SkyWest, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2016 Results

ST. GEORGE, Utah, Feb. 2, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- SkyWest, Inc. (NASDAQ: SKYW) ("SkyWest") today reported financial and operating results for the fourth quarter of 2016, including a net loss of $270 million, or $5.22 loss per share, compared to net income of $41 million, or $0.78 earnings per diluted share for Q4 2015. Adjusted net income for Q4 2016 was $29 million, or $0.54 earnings per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income of $25 million, or $0.49 earnings per diluted share for Q4 2015. The adjusted results for Q4 2016 exclude (pre-tax) a $466 million non-cash impairment charge and $7 million of early lease return charges, both previously announced. The improvement in adjusted net income was primarily due to SkyWest's continued execution on its ongoing fleet transition and strong operating performance.

Net loss for the 2016 year was $162 million, or $3.14 loss per share, compared to net income of $118 million, or $2.27 earnings per diluted share for the 2015 year. Adjusted net income was $143 million, or $2.73 earnings per diluted share, for the 2016 year, compared to adjusted net income of $103 million, or $1.98 earnings per diluted share, for the 2015 year.  

Commenting on the results, Chip Childs, SkyWest, Inc. Chief Executive Officer, said, "Our improved 2016 results were largely due to the addition, removal or redeployment of over 125 aircraft across our base fleet of 652 aircraft. The evolution of our fleet continues to reduce our risk, improve our capital flexibility and ensure we adapt to our major partners' long and short-term needs. Our ability to execute these significant transitions is only possible with the exceptional work of the 19,000 professionals across our organizations."  

The Q4 2016 results included a previously-announced non-cash impairment charge of $466 million (pre-tax) on SkyWest's 50-seat aircraft and related long-lived assets and spare aircraft parts.  This non-cash impairment charge was net of the $90 million that SkyWest received from Bombardier during Q4 2016 in connection with the early settlement of Bombardier's residual aircraft guarantees on certain CRJ200 aircraft. The required sale of each aircraft and the cost to SkyWest of returning the aircraft to mid-time condition were points of risk and uncertainty for SkyWest that the early settlement eliminates. Schedule reductions in 50-seat aircraft for 2017 and a reduced market value on 50-seat aircraft and related assets were additional factors in the impairment charge.

Q4 2016 Financial Highlights

Revenue was $758 million in Q4 2016, up $5 million from Q4 2015. The increase in revenue included the net impact of adding 41 new E175 aircraft since Q4 2015 (of which 19 were delivered in Q4 2016) and economic improvements from SkyWest's fleet transition, partially offset by the removal of 28 ERJ145s, 12 CRJ200s and nine CRJ700s during the 2016 year. 

Operating expenses were $1,162 million in Q4 2016, up $462 million from Q4 2015. The increase was due to the $466 million 50-seat aircraft non-cash asset impairment charge and $7 million in early lease return charges on four CRJ700s removed from service during the quarter, partially offset by lower direct operating costs from fewer aircraft in service.

Q4 2016 Operational Update

Dual-Class Aircraft (E175s, CRJ700s and CRJ900s):
SkyWest Airlines, Inc. ("SkyWest Airlines") took delivery of 41 E175s during the 2016 year, of which 19 aircraft were delivered in Q4 2016.  SkyWest's scheduled deliveries of its remaining E175 firm orders are below:

As previously announced, during Q4 2016 ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. ("ExpressJet") and American Airlines agreed to place 12 used CRJ700 aircraft into service under a multi-year contract term. SkyWest Airlines had 23 CRJ700s in service with American at the end of 2016. In total, SkyWest Airlines and ExpressJet are scheduled to have 49 CRJ700s in service with American by mid-2017. The 49 CRJ700s scheduled for service with American were previously operated in SkyWest's existing fleet with other major airline partners.

SkyWest previously announced that it expected to remove a total of 20 CRJ700s from service by early 2017 under an early lease return arrangement, of which eight aircraft have been removed from service and 12 aircraft are now under contract to be placed into service under the American agreement. SkyWest incurred $7 million (pre-tax) in early lease termination charges on four CRJ700s removed from service during Q4 2016 and other lease return costs on CRJ200 aircraft.   

50-seat Aircraft (CRJ200s and ERJ145/135s):
At the end of 2016, SkyWest had 213 CRJ200s and 159 ERJ145/135s in scheduled service. SkyWest anticipates it will reduce its CRJ200s by approximately 46 aircraft and its ERJ145/135s by approximately 59 aircraft during 2017. As previously announced, ExpressJet anticipates it will transition to flying primarily dual-class aircraft in its CRJ operation by removing its CRJ200 aircraft from service over the next year.

Operating Performance Update:
Flight completion rates at SkyWest Airlines and ExpressJet for Q4 2016 and Q4 2015 are summarized as follows:

Q4 2016 Capital and Liquidity Update

SkyWest had $565 million in cash and marketable securities at December 31, 2016, flat with September 30, 2016. SkyWest received $90 million from Bombardier during Q4 2016 as an early settlement of the terminated residual value guarantee agreements. Additionally, SkyWest used $76 million toward the purchase of 19 E175 aircraft and $17 million to pay off certain outstanding debt early at a discount during the quarter.

SkyWest issued $429 million in new long-term debt during Q4 2016 to finance the 19 new E175s delivered during the quarter. Total debt increased by $320 million during the fourth quarter from the new E175 aircraft acquired, net of scheduled principal payments.

In Q4 2016, excluding aircraft purchased, SkyWest used $24 million for other capital investments.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP financial measures

Although SkyWest's financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("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 and twelve months ended December 31, 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 54 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 fourth quarter 2016 results today, February 2, 2017, 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/1088/19327 .

This press release and additional information regarding SkyWest, including access information for the digital rebroadcast of the fourth 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 its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.