MESA AIR GROUP INC - Quarter Report: 2006 December (Form 10-Q)

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 10-Q

 

 

 

 

Commission File Number 0-15495

 

 

Mesa Air Group, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
(602) 685-4000

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the last 90 days.  Yes þ     No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o     No þ

 

On February 1, 2007, the registrant had outstanding 33,142,268 shares of Common Stock.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

INDEX

 

 

MESA AIR GROUP, INC.

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

MESA AIR GROUP, INC.

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

MESA AIR GROUP, INC.

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

MESA AIR GROUP, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

The accompanying unaudited, condensed consolidated financial statements of Mesa Air Group, Inc. (“Mesa” or the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for a complete set of financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the periods presented have been made. Operating results for the three-month period ended December 31, 2006, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006.

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Mesa Air Group, Inc. and its wholly-owned operating subsidiaries: Mesa Airlines, Inc. (“Mesa Airlines”), a Nevada corporation and certificated air carrier; Freedom Airlines, Inc. (“Freedom”), a Nevada corporation and certificated air carrier; Air Midwest, Inc. (“Air Midwest”), a Kansas corporation and certificated air carrier; Air Midwest, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company, MPD, Inc., a Nevada corporation, doing business as Mesa Pilot Development; Regional Aircraft Services, Inc. (“RAS”) a California company; Mesa Air Group — Airline Inventory Management, LLC (“MAG-AIM”), an Arizona Limited Liability Company; Ritz Hotel Management Corp., a Nevada Corporation; Nilchii, Inc. (“Nilchii”), a Nevada corporation, Ping Shan, SRL (“Ping Shan”), a Barbados, West Indies based investment company, Shan Yue (“Shan Yue”), SRL a Barbados, West Indies based investment company, and MAGI Insurance, Ltd. (“MAGI”), a Barbados, West Indies based captive insurance company. Air Midwest LLC was formed for the purpose of a contemplated conversion of Air Midwest from a corporation to a limited liability company (which has not yet occurred). MPD, Inc. provides pilot training in coordination with a community college in Farmington, New Mexico and with Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. RAS performs aircraft component repair and overhaul services. MAG-AIM purchases, distributes and manages the Company’s inventory of rotable and expendable spare parts. Ritz Hotel Management is a Phoenix area hotel property that is used for crew-in-training accommodations. MAGI is a captive insurance company established for the purpose of obtaining more favorable aircraft liability insurance rates. Ping Shan and Shan Yue were established to invest in a Joint Venture in the People’s Republic of China. Nilchii was established to invest in certain airline related businesses. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

New Accounting Pronouncements

 

In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) ratified Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 06-3 (“EITF 06-3”), “How Taxes Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Authorities Should Be Presented in the Income Statement (That Is, Gross versus Net Presentation).” EITF 06-3 applies to any tax assessed by a governmental authority that is directly imposed on a revenue-producing transaction between a seller and a customer. EITF 06-3 allows companies to present taxes either gross within revenue and expense or net. If taxes subject to this issue are significant, a company is required to disclose its accounting policy for presenting taxes and the amount of such taxes that are recognized on a gross basis. The Company currently presents such taxes net. EITF 06-3 is required to be adopted during the second quarter of fiscal 2007. These taxes are currently not material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” This standard defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and expands disclosure about fair value measurements. This pronouncement applies to other accounting standards that require or permit fair value

 

MESA AIR GROUP, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

measurements. Accordingly, this statement does not require any new fair value measurement. This statement is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company will be required to adopt SFAS No. 157 in the first quarter of fiscal year 2009. Management has not yet determined the impact of adopting this statement.

 

In September, 2006, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) No. AUG AIR-1 “Accounting for Planned Major Maintenance Activities.” This position amends the existing major maintenance accounting guidance contained within the AICPA Industry Audit Guide “Audits of Airlines” and prohibits the use of the accrue in advance method of accounting for planned major maintenance activities for owned aircraft. The provisions of the announcement are applicable for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. Mesa currently uses the direct expense method of accounting for planned major maintenance; therefore, the adoption of FSP No. AUG AIR-1 will not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In September 2006, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108 (“SAB 108”). Due to diversity in practice among registrants, SAB 108 expresses SEC staff views regarding the process by which misstatements in financial statements are evaluated for purposes of determining whether financial statement restatement is necessary. SAB 108 is effective for fiscal years ending after November 15, 2006. The Company will adopt SAB 108 in fiscal 2007. Management does not believe the adoption of SAB 108 will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In June 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (“FIN 48”), which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in financial statements. FIN 48 requires the impact of a tax position to be recognized in the financial statements if that position is more likely than not of being sustained by the taxing authority. Mesa will be required to adopt FIN 48 in the first quarter of fiscal year 2008. Management has not yet determined the impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

 

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131, “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information,” requires disclosures related to components of a company for which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by a company’s chief operating decision maker in deciding the allocation of resources and assessing performance. The Company has three airline operating subsidiaries, Mesa Airlines, Freedom Airlines and Air Midwest, as well as various other subsidiaries organized to provide support for the Company’s airline operations. The Company has aggregated these subsidiaries into three reportable segments: Mesa Airlines/Freedom, Air Midwest/go! and Other. Operating revenues in the Other segment are primarily sales of rotable and expendable parts to the Company’s operating subsidiaries and ground handling services performed by employees of RAS for Mesa Airlines.

 

Mesa Airlines and Freedom Airlines provide passenger service under revenue-guarantee contracts with United Airlines, Inc. (“United”), Delta Air Lines, Inc. (“Delta”) and US Airways, Inc. (“US Airways”). As of December 31, 2006, Mesa Airlines and Freedom Airlines operated a fleet of 175 aircraft — 110 CRJs, 36 ERJs and 28 Dash-8s.

 

Air Midwest and Mesa Airlines, operating as go!, provide passenger service where revenue is derived from ticket sales either independently or through pro-rate agreements. Air Midwest provides passenger service under pro-rate contracts with US Airways, Pre-Merger US Airways and Midwest Airlines, as well as independently under the brand name Mesa Airlines. As of December 31, 2006, Air Midwest operated a fleet of 20 Beechcraft 1900D turboprop aircraft. Mesa Airlines, operating as go!, provides independent inter-island Hawaiian passenger service. As of December 31, 2006, Mesa’s go! operation operated a fleet of five CRJ-200 aircraft. Air Midwest and Mesa, operating as go!, do not receive contractually-guaranteed revenue for their operations. Air Midwest LLC will be included in Air Midwest/go! if it begins operations.

 

MESA AIR GROUP, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

The Other reportable segment includes Mesa Air Group (the holding company), RAS, MPD, MAG-AIM, MAGI, Shan Yue, Ping Shan, Nilchii and Ritz Hotel Management Corp. Activity in the Other category consists primarily of sales of rotable and expendable parts and ground handling services to the Company’s operating subsidiaries, but also includes all administrative functions not directly attributable to any specific operating company. These administrative costs are allocated to the operating companies based upon specific criteria including headcount, available seat miles (“ASM’s”) and other operating statistics.

 

 

 

 

The Company has a cash management program which provides for the investment of excess cash balances primarily in short-term money market instruments, US treasury securities, intermediate-term debt instruments, and common equity securities of companies operating in the airline industry.

 

SFAS No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities,” requires that all applicable investments be classified as trading securities, available for sale securities or held-to-maturity securities. The Company currently has $172.2 million in marketable securities that include US Treasury notes, government bonds and corporate bonds. These investments are classified as trading securities during the periods presented and accordingly, are carried at market value with changes in value reflected in the current period operations. Unrealized gains (losses) relating to trading securities held at December 31, 2006 and September 30, 2006, were $0.1 million and ($0.3) million, respectively.

 

The Company has determined that investments in auction rate securities (“ARS”) should be classified as short-term investments. ARS generally have long-term maturities; however, these investments have characteristics similar to short-term investments because at predetermined intervals, generally every 28 days, there is a new auction process.

 

MESA AIR GROUP, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

As such, the Company classifies ARS as short-term investments. The balance of marketable securities at September 30, 2006 includes investments in ARS of $17.4 million.

 

 

At December 31, 2006, the Company had $12.0 million in restricted cash on deposit with two financial institutions. In September 2004, the Company entered into an agreement with a financial institution for a $9.0 million letter of credit facility and to issue letters of credit for landing fees, workers compensation insurance and other business needs. Pursuant to the agreement, $7.0 million of outstanding letters of credit at December 31, 2006 are collateralized by amounts on deposit. The Company also maintains $5.0 million on deposit with another financial institution to collateralize its direct deposit payroll obligations.

 

 

The Company has code-share agreements with Delta Air Lines, US Airways and United Airlines. Approximately 98% of the Company’s consolidated passenger revenue for the three month period ended December 31, 2006 was derived from these agreements. Accounts receivable from the Company’s code-share partners were 40% and 45% of total gross accounts receivable at December 31, 2006 and September 30, 2006, respectively.

 

US Airways accounted for approximately 45% of the Company’s total passenger revenue in the three month period ended December 31, 2006. A termination of the US Airways revenue-guarantee code-share agreements would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business prospects, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

United Airlines accounted for approximately 37% of the Company’s total passenger revenue in the three month period ended December 31, 2006. A termination of the United agreement would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business prospects, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Delta Air Lines accounted for approximately 17% of the Company’s total passenger revenue in the three month period ended December 31, 2006. A termination of the Delta agreement or the failure of Delta to successfully emerge from bankruptcy would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business prospects, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Delta has not yet assumed our regional jet code-share agreement in its bankruptcy proceedings and could choose to terminate the agreement at any time prior to its emergence from bankruptcy. In addition, according to news reports, US Airways, one of the Company’s code-share partners, has dropped its previous proposal to merge with Delta, another of our code-share partners. If such a proposal were to be made again and be accepted, the Company is unable to predict what effect such a merger would have on its relationship with the parties or on its financial condition and operations.

 

 

In May 2005, the Company amended its code-sharing arrangement with United to allow the Company to put up to an additional 30 50-seat regional jet aircraft into the United Express system. The agreement with respect to the additional 30 50-seat regional jet aircraft expires in April 2010. Additionally, the expiration dates under the existing code-share agreement with respect to certain aircraft were extended. In connection with the amendment, the Company made three $10 million payments to United as follows: i) $10 million in June 2005, ii) $10 million in October 2005, and iii) $10 million in November 2005. Amounts paid are recorded as a deferred charge and included in other assets on the balance sheet. The deferred charge is being amortized over the term of the code-share agreement as a reduction of passenger revenue.

 

 

Deferred credits consist of aircraft purchase incentives provided by the aircraft manufacturers and deferred gains on the sale and leaseback of interim financed aircraft. These incentives include credits that may be used to

 

MESA AIR GROUP, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

purchase spare parts, pay for training expenses or reduce other aircraft operating costs. These deferred credits and gains are amortized on a straight-line basis as a reduction of lease expense over the term of the respective leases.

 

 

At December 31, 2006 and September 30, 2006, the Company had $143.4 million and $123.1 million, respectively, in notes payable to an aircraft manufacturer for aircraft on interim financing. Under interim financing arrangements, the Company takes delivery and title to the aircraft prior to securing permanent financing and the acquisition of the aircraft is accounted for as a purchase with debt financing. Accordingly, the Company reflects the aircraft and debt under interim financing on its balance sheet during the interim financing period. After taking delivery of the aircraft, it is the Company’s intention to permanently finance the aircraft as an operating lease through a sale and leaseback transaction with an independent third-party lessor. Upon permanent financing, the proceeds are used to retire the notes payable to the manufacturer. Any gain recognized on the sale and leaseback transaction is deferred and amortized over the life of the lease. The Company had six aircraft on interim financing with the manufacturer at December 31, 2006. These interim financings agreements are typically six months in length and provide for monthly interest only payments at LIBOR plus three percent (8.35% at December 31, 2006). The current interim financing agreement with the manufacturer provides for the Company to have a maximum of 15 aircraft on interim financing at a given time. Subsequent to December 31, 2006, the Company permanently financed these six aircraft with $135 million in long-term debt.

 

 

Long-term debt consisted of the following:

 

 

 

The Company accounts for earnings per share in accordance with SFAS No. 128, “Earnings per Share.” Basic net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares

 

MESA AIR GROUP, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

outstanding during the periods presented. Diluted net income per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if outstanding stock options and warrants were exercised. In addition, dilutive convertible securities are included in the denominator while interest on convertible debt, net of tax, is added back to the numerator. A reconciliation of the numerator and denominator used in computing net income per share is as follows:

 

 

Options to purchase 717,639 and 460,224 shares of common stock were outstanding during the quarters ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, but were excluded from the calculation of dilutive earnings per share because the options’ exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common shares and, therefore, the effect would have been antidilutive.

 

 

The Company’s Board of Directors has authorized the Company to purchase up to 19.4 million shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock. As of December 31, 2006, the Company has acquired and retired approximately 11.0 million shares of its outstanding common stock at an aggregate cost of approximately $71.0 million, leaving approximately 8.4 million shares available for purchase under the current Board authorizations. Purchases are made at management’s discretion based on market conditions and the Company’s financial resources.

 

The Company repurchased the following shares for $4.3 million during the three months ended December 31, 2006:

 

 

 

In February 2002, the Company entered into an agreement with Raytheon Aircraft Company (the “Raytheon Agreement”) to, among other things, reduce the operating costs of the Company’s Beechcraft 1900D fleet. In connection with the Raytheon Agreement and subject to the terms and conditions contained therein, Raytheon agreed to provide up to $5.5 million in annual operating subsidy payments to the Company contingent upon the

 

MESA AIR GROUP, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

Company remaining current on its payment obligations to Raytheon. The amount was subsequently reduced to $5.3 million as a result of a reduction in the Company’s fleet of B1900D aircraft. Approximately $1.3 million was recorded as a reduction to expense during the three months ended December 31, 2006 and 2005. In return, the Company granted Raytheon a warrant to purchase up to 233,068 shares of the Company’s common stock at a per share exercise price of $10. The Company recorded the issuance of the warrant at a value of $0.4 million within stockholders’ equity as a debit and credit to common stock. The contra equity value of the warrant was being amortized to expense over the vesting period of three years. Raytheon must pay a purchase price of $1.50 per common share underlying the warrant. The warrant was exercisable at any time over a three-year period following its date of purchase. Raytheon is completely vested in the 233,068 shares of common stock underlying the warrant.

 

 

Included in interest expense on the statements of income was interest expense related to aircraft financing of $9.3 million and $7.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

 

In the first quarter of fiscal 2007, the Company received approximately 13,000 shares of US Airways common stock from its bankruptcy claim against US Airways, Inc. prior to its merger with America West (“Pre-Merger US Airways”). The Company sold the stock and realized proceeds of $0.6 million.

 

 

In fiscal 2006, the Company participated with a private equity fund in making an investment in the common stock and notes of a closely held airline related business (the “Investee”). The Company, through its subsidiary Nilchii, invested $15 million, which represents approximately 20% and 11.8% of the Investee’s common stock and notes, respectively.

 

The Company accounts for its investment using the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method, the Company adjusts the carrying amount of its investment for its share of the earnings or losses of the Investee subsequent to the date of investment and reports the recognized earnings or losses in income. The Company’s share of the Investee’s losses subsequent to the date of investment have exceeded the carrying value of the common stock investment, which has been reduced to zero. In accordance with EITF Issue No. 99-10, “Percentage Used to Determine the Amount of Equity Method Losses,” the Company recognized equity method losses based on the ownership level of the Investee common stock held by the Company until the carrying value of its investment in the common stock was reduced to zero, then by the ownership level of the Investee notes held by the Company. During the first quarter of fiscal 2007, the Company recorded equity method losses from this investment of $0.1 million.

 

The Investee notes held by the Company bear interest at 17%. At December 31, 2006, the Company has a receivable for and has recorded interest income related to these notes in the amount of $1.2 million.

 

 

Stock based compensation expense is calculated by estimating the fair value of stock options at the time of grant and amortized over the stock options’ vesting period.

 

MESA AIR GROUP, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

The following amounts were recognized for stock-based compensation (in thousands):

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2006, the Company had firm orders with Bombardier Aerospace, Inc. for two CRJ-700 aircraft and two CRJ-900 which can be converted to CRJ-700s. In conjunction with this purchase agreement, Mesa had $16.0 million on deposit with Bombardier Regional Aircraft Division that was included in lease and equipment deposits at September 30, 2006. The remaining deposits are expected to be returned upon completion of permanent financing on each of the last five aircraft.

 

The Company accrues for potential income tax contingencies when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the contingency can be reasonably estimated. The Company’s accrual for income tax contingencies is adjusted for changes in circumstances and additional uncertainties, such as amendments to existing tax law, both legislated and concluded through the various jurisdictions’ tax court systems. At December 31, 2006, the Company had an accrual for income tax contingencies of approximately $2.9 million. If the amounts ultimately settled are greater than the accrued contingencies, the Company would record additional income tax expense in the period in which the assessment is determined. To the extent amounts are ultimately settled for less than the accrued contingencies, or the Company determines that a liability is no longer probable, the liability is reversed as a reduction of income tax expense in the period the determination is made.

 

The Company also has long-term contracts for the performance of engine maintenance and rotable spare parts. A description of each of these contracts is as follows:

 

In January 1997, the Company entered into a 10-year engine maintenance contract with General Electric Aircraft Engines (“GE”) for its CRJ-200 aircraft. The agreement was subsequently amended in the first quarter of fiscal 2003. The amended contract requires a monthly payment based upon the prior month’s flight hours incurred by the covered engines. The hourly rate increases over time based upon the engine overhaul costs that are expected to be incurred in that year and is subject to escalation based on changes in certain price indices. Maintenance expense is recognized based upon the product of flight hours flown and the rate in effect for the period. The contract also provides for a fixed number of engine overhauls per year. To the extent that the number of actual overhauls is less than the fixed number, GE is required to issue to Mesa a credit for the number of events less than the fixed number multiplied by an agreed upon price. To the extent that the number of actual overhauls is greater than the fixed number, Mesa is required to pay GE for the number of events greater than the fixed number multiplied by the same agreed upon price. Any adjustment payments or credits are recognized in the period they occur.

 

In April 1997, the Company entered into a 10-year engine maintenance contract with Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (“PWC”) for its Dash-8 aircraft. The contract requires Mesa to pay PWC for the engine overhaul upon completion of the maintenance based upon a fixed dollar amount per flight hour. The rate under the contract is subject to escalation based on changes in certain price indices.

 

In April 2000, the Company entered into a 10-year engine maintenance contract with Rolls-Royce Allison (“Rolls-Royce”) for its ERJ aircraft. The contract requires Mesa to pay Rolls-Royce for the engine overhaul upon completion of the maintenance based upon a fixed dollar amount per flight hour. The rate per flight hour is based

 

MESA AIR GROUP, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

upon certain operational assumptions and may vary if the engines are operated differently than these assumptions. The rate is also subject to escalation based on changes in certain price indices. The agreement with Rolls-Royce also contains a termination clause and look back provision to provide for any shortfall between the cost of maintenance incurred by the provider and the amount paid up to the termination date by the Company and includes a 15% penalty on such amount. The Company does not anticipate an early termination under the contract.

 

In May 2002, the Company entered into a six-year fleet management program with PWC to provide maintenance for the Company’s Beechcraft 1900D turboprop engines. The contract requires a monthly payment based upon flight hours incurred by the covered aircraft. The hourly rate is subject to annual adjustment based on changes in certain price indices and is guaranteed to increase by no less than 1.5% per year. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company sold certain assets of its Desert Turbine Services unit, as well as all spare PT6 engines to PWC for $6.8 million, which approximated the net book value of the assets. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company provided a working capital loan to PWC for the same amount, which is to be repaid through a reduced hourly rate being charged for maintenance. The agreement covers all of the Company’s Beechcraft 1900D turboprop aircraft and engines. The agreement also contains a termination clause and look back provision to provide for any shortfall between the cost of maintenance incurred by the provider and the amount paid up to the termination date by the Company and provides for return of a pro-rated share of the prepaid amount upon early termination. The Company does not anticipate an early termination under the contract.

 

In August 2005, the Company entered into a ten-year agreement with AAR Corp. (the “AAR Agreement”) for the management and repair of certain of the Company’s CRJ-200, -700, -900 and ERJ-145 aircraft rotable spare parts inventory. Under the agreement, the Company sold certain existing spare parts inventory to AAR for $39.6 million in cash and $21.5 million in notes receivable (discounted to $18.8 million) to be paid over four years. The AAR agreement was contingent upon the Company terminating an agreement for the Company’s CRJ-200 aircraft rotable spare parts inventory with GE Commercial Aviation Services (“GECAS”) and including these rotables in the arrangement. The Company terminated the GECAS agreement and finalized the AAR agreement in November 2005. Upon entering into the agreement, the Company received $22.8 million ($23.8 million less $1 million deposit that was retained by AAR), which was recorded as a deposit at September 30, 2005, pending the termination of the GECAS agreement. An additional $15.8 million was received in the quarter ended December 31, 2005. Under the agreement, the Company is required to pay AAR a monthly fee based upon flight hours for access to and maintenance and servicing of the inventory. The agreement also contains certain minimum monthly payments that Mesa must make to AAR. Based on this arrangement, the Company accounts for the transaction as a service agreement and an operating lease of rotable spare parts with AAR. The sale of the rotable spare parts resulted in a gain of $2.1 million, which has been deferred and is being recognized over the term of the agreement. At termination, the Company may elect to purchase the covered inventory at fair value, but is not contractually obligated to do so.

 

In June 2006, the Company entered into a separate two-year agreement with AAR for the management and repair of the Company’s CRJ-200 aircraft rotable spare parts inventory associated with its go! operations. Under this agreement, the Company transferred certain existing spare parts inventory to AAR for $1.2 million in cash. AAR was required to purchase an additional $2.9 million in rotable spare parts to support the agreement. Under the agreement, the Company is required to pay AAR a monthly fee based upon flight hours for access to and maintenance of the inventory. At termination, the Company has guaranteed the fair value of the underlying rotables. Based on this arrangement, the Company accounts for the transaction as a financing arrangement, thus recording both the rotable spare parts inventory as an asset and the related payable to AAR as a liability.

 

In February 2006, Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. (“Hawaiian”) filed a complaint against the Company in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Hawaii (the “Bankruptcy Court”) alleging that the Company breached the terms of a Confidentiality Agreement entered into in April 2004 with the Trustee in Hawaiian’s bankruptcy proceedings. Hawaiian’s complaint alleges, among other things, that the Company breached the Confidentiality Agreement by (a) using the evaluation material to obtain a competitive advantage over Hawaiian,

 

MESA AIR GROUP, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

through the development and implementation of a business plan to compete with Hawaiian in the inter-island market, and (b) failing to return or destroy any evaluation materials after being notified by Hawaiian on or about May 12, 2004 that the Company had not been selected as a potential investor for a transaction with Hawaiian. Hawaiian, in its complaint, seeks unspecified damages, requests that the Company turn over to Hawaiian any evaluation material in the Company’s possession, custody or control (the “Turnover Claim”), and an injunction preventing the Company from providing inter-island transportation services in the State of Hawaii for a period of two years from the date of such injunctive relief.

 

The Company vigorously denies Hawaiian’s allegations and requests for relief contained in its complaint. The Company filed both an answer and an antitrust counterclaim against Hawaiian in response to its complaint. In May 2006, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the Turnover Claim contained in Hawaiian’s complaint, but the Bankruptcy Court denied that motion. On December 8, 2006 the Bankruptcy Court, based on constitutional access to the courts, also granted Hawaiian’s motion for summary judgment against the Company on its antitrust counterclaim. The Company does not believe that either of these decisions has a material impact on the Company’s position in the lawsuit. Finally, in October 2006, the Bankruptcy Court denied Hawaiian’s effort to enjoin the Company’s go! operation from selling tickets claiming that go!’s entry into the inter-island air transport business was based on trade secrets furnished to Mesa during the Hawaiian bankruptcy. The Court found no such misuse of confidential information and rejected Hawaiian’s motion for a preliminary injunction.

 

In June 2006, Hawaiian requested a preliminary injunction to prevent the Company from issuing new airline tickets for the Hawaiian inter-island market for a period of one year. In this request, Hawaiian alleges that initial discovery conducted reveals that the Company breached the Confidentiality Agreement. The Court has recently denied Hawaiian’s request for a preliminary injunction. The case will be tried sometime in 2007.

 

On October 13, 2006, Aloha Airlines filed suit against Mesa Air Group and two of its Hawaii based employees, Charles Lauritsen, go!’s Chief Operating Officer and Joe Bock, go!’s Chief Marketing Officer. The complaint was filed in State Court in Hawaii and contains 11 counts and seeks damages and injunctive relief. The Company believes the purpose of the complaint is to blunt Mesa’s entry into the Hawaii inter-island market segment. Aloha alleges that Mesa’s inter-island air fares are below cost and that Mesa is, therefore, violating specific provisions of Hawaii antitrust and unfair competition law. Aloha also alleges breach of contract and fraud by Mesa in connection with two confidentiality agreements, one in 2005 and the other in 2006.

 

In 1992, The Supreme Court of the United States decided Morales v. TWA, in which it construed the Airline Deregulation Act as prohibiting any state court, under any state law legal theory, from adjudicating issues which implicated an air carrier’s pricing (or other service) practices. Accordingly, an airline’s pricing decisions can be attacked only under federal laws. In response to the complaint, Mesa filed a motion on December 8, 2006 seeking dismissal of all claims based upon Hawaii Statutory Law that rest on Mesa’s alleged below-cost pricing. Following the filing of Mesa’s Motion to Dismiss, Aloha, on January 10, 2007, voluntarily chose to dismiss the action filed in State Court, and simultaneously filed a new complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii (filed on January 9, 2007). Aloha’s federal complaint abandoned claims regarding below-cost pricing under Hawaii’s Statutory Law and instead asserted claims under federal contract and antitrust law.

 

Mesa denies any improper use of the data furnished by Aloha while Mesa was considering a bid for Aloha during its bankruptcy. The case is in its incipient stages and no trial date has yet been set.

 

The Company is also involved in various legal proceedings and FAA civil action proceedings that the Company does not believe will have a material adverse effect upon its business, financial condition or results of operations, although no assurance can be given to the ultimate outcome of any such proceedings.

 

The following discussion and analysis provides information which management believes is relevant to an assessment and understanding of the Company’s results of operations and financial condition. The discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes thereto, and the Selected Financial Data and Operating Data contained elsewhere herein.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains certain statements including, but not limited to, information regarding the replacement, deployment, and acquisition of certain numbers and types of aircraft, and projected expenses associated therewith; costs of compliance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations and other rules and acts of Congress; the passing of taxes, fuel costs, inflation, and various expenses to the consumer; the relocation of certain operations of Mesa; the resolution of litigation in a favorable manner and certain projected financial obligations. These statements, in addition to statements made in conjunction with the words “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “estimate,” and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Safe Harbor provision of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements relate to future events or the future financial performance of Mesa and only reflect management’s expectations and estimates. The following is a list of factors, among others, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements: changing business conditions in certain market segments and industries; changes in Mesa’s code-sharing relationships; the inability of Delta Air Lines, US Airways or United Airlines to pay their obligations under the code-share agreements; the inability of Delta Air Lines to successfully restructure and emerge from bankruptcy; the ability of Delta Air Lines to reject our regional jet code-share agreement in bankruptcy; an increase in competition along the routes Mesa operates or plans to operate; material delays in completion by the manufacturer of the ordered and yet-to-be delivered aircraft; availability and cost of funds for financing new aircraft; changes in general economic conditions; changes in fuel price; changes in regional economic conditions; Mesa’s relationship with employees and the terms of future collective bargaining agreements; the impact of current and future laws; additional terrorist attacks; Congressional investigations, and governmental regulations affecting the airline industry and Mesa’s operations; bureaucratic delays; amendments to existing legislation; consumers unwilling to incur greater costs for flights; our ability to operate our new Hawaiian airline service profitably; unfavorable resolution of legal proceedings involving Hawaiian Airlines and Aloha Airlines regarding our Hawaiian operation; unfavorable resolution of negotiations with municipalities for the leasing of facilities; and risks associated with the outcome of litigation. One or more of these or other factors may cause Mesa’s actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement. Mesa is not undertaking any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this Form 10-Q.

 

All references to “we,” “our,” “us,” or “Mesa” refer to Mesa Air Group, Inc. and its predecessors, direct and indirect subsidiaries and affiliates.

 

All references to “we,” “our,” “us,” or “Mesa” refer to Mesa Air Group, Inc. and its predecessors, direct and indirect subsidiaries and affiliates.

 

GENERAL

 

The following discussion and analysis provides information which management believes is relevant to an assessment and understanding of the Company’s results of operations and financial condition. The discussion should be read in conjunction with the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes thereto, contained elsewhere in this Form 10-Q.

 

Executive Overview

 

The first quarter of fiscal year 2007 marked a number of milestones for us. We completed the transition of the last of the jets into Delta operations as well as placing the remaining Dash-8 aircraft into Delta’s operational hub at New York’s JFK airport.

 

We also signed a Joint Venture agreement with Shenzhen Airlines to create a new Chinese regional airline. The new airline is expected to commence scheduled services within 12 months, initially operating 50-seat regional jets on domestic routes within the People’s Republic of China. Cities for the new services we intend to focus on will include Shenzhen, Beijing, Chongqing, Xiamen, Nanjing, Kunming, Dalian, Shenyang, Xian, Zhengzhou and Nanning.

 

Mesa’s independent operation in Hawaii, go!, continues to perform in accordance with our expectations.

 

We also added five essential Air Service markets and one guaranteed minimum revenue market.

 

Code-Share Agreements

 

Delta has not yet assumed our jet code-share agreement in its bankruptcy proceedings and could choose to terminate our agreement at any time prior to its emergence from bankruptcy. The Delta Dash-8 agreement was entered into post-petition and does not need to be assumed in the bankruptcy proceedings.

 

Fleet

 

During the first quarter of fiscal 2007, we added three CRJ-700s to our United fleet and added six Dash-8 aircraft into our Delta fleet.

 

Aircraft in Operation at December 31, 2006

 

 

Summary of Financial Results

 

Mesa Air Group recorded consolidated net income of $8.0 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2007, representing diluted earnings per share of $0.20. This compares to consolidated net income of $13.0 million or $0.31 per share in the first quarter of fiscal 2006.

 

Approximately 98% of our consolidated passenger revenues for the quarter ended December 31, 2006 were derived from operations associated with code-share agreements. Our subsidiaries have code-share agreements with US Airways, Delta Air Lines, Midwest Airlines and United Airlines. The remaining passenger revenues are derived from our independent operations, go! and Mesa Airlines.

 

Approximately 96% of our passenger revenue in the first quarter of fiscal 2007 was associated with revenue-guarantee code-share agreements. Under the terms of our revenue-guarantee agreements, our major carrier partner controls the marketing, scheduling, ticketing, pricing and seat inventories. Our role is simply to operate our fleet in the safest and most reliable manner in exchange for fees paid under a generally fixed payment schedule. We receive a guaranteed payment based upon a fixed minimum monthly amount plus amounts related to departures and block hours flown in addition to direct reimbursement of expenses such as fuel, landing fees and insurance. Among other advantages, revenue-guarantee arrangements reduce our exposure to fluctuations in passenger traffic and fare

levels, as well as fuel prices. In the first quarter of fiscal 2007, approximately 96% of our fuel purchases were reimbursed under revenue-guarantee code-share agreements.

 

The following tables set forth quarterly comparisons for the periods indicated below:

 

OPERATING DATA

 

 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

 

 

Note: numbers in table may not recalculate due to rounding

 

FINANCIAL DATA BY OPERATING SEGMENT

 

 

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

For the three months ended December 31, 2006 versus the three months ended December 31, 2005

 

Operating Revenues

 

In the quarter ended December 31, 2006, operating revenue increased by $24.0 million, or 7.4%, from $323.6 million in the quarter ended December 31, 2005 to $347.6 million in the quarter ended December 31, 2006. The increase in revenue is primarily attributable to a $19.7 million increase in operating revenues in the Mesa/Freedom segment, the largest component of which is a $8.5 million increase in fuel reimbursements by our code-share partners. Operating revenues in the Air Midwest/go! segment increased $7.8 million, $6.7 million as a result of the startup of go! operations and $1.3 million from additional Essential Air Service (“EAS”) cities. Revenue in the other segment increased $14.5 million primarily as a result of an increase in spare part sales from MAG-AIM to Mesa’s operating subsidiaries. These sales are eliminated in consolidation.

 

Operating Expenses

 

Flight Operations

 

In the quarter ended December 31, 2006, flight operations expense increased $6.8 million, or 7.6%, to $96.7 million from $89.9 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2005. On an ASM basis, flight operations expense increased 5.1% to 4.1 cents per ASM in the quarter ended December 31, 2006 from 3.9 cents per ASM in the quarter ended December 31, 2005. Flight operations expense in the Mesa/Freedom segment increased $5.7 million, which included a $3.2 million increase in flight crew wages and a $1.3 million increase in lodging cost. The increase in wages is due to the additional flying for Delta out of New York’s JFK airport and the increase in lodging cost is due to flying in more expensive East coast cities. Flight operations expense in the Air Midwest/go! segment increased $2.2 million, which included a $0.8 million increase in flight crew wages and a $1.2 million increase in aircraft lease cost. These increases are primarily a result of the startup of operations at go!

 

Fuel

 

In the quarter ended December 31, 2006, fuel expense increased $13.0 million, or12.4%, to $117.8 million from $104.8 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2005. On an ASM basis, fuel expense increased 11.1% to 5.0 cents per ASM in the quarter ended December 31, 2006 from 4.5 cents per ASM in the quarter ended December 31, 2005. Into-plane fuel cost in the first quarter of fiscal 2006 increased 3.0% from $2.01 per gallon in the first quarter of fiscal 2006 to $2.07 per gallon in the first quarter of fiscal 2007, resulting in a $3.3 million unfavorable price variance. Consumption increased 9.0% in the first quarter of fiscal 2006 resulting in a $9.7 million unfavorable volume variance. In the first quarter of fiscal 2007, approximately 96% of our fuel costs were reimbursed by our code-share partners.

 

Maintenance Expense

 

In the quarter ended December 31, 2006, maintenance expense increased $7.9 million, or 14.2%, to $63.4 million from $55.5 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2005. On an ASM basis, maintenance expense increased 12.5% to 2.7 cents per ASM in the quarter ended December 31, 2006 from 2.4 cents per ASM in the quarter ended December 31, 2005. Maintenance expense in the Mesa/Freedom segment increased $10.5 million, which included an $6.6 million increase in aircraft heavy maintenance expense, a $3.8 million increase in materials, repairs and servicing expenses, and a $1.8 million increase in mechanic wage expenses. These increases were offset by a $3.1 million decrease in engine maintenance expense primarily due to the timing of ERJ-145 engine overhauls, which are not subject to power by the hour agreements. The increase in heavy maintenance checks is due to the timing and severity of the checks being performed. The increase in materials expenses is due to the number of checks being performed as well as aircraft coming off warranty. The increase in wages is due to increases in headcount and wages to support our Delta and United operations. Maintenance expense in the Air Midwest/go! segment increased $1.3 million. The increase was primarily due to the start up of go! Maintenance expense in the Other Segment decreased $3.9 million primarily due to reductions in materials expenses.

 

Aircraft and Traffic Servicing

 

In the quarter ended December 31, 2006, aircraft and traffic servicing expense increased by $5.2 million, or 31.9%, to $21.4 million from $16.2 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2005. On an ASM basis, aircraft and traffic servicing expense increased 28.6% to 0.9 cents per ASM in the quarter ended December 31, 2006 from 0.7 cents per ASM in the quarter ended December 31, 2005. Aircraft and traffic servicing expense in the Mesa/Freedom segment increased $3.6 million, which included a $2.3 million increase in station rents and a $1.8 million increase in passenger related costs, primarily landing fees. These increases were primarily a result of moving into higher cost East Coast cities for United and Delta. These costs are reimbursed by our code-share partners. Aircraft and traffic servicing expense in the Air Midwest/go! segment increased $1.8 million primarily due to the start up of go!

 

Promotion and Sales

 

In the quarter ended December 31, 2006, promotion and sales expense increased by $0.8 million, or 103.8%, to $1.6 million from $0.8 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2005. On an ASM basis, promotion and sales expense increased to $0.1 cents per ASM for the quarter ended December 31, 2006 from 0.0 cents per ASM in the quarter ended December 31, 2005. Promotion and sales expense in the Air Midwest/go! segment increased $0.8 million primarily due to the start up of go! We do not pay promotion and sales expenses under our regional jet revenue-guarantee contracts.

 

General and Administrative

 

In the quarter ended December 31, 2006, general and administrative expense decreased $0.9 million, or 5.1%, to $17.5 million from $18.4 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2005. On an ASM basis, general and administrative expense decreased 12.5% to 0.7 cents per ASM for the quarter ended December 31, 2006 from 0.8 cents per ASM in the quarter ended December 31, 2005. The net decrease was primarily a result of additional property tax expense recorded in the prior year quarter.

 

Depreciation and Amortization

 

In the quarter ended December 31, 2006, depreciation and amortization expense increased $1.5 million, or 16.6%, to $10.7 million from $9.2 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2005. On an ASM basis, depreciation expense increased 25.0% to 0.5 cents per ASM in the quarter ended December 31, 2006 from 0.4 cents per ASM in the quarter ended December 31, 2005. The increase was primarily due to a $1.0 million increase in depreciation expense in the Mesa/Freedom segment as a result of adding three additional aircraft on interim financing and depreciation on aircraft modifications to the Dash-8 aircraft added in fourth quarter of fiscal 2006 and the first quarter of fiscal 2007.

 

Bankruptcy Settlement

 

In the quarter ended December 31, 2006, the Company received approximately 13,000 shares of US Airways common stock as part of our bankruptcy claim against Pre-Merger US Airways. The shares were valued at approximately $46 per share, hence the Company recognized approximately $0.6 million of income from its claim.

 

Interest Expense

 

In the quarter ended December 31, 2006, interest expense increased $1.1 million, or 11.3%, to $10.7 million from $9.6 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2005. On an ASM basis, interest expense increased 25.0% to 0.5 cents per ASM in the quarter ended December 31, 2006 from 0.4 cents per ASM in the quarter ended December 31, 2005. The net increase in interest expense is primarily due a $2.2 million increase in interest expense on debt financed CRJ-700s and 900s offset by a $1.0 million reduction in convertible debt interest expense as a result of the conversion from debt to equity in 2006. The increase in interest on jet financing is due to three additional CRJ-700s on interim financing and an increase in underlying floating rates.

 

Interest Income

 

In the quarter ended December 31, 2006, interest income increased $1.5 million to $4.5 million from $3.0 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2005. The increase is due to increased rates of return on our portfolio of marketable securities.

 

Loss from equity method investment

 

In the quarter ended December 31, 2006, the Company’s percentage loss from its equity method investment was $0.1 million.

 

Other Income (Expense)

 

In the quarter ended December 31, 2006, other income (expense) increased $1.3 million from a loss of $1.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2005 to income of $0.2 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2006. In the quarter ended December 31, 2006, other income (expense) is primarily comprised of $0.2 million of in gains on investment securities.

 

In the quarter ended December 31, 2005, other income (expense) was primarily comprised of $0.9 million of debt conversion costs and $0.3 million in unrealized losses on investment securities.

 

Income Taxes

 

In the first quarter of fiscal 2007, our effective tax rate decreased from 40.1% for the first quarter of fiscal 2006 to 39.3% for the first quarter of fiscal 2007. The decrease in our effective tax rate was mainly due to a large amount of incentive stock option expense in fiscal 2006, which was not deductible for tax purposes.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Sources and Uses of Cash

 

At December 31, 2006, we had cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities (including restricted cash) of $256.3 million, compared to $234.3 million at September 30, 2006. Our cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities are intended to be used for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, and to fund our obligations with respect to regional jet deliveries.

 

Sources of cash included $34.9 million provided from operations (excluding sales and gains on securities) and $4.2 million from proceeds on notes receivable.

 

Uses of cash included capital expenditures of $6.9 million attributable to the expansion of our regional jet fleet and related provisioning of rotable inventory to support the additional jets, $10.2 million in principal payments on long-term debt and the purchase of $4.3 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock.

 

As of December 31, 2006, we had receivables of approximately $49.6 million (net of an allowance for doubtful accounts of $2.2 million), compared to receivables of approximately $47.4 million (net of an allowance for doubtful accounts of $1.6 million) as of September 30, 2006. The amounts due consist primarily of receivables due from our code-share partners, subsidy payments due from Raytheon, Federal excise tax refunds on fuel, insurance proceeds, manufacturers credits and passenger ticket receivables due through the Airline Clearing House. Accounts receivable from our code-share partners was 40.2% of total gross accounts receivable at December 31, 2006.

 

Code-Share Partner in Bankruptcy

 

On September 14, 2005, Delta Air Lines, Inc. filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code. Delta has not yet assumed our code-share agreement in its bankruptcy proceeding and could choose to seek to renegotiate the agreement on terms less favorable to us or terminate this agreement. As of the date of this report, the Company believes that there is a reasonable likelihood that Delta will assume our code-share agreement in such proceedings. This belief is based primarily on the continued expansion of the aircraft we fly under our agreement with Delta and our current business relations with them. Notwithstanding this belief, no assurance can be given that Delta will assume our code-share agreement or otherwise seek to renegotiate the terms of the agreement. If Delta and the Company did renegotiate the terms of the existing agreement, the Company’s profitability would be impacted and liquidity would be reduced. However, if Delta was to terminate our agreement, the Company would seek to mitigate the effect of such event by seeking alternative code-share partners, subleasing the aircraft to another carrier or carriers or parking the aircraft. These options could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Operating Leases

 

We have significant long-term lease obligations primarily relating to our aircraft fleet. These leases are classified as operating leases and are therefore excluded from our consolidated balance sheets. At December 31, 2006, we leased 158 aircraft with remaining lease terms ranging from one to 18.3 years. Future minimum lease payments due under all long-term operating leases were approximately $2.2 billion at December 31, 2006.

 

3.625% Senior Convertible Notes due 2024

 

In February 2004, we completed the private placement of senior convertible notes due 2024, which resulted in gross proceeds of $100.0 million ($97.0 million net). Cash interest is payable on the notes at the rate of 2.115% per year on the aggregate amount due at maturity, payable semiannually in arrears on February 10 and August 10 of each year, beginning August 10, 2004, until February 10, 2009. After that date, we will not pay cash interest on the notes prior to maturity, and the notes will begin accruing original issue discount at a rate of 3.625% until maturity. On February 10, 2024, the maturity date of the notes, the principal amount of each note will be $1,000. The aggregate amount due at maturity, including interest accrued from February 10, 2009, will be $171.4 million. Each of our wholly owned domestic subsidiaries guarantees the notes on an unsecured senior basis. The notes and the note guarantees are senior unsecured obligations and rank equally with our existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness. The notes and the note guarantees are junior to the secured obligations of our wholly owned subsidiaries to the extent of the collateral pledged.

 

The notes were sold at an issue price of $583.40 per note and are convertible into shares of our common stock at a conversion rate of 40.3737 shares per note, which equals a conversion price of $14.45 per share. This conversion rate is subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. Holders of the notes may convert their notes only if: (i) after March 31, 2004, the sale price of our common stock exceeds 110% of the accreted conversion price for at least 20 trading days in the 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the preceding quarter; (ii) on or prior to February 10, 2019, the trading price for the notes falls below certain thresholds; (iii) the notes have been called for redemption; or (iv) specified corporate transactions occur. These notes are not yet convertible. We may redeem the notes, in whole or in part, beginning on February 10, 2009, at a redemption price equal to the issue price, plus accrued original issue discount, plus any accrued and unpaid cash interest. The holders of the notes may require us to repurchase the notes on February 10, 2009 at a price of $583.40 per note plus accrued and unpaid cash interest, if any, on February 10, 2014 at a price of $698.20 per note plus accrued and unpaid cash interest, if any, and on February 10, 2019 at a price of $835.58 per note plus accrued and unpaid cash interest, if any.

 

6.25% Senior Convertible Notes Due 2023

 

In June 2003, we completed the private placement of senior convertible notes due 2023, which resulted in gross proceeds of $100.1 million ($96.9 million net). Cash interest is payable on the notes at the rate of 2.4829% per year on the aggregate amount due at maturity, payable semiannually in arrears on June 16 and December 16 of each year, beginning December 16, 2003, until June 16, 2008. After that date, we will not pay cash interest on the notes prior to maturity, and the notes will begin accruing original issue discount at a rate of 6.25% until maturity. On June 16, 2023, the maturity date of the notes, the principal amount of each note will be $1,000. The aggregate amount due at maturity, including interest accrued from June 16, 2008, will be $252 million. Each of our wholly owned domestic subsidiaries guarantees the notes on an unsecured senior basis. The notes and the note guarantees are senior unsecured obligations and rank equally with our existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness. The notes and the note guarantees are junior to the secured obligations of our wholly owned subsidiaries to the extent of the collateral pledged.

 

The notes were sold at an issue price of $397.27 per note and are convertible into shares of our common stock at a conversion rate of 39.727 shares per note, which equals a conversion price of $10 per share. This conversion rate is subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. Holders of the notes may convert their notes only if: (i) the sale price of our common stock exceeds 110% of the accreted conversion price for at least 20 trading days in the 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the preceding quarter; (ii) prior to June 16, 2018, the trading price for the notes falls below certain thresholds; (iii) the notes have been called for redemption; or (iv) specified corporate transactions occur. These notes became convertible in 2003. The Company may redeem the notes, in whole or in part, beginning on June 16, 2008, at a redemption price equal to the issue price, plus accrued original issue discount, plus any accrued and unpaid cash interest. The holders of the notes may require the Company to repurchase the notes on June 16, 2008 at a price of $397.27 per note plus accrued and unpaid cash interest, if any, on June 16, 2013 at a price of $540.41 per note plus accrued and unpaid cash interest, if any, and on June 16, 2018 at a price of $735.13 per note plus accrued and unpaid cash interest, if any.

 

In fiscal 2006, holders of $156.8 million in aggregate principal amount at maturity ($62.3 million carrying amount) of these senior convertible notes due 2023 converted their notes into shares of Mesa common stock. In connection with these conversions, we issued an aggregate of 6.2 million shares of Mesa common stock and also paid approximately $11.3 million in debt conversion costs to these noteholders. We also wrote off $1.8 million in debt issue costs related to these notes.

 

Interim and Permanent Aircraft Financing Arrangements

 

At December 31, 2006, we had an aggregate of $143.4 million in notes payable to an aircraft manufacturer for delivered aircraft on interim financing. Under interim financing arrangements, we take delivery and title of the aircraft prior to securing permanent financing and the acquisition of the aircraft is accounted for as a purchase with debt financing. Accordingly, we reflect the aircraft and debt under interim financing on our balance sheet during the interim financing period. After taking delivery of the aircraft, it is our practice and our intention to subsequently enter into a sale and leaseback transaction with an independent third-party lessor. Upon permanent financing, the proceeds from the sale and leaseback transaction are used to retire the notes payable to the aircraft manufacturer. Any gain recognized on the sale and leaseback transaction is deferred and amortized over the life of the lease. At December 31, 2006, we had six aircraft on interim financing with the aircraft manufacturer. These interim financings agreements typically have a term of six months and provide for monthly interest only payments at LIBOR plus three percent. The current interim financing agreement with the manufacturer provides for us to have a maximum of 15 aircraft on interim financing at any one time. Subsequent to December 31, 2006, we permanently financed these six aircraft with $135 million in long-term debt.

 

Other Indebtedness and Obligations

 

In October 2004, the Company permanently financed five CRJ-900 aircraft with $118.0 million in debt. The debt bears interest at the monthly LIBOR plus three percent and requires monthly principal and interest payments.

 

In January and March 2004, the Company permanently financed five CRJ-700 and six CRJ-900 aircraft with $254.7 million in debt. The debt bears interest at the monthly LIBOR plus three percent and requires monthly principal and interest payments.

 

In December 2003, we assumed $24.1 million of debt in connection with our purchase of two CRJ-200 aircraft in the Midway Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings. The debt, due in 2013, bears interest at the rate of 7% per annum through 2008, converting to 12.5% thereafter, with principal and interest due monthly.

 

As of December 31, 2006, we had $12.0 million in restricted cash on deposit collateralizing various letters of credit outstanding and the ACH funding of our payroll.

 

Contractual Obligations

 

As of December 31, 2006, we had $565.4 million of long-term debt (including current maturities). This amount consisted of $424.8 million in notes payable related to owned aircraft, $137.8 million in aggregate principal amount of our senior convertible notes due 2023 and 2024 and $2.8 million in other miscellaneous debt.

 

The following table sets forth our cash obligations (including principal and interest) as of December 31, 2006.

 

 

 

 

Maintenance Commitments

 

In January 1997, we entered into a 10-year engine maintenance contract with General Electric Aircraft Engines (“GE”) for its CRJ-200 aircraft. The agreement was subsequently amended in the first quarter of fiscal 2003. The amended contract requires a monthly payment based upon the prior month’s flight hours incurred by the covered engines. The hourly rate increases over time based upon the engine overhaul costs that are expected to be incurred in that year and is subject to escalation based on changes in certain price indices. The contract also provides for a fixed number of engine overhauls per year. To the extent that the number of actual overhauls is less than the fixed number, GE is required to issue a credit to us for the number of events less than the fixed number multiplied by an agreed upon price. To the extent that the number of actual overhauls is greater than the fixed number, we are required to pay GE for the number of events greater than the fixed number multiplied by the same agreed upon price.

 

In April 1997, we entered into a 10-year engine maintenance contract with Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (“PWC”) for our Dash 8-200 aircraft. The contract requires us to pay PWC for the engine overhaul upon completion of the maintenance based upon a fixed dollar amount per flight hour. The rate under the contract is subject to escalation based on changes in certain price indices.

 

In April 2000, we entered into a 10-year engine maintenance contract with Rolls-Royce Allison (“Rolls-Royce”) for its ERJ aircraft. The contract requires us to pay Rolls-Royce for the engine overhaul upon completion of the maintenance based upon a fixed dollar amount per flight hour. The rate per flight hour is based upon certain operational assumptions and may vary if the engines are operated differently than these assumptions. The rate is also subject to escalation based on changes in certain price indices. The agreement with Rolls-Royce also contains a termination clause and look back provision to provide for any shortfall between the cost of maintenance incurred by the provider and the amount paid up to the termination date by us and includes a 15% penalty on such amount. We do not anticipate an early termination under the contract.

 

In May 2002, we entered into a new six-year fleet management program with PWC to provide maintenance for our Beechcraft 1900D turboprop engines. The contract requires a monthly payment based upon flight hours incurred by the covered aircraft. The hourly rate is subject to annual adjustment based on changes in certain price indices and is guaranteed to increase by no less than 1.5% per year. Pursuant to the agreement, we sold certain assets of our Desert Turbine Services unit, as well as all spare PT6 engines to PWC for $6.8 million, which approximated the net book value of the assets. Pursuant to the agreement, we provided a working capital loan to PWC for the same amount, which is to be repaid through a reduced hourly rate being charged for maintenance. The agreement covers all of our Beechcraft 1900D turboprop aircraft and engines. The agreement also contains a termination clause and look back provision to provide for any shortfall between the cost of maintenance incurred by the provider and the amount paid up to the termination date by us and provides for return of a pro-rated share of the prepaid amount upon early termination. We do not anticipate an early termination under the contract.

 

In August 2005, the Company entered into a ten-year agreement with AAR Corp. (the “AAR Agreement”), for the management and repair of certain of the Company’s CRJ-200, -700, -900 and ERJ-145 aircraft rotable spare parts inventory. Under the agreement, the Company sold certain existing spare parts inventory to AAR for $39.6 million in cash and $21.5 million in notes receivable (discounted to $18.8 million) to be paid over four years. The AAR agreement was contingent upon the Company terminating an agreement for the Company’s CRJ-200 aircraft rotable spare parts inventory with GE Capital Aviation Services (“GECAS”) and including these rotables in the arrangement. The Company terminated the GECAS agreement and finalized the AAR agreement in November 2005. Upon entering into the agreement, the Company received $22.8 million ($23.8 million less $1 million deposit that was retained by AAR), which was recorded as a deposit at September 30, 2005, pending the termination of the

GECAS agreement. An additional $15.8 million was received in the quarter ended December 31, 2005. Under the agreement, the Company is required to pay AAR a monthly fee based upon flight hours for access to and maintenance and servicing of the inventory. The agreement also contains certain minimum monthly payments that Mesa must make to AAR. Based on this arrangement, the Company accounts for the transaction as a service agreement and an operating lease of rotable spare parts with AAR. The sale of the rotable spare parts resulted in a gain of $2.1 million, which has been deferred and is being recognized over the term of the agreement. At termination, the Company may elect to purchase the covered inventory at fair value, but is not contractually obligated to do so.

 

In June 2006, the Company entered into a separate two-year agreement with AAR for the management and repair of the Company’s CRJ-200 aircraft rotable spare parts inventory associated with its go! operations. Under this agreement, the Company transferred certain existing spare parts inventory to AAR for $1.2 million in cash. AAR was required to purchase an additional $2.9 million in rotable spare parts to support the agreement. Under the agreement, the Company is required to pay AAR a monthly fee based upon flight hours for access to and maintenance of the inventory. At termination, the Company has guaranteed the fair value of the underlying rotables. Based on this arrangement, the Company accounts for the transaction as a financing arrangement, thus recording both the rotable spare parts inventory as an asset and the related payable to AAR as a liability.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based upon our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In connection with the preparation of these financial statements, we are required to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent liabilities. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to revenue recognition, the allowance for doubtful accounts, medical claims reserve, valuation of assets held for sale and costs to return aircraft and a valuation allowance for certain deferred tax assets. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. Such historical experience and assumptions form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

We have identified the accounting policies below as critical to our business operations and the understanding of our results of operations. The impact of these policies on our business operations is discussed throughout Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations where such policies affect our reported and expected financial results. The discussion below is not intended to be a comprehensive list of our accounting policies. For a detailed discussion on the application of these and other accounting policies, see Note 1 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended September 30, 2006, which contains accounting policies and other disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

The US Airways, United and Delta regional jet code-share agreements are revenue-guarantee flying agreements. Under a revenue-guarantee arrangement, the major airline generally pays a fixed monthly minimum amount, plus certain additional amounts based upon the number of flights flown and block hours performed. The contracts also include reimbursement of certain costs incurred by us in performing flight services. These costs, known as “pass-through costs,” may include aircraft ownership costs, passenger and hull insurance, aircraft property taxes as well as, fuel, landing fees and catering. The contracts also include a profit component that may be determined based on a percentage of profits on the Mesa flown flights, a profit margin on certain reimbursable costs as well as a profit margin based on certain operational benchmarks. We recognize revenue under our revenue-guarantee agreements when the transportation is provided. The majority of the revenue under these contracts is known at the end of the accounting period and is booked as actual. We perform an estimate of the profit component based upon the information available at the end of the accounting period. All revenue recognized under these contracts is presented at the gross amount billed.

 

Under the Company’s revenue-guarantee agreements with US Airways, United and Delta, the Company is reimbursed under a fixed rate per block-hour plus an amount per aircraft designed to reimburse the Company for certain aircraft ownership costs. In accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 01-08, “Determining Whether an Arrangement Contains a Lease,” the Company has concluded that a component of its revenue under the agreement discussed above is rental income, inasmuch as the agreement identifies the “right of use” of a specific type and number of aircraft over a stated period of time. The amount deemed to be rental income during the quarters ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 was $65.3 million and $61.5 million, respectively, and has been included in passenger revenue on the Company’s consolidated statements of income.

 

In connection with providing service under the Company’s revenue-guarantee agreement with Pre-Merger US Airways, the Company’s fuel reimbursement was capped at $0.85 per gallon. Under this agreement, the Company had the option to purchase fuel from a subsidiary of US Airways at the capped rate. As a result, amounts included in revenue for fuel reimbursement and expense for fuel cost may not represent market rates for fuel for the Company’s Pre-Merger US Airways flying. The Company purchased 9.4 million gallons of fuel under this arrangement in the quarter ended December 31, 2005.

 

The US Airways and Midwest Airlines B1900D turboprop code-share agreements are pro-rate agreements. Under a prorate agreement, we receive a percentage of the passenger’s fare based on a standard industry formula that allocates revenue based on the percentage of transportation provided. Revenue from our pro-rate agreements and our independent operation is recognized when transportation is provided. Tickets sold but not yet used are included in air traffic liability on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

 

We also receive subsidies for providing scheduled air service to certain small or rural communities. Such revenue is recognized in the period in which the air service is provided. The amount of the subsidy payments is determined by the United States Department of Transportation on the basis of its evaluation of the amount of revenue needed to meet operating expenses and to provide a reasonable return on investment with respect to eligible routes. EAS rates are normally set for two-year contract periods for each city.

 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

 

Amounts billed by the Company under revenue guarantee arrangements are subject to our interpretation of the applicable code-share agreement and are subject to audit by our code-share partners. Periodically our code-share partners dispute amounts billed and pay amounts less than the amount billed. Ultimate collection of the remaining amounts not only depends upon Mesa prevailing under audit, but also upon the financial well-being of the code-share partner. As such, we periodically review amounts past due and record a reserve for amounts estimated to be uncollectible. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $2.2 million and $1.6 million at December 31, 2006 and September 30, 2006, respectively. If our actual ability to collect these receivables and the actual financial viability of its partners is materially different than estimated, the Company’s estimate of the allowance could be materially understated or overstated.

 

Aircraft Leases

 

The majority of the Company’s aircraft are leased from third parties. In order to determine the proper classification of a lease as either an operating lease or a capital lease, the Company must make certain estimates at the inception of the lease relating to the economic useful life and the fair value of an asset as well as select an appropriate discount rate to be used in discounting future lease payments. These estimates are utilized by management in making computations as required by existing accounting standards that determine whether the lease is classified as an operating lease or a capital lease. All of the Company’s aircraft leases have been classified as operating leases, which results in rental payments being charged to expense over the terms of the related leases. Additionally, operating leases are not reflected in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet and accordingly, neither a lease asset nor an obligation for future lease payments is reflected in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet.

 

Accrued Health Care Costs

 

We are self-insured up to a cap for health care costs and as such, a reserve for the cost of claims that have not been paid as of the balance sheet date is estimated. Our estimate of this reserve is based upon historical claim experience and upon the recommendations of our health care provider. At December 31, 2006 and September 30, 2006, we accrued $2.9 million and $2.6 million, respectively, for the cost of future health care claims. If the ultimate development of these claims is significantly different than those that have been estimated, the accrual for future health care claims could be materially overstated or understated.

 

Accrued Worker’s Compensation Costs

 

We are self-insured up to a cap for worker’s compensation claims and as such, a reserve for the cost of claims that have not been paid as of the balance sheet date is estimated. Our estimate of this reserve is based upon historical claim experience and upon the recommendations of our third-party administrator. At December 31, 2006 and September 30, 2006, we accrued $3.5 million and $3.4 million, respectively, for the cost of worker’s compensation claims. If the ultimate development of these claims is significantly different than those that have been estimated, the accrual for future worker’s compensation claims could be materially overstated or understated.

 

Long-lived Assets, Aircraft and Parts Held for Sale

 

Property and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated over their estimated useful lives to their estimated salvage values using the straight-line method. Long-lived assets to be held and used are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the related carrying amount may be impaired. Under the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” the Company records an impairment loss if the undiscounted future cash flows are found to be less than the carrying amount of the asset. If an impairment loss has occurred, a charge is recorded to reduce the carrying amount of the asset to fair value. Long-lived assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell.

 

Valuation of Deferred Tax Assets

 

The Company records deferred tax assets for the value of benefits expected to be realized from the utilization of alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards and state and federal net operating loss carryforwards. We periodically review these assets for realizability based upon expected taxable income in the applicable taxing jurisdictions. To the extent we believe some portion of the benefit may not be realizable, an estimate of the unrealized portion is made and an allowance is recorded. At December 31, 2006, we had a valuation allowance of $0.6 million for certain state net operating loss carryforwards because we believe we will not be able to generate sufficient taxable income in these jurisdictions in the future to realize the benefits of these recorded deferred tax assets. We believe the Company will generate sufficient taxable income in the future to realize the benefits of its other deferred tax assets. This belief is based upon the Company having had pretax income in fiscal 2006, 2005 and 2004 and we have taken steps to minimize the financial impact of its unprofitable subsidiaries. Realization of these deferred tax assets is dependent upon generating sufficient taxable income prior to expiration of any net operating loss carryforwards. Although realization is not assured, management believes it is more likely than not that the remaining, recorded deferred tax assets will be realized. If the ultimate realization of these deferred tax assets is significantly different from our expectations, the value of its deferred tax assets could be materially overstated.

 

AIRCRAFT

 

The following table lists the aircraft owned and leased by the Company for scheduled operations as of December 31, 2006:

 

 

Fleet Plans

 

CRJ Program

 

As of December 31, 2006, we operated 116 Canadair Regional Jets (60 CRJ-200/100, 18 CRJ-700 and 38 CRJ-900s).

 

In January 2004, we exercised options to purchase 20 CRJ-900 aircraft (seven of which can be converted to CRJ-700 aircraft). As of December 31, 2006, we have taken delivery of 13 CRJ-900 aircraft and three CRJ-700 aircraft with two more CRJ-700 aircraft scheduled for delivery in March 2007. The delivery dates for the remaining two CRJ-900s (which can be converted to CRJ-700s) has not been finalized.

 

ERJ Program

 

As of December 31, 2006, we operated 36 Embraer 145 aircraft. We acquired all 36 ERJ-145s through a June 1999 agreement with Empresa Brasiliera de Aeronautica S.A. (“Embraer”). We also have options for 25 additional aircraft. In September 2006, our contract with Embraer was amended to extend the option exercise date to August 2007 for deliveries beginning in January 2009.

 

Beechcraft 1900D

 

As of December 31, 2006, we owned 34 Beechcraft 1900D aircraft and were operating 20 of these aircraft. We lease four of our Beechcraft 1900D to Gulfstream International Airlines, a regional turboprop air carrier based in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and lease an additional ten Beechcraft 1900D aircraft to Big Sky Transportation Co., a regional turboprop carrier based in Billings, Montana (“Big Sky”).

 

Dash-8

 

As of December 31, 2006, we operated 28 Dash-8 aircraft. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006, we took delivery of four Dash-8 aircraft and placed them into revenue service during the first quarter of fiscal 2007.

 

Aircraft Financing Relationships with the Manufacturer

 

At December 31, 2006, we had an aggregate of $143.4 million in notes payable to an aircraft manufacturer for delivered aircraft on interim financing. Under interim financing arrangements, we take delivery and title of the aircraft prior to securing permanent financing and the acquisition of the aircraft is accounted for as a purchase with debt financing. Accordingly, we reflect the aircraft and debt under interim financing on our balance sheet during the interim financing period. After taking delivery of the aircraft, it is our practice and our intention to subsequently

enter into a sale and leaseback transaction with an independent third-party lessor. Upon permanent financing, the proceeds from the sale and leaseback transaction are used to retire the notes payable to the manufacturer. Any gain recognized on the sale and leaseback transaction is deferred and amortized over the life of the lease. At December 31, 2006, we had six aircraft on interim financing with the manufacturer. These interim financings agreements typically have a term of six months and provide for monthly interest only payments at LIBOR plus three percent. The current interim financing agreement with the manufacturer provides for us to have a maximum of 15 aircraft on interim financing at any one time. Subsequent to December 31, 2006, the Company permanently financed these six aircraft with $135 million in long-term debt.

 

There were no material changes in the Company’s market risk from September 30, 2006 to December 31, 2006.

 

In accordance with Rule 13a-15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Company’s management evaluated, with the participation of the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) or Rule 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act). Disclosure controls and procedures are defined as those controls and other procedures of an issuer that are designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by the issuer in the reports it files or submits under the Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by an issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Act is accumulated and communicated to the issuer’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on their evaluation of these disclosure controls and procedures, the Company’s chairman of the board and chief executive officer and the Company’s executive vice president and chief financial officer have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the date of such evaluation to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, was made known to them by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q was being prepared. There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2006, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

* * *

 

In February 2006, Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. (“Hawaiian”) filed a complaint against the Company in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Hawaii (the “Bankruptcy Court) alleging that the Company breached the terms of a Confidentiality Agreement entered into in April 2004 with the Trustee in Hawaiian’s bankruptcy proceedings. Hawaiian’s complaint alleges, among other things, that the Company breached the Confidentiality Agreement by (a) using the evaluation material to obtain a competitive advantage over Hawaiian, through the development and implementation of a business plan to compete with Hawaiian in the inter-island market, and (b) failing to return or destroy any evaluation materials after being notified by Hawaiian on or about May 12, 2004 that the Company had not been selected as a potential investor for a transaction with Hawaiian. Hawaiian, in its complaint, seeks unspecified damages, requests that the Company turn over to Hawaiian any evaluation material in the Company’s possession, custody or control (the “Turnover Claim”), and an injunction preventing the Company from providing inter-island transportation services in the State of Hawaii for a period of two years from the date of such injunctive relief.

 

The Company vigorously denies Hawaiian’s allegations and requests for relief contained in its complaint. The Company filed both an answer and an antitrust counterclaim against Hawaiian in response to its complaint. In May 2006, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the Turnover Claim contained in Hawaiian’s complaint, but the Bankruptcy Court denied that motion. On December 8, 2006 the Bankruptcy Court, based on constitutional access to the courts, also granted Hawaiian’s motion for summary judgment against the Company on its antitrust counterclaim. The Company does not believe that either of these decisions has a material impact on the Company’s position in the lawsuit. Finally, in October 2006, the Bankruptcy Court denied Hawaiian’s effort to enjoin the Company’s go! operation from selling tickets claiming that go!’s entry into the inter-island air transport business was based on trade secrets furnished to Mesa during the Hawaiian bankruptcy. The Court found no such misuse of confidential information and rejected Hawaiian’s motion for a preliminary injunction.

 

In June 2006, Hawaiian requested a preliminary injunction to prevent the Company from issuing new airline tickets for the Hawaiian inter-island market for a period of one year. In this request, Hawaiian alleges that initial discovery conducted reveals that the Company breached the Confidentiality Agreement. The Court has recently denied Hawaiian’s request for a preliminary injunction. The case will be tried sometime in 2007.

 

On October 13, 2006, Aloha Airlines filed suit against Mesa Air Group and two if its Hawaii based employees, Charles Lauritsen, go!’s Chief Operating Officer and Joe Bock, go!’s Chief Marketing Officer. The complaint was filed in state court in Hawaii and contains 11 counts and seeks damages and injunctive relief. The clear purpose of the complaint is to blunt Mesa’s entry into the Hawaii inter-island market segment. Aloha alleges that Mesa’s inter-island air fares are below cost and that Mesa is, therefore, violating specific provisions of Hawaii antitrust and unfair competition law. Aloha also alleges breach of contract and fraud by Mesa in connection with two confidentiality agreements, one in 2005 and the other in 2006.

 

In 1992, The Supreme Court of the United States decided Morales v. TWA, in which it construed the Airline Deregulation Act as prohibiting any state court, under any state law legal theory, from adjudicating issues which implicated an air carrier’s pricing (or other service) practices. Accordingly, an airline’s pricing decisions can be attacked only under federal laws. In response to the complaint, Mesa filed a motion on December 8, 2006 seeking dismissal of all claims based upon Hawaii Statutory Law that rest on Mesa’s alleged below-cost pricing. Following the filing of Mesa’s Motion to Dismiss, Aloha, on January 10, 2007, voluntarily chose to dismiss the action filed in State Court, and simultaneously filed a new complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii (filed on January 9, 2007). Aloha’s federal complaint abandoned claims regarding below-cost pricing under Hawaii’s Statutory Law and instead asserted claims under federal contract and antitrust law.

 

Mesa also denies any improper use of the data furnished by Aloha while Mesa was considering a bid for Aloha during its bankruptcy. The case is in its incipient stages and no trial date has yet been set.

 

We are involved in various legal proceedings and FAA civil action proceedings that the Company does not believe will have a material adverse effect upon the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations, although no assurance can be given to the ultimate outcome of any such proceedings.

 

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part 1, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2006, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. We caution the reader that these risk factors may not be exhaustive. We operate in a continually changing business environment and new risk facts emerge from time to time. Management cannot predict such new risk factors, nor can we assess the impact, if any, of such new risk factors, nor can we assess the impact, if any, of such new risk factors on our business or to the extent to which any factor or combination of factors may impact our business. There have not been any material changes during the quarter ended December 31, 2006 from the risk factors disclosed in the above-mentioned Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2006.

 

(A) None

 

(B) None

 

(C) The Company’s Board of Directors authorized the Company to purchase up to 19.4 million shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock. As of December 31, 2006, the Company has acquired and retired approximately 11.0 million shares of its outstanding common stock at an aggregate cost of approximately $71.0 million, leaving approximately 8.4 million shares available for purchase under existing Board authorizations. Purchases are made at management’s discretion based on market conditions and the Company’s financial resources.

 

The Company repurchased the following shares for $4.3 million during the three months ended December 31, 2006:

 

 

Not applicable

 

None

 

None

 

 

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

MESA AIR GROUP, INC.

 

George Murnane III

Executive Vice President and CFO

 

Dated: February 9, 2007

Index to Exhibits