SkyWest, Inc. Announces Third Quarter 2017 Profit

ST. GEORGE, Utah, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- SkyWest, Inc. (NASDAQ: SKYW) ("SkyWest") today reported financial and operating results for Q3 2017, including net income of $54 million, or $1.01 per diluted share, compared to net income of $41 million, or $0.79 per diluted share for Q3 2016. The Q3 2016 results included early lease return costs of $9 million, representing a reduction of $0.11 in diluted earnings (previously reported).  The Q3 2017 diluted earnings per share increased 28 percent from Q3 2016, or 12 percent after adjusting for the early lease charges included in the Q3 2016 results.  The improvement in net income over Q3 2016 was primarily due to SkyWest's continued fleet transition, including the addition of 37 new E175s, and the removal of 50 ERJ145s/135s and 22 CRJ200s since Q3 2016.

Commenting on the results, Chip Childs, Chief Executive Officer of SkyWest, said "Our results reflect strong production, solid operating performance and ongoing fleet transition improvements. Additionally, our teams did a great job of managing severe weather events during the quarter. None of this is possible without our outstanding professionals and the work they do each day to provide an excellent product to our customers."

Q3 2017 Financial Highlights
Revenue was $832 million in Q3 2017, up from $800 million in Q3 2016. The increase in revenue included the net impact of adding 37 new E175 aircraft since Q3 2016, partially offset by the removal of 75 unprofitable or less profitable aircraft over the same period, including 50 ERJ145s/135s, 22 CRJ200s and three net CRJ700s/900s.

Operating expenses were $720 million in Q3 2017, up from $714 million in Q3 2016. The slight increase in operating expense was primarily due to higher fuel costs and an increase in engine maintenance costs as an increasing percentage of our fleet are under long term power-by-the-hour maintenance agreements.

Q3 2017 Operational Update
In Q3 2017, SkyWest Airlines, Inc. ("SkyWest Airlines") announced the order of 30 new E175 SC aircraft to be placed under contract with Delta Air Lines ("Delta") and 15 new E175 aircraft to be placed under contract with Alaska Airlines ("Alaska").  SkyWest Airlines took delivery of one E175 aircraft during Q3 2017. SkyWest Airlines anticipates adding three new E175 aircraft in Q4 2017 and 42 new E175/E175 SC aircraft in 2018.  The anticipated delivery dates for the 42 E175/E175 SC aircraft are heavily weighted from mid-2018 to the end of 2018.  We expect to have a total of 149 E-175 aircraft in our fleet by the end of 2018.  

During Q3 2017, ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. ("ExpressJet") announced a five-year extension to its ERJ145 flying contract with United Airlines ("United") effective January 1, 2018.  Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

ExpressJet also initiated the wind down of its remaining dual-class flying agreement with Delta during Q3 2017.  As of September 30, 2017, ExpressJet operated 57 CRJ700s/900s under its Delta flying agreement.  Of the 57 aircraft, ExpressJet anticipates returning 27 leased aircraft to Delta over the next several quarters and removing 30 CRJ700 aircraft from service with Delta from mid-2018 to the end of 2018.  ExpressJet is pursuing placement of the 30 CRJ700 aircraft with other partners, of which eight aircraft are scheduled to be placed under an agreement with American Airlines ("American") following the removal from service with Delta.   

Operating Performance:

Flight completion rates at SkyWest Airlines and ExpressJet for Q3 2017 and Q3 2016 are summarized as follows:

Q3 2017 Capital and Liquidity

SkyWest had $675 million in cash and marketable securities at September 30, 2017, up $110 million from December 31, 2016 and up $40 million from June 30, 2017. During the third quarter of 2017, SkyWest used $52 million in cash towards aircraft deposits and the purchase of one E175 aircraft. SkyWest did not repurchase any stock this quarter under its $100 million share repurchase program of which $90 million remains authorized.

Total debt decreased by $75 million during the third quarter of 2017, primarily from scheduled principal payments. In Q3 2017, excluding aircraft purchased, SkyWest used $30 million for other capital investments, including spare engines and aircraft parts.

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 (previously reported).  SkyWest did not have a comparable adjustment for the three months ended September 30, 2017.  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 nearly 3,000 daily flights carrying more than 50 million passengers annually. SkyWest Airlines operates through partnerships with United Airlines ("United"), Delta Air Lines ("Delta"), American Airlines ("American") and Alaska Airlines ("Alaska"). ExpressJet Airlines operates through partnerships with United, Delta and American. 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 17,000 employees.

SkyWest will host its conference call to discuss third quarter 2017 results today, October 25, 2017, 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/1088/22930.  This press release and additional information regarding SkyWest, including access information for the digital rebroadcast of the third quarter 2017 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.

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SOURCE SkyWest, Inc.