2016.  SkyWest issued $249 million in new long-term debt during Q3 2016 to finance the eleven new E175s delivered during the quarter.  Total debt increased by $185 million during the third quarter from the eleven new E175 aircraft net of scheduled principal payments. 

In the third quarter of 2016, SkyWest used cash for capital investments of $61 million:  $44 million toward the purchase of 11 E175 aircraft and $17 million in other capital expenditures. 

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP financial measures

Although SkyWest's financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. ("GAAP"), SkyWest management believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures may provide investors with useful information regarding the underlying business trends and performance of SkyWest's ongoing operations and may be useful for period-over-period comparisons of such operations.  The following table sets forth supplemental financial data and corresponding reconciliations to GAAP financial statements for the three months ended September 30, 2016.  Readers should consider these non-GAAP measures in addition to, not a substitute for, financial reporting measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.  These non-GAAP financial measures exclude some, but not all, items that may affect SkyWest's net income.  Additionally, these calculations may not be comparable with similarly titled measures of other companies.

About SkyWest

SkyWest, Inc. is the holding company for two scheduled passenger airline operations and an aircraft leasing company. SkyWest's airline companies provide commercial air service in cities throughout North America with more than 3,100 daily flights carrying nearly 57 million passengers annually. SkyWest Airlines operates through partnerships with United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. ExpressJet Airlines operates through partnerships with United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines. Based in St. George, Utah, SkyWest continues to set the standard for excellence across the regional industry with unmatched value for customers, shareholders and its more than 19,000 employees.

SkyWest will host its conference call to discuss third quarter 2016 results today, October 27, at 2:30 p.m. Mountain.  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/1088/17660.

This press release and additional information regarding SkyWest, including access information for the digital rebroadcast of the third quarter 2016 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 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; realization of manufacturer residual value guarantees on applicable SkyWest aircraft; 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 the section of SkyWest's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, entitled "Risk Factors."

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160708/387627LOGO

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/skywest-inc-announces-third-quarter-2016-profit-300352959.html

SOURCE SkyWest, Inc.