SKYWEST INC - Quarter Report: 2011 September (Form 10-Q)

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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 September 30, 2011

 

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  x  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.

 

 

 

Table of Contents

 

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 September  30, 2011 (unaudited) and December 31, 2010		3
		Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010		5
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010		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		26
	Item 4.	Controls and Procedures		26
PART II	OTHER INFORMATION:			27
	Item 1.	Legal Proceedings		27
	Item 1A.	Risk Factors		28
	Item 2	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds		28
	Item 6.	Exhibits		28
		Signature		30
Exhibit 31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer
Exhibit 31.2	Certification of Chief Accounting Officer
Exhibit 32.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer
Exhibit 32.2	Certification of Chief Accounting Officer

 

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements

 

SKYWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

ASSETS

 

		September 30, 2011			December 31, 2010
		(unaudited)
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	84,598		$	112,338
Marketable securities		620,101			670,739
Restricted cash		19,530			21,775
Income tax receivable		4,329			3,356
Receivables, net		133,056			110,207
Inventories, net		113,400			106,572
Prepaid aircraft rents		260,422			256,168
Deferred tax assets		64,546			56,102
Other current assets		29,859			32,308
Total current assets		1,329,841			1,369,565
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:
Aircraft and rotable spares		3,910,840			3,836,550
Deposits on aircraft		6,750			400
Buildings and ground equipment		287,935			278,665
		4,205,525			4,115,615
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		(1,327,672		)	(1,172,796		)
Total property and equipment, net		2,877,853			2,942,819
OTHER ASSETS
Intangible assets, net		20,060			21,747
Other assets		109,060			112,379
Total other assets		129,120			134,126
Total assets		$	4,336,814		$	4,446,510

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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SKYWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

		September 30,			December 31,
		2011			2010
		(unaudited)
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Current maturities of long-term debt		$	199,340		$	159,039
Accounts payable		236,272			206,490
Accrued salaries, wages and benefits		105,621			112,728
Accrued aircraft rents		19,236			16,780
Taxes other than income taxes		24,471			25,146
Other current liabilities		40,559			42,457
Total current liabilities		625,499			562,640
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES		51,458			46,325
LONG-TERM DEBT, net of current maturities		1,626,326			1,738,936
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES PAYABLE		573,716			569,847
DEFERRED AIRCRAFT CREDITS		100,953			107,839
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Preferred stock, 5,000,000 shares authorized; none issued		—			—
Common stock, no par value, 120,000,000 shares authorized; 75,826,664 and 75,244,553 shares issued, respectively		597,817			589,610
Retained earnings		1,124,074			1,139,739
Treasury stock, at cost, 24,846,397 and 21,071,582 shares, respectively		(365,794		)	(309,628		)
Accumulated other comprehensive income		2,765			1,202
Total stockholders’ equity		1,358,862			1,420,923
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	4,336,814		$	4,446,510

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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SKYWEST, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

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

(Unaudited)

 

		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2011			2010			2011			2010
OPERATING REVENUES:
Passenger		$	936,363		$	676,932		$	2,700,529		$	1,942,244
Ground handling and other		19,062			9,926			54,544			26,617
Total operating revenues		955,425			686,858			2,755,073			1,968,861
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Salaries, wages and benefits		288,401			185,362			864,675			537,640
Aircraft maintenance, materials and repairs		189,762			120,863			529,335			338,984
Aircraft fuel		160,252			87,289			448,401			246,316
Aircraft rentals		86,510			77,583			261,004			229,684
Depreciation and amortization		63,393			58,771			190,283			175,300
Station rentals and landing fees		45,902			31,769			130,850			91,205
Ground handling services		30,326			26,723			100,054			83,112
Merger and integration related costs		2,207			—			4,602			—
Other		61,845			40,216			179,777			116,629
Total operating expenses		928,598			628,576			2,708,981			1,818,870
OPERATING INCOME		26,827			58,282			46,092			149,991
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest income		2,215			2,810			6,295			10,922
Interest expense		(20,086		)	(21,640		)	(60,358		)	(64,883		)
Adjustment to purchase accounting gain		(5,711		)	—			(5,711		)	—
Other, net		(5,351		)	(203		)	(8,715		)	(1,590		)
		(28,933		)	(19,033		)	(68,489		)	(55,551		)
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES		(2,106		)	39,249			(22,397		)	94,440
PROVISION (BENEFIT)FOR INCOME TAXES		(2,222		)	13,775			(13,028		)	35,296
NET INCOME (LOSS)		$	116		$	25,474		$	(9,369	)	$	59,144
BASIC EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE		$	0.00		$	0.46		$	(0.18	)	$	1.06
DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE		$	0.00		$	0.45		$	(0.18	)	$	1.04
Weighted average common shares:
Basic		51,570			55,901			52,704			55,897
Diluted		52,315			56,804			52,704			56,795
Dividends declared per share		$	0.04		$	0.04		$	0.12		$	0.12

 

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)

 

		Nine Months Ended September 30
		2011			2010
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES		$	161,399		$	268,349
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of marketable securities		(469,956		)	(636,887		)
Sales of marketable securities		522,138			488,051
Payments received on note receivable from United Air Lines		—			79,333
Proceeds from the sale of equipment		191			138
Acquisition of property and equipment:
Aircraft and rotable spare parts		(91,522		)	(125,424		)
Deposits on aircraft		(13,500		)	—
Buildings and ground equipment		(10,596		)	(7,216		)
Increase in other assets		(2,596		)	(27,981		)
NET CASH (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES		(65,841		)	(229,986		)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt		38,227			81,698
Principal payments on long-term debt		(110,536		)	(103,556		)
Return of deposits on aircraft and rotable spare parts		7,150			4,247
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock		4,444			4,888
Purchase of treasury stock		(56,166		)	(12,518		)
Payment of cash dividends		(6,417		)	(6,762		)
NET CASH (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES		(123,298		)	(32,003		)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(27,740		)	6,360
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		112,338			76,414
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD		$	84,598		$	82,774
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest, net of capitalized amounts		$	56,936		$	59,295
Income taxes		$	332		$	382

 

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 operating subsidiaries, SkyWest Airlines, Inc. (“SkyWest Airlines”), Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Inc. (“Atlantic Southeast”) and ExpressJet Airlines Inc. (“ExpressJet”) 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, 2010.  The results of operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2011.

 

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 Company’s September 30, 2010 condensed consolidated financial statements to conform to the presentation of the Company’s September 30, 2011 condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Note B — ExpressJet Merger

 

On November 12, 2010, the Company acquired ExpressJet Holdings, Inc. (of which ExpressJet is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary) (“ExpressJet Holdings”) through the merger of ExpressJet Holdings with and into a wholly-owned subsidiary of Atlantic Southeast (the “ExpressJet Merger”). As a result of the ExpressJet Merger, each issued and outstanding share of ExpressJet Holdings common stock (other than shares owned by the Company or any of its subsidiaries) was converted into the right to receive $6.75 per share in cash, payable to the holder thereof, without interest. Based on the number of outstanding shares of ExpressJet Holdings common stock as of the effective time of the ExpressJet Merger, the aggregate value of the merger consideration was $131.6 million. After giving effect to the number of shares of ExpressJet Holdings acquired by the Company and its subsidiaries prior to the effective time of the ExpressJet Merger, the aggregate value of the ExpressJet Merger consideration was $136.5 million.  During the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company recorded a purchase accounting gain of $15.6 million.  This amount represents the difference between the consideration paid and the net fair value of ExpressJet Holdings’ assets acquired and liabilities assumed.  The net fair value of the assets and liabilities acquired in the ExpressJet Merger was more than the consideration paid.

 

In connection with the preparation of the Company’s 2010 tax return, the Company’s management identified an adjustment to the ExpressJet acquisition that resulted in an increase to the acquired deferred tax liabilities of $5.7 million.  The adjustment is reflected on the condensed consolidated statement of operations under the caption “Adjustment to purchase accounting gain.” The Company has determined that the adjustment to the purchase accounting gain is not material to either the prior or current period financial statements

 

The following unaudited pro forma combined results of operations give effect to the ExpressJet Merger as if it had occurred at the beginning of the periods presented. The unaudited pro forma combined results of operations do not purport to represent the Company’s consolidated results of operations had the ExpressJet Merger occurred on the date assumed, nor are these results necessarily indicative of the Company’s future consolidated results of operations. The Company expects to realize benefits from integrating the operations of Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet, and to incur significant one-time cash costs in connection with that integration. The unaudited pro forma combined results of operations (in thousands) do not reflect these potential benefits or costs nor can the Company provide any assurance that the anticipated benefits will be achieved or that the Company’s actual costs will be consistent with the anticipated costs.

 

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		Three Months Ended September 30, 2010			Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010
Revenue		$	905,556		$	2,585,813
Net Income		$	18,092		$	22,058
Basic earnings per share		$	0.32		$	0.39
Diluted earnings per share		$	0.32		$	0.39

 

Note C — Passenger and Ground Handling Revenue

 

Passenger and Ground Handling Revenues

 

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”) Continental Airlines, Inc. (“Continental”), AirTran Airways, Inc. (“AirTran”) and Alaska Airlines, Inc. (“Alaska”), 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 on completed flights.

 

Delta Connection Agreements

 

SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast have each entered into a Delta Connection Agreement with Delta, pursuant to which SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast provide contract flight services for Delta. The Delta Connection Agreements provide for fifteen-year terms, subject to early termination by Delta, SkyWest Airlines or Atlantic Southeast, 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 Atlantic Southeast from performance for certain periods, and (iii) the right to terminate each of the Delta Connection Agreements if SkyWest Airlines or Atlantic Southeast fails to maintain competitive base rate costs, subject to certain adjustment rights. The SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreements contain multi-year rate reset provisions which commenced in 2010 and continue for additional five-year periods 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 Atlantic Southeast 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 Atlantic Southeast also have cross-termination rights between the two Delta Connection Agreements.

 

Under the terms of the SkyWest Airlines Delta Connection Agreement, Delta has generally 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 Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreement, Delta has agreed to compensate Atlantic Southeast for its direct costs associated with operating the Delta Connection flights, plus, if Atlantic Southeast completes a certain minimum percentage of its Delta Connection flights, an additional percentage of such costs. Additionally, Atlantic Southeast’s Delta Connection Agreement provides for the payment of incentive compensation upon satisfaction of certain performance goals. The incentives are defined in the Atlantic Southeast 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 made customary representations, warranties and covenants, including with respect to various operational, marketing and administrative matters.

 

In the event that the contractual rates under the Delta Connection Agreements have not been finalized at quarterly or annual financial statement dates, the Company records revenues based on the lower of prior period’s approved rates, as adjusted to reflect any contract negotiations and the Company’s estimate of rates that will be implemented in accordance with revenue recognition guidelines. 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 Atlantic Southeast of a dispute under the Delta Connection Agreements. The dispute relates to allocation of liability for certain irregular operations (“IROP”) expenses that are paid by SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast 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 Atlantic Southeast 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 Atlantic Southeast (See Note J for additional details).

 

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United Express Agreements

 

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 to receive 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.

 

On February 10, 2010, Atlantic Southeast and United entered into a United Express Agreement, pursuant to which Atlantic Southeast agreed to operate as a United Express carrier. The Atlantic Southeast United Express Agreement is a capacity purchase agreement with a five-year term, and other terms which are generally consistent with the SkyWest Airlines United Express Agreement.

 

ExpressJet and United are parties to a United Express Agreement, which sets forth the principal terms and conditions governing ExpressJet’s United Express operations. Under the terms of the ExpressJet United Express Agreement, ExpressJet is compensated primarily on a fee-per-completed-block hour and departure basis and is reimbursed for fuel and other costs. Additionally, ExpressJet is eligible to receive incentive compensation upon the achievement of certain performance criteria. The incentives are defined in the ExpressJet 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.

 

Continental Express Agreement

 

In connection with the ExpressJet Merger, ExpressJet entered into a Capacity Purchase Agreement with Continental (the “Continental Express Agreement”), whereby ExpressJet agreed to provide regional airline service in the Continental flight system. Under the terms of the Continental Express Agreement, ExpressJet operates 206 aircraft in the Continental flight system and Continental has agreed to compensate ExpressJet on a monthly basis based on the block hours flown by ExpressJet and the weighted average number of aircraft operated by ExpressJet under the Continental Express Agreement. ExpressJet is also directly reimbursed for fuel and other costs. Additionally, ExpressJet may earn incentive compensation for good operating performance, but is subject to financial penalties for poor operating performance. At the end of each month, the Company calculates the incentives achieved and penalties incurred during the month under the Continental Express Agreement and recognizes revenue accordingly.

 

Alaska Capacity Purchase Agreement

 

SkyWest Airlines and Alaska have entered into a Capacity Purchase Agreement, which sets forth the principal terms and conditions governing SkyWest Airlines’ Alaska operations. Under the terms of the Capacity Purchase 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 to receive incentive compensation upon the achievement of certain performance criteria. The incentives are defined in the Capacity Purchase 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.

 

AirTran Code-Share Agreement

 

On November 4, 2009, SkyWest Airlines entered into a code-share agreement with AirTran. Under the terms of the code-share agreement, SkyWest Airlines operated four CRJ200s for AirTran under a pro-rate arrangement. SkyWest Airlines commenced AirTran service in December 2009. SkyWest Airlines and AirTran terminated the code-share agreement effective September 6, 2011.

 

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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. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company granted options to purchase 322,707 shares of common stock under the SkyWest, Inc. 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2010 Incentive Plan”).  The following table shows the assumptions used and weighted average fair value for stock option grants during the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

 

Expected annual dividend rate		1.03		%
Risk-free interest rate		2.10		%
Average expected life (years)		5.8
Expected volatility of common stock		40.4		%
Forfeiture rate		0.0		%
Weighted average fair value of option grants		$	5.74

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company granted 221,610 restricted stock units to the Company’s employees under the 2010 Incentive Plan.  The restricted stock units have a three-year vesting period, during which the recipient must remain employed with the Company or one of the Company’s subsidiaries.  Upon vesting, a restricted stock unit will be replaced with a common share of stock. Additionally, during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company granted 26,821 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 $15.51 per share.

 

The Company records share-based compensation expense only for those options and restricted stock units that are expected to vest.  The estimated fair value of the stock options and restricted stock units is amortized over the applicable vesting periods.  During the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the Company recorded pre-tax share-based compensation expense of $1.2 million and $1.5 million, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the Company recorded pre-tax share-based compensation expense of $4.2 million and $5.0 million, respectively.

 

Note E — Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share

 

Basic net income (loss) per common share (“Basic EPS”) excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income (loss) 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 (loss) per common share.  During the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, options to acquire 4,153,000 and 4,315,000 shares, respectively, were excluded from the computation of Diluted EPS as their impact was anti-dilutive. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, options to acquire 4,391,000 and 4,403,000 shares, respectively, were excluded from the computation of Diluted EPS as their impact was anti-dilutive.

 

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 September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2011			2010			2011			2010
		(Unaudited)						(Unaudited)
Numerator
Net Income (Loss)		$	116		$	25,474		$	(9,369	)	$	59,144
Denominator
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding		51,570			55,901			52,704			55,897
Effect of outstanding share-based awards		745			903			—			898
Weighted average number of shares for diluted net income (loss) per common share		52,315			56,804			52,704			56,795
Basic earnings (loss) per share		$	0.00		$	0.46		$	(0.18	)	$	1.06
Diluted earnings (loss) per share		$	0.00		$	0.45		$	(0.18	)	$	1.04

 

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Note F — Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

Comprehensive income (loss) includes charges and credits to stockholders’ equity that are not the result of transactions with the Company’s shareholders. Comprehensive income (loss) consisted of net income (loss) plus changes in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on marketable securities and unrealized gain (loss) on foreign currency translation adjustment related to the Company’s equity investment in Trip Linhas Aereas (“Trip”) and Mekong Aviation Joint Stock Company (“Air Mekong”), net of tax, for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2011			2010			2011			2010
		(Unaudited)						(Unaudited)
Net Income (Loss)		$	116		$	25,474		$	(9,369	)	$	59,144
Proportionate share of other companies foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax		919			95			1,209			177
Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on marketable securities, net of tax		(289		)	129			353			(151		)
Comprehensive Income (Loss)		$	746		$	25,698		$	(7,807	)	$	59,170

 

Note G — Fair Value Measurements

 

The Company holds certain assets that are required to be measured at fair value in accordance with United States GAAP. The Company determined fair value of these assets based on the following three levels of inputs:

 

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.

 

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 in 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 September 30, 2011. 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 September 30, 2011, the Company owned $4.0 million of auction rate security instruments. The auction rate security instruments held by the Company at September 30, 2011 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 unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2011. The Company has classified these securities as noncurrent due to the Company’s belief that the market for these securities may take in excess of twelve months to fully recover. As of September 30, 2011, 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, a charge would be recorded to earnings as appropriate.

 

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As of September 30, 2011, 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 September 30, 2011
		Total			Level 1			Level 2			Level 3
Marketable Securities
Bond and bond fund		$	611,072		$	—		$	611,072		$	—
Commercial paper		8,497			—			8,497			—
Asset backed securities		532			—			532			—
		620,101			—			620,101			—
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash		104,128			104,128			—			—
Other Assets (a)		4,021			—			—			4,021
Total Assets Measured at Fair Value		$	728,250		$	104,128		$	620,101		$	4,021

 

(a)          Auction rate securities included in “Other assets” in the unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheet

 

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. The Company’s “Marketable Securities” classified as Level 2 primarily utilize broker quotes in a non-active market for valuation of these securities.

 

No significant transfers between Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 occurred during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011.  The Company’s policy regarding the recording of transfers between levels is to record any such transfers at the end of the reporting period.

 

The following table presents the Company’s assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) at September 30, 2011 (in thousands):

 

Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs

(Level 3)

 

		Auction Rate Securities
Balance at January 1, 2011		$	4,002
Total realized and unrealized gains or (losses)
Included in earnings		—
Included in other comprehensive income		19
Transferred out		—
Settlements		—
Balance at September 30, 2011		$	4,021

 

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 $1,863.9 million as of September 30, 2011, as compared to the carrying amount of $1,825.7 million as of September 30, 2011.

 

Note H — Income Taxes

 

The Company’s estimated annual effective tax rate for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 varied from the federal statutory rate of 35% primarily due to the proportionate increase in expenses with limited tax deductibility relative to the Company’s estimated pretax loss for the year ending December 31, 2011. The rate also varied as a result of a $7.2 million benefit determined in connection with the preparation of the Company’s 2010 tax return, that resulted in an increase in the acquired ExpressJet deferred tax assets.

 

Note I — Investment in Other Companies

 

As of September 30, 2011, the Company’s investment balance in Trip and Air Mekong was $38.5 million.  These investments were recorded as an “Other asset” on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet. The Company accounts for its interest in Trip and Air Mekong using the equity method of accounting. The Company records its equity in Trip’s and Air

 

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Mekong’s earnings and losses on a one-quarter lag. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company’s aggregate portion of losses attributable to its investments in Trip and Air Mekong was $8.5 million (pre-tax).

 

Note J — Legal Matters

 

The Company is subject to certain legal actions which it considers routine to its business activities. As of September 30, 2011, management believes, after consultation with legal counsel, that the ultimate outcome of such legal matters is not likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, liquidity or results of operations. However, the following are significant outstanding legal matter.

 

Atlantic Southeast and SkyWest Airlines v. Delta

 

During the quarter ended December 31, 2007, Delta notified the Company, SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast of a dispute under the Delta Connection Agreements executed by Delta with SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast.  The dispute relates to the allocation of liability for certain irregular operation (“IROP”) expenses paid by SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast to their passengers and vendors under certain situations.  During the period between the execution of the Delta Connection Agreements in September 2005 and December 2007, SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast passed through to Delta IROP expenses that were paid pursuant to Delta’s policies, and Delta accepted and reimbursed those expenses.  Delta now claims it is obligated to reimburse only a fraction of the IROP expenses.  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 Atlantic Southeast during December 2007.  Since December 2007, Delta has continued to withhold payments from the weekly scheduled wire payments to SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast, and has disputed subsequent billings for IROP expenses.  As of September 30, 2011, the Company had recognized a cumulative total of $31.7 million of revenue associated with the funds withheld by Delta.  Since July 1, 2008, the Company has not recognized revenue related to IROP expense reimbursements withheld by Delta because collection of those reimbursements is the subject of litigation and is therefore not reasonably assured. On February 1, 2008, SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast filed a Complaint in the Superior Court for Fulton County, Georgia (“Superior Court”) challenging Delta’s treatment of the matter and seeking recovery of the payments withheld by Delta and any future withholdings related to this issue.  Delta filed an Answer to the SkyWest Airlines/Atlantic Southeast Complaint and a Counterclaim against SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast on March 24, 2008.  Delta’s Counterclaim alleged that Atlantic Southeast and SkyWest Airlines breached the Delta Connection Agreements by invoicing Delta for IROP expenses that were paid pursuant to Delta’s policies, and claims only a portion of those expenses may be invoiced to Delta.

 

After proceedings that included contested motions, document discovery, and depositions, Delta voluntarily dismissed its Counterclaim.  Discovery in that action was not complete at the time of dismissal.  On February 14, 2011, SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast exercised their statutory rights to voluntarily dismiss their claims in the Superior Court, and filed a new complaint (the “State Court Complaint”) in the Georgia State Court of Fulton County (the “State Court”).  The claims continue to include breach of contract, breach of contract based on mutual departure, breach of contract based on voluntary payment, and breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing.  Delta moved for partial dismissal of the State Court Complaint, which motion was denied in its entirety.  Delta also filed a separate action in the Superior Court containing claims for declaratory judgment and breach of the confidentiality provisions of the Delta Connection Agreements.  SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast moved for dismissal of Delta’s claims in the Superior Court.  A hearing on SkyWest Airlines’ and Atlantic Southeast’s motion was held on April 27, 2011, after which the Superior Court dismissed Delta’s complaint in its entirety.  Discovery in the lawsuit is ongoing.

 

On September 22, 2011, Delta filed a motion for leave to file a counterclaim against SkyWest and Atlantic Southeast.  The proposed counterclaim contains claims for unjust enrichment and breach of contract related to alleged non-revenue positive space flying by SkyWest and Atlantic Southeast employees for non-Delta related business.  Delta’s proposed counterclaim does not specify an amount of damages, but the proposed counterclaim alleges, on information and belief, that Delta’s damages exceed $4.5 million.  The State Court has not ruled on Delta’s motion for leave to file its proposed counterclaim.  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 in its consolidated financial statements with respect to the dispute.

 

SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast continue to vigorously pursue their claims set forth in the State Court complaint and will defend against Delta’s proposed counterclaim if the court grants Delta leave to file.

 

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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 nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010. Also discussed is our financial position as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010. You should read this discussion in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011, 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.

 

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, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet, the integration of the operations of Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet, including the efforts of Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet to operate under a single operating certificate, 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.

 

Overview

 

Through SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet, we operate the largest regional airline in the United States. As of September 30, 2011, SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet offered scheduled passenger and air freight service with approximately 4,000 total daily departures to destinations in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. As of September 30, 2011, we operated a combined fleet of 727 aircraft consisting of the following:

 

		CRJ 200		ERJ 145		CRJ700		CRJ 900		EMB 120		Total
Delta		156		—		65		31		10		262
United		100		36		70		—		35		241
Continental		—		206		—		—		—		206
Alaska		—		—		5		—		—		5
Maintenance spares		7		—		—		—		—		7
Subleased to an un-affiliated entity		2		—		—		—		—		2
Subleased to an affiliated entity		—		—		—		4		—		4
Total		265		242		140		35		45		727

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2011, approximately 64.8% of our aggregate capacity was operated under the United Express Agreements and Continental Express Agreement, approximately 33.6% was operated under the Delta Connection Agreements, approximately 1.4% was operated under the Alaska capacity purchase agreement and approximately 0.2% was operated under the AirTran code-share agreement.

 

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. In 2009, SkyWest Airlines entered into a code-share agreement with AirTran. SkyWest Airlines agreed to terminate the

 

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code-share agreement with AirTran effective September 6, 2011. In May 2011, SkyWest Airlines entered into a capacity purchase agreement with Alaska. As of September 30, 2011, 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 an Alaska carrier in Seattle/ Tacoma and Portland.

 

Atlantic Southeast has been a code-share partner with Delta in Atlanta since 1984 and United since February 2010. As of September 30, 2011, Atlantic Southeast operated as a Delta Connection carrier in Atlanta and Cincinnati and a United Express carrier in Chicago and Washington, D.C. (Dulles International Airport).

 

ExpressJet provides regional jet service principally in the United States, primarily from hubs located in Cleveland, Newark, Houston, Chicago (O’Hare) and Washington Dulles.

 

Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet are working with the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) to consolidate their operations under a single operating certificate, which is anticipated to happen in the fourth quarter of 2011.

 

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 September 30, 2011, contract flying revenue and pro-rate revenue represented approximately 91% and 9%, 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 measures. On pro-rate flights, we control scheduling, ticketing, pricing and seat inventories and receive a pro-rated portion of passenger fares. For the three months ended September 30, 2011, essentially all of our Brasilia turboprops flown for Delta were flown under pro-rate arrangements, while approximately 42% the available seat miles (“ASMs”) flown by our Brasilia turboprops in the United system were flown under contractual arrangements, with the remaining 58% of the ASMs flown by our Brasilias in the United system were flown under pro-rate arrangements. For the three months ended September 30, 2011, approximately 90% of the ASMs flown by our CRJ200s ASMs in the United system were flown under contractual arrangements, with the remaining 10% of the ASMs flown under pro-rate arrangements.

 

Third Quarter Summary

 

We had revenues of $955.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011, a 39.1% increase, compared to revenues of $686.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010. We had net income of $0.1 million, or slightly more than $0.00 per diluted share, for the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to $25.5 million of net income, or $0.45 per diluted share, for the three months ended September 30, 2010.

 

The significant items affecting our financial performance during the three months ended September 30, 2011 are outlined below:

 

On November 12, 2010, we completed the ExpressJet Merger, which has substantially affected all aspects of our operations.  Among other effects, the ExpressJet Merger added 244 ERJ145 aircraft to our fleet and increased our aggregate capacity by approximately 49%.  The completion of the ExpressJet Merger is the most significant factor that affects the comparability of our financial and operating results between the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010.

 

The Delta Connection Agreements provide that, beginning with the fifth anniversary of the execution of the agreements (September 8, 2010), Delta has the right to require that certain contractual rates under those agreements shall not exceed the second lowest rates of all carriers within the Delta Connection Program. During the fourth quarter of 2010, SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast reached an agreement with Delta on contractual rates satisfying the second-lowest rate provision and agreed on rates through December 31, 2015. Delta additionally waived its right to require that the contractual rates payable under the Delta Connection Agreements under those agreements shall not exceed the second lowest of all carriers within the Delta Connection Program through December 31, 2015. As a result of the negotiated adjustment of the contractual rates under the Delta Connection Agreements, our passenger revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2011 were $5.3 million lower than they would have been under the rates that existed prior to the adjustment.

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2011, our CRJ200 engine expense under our SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast United Express Agreements increased $10.7 million, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010. The increase was principally due to scheduled engine maintenance events. We anticipate that the number of scheduled engine maintenance events experienced during the year ended December 31, 2010 will likely continue through 2011 and into the middle of 2012.

 

Other expense, net, increased $5.1 million, during the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010. The increase was due to our portion of the losses incurred by Trip and Air Mekong.

 

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Under our Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreement and our SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast United Express Agreements, we are paid incentive compensation upon the achievement of certain performance criteria. Our passenger revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2011 were $7.0 million lower, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010, due primarily to our receipt of lower incentive payments.

 

In connection with the preparation of our 2010 tax return, our management identified an adjustment to the ExpressJet acquisition accounting that resulted in an increase to the acquired deferred tax liabilities of $5.7 million.  The adjustment is reflected on the condensed consolidated statement of operations under the caption “Adjustment to purchase accounting gain.”

 

Total ASMs for the three months ended September 30, 2011 increased 53.0%, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010, primarily due to our completion of the ExpressJet Merger. During the three months ended September 30, 2011, we generated 9.7 billion ASMs, compared to 6.3 billion ASMs during the three months ended September 30, 2010.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Our significant accounting policies are summarized in Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010, which are presented in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.  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, 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 September 30, 2011 and 2010

 

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 September 30,
		2011		2010		% Change
Revenue passenger miles (000)		7,885,058		5,110,239		54.3
Available seat miles (“ASMs”) (000)		9,683,859		6,327,561		53.0
Block hours		585,146		379,129		54.3
Departures		363,841		249,783		45.7
Passengers carried		15,003,068		10,261,536		46.2
Passenger load factor		81.4	%	80.8	%	0.6	Pts
Revenue per available seat mile		9.9	¢	10.9	¢	(9.2	)
Cost per available seat mile		9.8	¢	10.3	¢	(4.9	)
Cost per available seat mile excluding fuel		8.1	¢	8.9	¢	(9.0	)
Fuel cost per available seat mile		1.7	¢	1.4	¢	21.4
Average passenger trip length (miles)		526		498		5.6

 

Revenues. Operating revenues increased $268.6 million, or 39.1%, during the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010. 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 Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreements and the Continental Express Agreement, 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 September 30,
		2011			2010			$ Change			% Change
Passenger revenues		$	936,363		$	676,932		$	259,431		38.3	%
Less: Fuel reimbursement from major partners		134,272			66,166			68,106			102.9	%
Less: Engine overhaul reimbursement from major partners		46,450			28,729			17,721			61.7	%
Passenger revenues, excluding fuel and engine overhauls reimbursements		$	755,641		$	582,037		$	173,604		29.8	%

 

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Passenger revenues.  Passenger revenues increased $259.4 million, or 38.3%, during the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010. The increase in passenger revenues was primarily due to the completion of the ExpressJet Merger. Our passenger revenues, excluding fuel and engine overhaul reimbursements from major partners, increased $173.6 million, or 29.8%, during the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010. The increase in passenger revenues, excluding fuel and engine overhaul reimbursements, was primarily due to an increase in block hours of 54.3% during the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010.  The block hour increase was primarily due to the expansion of our operations following the completion of the ExpressJet Merger. The increase in passenger revenues, excluding fuel and engine overhaul reimbursements, was less than the increase in block hours primarily due to differences between the Continental Express Agreement and our other code-share agreements.  Under the Continental Express Agreement, Continental pays for more costs directly (such as station rents and aircraft ownership) and as such, there are no associated reimbursements recognized as revenue.  Under our other code-share agreements, the majority of those costs are paid by SkyWest and Atlantic Southeast and the reimbursements received from their major partners are recorded as revenue.  As such we do not expect the ExpressJet operations to increase revenue at the same rate as the projected increase in block hours. In addition, the Delta Connection Agreements also provide that, beginning with the fifth anniversary of the execution of the agreements (September 8, 2010), Delta has the right to require that certain contractual rates under those agreements shall not exceed the second lowest rates of all carriers within the Delta Connection Program. During the fourth quarter of 2010, SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast reached an agreement with Delta on contractual rates satisfying the second-lowest rate provision and agreed on rates through December 31, 2015. Delta additionally waived its right to require that the contractual rates payable under the Delta Connection Agreements shall not exceed the second lowest of all carriers within the Delta Connection Program through December 31, 2015. As a result of the negotiated adjustment of the contractual rates under the Delta Connection Agreements, our passenger revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2011 were $5.3 million lower than they would have been under the rates that existed prior to the adjustment.  In addition, under our Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreement and our SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast United Express Agreements, we are paid incentive compensation upon the achievement of certain performance criteria. Our passenger revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2011 were $7.0 million lower, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010, due primarily to our receipt of lower incentive payments.

 

Ground handling and other.  Total ground handling and other revenues increased $9.1 million, or 92.0%, during the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010. Revenue attributed to ground handling services for our aircraft is reflected in our condensed consolidated statements of operations under the heading “Passenger revenues” and revenue attributed to handling third party aircraft is reflected in our condensed consolidated statements of operations under the heading “Ground Handling and other.” The increase was primarily related to the expansion of our operations following the completion of the ExpressJet Merger and aircraft rental revenue received from other airlines.

 

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 principal underlying driver of our operating costs, the following table indentifies costs per ASM, in an effort to illustrate significant changes in our costs not proportionate to the relative changes in our fleet size (dollar amounts in thousands).

 

		For the three months ended September 30,
													2011		2010
		2011			2010			$ Change			% Change		Cents Per		Cents Per
		Amount			Amount			Amount			Percent		ASM		ASM
Aircraft fuel		$	160,252		$	87,289		$	72,963		83.6	%	1.7		1.4
Salaries, wages and benefits		288,401			185,362			103,039			55.6	%	3.0		2.9
Aircraft maintenance, materials and repairs		189,762			120,863			68,899			57.0	%	2.0		1.9
Aircraft rentals		86,510			77,583			8,927			11.5	%	0.9		1.3
Depreciation and amortization		63,393			58,771			4,622			7.9	%	0.6		0.9
Station rentals and landing fees		45,902			31,769			14,133			44.5	%	0.5		0.5
Ground handling services		30,326			26,723			3,603			13.5	%	0.3		0.4
Merger and integration-related costs		2,207			—			2,207			N/A		—		—
Other		61,845			40,216			21,629			53.8	%	0.6		0.6
Total operating expenses		928,598			628,576			300,022			47.7	%	9.6		9.9
Interest expense		20,086			21,640			(1,554		)	(7.2	)%	0.2		0.4
Total airline expenses		$	948,684		$	650,216		298,468			45.9	%	9.8		10.3

 

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Aircraft Fuel. Fuel costs increased $73.0 million, or 83.6%, during the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010. The average cost per gallon of fuel increased to $3.49 per gallon during the three months ended September 30, 2011, from $2.55 per gallon during the three months ended September 30, 2010. The fuel cost not directly reimbursed by our major partners increased $4.9 million during the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010. The following table summarizes the gallons of fuel we purchased directly, and the change in fuel price per gallon on our fuel expense, for the periods indicated:

 

		For the three months ended September 30,
(in thousands, except per gallon amounts)		2011			2010			% Change
Fuel gallons purchased		45,904			34,211			34.2	%
Average price per gallon		$	3.49		$	2.55		36.9	%
Fuel expense		$	160,252		$	87,289		83.6	%

 

Salaries, Wages and Employee Benefits.  Salaries, wages and employee benefits increased $103.0 million, or 55.6%, during the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010. The average number of full-time equivalent employees increased 46.4% to 18,593 for the three months ended September 30, 2011, from 12,704 for the three months ended September 30, 2010, due primarily to the expansion of our operations following the completion of the ExpressJet Merger.

 

Aircraft maintenance, materials and repairs. Maintenance costs increased $68.9 million, or 57.0%, during the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010. 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 September 30,
		2011			2010			$ Change			% Change
Aircraft maintenance, materials and repairs		$	189,762		$	120,863		$	68,899		57.0	%
Less: Engine overhaul reimbursement directly from major partners		46,450			28,729			17,721			61.7	%
Less: CRJ 200 engine overhauls reimbursed at fixed hourly rates		28,197			17,470			10,727			61.4	%
Aircraft maintenance excluding reimbursed engine overhauls and CRJ 200 engine overhauls reimbursed at fixed hourly rate		$	115,115		$	74,664		$	40,451		54.2	%

 

Aircraft maintenance expense, excluding reimbursed engine overhauls and CRJ 200 engine overhauls reimbursed at fixed hourly rates, increased $40.5 million, or 54.2%, during the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010. The increase in maintenance expense, excluding engine overhaul costs was principally due to the expansion of our operations following the completion of the ExpressJet Merger.

 

We recognize engine maintenance expense on our CRJ200 regional jet engines on an as-incurred basis as maintenance expense. Under the SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast United Express Agreements, we recognize revenue at fixed hourly rates for mature engine maintenance on regional jet engines. Accordingly, the timing of engine maintenance events associated with aircraft under the SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast United Express Agreements can have a significant impact on our financial results. . During the three months ended September 30, 2011, our CRJ200 engine expense under our SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast United Express Agreements increased $10.7 million compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010. The increase in CRJ 200 engine overhauls reimbursed at a fixed hourly rate was principally due to scheduled engine maintenance events. We anticipate the number of scheduled engine maintenance events experienced during the year ended December 31, 2010 will likely continue through 2011 and into the middle of 2012, after which we expect a significant reduction in engine events.

 

Under our Delta Connection Agreements we are reimbursed for engine overhaul costs by Delta at the time the maintenance event occurs. Under our Continental Express Agreement, we are also reimbursed for actual engine overhaul costs by Continental at the time the expense is incurred. Such reimbursements are reflected as passenger revenue in our consolidated statement of operations.

 

Aircraft rentals.  Aircraft rental expense increased $8.9 million, or 11.5%, during the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010. The increase was primarily due to the expansion of our operations following the completion of the ExpressJet Merger. We have incurred additional aircraft rental expense of $6.9 million associated with aircraft operated under the ExpressJet United Express Agreement.

 

Depreciation and amortization.  Depreciation and amortization expense increased $4.6 million, or 7.9%, during the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010.  The increase in depreciation expense was primarily due to the expansion of our operations following the completion of the ExpressJet Merger.

 

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Station rentals and landing fees.  Station rentals and landing fees expense increased $14.1 million, or 44.5%, during the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010. The increase in station rentals and landing fees expense was primarily due to the expansion of our operations following the completion of the ExpressJet Merger. Without the expansion of the ExpressJet operations, station rentals and landing fees would have decreased primarily due to our major partners paying for certain station rents and landing fees directly to the applicable airports.

 

Ground handling service.  Ground handling service expense increased $3.6 million, or 13.5%, during the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010. The increase in ground handling service expense was primarily due to the expansion of our operations following the completion of the ExpressJet Merger

 

Merger and integration-related costs.  During the three months ended September 30, 2011, we incurred $2.2 million of direct severance, legal and advisor fees associated with the ExpressJet Merger and integration-related costs, including advisory fees to assist Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet work towards obtaining a single operating certificate.

 

Other expenses.  Other expenses, primarily consisting of property taxes, hull and liability insurance, crew simulator training and crew hotel costs, increased $21.6 million, or 53.8%, during the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010. The increase in other expenses was primarily due to the expansion of our operations following the completion of the ExpressJet Merger.

 

Interest.  Interest expense decreased $1.6 million, or 7.2%, during the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010. The decrease in interest expense was primarily due to a decrease in long term debt.  At September 30, 2011, we had $1,825.7 million of long term debt, compared to $1,943.0 million of debt as of September 30, 2010.

 

Total Airline Expenses.  Total airline expenses (consisting of total operating and interest expenses) increased $298.5 million, or 45.9%, during the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010. 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 Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreements and the Continental Express Agreement, 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 September 30,
		2011			2010			$ Change			% Change
Total airline expense		$	948,684		$	650,216		$	298,468		45.9	%
Less: Fuel expense		160,252			87,289			72,963			83.6	%
Less: Engine overhaul reimbursement from major partners		46,450			28,729			17,721			61.7	%
Less: CRJ 200 engine overhauls reimbursed at fixed hourly rate		28,197			17,470			10,727			61.4	%
Total airline expense excluding fuel and engine overhauls and CRJ 200 engine overhauls reimbursed at fixed hourly rate		$	713,785		$	516,728		$	197,057		38.1	%

 

Excluding fuel and engine overhaul costs and CRJ200 engine overhauls reimbursed at fixed hourly rates, our total airline expenses increased $197.1 million, or 38.1%, during the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010. The percentage increase in total airline expenses excluding fuel and engine overhauls, was more than the percentage increase in passenger revenues, excluding fuel and engine overhaul reimbursements from major partners due primarily to the factors described above.

 

Interest Income. Interest income decreased $0.6 million, or 21.2% during the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010. The decrease in interest income was due primarily to the retirement of a secured term loan that United repaid on August 11, 2010, which had an interest rate of 11%.

 

Adjustment to Purchase Accounting Gain. In connection with the preparation of the 2010 tax return, an adjustment to the ExpressJet acquisition accounting was identified that resulted in an increase to the acquired deferred tax liabilities of $5.7 million. The adjustment is reflected on the condensed consolidated statement of operations under the caption “Adjustment to purchase accounting gain.”

 

Other, net. Other expense, net increased $5.1 million, or 2,536% during the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010. Other income primarily consists of earnings and losses from our investments in TRIP and Air Mekong, which we account for under the equity method of accounting. The increase is due to our portion of losses in Trip and Air Mekong.

 

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