Rob Simmons
Analyst · Deutsche Bank. Please go ahead
Today we reported net income $31.5 million or $0.61 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2015. Our operating income of $70 million for the quarter is the best quarter performance since 2008. The improvement in our financial results and earnings momentum was generated from our operating leverage in three areas, one, the change in our aircraft mix under our fleet transition plan, two, the use of our capital strength to add accretive new aircraft to our system, and three, the improvement in our operating performance and related operating efficiencies. With respect to changes in our fleet mix, I want to give you additional color on the net change in our operating fleet year-over-year. At June 30, 2014, we had 752 aircrafts scheduled for service. Over the last 12 months we have removed 134 aircraft or 18% of our June 2014 operating fleet. These aircrafts were operating under unprofitable or less profitable agreements. Over the same period we added 58 aircraft to our fleet, including 30 E175, which have been nicely accretive to our earnings. Although, we have a net decrease to our fleet size and block hour production from June 2014, the accretive aircraft additions combined with the removal of less profitable aircraft were significant drivers to our improved profitability. We have included a summary of our block hour production by aircraft type at the end of the press release that illustrates the fleet production changes and we anticipate continuing to provide similar production information in our monthly traffic releases. Wade will speak more to the fleet in a moment. The strength of our balance sheet, disciplined capital deployment, improving fleet mix and strong operating performance are the levers that have contributed to our significant turnaround from 2014 and provide the catalyst to position us well going forward with our major partners. We believe these actions give us a competitive advantage in the market and allow us to continue to access attractive aircraft financing rates, our solid operating performance builds on our strong relationships with major airline partners and also generates additional economics from contract performance incentives and operating efficiencies. In terms of year-over-year changes to our revenue and operating expenses, the theme for the second quarter is relatively consistent with the first quarter. As outlined in the release, the anticipated revenue decreased from a reduced fleet size and scheduled production was partially offset by incremental revenue from our E175 aircraft accretive 50 seat aircraft additions, contract rate improvements under various existing agreements from renewals, improved flight completion rates and higher contract performance incentives earned. Compared to last year, we’ve removed some of our negative no and low margin revenue and partially replace it with more profitable flying, two levers contributing to our profit momentum. Combined our revenues decreased by $28 million from the second quarter of 2014. Over the same period the reduced fleet size and related lower production combined with operating efficiencies from improved performance and various cost initiatives resulted in a decrease in operating and other expenses of $86 million from the second quarter of 2014. Lower fuel cost in our pro rate business was a benefit of about $9 million or 10% of the year-over-year decrease in expenses. So decreasing revenues of $28 million combined with lower expenses of $86 million net to our year-over-year improvement of $58 million in pre-tax income. Our 10-Q expected to be filed in early August will include our operating segment information. But let me give you a little preview. We're very pleased to report that ExpressJet had pre-tax loss of just $3 million during the quarter, compared to a $36 million loss in the second quarter of 2014. ExpressJet contributed $33 million of the consolidated $58 million improvement in pre-tax income, compared to Q2 2014. With respect to our cash and liquidity position, we ended the quarter with $505 million in cash and marketable securities. The primary items impacting our cash during the quarter include, of course, our pre-tax income of $52 million. We also used $36 million toward ownership for the nine E175 delivered during the quarter and we used $18.7 million to repurchase 1.2 million of our shares. For the second half of 2015, we are forecasting to use $18 million in the third quarter and about $11 million in the fourth quarter as ownership towards seven E175 aircraft purchases. We anticipate our other capital expenditures will range between $20 million and $25 million in Q3 and then be slightly lower into Q4. Lastly, we’re scheduled to present at a conference hosted by Cowen & Company in Boston and conference is hosted by Deutsche Bank and Imperial Capital in New York. All three of which are scheduled for this September. We appreciate the portfolio managers that we have spoken with over the phone this quarter and those that met with us in New York and Baltimore as we look to continue to tell the SkyWest story to a broader investor base. We look forward to meeting with those of you interested in following our story more closely. Wade?