SKYWEST INC - Quarter Report: 2009 June (Form 10-Q)

Table of Contents

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 10-Q

 

x	QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2009
OR
o	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from            to

 

Commission file number 0-14719

 

SKYWEST, INC.

 

 

444 South River Road

St. George, Utah 84790

(435) 634-3000

 

Indicate by a 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 past 90 days.  Yes  x  No  o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was to required to submit and post such files).  Yes  o  No  o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” 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  x

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

Class		Outstanding at August 4, 2009
Common stock, no par value		55,604,090

 

 

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SKYWEST, INC.

 

QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I	FINANCIAL INFORMATION:			3
	Item 1.	Financial Statements		3
		Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June  30, 2009 (unaudited) and December 31, 2008		3
		Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008		5
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008		6
		Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements		7
	Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		14
	Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk		24
	Item 4.	Controls and Procedures		25
PART II	OTHER INFORMATION:			25
	Item 1.	Legal Proceedings		25
	Item 1A.	Risk Factors		26
	Item 2	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds		26
	Item 4.	Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders		26
	Item 6.	Exhibits		27
		Signature		28
Exhibit 31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer
Exhibit 31.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer
Exhibit 32.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer
Exhibit 32.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer

 

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements

 

SKYWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

		June 30, 2009			December 31, 2008
		(unaudited)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	132,985		$	125,892
Marketable securities		587,967			568,567
Restricted cash		10,729			10,728
Income tax receivable		16,588			14,868
Receivables, net		81,856			55,458
Inventories, net		103,915			104,383
Prepaid aircraft rents		255,824			226,474
Deferred tax assets		52,885			76,093
Other current assets		31,417			38,205
Total current assets		1,274,166			1,220,668
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:
Aircraft and rotable spares		3,337,216			3,273,705
Deposits on aircraft		16,077			20,390
Buildings and ground equipment		242,279			239,573
		3,595,572			3,533,668
Less-accumulated depreciation and amortization		(889,229		)	(824,293		)
Total property and equipment, net		2,706,343			2,709,375
OTHER ASSETS
Intangible assets, net		25,122			26,247
Other assets		76,830			58,001
Total other assets		101,952			84,248
Total assets		$	4,082,461		$	4,014,291

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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SKYWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

		June 30,			December 31,
		2009			2008
		(unaudited)
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Current maturities of long-term debt		$	135,281		$	129,783
Accounts payable		154,312			110,902
Accrued salaries, wages and benefits		67,793			66,553
Accrued aircraft rents		20,010			25,676
Taxes other than income taxes		18,359			16,651
Other current liabilities		32,842			37,039
Total current liabilities		428,597			386,604
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES		40,352			41,525
LONG-TERM DEBT, net of current maturities		1,681,458			1,681,705
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES PAYABLE		506,600			507,113
DEFERRED AIRCRAFT CREDITS		123,083			121,823
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Preferred stock, 5,000,000 shares authorized; none issued		—			—
Common stock, no par value, 120,000,000 shares authorized; 74,330,410 and 73,520,292 shares issued, respectively		571,749			562,395
Retained earnings		1,008,812			977,736
Treasury stock, at cost, 18,924,100 and 17,150,580 shares, respectively		(278,641		)	(261,174		)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		451			(3,436		)
Total stockholders’ equity		1,302,371			1,275,521
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	4,082,461		$	4,014,291

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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SKYWEST, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Dollars and Shares in Thousands, Except per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

		Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
		2009			2008			2009			2008
OPERATING REVENUES:
Passenger		$	691,141		$	943,570		$	1,356,023		$	1,802,729
Ground handling and other		7,682			7,250			15,442			16,114
Total operating revenues		698,823			950,820			1,371,465			1,818,843
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Aircraft fuel		129,042			366,467			269,671			658,855
Salaries, wages and benefits		173,862			180,677			350,734			366,572
Aircraft maintenance, materials and repairs		116,390			98,307			208,549			181,368
Aircraft rentals		75,958			73,893			148,740			147,320
Depreciation and amortization		54,676			54,931			109,260			109,546
Station rentals and landing fees		29,978			33,339			62,852			68,226
Ground handling services		23,124			26,869			48,572			58,887
Other airline expense		36,024			43,386			72,494			86,895
Total operating expenses		639,054			877,869			1,270,872			1,677,669
OPERATING INCOME		59,769			72,951			100,593			141,174
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest income		2,724			5,009			5,446			11,771
Interest expense		(21,117		)	(26,221		)	(44,069		)	(56,517		)
Impairment on marketable securities		—			—			(7,115		)	—
Other		116			6,308			(203		)	6,308
		(18,277		)	(14,904		)	(45,941		)	(38,438		)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES		41,492			58,047			54,652			102,736
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES		15,273			21,613			19,061			37,162
NET INCOME		$	26,219		$	36,434		$	35,591		$	65,574
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE		$	0.47		$	0.63		$	0.63		$	1.12
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE		$	0.46		$	0.63		$	0.62		$	1.10
Weighted average common shares:
Basic		55,657			57,377			56,102			58,695
Diluted		56,558			58,009			56,993			59,680
Dividends declared per share		$	0.04		$	0.03		$	0.08		$	0.06

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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SKYWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

(In Thousands)

 

		Six Months Ended June 30
		2009			2008
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES		$	167,306		$	248,587
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of marketable securities		(362,079		)	(657,540		)
Sales of marketable securities		337,451			723,113
Proceeds from the sale of equipment		18,195			1,656
Acquisition of property and equipment:
Aircraft and rotable spare parts		(123,416		)	(75,668		)
Buildings and ground equipment		(3,182		)	(27,946		)
Increase in other assets		(19,622		)	(1,647		)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES		(152,653		)	(38,032		)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt		80,061			17,680
Principal payments on long-term debt		(74,810		)	(58,470		)
Tax (deficiency) benefit from exercise of common stock options		(1,024		)	170
Return of deposits on aircraft and rotable spare parts		4,313			226
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock		5,907			8,970
Purchase of treasury stock		(17,467		)	(90,807		)
Payment of cash dividends		(4,540		)	(3,727		)
NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES		(7,560		)	(125,958		)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents		7,093			84,597
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		125,892			122,802
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD		$	132,985		$	207,399
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest, net of capitalized amounts		$	48,286		$	55,990
Income taxes		$	2,121		$	15,783

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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SKYWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

 

Note A — Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The condensed consolidated financial statements of SkyWest, Inc. (“SkyWest” or the “Company”) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, SkyWest Airlines, Inc. (“SkyWest Airlines”) and Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Inc. (“ASA”) included herein have been prepared, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although SkyWest believes that the following disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. These condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary to present fairly the results of operations for the interim periods presented. All adjustments are of a normal recurring nature, unless otherwise disclosed. The Company suggests that these condensed consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.  The results of operations for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2009 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2009.

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results will differ and may differ materially from those estimates and assumptions.

 

Certain reclassifications have been made to the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2008 condensed consolidated financial statements to conform to current year presentation.

 

In preparing the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, the Company has reviewed, as determined necessary by the Company’s management, events that have occurred after June 30, 2009, up until the issuance of the condensed consolidated financial statements, which occurred on August 7, 2009.

 

Note B — New Accounting Pronouncements

 

In April 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) released Staff Position Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157-4, Determining Whether a Market Is Not Active and a Transaction Is Not Distressed (“SFAS 157-4”).  SFAS 157-4 provides additional guidance in determining whether a market for a financial asset is not active and a transaction is not distressed for fair value measurement purposes as defined in SFAS 157, Fair Value Measurements.  SFAS 157-4 is effective for interim periods ending after June 15, 2009.  The Company adopted the provisions of  SFAS 157-4 for the three months ended June 30, 2009.  The adoption did not have a material effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

In April 2009, the FASB issued Staff Position No. FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2, Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments (“FSP FAS 115-2”), which provides new guidance on the recognition of other-than-temporary impairments of investments in debt securities and provides new presentation and disclosure requirements for other-than-temporary impairments of investments in debt and equity securities.  The Company adopted the provisions of FSP FAS 115-2 for the three months ended June 30, 2009.  The adoption did not have a material effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

In April 2009, the FASB issued Staff Position No. FAS 107-1 and APB 28-1, Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments (“FSP FAS 107-1”).  FSP FAS 107-1 amends SFAS No. 107, Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments (“SFAS 107”) to require disclosures about fair value of financial instruments in interim reporting periods.  Such disclosures were previously required only in annual financial statements.  The Company adopted the provisions of FSP FAS 107-1 for the three months ended June 30, 2009.  Because FSP FAS 107-1 applies only to financial statement disclosures, the adoption did not have a material effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

In May 2009, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 165, Subsequent Events (“SFAS 165”), which establishes general standards of accounting for, and requires disclosure of, events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued or are available to be issued.  The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS 165 for the three months ended June 30, 2009.  The adoption of these provisions did not have a material effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Note C — Passenger and Ground Handling Revenue

 

The Company recognizes passenger and ground handling revenues when the service is provided. Under the Company’s contract and pro-rate flying agreements with Delta Air Lines, Inc. (“Delta”), United Air Lines, Inc. (“United”) and Midwest Airlines, Inc. (“Midwest”), revenue is considered earned when the flight is completed. Revenue is recognized under the Company’s pro-rate flying agreements based upon the portion of the pro-rate passenger fare the Company anticipates that it will receive.

 

SkyWest Airlines and ASA have each entered into a Delta Connection Agreement with Delta, pursuant to which SkyWest Airlines and ASA provide contract flight services for Delta. Among other provisions, those Delta Connection Agreements provide that, upon the third anniversary of the execution of the agreements (September 8, 2008), the contractual rates under those agreements shall not exceed the average rate of all carriers within the Delta Connection Program. In the event that the contractual rates have not been finalized at quarterly or annual financial statement dates, the Company records revenues based on the prior period’s approved rates adjusted for the current contract negotiations. As of June 30, 2009, SkyWest Airlines and ASA had not finalized the contractual rates with Delta.  Accordingly, the Company has primarily used Delta’s preliminary rate estimate as the basis for recording revenue during the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2009.

 

In the event the Company has a reimbursement dispute with a major partner, the Company evaluates the dispute under its established revenue recognition criteria and, provided the revenue recognition criteria have been met, the Company recognizes revenue based on management’s estimate of the resolution of the dispute. During the quarter ended December 31, 2007, Delta notified the Company, SkyWest Airlines and ASA of a dispute under the Delta Connection Agreements executed by Delta with SkyWest Airlines and ASA. The dispute relates to allocation of liability for certain irregular operations (“IROP”) expenses that are paid by SkyWest Airlines and ASA to their passengers under certain situations. As a result, Delta withheld a combined total of approximately $25 million (pretax) from one of the weekly scheduled wire payments to SkyWest and ASA during December 2007. Delta continues to withhold a portion of the funds the Company believes are payable as weekly scheduled wire payments to SkyWest and ASA (See Note L for additional details).

 

The Delta Connection Agreements executed by SkyWest Airlines and ASA provide for fifteen-year terms, subject to early termination by Delta, SkyWest Airlines or ASA, as applicable, upon the occurrence of certain events. Delta’s termination rights include (i) cross-termination rights between the two Delta Connection Agreements, (ii) the right to terminate each of the Delta Connection Agreements upon the occurrence of certain force majeure events, including certain labor-related events, that prevent SkyWest Airlines or ASA from performance for certain periods, and (iii) the right to terminate each of the Delta Connection Agreements if SkyWest Airlines or ASA fails to maintain competitive base rate costs, subject to certain adjustment rights. The SkyWest Airlines and ASA Delta Connection Agreements contain multi-year rate reset provisions. In the Delta Connection Agreements, the fixed-fee rates are specifically defined through 2009. The parties agreed that on or after a specified date in 2010 the parties would reset such rates to reflect SkyWest Airlines’ actual costs in 2010 (with a similar process on each 5th year thereafter). In addition to the termination rights, Delta has the right to extend the term of the Delta Connection Agreements upon the occurrence of certain events or at the expiration of the initial term. SkyWest Airlines and ASA have the right to terminate their respective Delta Connection Agreement upon the occurrence of certain breaches by Delta, including the failure to cure payment defaults. SkyWest Airlines and ASA also have cross-termination rights between the two Delta Connection Agreements.

 

Under the terms of the SkyWest Airlines Delta Connection Agreement, Delta has agreed to compensate SkyWest Airlines for the direct costs associated with operating the Delta Connection flights, plus a payment based on block hours flown. Under the terms of the ASA Delta Connection Agreement, Delta has agreed to compensate ASA for its direct costs associated with operating the Delta Connection flights, plus, if ASA completes a certain minimum percentage of its Delta Connection flights, an additional percentage of such costs. Additionally, ASA’s Delta Connection Agreement provides for the payment of incentive compensation upon satisfaction of certain performance goals. The incentives are defined in the ASA Delta Connection Agreement as being measured and determined on a monthly and quarterly basis. At the end of each quarter, the Company calculates the incentives achieved during the quarter and recognizes revenue accordingly. The parties to the Delta Connection Agreements make customary representations, warranties and covenants, including with respect to various operational, marketing and administrative matters.

 

SkyWest Airlines and United have entered into a United Express Agreement, which sets forth the principal terms and conditions governing SkyWest Airlines’ United Express operations. Under the terms of the United Express Agreement, SkyWest Airlines is compensated primarily on a fee-per-completed-block hour and departure basis and is reimbursed for fuel and other costs. Additionally, SkyWest Airlines is eligible for incentive compensation upon the achievement of certain performance criteria. The incentives are defined in the United Express Agreement as being measured and determined on a monthly basis. At the end of each month, the Company calculates the incentives achieved during the month and recognizes revenue accordingly.

 

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On June 10, 2009, SkyWest Airlines and Midwest reached a mutual understanding to terminate the service SkyWest Airlines currently provides under the Airline Services Agreement (the “Midwest Services Agreement”). As a result, SkyWest Airlines has agreed to remove its remaining 12 CRJ200 regional jet aircraft from Midwest service based on the following schedule: one aircraft was removed in June 2009 and July 2009, three aircraft are scheduled to be removed in October 2009, two aircraft are scheduled to be removed in November 2009, two aircraft are scheduled to be removed in December 2009 and the last three aircraft are scheduled to be removed in January 2010. Additionally, SkyWest Airlines agreed to cancel an unsecured note from Midwest in the amount of approximately $9.3 million in exchange for a $4.0 million payment from Midwest that is guaranteed by Republic Airways Holdings, Inc. The unsecured note related to certain deferred payments Midwest owed SkyWest Airlines for services provided under the Midwest Services Agreement.  Because of the unique modified payment terms associated with the deferred payments, the Company did not recognize revenue associated with the deferred amounts. The deferred amounts are scheduled to be paid to SkyWest at the rate of $400,000 per aircraft as each applicable aircraft is removed from service, starting with the aircraft scheduled to be removed in October 2009. Midwest has agreed to continue to pay existing rates and charges to SkyWest as agreed to under the Midwest Services Agreement, as previously amended, until the aircraft are removed from service.

 

The Company’s passenger and ground handling revenues could be impacted by a number of factors, including changes to the Company’s code-share agreements with Delta, United or Midwest, contract modifications resulting from contract re-negotiations, the Company’s ability to earn incentive payments contemplated under the Company’s code-share agreements, Midwest’s proposed financial restructuring and settlement of  reimbursement disputes with the Company’s major partners.

 

Note D — Share-Based Compensation

 

The fair value of stock options granted by the Company has been estimated as of the grant date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Company accounts for share-based compensation in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment (“SFAS No. 123(R)”).  During the six months ended June 30, 2009 the Company granted options to purchase 457,397 shares of common stock under the SkyWest, Inc. 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2006 Incentive Plan”) .  The following table shows the assumptions used and weighted average fair value for stock option grants during the six months ended June 30, 2009.

 

Expected annual dividend rate		1.05		%
Risk-free interest rate		1.67		%
Average expected life (years)		4.6
Expected volatility of common stock		.351
Forfeiture rate		1.0		%
Weighted average fair value of option grants		$	4.42

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2009, the Company granted 201,204 shares of restricted stock to the Company’s employees under the 2006 Incentive Plan.  The restricted stock has a three-year vesting period, during which the recipient must remain employed with the Company or one of the Company’s subsidiaries.  Additionally, during that six-month period, the Company granted 26,247 fully-vested shares of common stock to the Company’s directors.  The weighted average fair value of the shares of restricted stock on the date of grant was $15.24 per share.

 

As required by SFAS No. 123(R), the Company records share-based compensation expense only for those options and shares of restricted stock that are expected to vest.  The estimated fair value of the stock options and shares of restricted stock is amortized over the applicable vesting periods.  During the three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, the Company recorded pre-tax share-based compensation expense of $1.9 million and $2.6 million, respectively.  During the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, the Company recorded pre-tax share-based compensation expense of $4.5 million and $6.0 million, respectively.

 

Note E — Net Income Per Common Share

 

Basic net income per common share (“Basic EPS”) excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per common share (“Diluted EPS”) reflects the potential dilution that could occur if stock options or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock. The computation of Diluted EPS does not assume exercise or conversion of securities that would have an anti-dilutive effect on net income per common share. During the three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 options to acquire 4,525,000 and 4,267,000 shares, respectively, were excluded from the computation of Diluted EPS as their impact was anti-dilutive.  During the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 options to acquire 4,547,000 and 3,149,000 shares, respectively, were excluded from the computation of Diluted EPS as their impact was anti-dilutive.

 

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The calculation of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for Basic EPS and Diluted EPS for the periods indicated (in thousands, except per share data) is as follows:

 

		Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
		2009			2008			2009			2008
		(Unaudited)						(Unaudited)
Numerator
Net Income		$	26,219		$	36,434		$	35,591		$	65,574
Denominator
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding		55,657			57,377			56,102			58,695
Effect of outstanding stock compensation		901			632			891			985
Weighted average number of shares for Diluted net income per common share		56,558			58,009			56,993			59,680
Basic earnings per share		$	0.47		$	0.63		$	0.63		$	1.12
Diluted earnings per share		$	0.46		$	0.63		$	0.62		$	1.10

 

Note F — Comprehensive Income

 

The Company reports comprehensive income in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 130, Reporting Comprehensive Income (“SFAS 130”). SFAS 130 establishes standards for reporting and displaying comprehensive income and its components in financial statements. Comprehensive income includes charges and credits to stockholders’ equity that are not the result of transactions with shareholders.  Comprehensive income consisted of net income plus changes in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on marketable securities, net of tax, for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

		Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
		2009			2008			2009			2008
		(Unaudited)						(Unaudited)
Net Income		$	26,219		$	36,434		$	35,591		$	65,574
Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on marketable securities, net of tax		(151		)	(200		)	3,887			(135		)
Comprehensive income		$	26,068		$	36,234		$	39,478		$	65,439

 

Note G — Long-Term Debt

 

Long-term debt of the Company consisted of the following for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

		June 30, 2009			December 31, 2008
Notes payable to banks, due in semi-annual installments, variable interest based on LIBOR, or with interest rates ranging from 1.05% to 4.19% through 2012 to 2020, secured by aircraft		$	494,310		$	529,625
Notes payable to a financing company, due in semi-annual installments, variable interest based on LIBOR, or with interest rates ranging from 1.40% to 7.52% through 2021, secured by aircraft		576,336			594,999
Notes payable to banks, due in semi-annual installments plus interest at 6.06% to 7.18% through 2021, secured by aircraft		239,952			248,731
Notes payable to a financing company, due in semi-annual installments plus interest at 5.78% to 6.23% through 2019, secured by aircraft		71,255			74,455
Notes payable to banks, due in monthly installments plus interest of 3.15% to 8.18% through 2020, secured by aircraft		399,578			325,834
Notes payable to banks, due in monthly installments plus interest of 6.05% through 2020, secured by aircraft		24,904			25,857
Notes payable to banks, due in semi-annual installments, plus interest at 3.72% to 3.86%, net of the benefits of interest rate subsidies through the Brazilian Export financing program, through 2011, secured by aircraft		4,581			5,936
Notes payable to a bank, due in monthly installments interest based on LIBOR through 2012, interest rate at 7.9% secured by building		5,823			6,051
Long-term debt		$	1,816,739		$	1,811,488
Less current maturities		(135,281		)	(129,783		)
Long-term debt, net of current maturities		$	1,681,458		$	1,681,705

 

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At June 30, 2009, the three-month and six-month LIBOR rates were 0.60% and 1.11%, respectively.   At December 31, 2008, the three-month and six-month LIBOR rates were 1.43% and 1.75%, respectively.

 

As of June 30, 2009, SkyWest Airlines had a $25 million line of credit with no amount outstanding under the facility.  The facility expires on June 30, 2010 and has a rate of 4.96%.

 

Note H — Change in Accounting Estimates

 

During the first quarter of 2009, the Company changed its estimate of depreciable lives on ground equipment from five to seven years to five to ten years and maintained the residual value of zero percent.  The impact of this change increased the Company’s pre-tax income for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2009 by $0.9 million ($.02 per share Basic EPS and Diluted EPS) and $2.1 million ($.04 per share Basic EPS and Diluted EPS), respectively.  The impact of this change, net of tax, increased the Company’s net income for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2009 by $579,000 ($.01 per share, Basic EPS and Diluted EPS) and $1.4 million ($.02 per share Basic EPS and Diluted EPS), respectively.

 

Note I — Commitments and Contingencies

 

The Company leases 288 aircraft, as well as airport facilities, office space, and various other property and equipment under non-cancelable operating leases which are generally on a long-term net rent basis where the Company pays taxes, maintenance, insurance and certain other operating expenses applicable to the leased property.  The Company expects that, in the normal course of business, leases that expire will be renewed or replaced by other leases.  The following table summarizes future minimum rental payments required under operating leases that had initial or remaining non-cancelable lease terms in excess of one year as of June 30, 2009 (in thousands):

 

 

Note J — Fair Value Measurements

 

The Company adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“SFAS No. 157”) as of January 1, 2008. Although the adoption of SFAS No. 157 did not materially impact the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows, SFAS No. 157 requires the presentation of the following disclosures in these notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

SFAS No. 157 describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

 

Level 1		—		Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2		—		Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. Some of the Company’s marketable securities primarily utilize broker quotes in a non-active market for valuation of these securities.
Level 3		—		Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions.

 

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As of June 30, 2009, the Company held certain assets that are required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis. The Company has invested in auction rate security instruments, which are classified as available for sale securities and reflected at fair value. However, due primarily to credit market events beginning during the first quarter of 2008, the auction events for most of these instruments failed. Therefore, quoted prices in active markets are no longer available and the Company has estimated the fair values of these securities utilizing a discounted cash flow analysis as of June 30, 2009. These analyses consider, among other items, the collateralization underlying the security investments, the creditworthiness of the counterparty, the timing of expected future cash flows, and the expectation of the next time the security is expected to have a successful auction.

 

As of June 30, 2009, the Company owned $4.5 million of auction rate security instruments. The auction rate security instruments held by the Company at June 30, 2009 were tax-exempt municipal bond investments, for which the market has experienced some successful auctions. The Company has classified the investments as non-current and has identified them as “Other assets” in its Consolidated Balance Sheet as of June 30, 2009. The Company has classified these securities as non current due to the Company’s belief that the market for these securities may take in excess of twelve months to fully recover. As of June 30, 2009, the Company continued to record interest on all of its auction rate security instruments. Any future fluctuations in fair value related to these instruments that the Company deems to be temporary, including any recoveries of previous write downs, would be recorded to accumulated other comprehensive income. If the Company determines that any future valuation adjustment was other than temporary, it intends to record a charge to earnings as appropriate.

 

As of June 30, 2009, the Company held certain assets that are required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below (in thousands):

 

		Fair Value Measurements as of June 30, 2009
		Total			Level 1			Level 2			Level 3
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash		$	143,714		$	143,714		$	—		$	—
Marketable Securities		587,967			26,887			561,080			—
Other Assets		4,474			—			—			4,474
Total Assets Measured at Fair Value		$	736,155		$	170,601		$	561,080		$	4,474

 

Based on market conditions, the Company uses a discounted cash flow valuation methodology for auction rate securities. Accordingly, for purposes of the foregoing condensed consolidated financial statements, these securities were categorized as Level 3 securities within the hierarchy established pursuant to SFAS No. 157.

 

The following table presents the Company’s assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) as defined in SFAS No. 157 at June 30, 2009 (in thousands):

 

Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs

(Level 3)

 

 

The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt is estimated based on current rates offered to the Company for similar debt and was estimated to be $1,915.8 million as of June 30, 2009, as compared to the carrying amount of $1,816.7 million as of June 30, 2009.

 

Note K  — Stock Repurchase

 

The Company’s Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to 15,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock in the public market. During the three months ended June 30, 2009, the Company repurchased 463,380 shares of common stock for approximately $4.9 million at a weighted average price per share of $10.50.

 

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Note L — Legal Matters

 

Legal Matters

 

The Company is subject to certain legal actions which it considers routine to its business activities. As of June 30, 2009, the Company’s management believed, after consultation with legal counsel, that the ultimate outcome of such legal matters was not likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, liquidity or results of operations. However, the following is a significant outstanding legal matter.

 

ASA and SkyWest Airlines v. Delta

 

During the quarter ended December 31, 2007, Delta notified the Company, SkyWest Airlines and ASA of a dispute under the Delta Connection Agreements executed by Delta with SkyWest Airlines and ASA. The dispute relates to allocation of liability for certain IROP expenses that are paid by SkyWest Airlines and ASA to their passengers under certain situations. As a result, Delta withheld a combined total of approximately $25 million (pretax) from one of the weekly scheduled wire payments to SkyWest Airlines and ASA during December 2007. Delta continues to withhold a portion of the funds the Company believes are payable as weekly scheduled wire payments to SkyWest Airlines and ASA. As of June 30, 2009, the Company had recognized a cumulative total of $32.4 million of revenue associated with the funds withheld by Delta. On February 1, 2008, SkyWest Airlines and ASA filed a lawsuit in Georgia state court disputing Delta’s treatment of the matter (the “Complaint”). Delta filed an Answer to the Complaint and a Counterclaim against SkyWest Airlines and ASA on March 24, 2008. Delta’s Counterclaim alleges that ASA and SkyWest Airlines breached the Delta Connection Agreements by invoicing Delta for the IROP expenses that were paid pursuant to Delta’s policies, and claims only a portion of those expenses may be invoiced to Delta. Delta seeks unspecified damages in its counterclaim.

 

On March 24, 2008, Delta also filed a Motion to Dismiss the Complaint. A hearing on the Motion was held June 5, 2008. In an order entered June 13, 2008, the Court granted in part and denied in part the Motion to Dismiss. The Court denied the Motion to Dismiss with respect to the breach of contract claim contained in the Complaint. The Court denied in part the Motion to Dismiss with respect to the action for declaratory judgment contained in the Complaint, and granted in part the Motion to Dismiss to the extent the Complaint seeks to read alternative or supplemental obligations created by prior conduct into the Delta Connection Agreements. The Court granted the Motion to Dismiss with respect to claims for estoppel, unilateral mistake, and mutual mistake contained in the Complaint. SkyWest Airlines and ASA continue to vigorously pursue their claims set forth in the Complaint, to the extent permitted by the Court’s ruling on the Motion to Dismiss, and their defenses to Delta’s counterclaims.

 

The Company has evaluated the Delta dispute in accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 5, Accounting for Contingencies (“SFAS No.5”). Based on the provisions of SFAS No. 5, an estimated loss is accrued if the loss is probable and reasonably estimable. Because these conditions have not been satisfied, the Company has not recorded a loss related to the preceding dispute in the condensed consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2009.

 

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

 

Certain of the statements contained in this Report should be considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “could,” “should,” “hope,” “likely,” and “continue” and similar terms used in connection with statements regarding SkyWest’s outlook, the revenue environment, SkyWest’s contract relationships, and SkyWest’s expected financial performance.  These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about SkyWest’s future growth and development plans, including SkyWest’s future financial and operating results, SkyWest’s plans for SkyWest Airlines and ASA, SkyWest’s objectives, expectations and intentions, and other statements that are not historical facts.  You should also keep in mind that all forward-looking statements are based on SkyWest’s existing beliefs about present and future events outside of SkyWest’s control and on assumptions that may prove to be incorrect.  If one or more risks identified in this Report materializes, or any other underlying assumption proves incorrect, SkyWest’s actual results will vary, and may vary materially, from those anticipated, estimated, projected, or intended.

 

There may be other factors not identified above of which SkyWest is not currently aware that may affect matters discussed in the forward-looking statements, and may also cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed.  SkyWest assumes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting these statements other than as required by law.

 

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ITEM 2:               MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following discussion and analysis presents factors that had a material effect on the results of operations of SkyWest, Inc. (“SkyWest” “we” or “us”) during the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008. Also discussed is our financial position as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008. You should read this discussion in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, including the notes thereto, appearing elsewhere in this Report.  This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements. Please refer to the sections of this Report entitled “Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” for discussion of the uncertainties, risks and assumptions associated with these statements.

 

Overview

 

Through SkyWest Airlines, Inc. (“SkyWest Airlines”) and Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Inc. (“ASA”), we operate the largest regional airline in the United States. As of June 30, 2009, SkyWest Airlines and ASA offered scheduled passenger and air freight service with more than 2,400 total daily departures to 208 destinations in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Additionally, as of June 30, 2009, we provided ground handling services for approximately 11 other airlines throughout our system. As of June 30, 2009, we operated a combined fleet of 442 aircraft consisting of 250 50-seat Bombardier Aerospace (“Bombardier”) CRJ 200 Regional Jets (the “CRJ200”) (74 assigned to United Air Lines Inc. (“United”), 164 assigned to Delta Air Lines, Inc. (“Delta”), 10 assigned to Midwest Airlines, Inc. (“Midwest”) and two used by SkyWest Airlines as additional maintenance spare aircraft) 106 70-seat Bombardier CRJ700 Regional Jets (the “CRJ700”)  (55 assigned to United and 51 assigned to Delta), 31 CRJ900s Regional Jets (the “CRJ900”) (all assigned to Delta), 51 30-seat Embraer Brasilia EMB-120 turboprop aircraft (the “Brasilia turboprop”) (39 assigned to United and 12 assigned to Delta), and four 66-seat Avions de Transport 72-210 turboprop aircraft (the “ATR-72 turboprops) (all assigned to Delta). As of June 30, 2009, the four ATR-72 turboprops were no longer in revenue service. We believe our success in attracting multiple contractual relationships with our major airline partners is attributable to our delivery of high-quality customer service with an all cabin-class fleet at a competitive cost structure. For the three months ended June 30, 2009, approximately 57.2% of our aggregate capacity was operated under the Delta code, approximately 40.5% was operated under the United code and approximately 2.3% was operated under the Midwest code.

 

SkyWest Airlines has been a code-share partner with Delta in Salt Lake City and United in Los Angeles since 1987 and 1997, respectively. In 1998, SkyWest Airlines expanded its relationship with United to provide service in Portland, Seattle/Tacoma, San Francisco and additional Los Angeles markets. In 2004, SkyWest Airlines expanded its United Express operations to provide service in Chicago.  On June 10, 2009, SkyWest Airlines and Midwest mutually agreed to terminate the service SkyWest Airlines currently provides under the Airline Services Agreement (the “Midwest Services Agreement”). As a result, SkyWest Airlines has agreed to remove its remaining 12 CRJ200s from Midwest service based on the following schedule: one aircraft was removed in each of June 2009 and July 2009, three aircraft are scheduled to be removed in October 2009, two aircraft are scheduled to be removed in November 2009, two aircraft are scheduled to be removed in December 2009 and the last three aircraft are scheduled to be removed in January 2010. As of June 30, 2009, SkyWest Airlines operated as a Delta Connection carrier in Salt Lake City, a United Express carrier in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Chicago and the Pacific Northwest, and a Midwest Connect carrier in Milwaukee, operating more than 1,660 total daily flights.

 

ASA has been a code-share partner with Delta in Atlanta since 1984. As of June 30, 2009, ASA operated as a Delta Connection carrier in Atlanta and Cincinnati. ASA operates approximately 940 daily flights, all in the Delta Connection system.

 

We provide a substantial majority of the regional airline service for Delta in Atlanta and Salt Lake City. In connection with our acquisition of ASA in September 2005, we established new, separate, but substantially similar, long-term fixed-fee Delta Connection Agreements with Delta for both SkyWest Airlines and ASA. We also obtained the right to use 29 gates in the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport located in Atlanta, from which we currently provide service to Delta. Pursuant to the terms of the Delta Connection Agreement executed by ASA and Delta, Delta has also agreed that if Delta solicits requests for proposals to fly Delta Connection regional aircraft, ASA will be permitted to bid to maintain the same percentage of total Delta Connection regional jet flights that it operated during 2007, and, if ASA does not achieve the winning bid for the proposed flying, ASA will be permitted to match the terms of the winning bid to the extent necessary for ASA to maintain the same percentage of Delta Connection regional jet flights that it operated during 2007.

 

Historically, multiple contractual relationships have enabled us to reduce reliance on any single major airline code and to enhance and stabilize operating results through a mix of contract flying and our controlled or “pro-rate” flying. For the three months ended June 30, 2009, contract flying revenue and pro-rate revenue represented approximately 95% and 5%, respectively, of our total passenger revenues. On contract routes, the major airline partner controls scheduling, ticketing, pricing and seat inventories and we are compensated by the major airline partner at contracted rates based on the completed block hours, flight departures and other operating

 

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measures. On pro-rate flights, we control scheduling, ticketing, pricing and seat inventories and receive a pro-rated portion of passenger fares. As of June 30, 2009, essentially all of our Brasilia turboprops flown for Delta were flown under pro-rate arrangements, while approximately 55% of our Brasilia turboprops flown in the United system were flown under contractual arrangements, with the remaining 45% flown under pro-rate arrangements.  During June 2009, we began flying seven CRJ200s for United under a pro-rate agreement.

 

Second Quarter Summary

 

We had revenues of $698.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009, a 26.5% decrease, compared to revenues of $950.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2008. We had net income of $26.2 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, for the three months ended June 30, 2009, a decrease in net income of 28.0%, compared to $36.4 million of net income, or $0.63 per diluted share, for the three months ended June 30, 2008.

 

The significant items affecting our financial performance during the three months ended June 30, 2009 are outlined below:

 

On June 10, 2009, SkyWest reached a mutual understanding with Midwest to terminate the service SkyWest Airlines currently provides under the Midwest Services Agreement. As a result, SkyWest Airlines agreed to remove its remaining 12 CRJ200s from Midwest service based on the following schedule: one aircraft was removed in each of June 2009 and July 2009, three aircraft are scheduled to be removed in October 2009, two aircraft are scheduled to be removed in November 2009, two aircraft are scheduled to be removed in December 2009 and the last three aircraft are scheduled to be removed in January 2010. Additionally, we agreed to cancel an unsecured note from Midwest in the amount of approximately $9.3 million in exchange for a $4.0 million payment from Midwest that is guaranteed by Republic Airways Holdings, Inc. The unsecured note related to certain deferred payments Midwest owed SkyWest Airlines from services provided under the Midwest Services Agreement.  Because of the unique modified payment terms associated with the deferred payments, we have not recognized revenue associated with the deferred amount.  The deferred amount is scheduled to be paid to SkyWest Airlines at the rate of $400,000 per aircraft as each applicable aircraft is removed from service starting with the aircraft that will be removed in October 2009. Midwest has agreed to continue to pay existing rates and charges to SkyWest Airlines as agreed to under the Midwest Services Agreement, as previously amended, until the aircraft are removed from service.

 

Our maintenance costs increased $18.1 million, or 18.4%, during the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2008. The increase in maintenance costs was principally due to scheduled maintenance and engine events on our aging CRJ200 and CRJ700 aircraft.

 

Total available seat miles (“ASMs”) for the three months ended June 30, 2009 decreased 2.4%, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2008, primarily as a result of our major partners decreasing the utilization of our aircraft and a reduction in the number of aircraft we operated for Midwest. During the three months ended June 30, 2009, we generated 5.6 billion ASMs, compared to 5.7 billion ASMs during the three months ended June 30, 2008.

 

Outlook

 

On October 12, 2007, we announced SkyWest Airlines’ plans to acquire 22 additional regional jet aircraft through 2010, 18 of which SkyWest Airlines intends to operate for United Express, as part of an aircraft transition plan. We believe this transition plan will allow United Express to remove 23 30-seat Brasilia turboprops from operation under the United Express Agreement and add 66-seat regional jet aircraft for United Express flying. Generally, the turboprop removals are intended to occur in conjunction with deliveries of new regional jet aircraft in an effort to facilitate a smooth transition in existing markets. Additionally, SkyWest Airlines exchanged four 50-seat CRJ200s for four 76-seat CRJ900s in its Delta Connection operations. On November 30, 2007, we announced that SkyWest Airlines placed a firm order for 22 aircraft with Bombardier. As of June 30, 2009, SkyWest Airlines had taken delivery of four CRJ900s and three CRJ700s under that order. SkyWest Airlines is scheduled to take delivery of the remaining 15 aircraft during the remainder of 2009 and the first quarter of 2010.

 

On January 9, 2009, we announced that ASA reached an agreement with Delta to operate an additional ten CRJ900s. The aircraft were previously ordered by Delta and are now being contracted for flying with ASA. As of June 30, 2009, ASA had taken delivery of all of these aircraft. ASA intends to use the aircraft as replacements for 20, 50-seat CRJ200s that are scheduled for removal from contract service between April and August 2010, which is earlier than the existing scheduled termination dates as contained in the Delta Connection Agreement.

 

On June 10, 2009, we announced the wind down of the Midwest Services Agreement. As a result, SkyWest Airlines agreed to remove the remaining 12 CRJ200s from Midwest service based on the following schedule:  one aircraft was removed in each of June 2009 and July 2009, three aircraft are scheduled to be removed in October 2009, two aircraft are scheduled to be removed in November 2009, two aircraft are scheduled to be removed in December 2009 and the last three aircraft are scheduled to be removed in January 2010.  We are pursuing opportunities to place these 12 aircraft into service with other major airline carriers.

 

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Critical Accounting Policies

 

Our significant accounting policies are summarized in Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2008, which are presented in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.  Critical accounting policies are those policies that are most important to the preparation of our consolidated financial statements and require management’s subjective and complex judgments due to the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. Our critical accounting policies relate to revenue recognition, aircraft maintenance, aircraft leases, impairment of long-lived assets and intangibles, stock-based compensation expense and fair value. The application of these accounting policies involves the exercise of judgment and the use of assumptions as to future uncertainties and, as a result, actual results will differ, and could differ materially, from such estimates.

 

Results of Operations

 

Three Months Ended June 30, 2009 and 2008

 

Operational Statistics.  The following table sets forth our major operational statistics and the associated percentages-of-change for the periods identified below.

 

		For the three months ended June 30,
		2009		2008		% Change
Revenue passenger miles (000)		4,474,923		4,496,464		(0.5	)
Available seat miles (“ASMs”) (000)		5,582,862		5,717,958		(2.4	)
Block hours		343,113		353,723		(3.0	)
Departures		220,605		226,176		(2.5	)
Passengers carried		8,884,664		8,794,735		1.0
Passenger load factor		80.2	%	78.6	%	1.6	pts
Revenue per available seat mile		12.5	¢	16.6	¢	(24.7	)
Cost per available seat mile		11.8	¢	15.8	¢	(25.3	)
Fuel cost per available seat mile		2.3	¢	6.4	¢	(64.1	)
Average passenger trip length (miles)		504		511		(1.4	)

 

Revenues.  Operating revenues decreased $252.0 million, or 26.5%, during the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2008. We are reimbursed for our actual fuel costs by our major partners under our contract flying arrangements. For financial reporting purposes, we record these reimbursements as operating revenue. Under the SkyWest Airlines and ASA Delta Connection Agreements, we are reimbursed for our engine overhaul expenses. We also record those engine overhaul reimbursements as operating revenue. The following table summarizes the amount of fuel and engine overhaul reimbursements included in our passenger revenues for the periods indicated (dollar amounts in thousands).

 

		For the three months ended June 30,
		2009			2008			$ Change			% Change
Passenger revenues		$	691,141		$	943,570		$	(252,429	)	(26.8	)%
Less: Fuel reimbursement from major partners		123,584			356,445			(232,861		)	(65.3	)%
Less: Engine overhaul reimbursement from major partners		39,341			36,030			3,311			9.2	%
Passenger revenue excluding fuel and engine overhauls reimbursements		$	528,216		$	551,095		$	(22,879	)	(4.2	)%

 

Passenger revenues.  Passenger revenues decreased $252.4 million, or 26.8%, during the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2008. The decrease in passenger revenues was primarily due to a decrease in fuel reimbursements from our major partners. The fuel reimbursement from our major partners decreased $232.9 million or 65.3%, during the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2008. Our passenger revenues, excluding fuel and engine overhaul reimbursements from major partners, decreased $22.9 million, or 4.2%, during the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2008. The decrease in passenger revenues, excluding fuel and engine overhaul reimbursements, was more than the corresponding percentage decrease in ASMs, primarily due to two factors. First, Delta transitioned 23 stations from SkyWest Airlines and ASA to other ground handlers during the second quarter of 2009. Second, operating efficiencies obtained by adding incremental aircraft under our contract flying arrangements, were factored into our contractual rates and our passenger revenues.

 

Ground handling and other.  Total ground handling and other revenues increased $0.4 million, or 6.0%, during the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2008. Revenue earned under other ground handling contracts where we provide ground handling services for other airlines is presented in the “Ground handling and other” line in our consolidated statements of income. The increase was primarily due to lease revenue we received on two CRJ200s.

 

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Individual expense components are also expressed in the following table on the basis of cents per ASM. ASM is a common metric used in the airline industry to measure an airline’s passenger capacity. ASMs reflect both the number of aircraft in an airline’s fleet and the seat capacity for the aircraft in the fleet. As the size of our fleet is the underlying driver of our operating costs, the primary basis for our presentation in MD&A is on a cost per ASM basis to discuss significant changes in our costs not proportionate to the relative changes in our fleet size (dollar amounts in thousands).

 

		For the three months ended June 30,
													2009		2008
		2009			2008			$ Change			% Change		Cents Per		Cents Per
		Amount			Amount			Amount			Percent		ASM		ASM
Aircraft fuel		$	129,042		$	366,467		$	(237,425	)	(64.8	)%	2.3		6.4
Salaries, wages and benefits		173,862			180,677			(6,815		)	(3.8	)%	3.1		3.2
Aircraft maintenance, materials and repairs		116,390			98,307			18,083			18.4	%	2.1		1.7
Aircraft rentals		75,958			73,893			2,065			2.8	%	1.4		1.3
Depreciation and amortization		54,676			54,931			(255		)	(0.5	)%	1.0		1.0
Station rentals and landing fees		29,978			33,339			(3,361		)	(10.1	)%	0.5		0.5
Ground handling services		23,124			26,869			(3,745		)	(13.9	)%	0.4		0.4
Other airline expense		36,024			43,386			(7,362		)	(17.0	)%	0.6		0.8
Total operating expenses		639,054			877,869			(238,815		)	(27.2	)%	11.4		15.3
Interest		21,117			26,221			(5,104		)	(19.5	)%	0.4		0.5
Total airline expenses		$	660,171		$	904,090		(243,919		)	(27.0	)%	11.8		15.8

 

Fuel.  Fuel costs decreased $237.4 million, or 64.8%, during the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2008. The average cost per gallon of fuel decreased to $1.80 per gallon during the three months ended June 30, 2009 from $3.89 during the three months ended June 30, 2008. In addition to the decrease in the average cost per gallon during the three months ended June 30, 2009, United purchased fuel directly from a fuel vendor for our United Express aircraft operated out of Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Denver, Midwest purchased all of its fuel directly from fuel vendors during the three months ended June 30, 2009 and during the month of June 2009, Delta purchased the majority of its fuel directly from fuel vendors, all of which reduced our total fuel costs and passenger revenue. During the three months ended June 30, 2008, we purchased the fuel for all of our Delta Connection flights. The following table summarizes the gallons of fuel we purchased directly, and the percentage change in fuel price per gallon on our fuel expense, for the periods indicated:

 

 

Salaries Wages and Employee Benefits.  Salaries, wages and employee benefits decreased $6.8 million, or 3.8%, during the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2008. The average number of full-time equivalent employees decreased 13.3% to 12,578 for the three months ended June 30, 2009, from 14,510 for the three months ended June 30, 2008. The decrease in number of employees was significantly due to a reduction in our customer service employees resulting from United transitioning 16 stations from SkyWest Airlines to other ground handlers during the second quarter of 2008 and Delta transitioning 23 stations from SkyWest Airlines and ASA to other ground handlers during the second quarter of 2009.

 

Aircraft maintenance, materials and repairs.  Maintenance costs increased $18.1 million, or 18.4%, during the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2008. The following table summarizes the amount of engine overhauls and engine overhaul reimbursements included in our aircraft maintenance expense for the periods indicated (dollar amounts in thousands).

 

		For the three months ended June 30,
		2009			2008			$ Change			% Change
Aircraft maintenance, materials and repairs		$	116,390		$	98,307		$	18,083		18.4	%
Less: Engine overhaul reimbursed from major partners		39,341			36,030			3,311			9.2	%
Aircraft maintenance excluding reimbursed engine overhauls		$	77,049		$	62,277		$	14,772		23.7	%

 

Aircraft maintenance expense excluding reimbursed engine overhauls, increased $14.8 million, or 23.7%, during the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2008.  The increase in aircraft maintenance expenses

 

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excluding engine overhauls reimbursed from major partners was principally due to scheduled maintenance events on our aging CRJ200 and CRJ700 aircraft.

 

Under the United Express and Midwest Services Agreements, we recognize revenue at a fixed hourly rate for mature engine maintenance on regional jet engines. We record the gross amount of that maintenance as revenue in our consolidated statements of income, and we recognize engine maintenance expense on our CRJ200 regional jet engines on an as incurred basis as maintenance expense in our consolidated statements of income. As a result, during the three months ended June 30, 2009, we collected and recorded $2.2 million (pretax) of revenue in excess of our maintenance expense under the United Express Agreement and the Midwest Services Agreement, compared to $9.4 million during the three months ended June 30, 2008, which the excess is intended to compensate us for the expense of future engine maintenance overhauls. Under our Delta Connection Agreements we were reimbursed for engine overhaul costs by Delta. Such reimbursements are reflected as passenger revenue in our consolidated statements of income.

 

Aircraft rentals.  Aircraft rentals increased $2.1 million, or 2.8%, during the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2008. The increase in aircraft rental expense was primarily due to ASA taking delivery of ten CRJ900s during 2009.  These aircraft were financed through long-term leases with Delta. This increase was partially offset by ASA returning eight ATR-72 turboprops to the lessor.

 

Depreciation and amortization.  Depreciation and amortization expense decreased $255,000, or 0.5%, during the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2008.  The decrease was primarily due to the change in depreciable lives on ground equipment from a range of five to seven years to a range of five to ten years. For purposes of the foregoing calculations, the ground equipment was deemed to maintain a residual value of zero percent.  The impact of this change decreased our pre tax income for the three months ended June 30, 2009 by $0.9 million.  This decrease was partially offset by the increase in depreciation due to the addition of four CRJ900s and three CRJ700s that were financed using long-term debt.

 

Station rentals and landing fees.  Station rentals and landing fees expense decreased $3.4 million, or 10.1%, during the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2008. The decrease in station rentals and landing fees expense was primarily due to our major partners paying for certain station rentals and landing fees directly to the airport.

 

Ground handling service.  Ground handling service expense decreased $3.7 million, or 13.9%, during the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2008. The decrease in ground handling service expense was due primarily to United transitioning 16 stations from SkyWest Airlines to other ground handlers during the second quarter of 2008 and Delta transitioning 23 stations from SkyWest Airlines and ASA to other ground handlers during the second quarter of 2009.

 

Other airline expenses.  Other airline expenses, primarily consisting of property taxes, hull and liability insurance, crew simulator training and crew hotel costs, decreased $7.4 million, or 17.0%, during the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2008. The decrease in other expenses was primarily due to the decrease in crew simulator training and crew hotel costs. These decreases were due primarily to fewer training events during the three months ended June 30, 2009.

 

Interest.  Interest expense decreased $5.1 million, or 19.5%, during the three months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2008. The decrease in interest expense was substantially due to a decrease in interest rates. At June 30, 2009, we had variable rate notes representing 43.8% of our total long-term debt . The majority of our variable rate notes are based on the three-month and six-month LIBOR rates. At June 30, 2009, the three-month and six-month LIBOR rates were 0.60% and 1.11%, respectively. At June 30, 2008, the three-month and six-month LIBOR rates were 2.78% and 3.11%, respectively.

 

Interest Income. Interest income decreased $2.3 million, or 45.6% during the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2008. The decrease in interest income was substantially due to a decrease in interest rates. At June 30, 2009, the three-month and six-month LIBOR rates were 0.60% and 1.11%, respectively. At June 30, 2008, the three-month and six-month LIBOR rates were 2.78% and 3.11%, respectively.

 

Total Airline Expenses.  Total airline expenses (consisting of total operating and interest expenses) decreased $243.9 million, or 27.0%, during the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2008. We are reimbursed for our actual fuel costs by our major partners under our contract flying arrangements. We record the amount of those reimbursements as revenue. Under the SkyWest Airlines and ASA Delta Connection Agreements, we are reimbursed for our engine overhaul expense, which we record as revenue. The following table summarizes the amount of fuel and engine overhaul expenses which are included in our total airline expenses for the periods indicated (dollar amounts in thousands).

 

		For the three months ended June 30,
		2009			2008			$ Change			% Change
Total airline expense		$	660,171		$	904,090		$	(243,919	)	(27.0	)%
Less: Fuel expense		129,042			366,467			(237,425		)	(64.8	)%
Less: Engine overhaul reimbursement from major partners		39,341			36,030			3,311			9.2	%
Total airline expense excluding fuel and engine overhauls		$	491,788		$	501,593		$	(9,805	)	(2.0	)%

 

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Excluding fuel and engine overhaul costs, our total airline expenses decreased $9.8 million, or 2.0%, during the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2008. The percentage decrease in total airline expenses excluding fuel and engine overhauls, was less than the percentage decrease in ASMs, which is primarily due to increases in non-engine overhaul maintenance expenses attributable to the increasing age of our fleet.

 

Other Income. During the three months ended June 30, 2008, we negotiated the principal terms of a prospective capacity purchase agreement with Continental, which was intended to become effective if we had successfully completed our proposed acquisition of the outstanding shares of capital stock of ExpressJet.  During the course of those negotiations, Continental agreed it would pay us a break-up fee under certain circumstances in the event our efforts to acquire ExpressJet were not successful.  In June 2008, ExpressJet reached terms directly with Continental on a new capacity purchase agreement, and accordingly, we were precluded from completing the acquisition of ExpressJet.  As a result, we received the break-up fee from Continental during the three months ended June 30, 2008.  The break-up fee, net of our direct transaction costs, was $6.3 million (pre-tax) and was recorded as other income during the three months ended June 30, 2008.

 

Net Income.  Primarily due to factors described above, net income decreased to $26.2 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, for the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared to $36.4 million, or $0.63 per diluted share, for the three months ended June 30, 2008.

 

Six Months Ended June 30, 2009 and 2008

 

Operational Statistics.  The following table sets forth our major operational statistics and the associated percentages-of-change for the periods identified below.

 

		For the six months ended June 30,
		2009		2008		% Change
Revenue passenger miles (000)		8,324,451		8,690,793		(4.2	)
Available seat miles (“ASMs”) (000)		10,717,585		11,296,537		(5.1	)
Block hours		667,911		707,362		(5.6	)
Departures		426,485		443,686		(3.9	)
Passengers carried		16,518,573		16,871,066		(2.1	)
Passenger load factor		77.7	%	76.9	%	0.8	pts
Revenue per available seat mile		12.8	¢	16.1	¢	(20.5	)
Cost per available seat mile		12.3	¢	15.4	¢	(20.1	)
Fuel cost per available seat mile		2.5	¢	5.8	¢	(56.9	)
Average passenger trip length (miles)		504		515		(2.1	)

 

Revenues.  Operating revenues decreased $447.4 million, or 24.6%, during the six months ended June 30, 2009, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2008. We are reimbursed for our actual fuel costs by our major partners under our contract flying arrangements. For financial reporting purposes, we record these reimbursements as operating revenue. Under the SkyWest Airlines and ASA Delta Connection Agreements, we are reimbursed for our engine overhaul expenses. We also record those engine overhaul reimbursements as operating revenue. The following table summarizes the amount of fuel and engine overhaul reimbursements included in our passenger revenues for the periods indicated (dollar amounts in thousands).

 

		For the six months ended June 30,
		2009			2008			$ Change			% Change
Passenger revenues		$	1,356,023		$	1,802,729		$	(446,706	)	(24.8	)%
Less: Fuel reimbursement from major partners		260,136			639,994			(379,858		)	(59.4	)%
Less: Engine overhaul reimbursement from major partners		55,785			52,032			3,753			7.2	%
Passenger revenue excluding fuel and engine overhauls reimbursements		$	1,040,102		$	1,110,703		$	(70,601	)	(6.4	)%

 

Passenger revenues.  Passenger revenues decreased $446.7 million, or 24.8%, during the six months ended June 30, 2009, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2008. The decrease in passenger revenues was primarily due to a decrease in fuel reimbursements from our major partners. The fuel reimbursement from our major partners decreased $379.9 million or 59.4%, during the six months ended June 30, 2009, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2008. Our passenger revenues, excluding fuel and engine overhaul reimbursements from major partners, decreased $70.6 million, or 6.4%, during the six months ended June 30, 2009, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2008. The decrease in passenger revenues, excluding fuel and engine overhaul reimbursements, was more than the corresponding decrease in ASMs, primarily due to three factors. First, ASA experienced an

 

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