Spirit Airlines, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2019 June (Form 10-Q)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_______________________________________________________________________
Form 10-Q
_______________________________________________________________________
(Mark One)
☒ | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2019
OR
☐ | 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: 001-35186
_______________________________________________________________________
SPIRIT AIRLINES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
_______________________________________________________________________
Delaware | 38-1747023 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | ||
2800 Executive Way | Miramar | Florida | 33025 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(954) 447-7920
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
_______________________________________________________________________
Title of each class | Name of exchange on which registered | Trading Symbol | ||
Common Stock, $0.0001 par value | New York Stock Exchange | SAVE |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
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 (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “small reporting company” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer | ☒ | Accelerated filer | ☐ |
Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ |
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Emerging growth company | ☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock as of the close of business on July 18, 2019:
Class | Number of Shares | |
Common Stock, $0.0001 par value | 68,440,856 |
Table of Contents
INDEX
Page No. | |||||
PART I. Financial Information
ITEM 1. | UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
Spirit Airlines, Inc.
Condensed Statements of Operations
(unaudited, in thousands, except per share amounts)
Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||
2019 | 2018 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||
Operating revenues: | |||||||||||||||
Passenger | $ | 994,430 | $ | 836,350 | $ | 1,832,495 | $ | 1,525,491 | |||||||
Other | 18,526 | 15,421 | 36,257 | 30,418 | |||||||||||
Total operating revenues | 1,012,956 | 851,771 | 1,868,752 | 1,555,909 | |||||||||||
Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||
Aircraft fuel | 265,006 | 246,180 | 494,642 | 450,826 | |||||||||||
Salaries, wages and benefits | 216,375 | 187,756 | 420,276 | 342,852 | |||||||||||
Landing fees and other rents | 64,711 | 58,602 | 124,360 | 108,232 | |||||||||||
Aircraft rent | 46,522 | 41,745 | 92,304 | 91,936 | |||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 54,913 | 45,618 | 105,639 | 84,991 | |||||||||||
Distribution | 40,602 | 34,997 | 76,321 | 65,628 | |||||||||||
Maintenance, materials and repairs | 34,688 | 31,653 | 66,292 | 61,363 | |||||||||||
Special charges | — | 174 | — | 89,342 | |||||||||||
Loss on disposal of assets | 1,550 | 4,644 | 3,463 | 5,492 | |||||||||||
Other operating | 124,651 | 91,881 | 233,713 | 185,523 | |||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 849,018 | 743,250 | 1,617,010 | 1,486,185 | |||||||||||
Operating income (loss) | 163,938 | 108,521 | 251,742 | 69,724 | |||||||||||
Other (income) expense: | |||||||||||||||
Interest expense | 25,266 | 20,498 | 50,237 | 38,347 | |||||||||||
Capitalized interest | (2,975 | ) | (2,296 | ) | (5,532 | ) | (4,548 | ) | |||||||
Interest income | (7,066 | ) | (4,430 | ) | (13,990 | ) | (8,496 | ) | |||||||
Other expense | 144 | 188 | 377 | 321 | |||||||||||
Special charges, non-operating | — | 79,412 | — | 88,613 | |||||||||||
Total other (income) expense | 15,369 | 93,372 | 31,092 | 114,237 | |||||||||||
Income (loss) before income taxes | 148,569 | 15,149 | 220,650 | (44,513 | ) | ||||||||||
Provision (benefit) for income taxes | 34,068 | 3,895 | 50,073 | (10,845 | ) | ||||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | 114,501 | $ | 11,254 | $ | 170,577 | $ | (33,668 | ) | ||||||
Basic earnings (loss) per share | $ | 1.67 | $ | 0.16 | $ | 2.49 | $ | (0.49 | ) | ||||||
Diluted earnings (loss) per share | $ | 1.67 | $ | 0.16 | $ | 2.49 | $ | (0.49 | ) |
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Condensed Financial Statements.
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Spirit Airlines, Inc.
Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
(unaudited, in thousands)
Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||
2019 | 2018 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | 114,501 | $ | 11,254 | $ | 170,577 | $ | (33,668 | ) | ||||||
Unrealized gain on short-term investment securities, net of deferred taxes of $29, $33, $67 and $26 | 98 | 101 | 228 | 78 | |||||||||||
Interest rate derivative loss reclassified into earnings, net of taxes of $19, $18, $46, and $39 | 54 | 61 | 101 | 120 | |||||||||||
Other comprehensive income | $ | 152 | $ | 162 | $ | 329 | $ | 198 | |||||||
Comprehensive income (loss) | $ | 114,653 | $ | 11,416 | $ | 170,906 | $ | (33,470 | ) |
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Condensed Financial Statements.
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Spirit Airlines, Inc.
Condensed Balance Sheets
(unaudited, in thousands)
June 30, 2019 | December 31, 2018 | ||||||
Assets | |||||||
Current assets: | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,110,797 | $ | 1,004,733 | |||
Short-term investment securities | 104,228 | 102,789 | |||||
Accounts receivable, net | 78,125 | 47,660 | |||||
Aircraft maintenance deposits, net | 124,585 | 106,901 | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 102,952 | 83,383 | |||||
Total current assets | 1,520,687 | 1,345,466 | |||||
Property and equipment: | |||||||
Flight equipment | 3,514,104 | 3,257,215 | |||||
Ground property and equipment | 215,774 | 191,661 | |||||
Less accumulated depreciation | (367,712 | ) | (332,864 | ) | |||
3,362,166 | 3,116,012 | ||||||
Operating lease right-of-use assets | 1,057,846 | — | |||||
Pre-delivery deposits on flight equipment | 289,902 | 236,775 | |||||
Long-term aircraft maintenance deposits | 84,507 | 138,738 | |||||
Deferred heavy maintenance, net | 309,555 | 249,010 | |||||
Other long-term assets | 38,118 | 79,456 | |||||
Total assets | $ | 6,662,781 | $ | 5,165,457 | |||
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity | |||||||
Current liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 43,848 | $ | 39,320 | |||
Air traffic liability | 402,990 | 291,981 | |||||
Current maturities of long-term debt and finance leases | 270,407 | 163,557 | |||||
Current maturities of operating leases | 114,877 | — | |||||
Other current liabilities | 379,041 | 339,677 | |||||
Total current liabilities | 1,211,163 | 834,535 | |||||
Long-term debt and finance leases, less current maturities | 2,025,183 | 2,024,774 | |||||
Operating leases, less current maturities | 915,288 | — | |||||
Deferred income taxes | 399,765 | 355,141 | |||||
Deferred gains and other long-term liabilities | 16,355 | 22,503 | |||||
Shareholders’ equity: | |||||||
Common stock | 7 | 7 | |||||
Additional paid-in-capital | 377,639 | 371,225 | |||||
Treasury stock, at cost | (72,264 | ) | (67,016 | ) | |||
Retained earnings | 1,790,509 | 1,625,481 | |||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | (864 | ) | (1,193 | ) | |||
Total shareholders’ equity | 2,095,027 | 1,928,504 | |||||
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 6,662,781 | $ | 5,165,457 |
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Condensed Financial Statements.
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Spirit Airlines, Inc.
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
(unaudited, in thousands)
Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||
2019 | 2018 | ||||||
Operating activities: | |||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | 170,577 | $ | (33,668 | ) | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operations: | |||||||
Losses reclassified from other comprehensive income | 148 | 159 | |||||
Share-based compensation | 6,413 | 5,381 | |||||
Allowance for doubtful accounts (recoveries) | — | (12 | ) | ||||
Amortization of deferred gains and losses and debt issuance costs | 4,365 | 4,552 | |||||
Depreciation and amortization | 105,639 | 84,991 | |||||
Deferred income tax expense (benefit) | 44,511 | (17,604 | ) | ||||
Loss on disposal of assets | 3,463 | 5,492 | |||||
Special charges, non-operating | — | 88,613 | |||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts receivable, net | (30,465 | ) | (9,212 | ) | |||
Aircraft maintenance deposits, net | (6,214 | ) | 11,222 | ||||
Prepaid income taxes | 1,962 | — | |||||
Other assets | 10,212 | 3,003 | |||||
Deferred heavy maintenance, net | (88,350 | ) | (94,267 | ) | |||
Income tax receivable | — | (828 | ) | ||||
Accounts payable | 2,024 | 25,413 | |||||
Air traffic liability | 111,009 | 93,936 | |||||
Other liabilities | 6,154 | 83,809 | |||||
Other | (424 | ) | 8 | ||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 341,024 | 250,988 | |||||
Investing activities: | |||||||
Purchase of available-for-sale investment securities | (57,355 | ) | (73,687 | ) | |||
Proceeds from the maturity of available-for-sale investment securities | 56,595 | 72,964 | |||||
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment | — | 9,500 | |||||
Pre-delivery deposits on flight equipment, net of refunds | (75,826 | ) | (92,205 | ) | |||
Capitalized interest | (4,936 | ) | (4,178 | ) | |||
Assets under construction for others | (2,235 | ) | — | ||||
Purchase of property and equipment | (154,702 | ) | (323,229 | ) | |||
Net cash used in investing activities | (238,459 | ) | (410,835 | ) | |||
Financing activities: | |||||||
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt | 94,706 | 440,340 | |||||
Proceeds from stock options exercised | 1 | 2 | |||||
Payments on debt obligations | (85,785 | ) | (60,649 | ) | |||
Payments on finance lease obligations | (1,796 | ) | (205,403 | ) | |||
Reimbursement for assets under construction for others | 2,235 | — | |||||
Repurchase of common stock | (5,248 | ) | (986 | ) | |||
Debt issuance costs | (614 | ) | (1,944 | ) | |||
Net cash provided by financing activities | 3,499 | 171,360 | |||||
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents | 106,064 | 11,513 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 1,004,733 | 800,849 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 1,110,797 | $ | 812,362 | |||
Supplemental disclosures | |||||||
Cash payments for: | |||||||
Interest, net of capitalized interest | $ | 41,279 | $ | 16,769 | |||
Income taxes paid, net of refunds | $ | 7,394 | $ | 3,270 | |||
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: | |||||||
Operating cash flows for operating leases | $ | 95,643 | $ | — | |||
Operating cash flows for finance leases | $ | 1,457 | $ | — | |||
Financing cash flows for finance leases | $ | 339 | $ | — | |||
Non-cash transactions: | |||||||
Capital expenditures funded by finance lease borrowings | $ | 96,371 | $ | 315 | |||
Capital expenditures funded by operating lease borrowings | $ | 159,548 | $ | — |
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Condensed Financial Statements.
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Spirit Airlines, Inc.
Condensed Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
(In thousands)
Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Common Stock | Additional Paid-In-Capital | Treasury Stock | Retained Earnings | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2017 | $ | 7 | $ | 360,153 | $ | (65,854 | ) | $ | 1,469,732 | $ | (1,464 | ) | $ | 1,762,574 | |||||||||
Share-based compensation | — | 3,075 | — | — | — | 3,075 | |||||||||||||||||
Repurchase of common stock | — | — | (959 | ) | — | — | (959 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Proceeds from options exercised | — | 2 | — | — | — | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
Changes in comprehensive income | — | — | — | — | 35 | 35 | |||||||||||||||||
Net loss | — | — | — | (44,922 | ) | — | (44,922 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Balance at March 31, 2018 | $ | 7 | $ | 363,230 | $ | (66,813 | ) | $ | 1,424,810 | $ | (1,429 | ) | $ | 1,719,805 | |||||||||
Share-based compensation | — | 2,306 | — | — | — | 2,306 | |||||||||||||||||
Repurchase of common stock | — | — | (27 | ) | — | — | (27 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Proceeds from options exercised | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
Changes in comprehensive income | — | — | — | — | 162 | 162 | |||||||||||||||||
Net income | — | — | — | 11,254 | — | 11,254 | |||||||||||||||||
Balance at June 30, 2018 | $ | 7 | $ | 365,536 | $ | (66,840 | ) | $ | 1,436,064 | $ | (1,267 | ) | $ | 1,733,500 |
Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Common Stock | Additional Paid-In-Capital | Treasury Stock | Retained Earnings | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2018 | $ | 7 | $ | 371,225 | $ | (67,016 | ) | $ | 1,625,481 | $ | (1,193 | ) | $ | 1,928,504 | |||||||||
Effect of ASU No. 2016-02 implementation (refer to Note 2) | — | — | — | (5,549 | ) | — | (5,549 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation | — | 3,671 | — | — | — | 3,671 | |||||||||||||||||
Repurchase of common stock | — | — | (5,223 | ) | — | — | (5,223 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Proceeds from options exercised | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
Changes in comprehensive income | — | — | — | — | 177 | 177 | |||||||||||||||||
Net income | — | — | — | 56,076 | — | 56,076 | |||||||||||||||||
Balance at March 31, 2019 | $ | 7 | $ | 374,896 | $ | (72,239 | ) | $ | 1,676,008 | $ | (1,016 | ) | $ | 1,977,656 | |||||||||
Share-based compensation | — | 2,742 | — | — | — | 2,742 | |||||||||||||||||
Repurchase of common stock | — | — | (25 | ) | — | — | (25 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Proceeds from options exercised | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
Changes in comprehensive income | — | — | — | — | 152 | 152 | |||||||||||||||||
Net income | — | — | — | 114,501 | 114,501 | ||||||||||||||||||
Balance at June 30, 2019 | $ | 7 | $ | 377,639 | $ | (72,264 | ) | $ | 1,790,509 | $ | (864 | ) | $ | 2,095,027 |
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Condensed Financial Statements.
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Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
(unaudited)
1. | Basis of Presentation |
The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements include the accounts of Spirit Airlines, Inc. (the "Company"). These unaudited condensed financial statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments which management believes are necessary to fairly present the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company for the respective periods presented. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the audited annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission for Form 10-Q. These unaudited interim condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements of the Company and notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 13, 2019.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect both 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 may differ from these estimates.
The interim results reflected in the unaudited condensed financial statements are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for other interim periods or for the full year. The air transportation business is subject to significant seasonal fluctuations as demand is generally greater in the second and third quarters of each year. The air transportation business is also volatile and highly affected by economic cycles and trends.
2. | Recent Accounting Developments |
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
Leases
The Company adopted ASU No. 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)," effective January 1, 2019. The Company adopted Topic 842 utilizing the modified retrospective adoption method with an effective date of January 1, 2019 and elected the package of transition practical expedients for expired or existing contracts, which does not require reassessment of: (1) whether any of the Company's contracts are or contain leases, (2) lease classification and (3) initial direct costs. Therefore, the condensed financial statements for 2019 are presented under the new standard, while the comparative periods presented are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with the Company's historical accounting policy. This standard requires all lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability, initially measured at the present value of the lease payments, for all leases with a term greater than 12 months. The adoption of the new lease standard had a significant impact on the Company's condensed balance sheets due to the recognition of $1.0 billion of right-of-use assets for operating leases, $128.1 million of current maturities of operating leases and $895.1 million of operating leases, less current maturities. In addition, the Company recognized a $5.5 million cumulative effect adjustment, net of tax, to retained earnings. This adjustment was driven by the recognition of unamortized deferred gains and losses related to aircraft sale-leaseback transactions entered into in prior periods. Prior to the adoption of Topic 842, gains and losses on sale-leaseback transactions were generally deferred and recognized in income over the lease term. The accounting for finance leases is substantially unchanged. The adoption of Topic 842 did not have a significant impact on the Company's lease classification or a material impact on its statements of operations and liquidity. Additionally, the adoption of Topic 842 did not have a material impact on the Company’s debt-covenant compliance under its current agreements. Refer to Note 9, Leases for information regarding the Company's adoption of Topic 842 and the Company's undiscounted future lease payments and the timing of those payments.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
Cloud Computing Arrangements
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software." This new standard requires a customer in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract to follow the internal-use software guidance in Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 350-40, "Accounting for Internal-Use Software," to determine which implementation costs to capitalize as assets and amortize over the term of the hosting arrangement or expense as incurred. This standard is effective for the Company for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning
6
January 1, 2020. Early adoption is permitted, including during an interim period. Entities have the option to apply this standard prospectively to all implementation costs incurred after the date of adoption or retrospectively. The Company is evaluating this new standard, but does not expect it to have a significant impact on its financial statement presentation or results.
Accounting for Credit Losses
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses." The standard requires the use of an "expected loss" model on certain types of financial instruments. The standard also amends the impairment model for available-for-sale securities and requires estimated credit losses to be recorded as allowances rather than as reductions to the amortized cost of the securities. This standard is effective for the Company for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating the new guidance, but does not expect it to have a material impact on its financial statement presentation or results.
3. | Revenue |
Operating revenues is comprised of passenger revenues, which includes fare and non-fare revenues, and other revenues. The following table shows disaggregated operating revenues for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and June 30, 2018.
Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||
2019 | 2018 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||
Operating revenues: | |||||||||||||||
Fare | $ | 515,696 | $ | 439,549 | $ | 932,041 | $ | 782,244 | |||||||
Non-fare | 478,734 | 396,801 | 900,454 | 743,247 | |||||||||||
Total passenger revenues | 994,430 | 836,350 | 1,832,495 | 1,525,491 | |||||||||||
Other | 18,526 | 15,421 | 36,257 | 30,418 | |||||||||||
Total operating revenues | $ | 1,012,956 | $ | 851,771 | $ | 1,868,752 | $ | 1,555,909 |
The Company is managed as a single business unit that provides air transportation for passengers. Operating revenues by geographic region as defined by the Department of Transportation ("DOT") area are summarized below:
Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||
2019 | 2018 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||
DOT—Domestic | $ | 890,388 | $ | 768,297 | $ | 1,644,502 | $ | 1,417,433 | |||||||
DOT—Latin America | 122,568 | 83,474 | 224,250 | 138,476 | |||||||||||
Total | $ | 1,012,956 | $ | 851,771 | $ | 1,868,752 | $ | 1,555,909 |
The Company defers the amount for award travel obligation as part of loyalty deferred revenue within air traffic liability ("ATL") on the Company's condensed balance sheets and recognizes loyalty travel awards in passenger revenues as the mileage credits are used for travel or expire unused. As of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company had ATL balances of $403.0 million and $292.0 million, respectively. The balance of the Company's ATL is expected to be recognized within 12 months of the respective balance sheet date.
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4. | Special Charges |
Special Charges, Operating
During the six months ended June 30, 2019, the Company had no special charges within operating expenses in the statement of operations.
During the first quarter of 2018, the Company negotiated and amended the collective bargaining agreement with the Air Line Pilots Association, International ("ALPA"), under the guidance of the National Mediation Board ("NMB"). In connection with the amended agreement, the Company recorded a one-time ratification incentive of $80.7 million, including payroll taxes, and an $8.5 million adjustment related to other contractual provisions. These amounts totaling $89.2 million were recorded in special charges within operating expenses in the condensed statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2018.
Special Charges, Non-Operating
During the six months ended June 30, 2019, the Company had no special charges, non-operating within other (income) expense in the statement of operations.
During the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, the Company recorded $79.4 million and $88.6 million, respectively, in special charges, non-operating within other (income) expense in the statement of operations. During the first quarter of 2018, the Company entered into an aircraft purchase agreement for the purchase of 14 A319 aircraft previously operated under operating leases by the Company. The aggregate gross purchase price for the 14 aircraft was $285.0 million, and the price for each aircraft at the time of the sale was comprised of a cash payment net of the amount of maintenance reserves and security deposits for such aircraft held by the applicable lessor pursuant to the lease for such aircraft. The contract was deemed a lease modification, which resulted in a change of classification from operating leases to finance leases for the 14 aircraft. During the first quarter of 2018, the finance lease assets were recorded at the lower of cost or fair value of the aircraft within flight equipment on the condensed balance sheets. During the second quarter of 2018, the purchase of the 14 aircraft was completed and the obligation was accreted up to the net cash payment price with interest charges recognized in special charges, non-operating in the statement of operations. The Company determined the valuation of the aircraft based on third-party appraisals considering the condition of the aircraft (a Level 3 measurement).
5. | Earnings (Loss) per Share |
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||
2019 | 2018 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||
(in thousands, except per share amounts) | |||||||||||||||
Numerator | |||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | 114,501 | $ | 11,254 | $ | 170,577 | $ | (33,668 | ) | ||||||
Denominator | |||||||||||||||
Weighted-average shares outstanding, basic | 68,439 | 68,251 | 68,410 | 68,237 | |||||||||||
Effect of dilutive stock awards | 181 | 59 | 158 | — | |||||||||||
Adjusted weighted-average shares outstanding, diluted | 68,620 | 68,310 | 68,568 | 68,237 | |||||||||||
Earnings (loss) per share | |||||||||||||||
Basic earnings (loss) per common share | $ | 1.67 | $ | 0.16 | $ | 2.49 | $ | (0.49 | ) | ||||||
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share | $ | 1.67 | $ | 0.16 | $ | 2.49 | $ | (0.49 | ) | ||||||
Anti-dilutive weighted-average shares | 127 | 248 | 143 | 264 |
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6. | Short-term Investment Securities |
The Company's short-term investment securities are classified as available-for-sale and generally consist of U.S. Treasury and U.S. government agency securities with contractual maturities of 12 months or less. These securities are stated at fair value within current assets on the Company's condensed balance sheets. Realized gains and losses on sales of investments, if any, are reflected in non-operating income (expense) in the condensed statements of operations.
As of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company had $104.2 million and $102.8 million in short-term available-for-sale investment securities, respectively. During the six months ended June 30, 2019, these investments earned interest income at a weighted-average fixed rate of approximately 2.4%. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, an unrealized gain of $98 thousand and $228 thousand, net of deferred taxes of $29 thousand and $67 thousand, respectively, was recorded within accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI") related to these investment securities. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, an unrealized gain of $101 thousand and $78 thousand, net of deferred taxes of $33 thousand and $26 thousand, respectively, was recorded within AOCI related to these investment securities. The Company has not recognized any realized gains or losses related to these securities as the Company has not sold any of these securities. As of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, $154 thousand and $74 thousand, net of tax, respectively, remained in AOCI, related to these instruments.
7. | Accrued Liabilities |
Other current liabilities as of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 consist of the following:
June 30, 2019 | December 31, 2018 | ||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||
Federal excise and other passenger taxes and fees payable | $ | 97,375 | $ | 60,604 | |||
Salaries and wages | 83,379 | 82,900 | |||||
Airport obligations | 64,065 | 52,029 | |||||
Aircraft maintenance | 41,563 | 59,805 | |||||
Fuel | 27,204 | 25,368 | |||||
Aircraft and facility lease obligations | 20,277 | 15,149 | |||||
Interest payable | 17,558 | 18,086 | |||||
Other | 27,620 | 25,736 | |||||
Other current liabilities | $ | 379,041 | $ | 339,677 |
8. | Financial Instruments and Risk Management |
As part of the Company’s risk management program, the Company from time to time uses a variety of financial instruments to reduce its exposure to fluctuations in the price of jet fuel and in interest rates. The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.
The Company may be exposed to credit losses in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to these financial instruments. The Company periodically reviews and seeks to mitigate exposure to the financial deterioration and nonperformance of any counterparty by monitoring the absolute exposure levels, each counterparty's credit ratings and the historical performance of the counterparties relating to hedge transactions. The credit exposure related to these financial instruments is limited to the fair value of contracts in a net receivable position at the reporting date. The Company also maintains security agreements that require the Company to post collateral if the value of selected instruments falls below specified mark-to-market thresholds. The Company records financial derivative instruments at fair value, which includes an evaluation of each counterparty's credit risk. As of June 30, 2019, the Company did not hold any derivatives with requirements to post collateral.
Fuel Derivative Instruments
From time to time, the Company may enter into fuel derivative contracts in order to mitigate the risk of future volatility in fuel prices. The Company's fuel derivative contracts, if any, generally consist of United States Gulf Coast jet fuel swaps ("jet fuel swaps") and United States Gulf Coast jet fuel options ("jet fuel options"). Both jet fuel swaps and jet fuel options are used
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at times to protect the refining price risk between the price of crude oil and the price of refined jet fuel, and to manage the risk of increasing fuel prices. Fair value of the instruments is determined using standard option valuation models.
The Company accounts for any fuel derivative contracts at fair value and recognizes them in the condensed balance sheets in prepaid expenses and other current assets or other current liabilities. The Company did not enter into any fuel derivative instruments during the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, and did not have any outstanding fuel derivatives as of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018. Historically, the Company has not elected hedge accounting on any fuel derivative instruments entered into and, as a result, changes in the fair value of fuel derivative contracts, if any, were recorded in aircraft fuel expense.
Interest Rate Swaps
From time to time, the Company may enter into interest rate swaps to fix the benchmark interest rate component of interest payments or for other reasons. These instruments limit the Company's exposure to changes in the benchmark interest rate in the period from the trade date through the date of maturity. Interest rate swaps may be designated as cash flow hedges. The Company generally accounts for interest rate swaps at fair value and recognizes them in the balance sheet in prepaid expenses and other current assets or other current liabilities with changes in fair value recorded within AOCI. As of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company did not have any outstanding interest rate swaps.
Realized gains and losses from cash flow hedges are recorded in the condensed statements of cash flows as a component of cash flows from operating activities. Subsequent to the issuance of each debt instrument, amounts remaining in AOCI are amortized over the life of the fixed-rate debt instrument. During the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, there were no unrealized gains or losses recorded within AOCI related to these instruments as they settled in 2015. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, the Company reclassified interest rate swap losses of $54 thousand and $101 thousand, net of tax of $19 thousand and $46 thousand, respectively, into earnings. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, the Company reclassified interest rate swap losses of $61 thousand and $120 thousand, net of tax of $18 thousand and $39 thousand, respectively, into earnings. As of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, $1.0 million and $1.1 million, net of tax, respectively, remained in AOCI, related to these instruments.
9. | Leases |
The Company leases aircraft, engines, airport terminals, maintenance and training facilities, aircraft hangars, commercial real estate, and office and computer equipment, among other items. Certain of these leases include provisions for variable lease payments which are based on several factors, including, but not limited to, relative leased square footage, enplaned passengers, and airports’ annual operating budgets. Due to the variable nature of the rates, these leases are not recorded on the Company's condensed balance sheets as a right-of-use asset and lease liability. Lease terms are generally 8 years to 18 years for aircraft and up to 30 years for other leased equipment and property.
The Company adopted Topic 842 utilizing the modified retrospective adoption method with an effective date of January 1, 2019. The Company elected not to apply the recognition requirements in Topic 842 to short-term leases (i.e., leases of 12 months or less). Instead, a lessee may recognize the lease payments in profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company elected this accounting policy for all classes of underlying assets. In addition, in accordance with Topic 842, variable lease payments in the period in which the obligation for those payments is incurred are not included in the recognition of a lease liability or right-of-use asset.
Right-of-use assets represent the Company's right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company's obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Right-of-use assets and liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the estimated present value of lease payments over the lease term. When available, the Company uses the rate implicit in the lease to discount lease payments to present value. However, the Company's leases generally do not provide a readily determinable implicit rate. Therefore, the Company estimates the incremental borrowing rate to discount lease payments based on information available at lease commencement. The Company uses publicly available data for instruments with similar characteristics when calculating its incremental borrowing rates. The Company has options to extend certain of its operating leases for an additional period of time and options to early terminate several of its operating leases. The lease term consists of the noncancellable period of the lease, periods covered by options to extend the lease if the Company is reasonably certain to exercise the option, periods covered by an option to terminate the lease if the Company is reasonably certain not to exercise the option and periods covered by an option to extend or not terminate the lease in which the exercise of the option is controlled by the lessor. The Company's lease agreements do not contain any residual value guarantees. The Company has elected to not separate non-lease components from the associated lease component for all underlying classes of assets with lease and non-lease components.
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As of June 30, 2019, the Company had 46 aircraft financed under operating leases, with lease term expirations between 2022 and 2034. In addition, as of June 30, 2019, the Company had 11 spare engines financed under operating leases with lease term expiration dates ranging from 2019 to 2027. One of the Company's leased aircraft has variable rent payments, which fluctuate based on changes in London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR").
During the six months ended June 30, 2019, the Company took delivery of two aircraft under secured debt arrangements, purchased one previously leased aircraft, and took delivery of five aircraft under operating leases. The Company also purchased two engines and purchased one previously leased engine. Upon purchase off lease, the assets previously recorded in our operating lease right-of-use asset (in accordance with the adoption of Topic 842) were recorded within flight equipment on our condensed balance sheets.
The Company entered into sale leaseback transactions with third-party aircraft lessors for some of its leased aircraft and engines. Upon adoption of Topic 842, the Company recognized a $5.5 million cumulative effect adjustment, net of tax, to retained earnings driven by the recognition of unamortized deferred gains and losses related to aircraft sale-leaseback transactions entered into in prior periods. Prior to the adoption of Topic 842, gains and losses on sale-leaseback transactions were generally deferred and recognized in income over the lease term. Under Topic 842, gains and losses on sale-leaseback transactions, subject to adjustment for off-market terms, are recognized immediately.
Some of the Company’s aircraft and engine master lease agreements provide that the Company pays maintenance reserves to aircraft lessors to be held as collateral in advance of the Company’s required performance of major maintenance activities. A majority of these maintenance reserve payments are calculated based on a utilization measure, such as flight hours or cycles, while some maintenance reserve payments are fixed, time-based contractual amounts. Maintenance reserve payments that are probable of being recovered when the Company performs qualifying maintenance are recorded in aircraft maintenance deposits on the Company's condensed balance sheets. Fixed maintenance reserve payments that are not probable of being recovered are considered lease payments and are included in the right-of-use asset and lease liability. Maintenance reserve payments that are based on a utilization measure and are not probable of being recovered are considered variable lease payments that are recognized when they are probable of being incurred and are not included in the right-of-use asset and lease liability.
Fixed maintenance reserve payments for the Company's aircraft and related flight equipment, including estimated amounts for contractual price escalations, are expected to be $1.4 million for the remainder of 2019, $2.6 million in 2020, $2.6 million in 2021, $2.7 million in 2022, $2.5 million in 2023, and $0.5 million in 2024 and beyond. Some of the master lease agreements do not require that the Company pay maintenance reserves so long as the Company's cash balance does not fall below a certain level. As of June 30, 2019, the Company is in full compliance with those requirements and does not anticipate having to pay reserves related to these master leases in the future.
Under the terms of the lease agreements, the Company will continue to operate and maintain the aircraft. Payments under the majority of the lease agreements are fixed for the term of the lease. The lease agreements contain standard termination events, including termination upon a breach of the Company's obligations to make rental payments and upon any other material breach of the Company's obligations under the leases, and standard maintenance and return condition provisions. These return provisions are evaluated at inception of the lease and throughout the lease terms and are accounted for as either fixed or variable lease payments (depending on the nature of the lease return condition) when it is probable that such amounts will be incurred. When determining probability and estimated cost of lease return obligations, there are various other factors that need to be considered such as the contractual terms of the lease, the ability to swap engines or other aircraft components, current condition of the aircraft, the age of the aircraft at lease expiration, utilization of engines and other components, the extent of repairs needed at return, return locations, current configuration of the aircraft and cost of repairs and materials at the time of return. As a result of the different factors listed above, management assesses the need to accrue lease return costs throughout the lease as facts and circumstances warrant an assessment. The Company expects lease return costs and unrecoverable maintenance deposits will increase as individual aircraft lease agreements approach their respective termination dates and the Company begins to accrue the estimated cost of return conditions for the corresponding aircraft. Upon a termination of the lease due to a breach by the Company, the Company would be liable for standard contractual damages, possibly including damages suffered by the lessor in connection with remarketing the aircraft or while the aircraft is not leased to another party.
Aircraft rent expense consists of monthly lease rents for aircraft and spare engines under the terms of the Company's aircraft and spare engine lease agreements recognized on a straight-line basis. Aircraft rent expense also includes maintenance reserves paid to aircraft lessors in advance of the performance of major maintenance activities that are not probable of being reimbursed and probable lease return condition obligations.
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The following table provides details of the Company's future minimum lease payments under finance lease liabilities and operating lease liabilities recorded on the Company's condensed balance sheets as of June 30, 2019. The table does not include commitments that are contingent on events or other factors that are currently uncertain or unknown.
Finance Leases | Operating Leases | |||||||||||||||||||
Aircraft and Spare Engine Leases | Property Facility Leases | Other | Total Operating and Finance Lease Obligations | |||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Remainder of 2019 | $ | 94,751 | $ | 88,536 | $ | 1,396 | $ | 290 | $ | 184,973 | ||||||||||
2020 | 780 | 172,409 | 2,417 | 517 | 176,123 | |||||||||||||||
2021 | 606 | 171,168 | 1,909 | — | 173,683 | |||||||||||||||
2022 | 578 | 172,951 | 1,080 | — | 174,609 | |||||||||||||||
2023 | 202 | 155,076 | 1,055 | — | 156,333 | |||||||||||||||
2024 and thereafter | — | 592,704 | 4,938 | — | 597,642 | |||||||||||||||
Total minimum lease payments | $ | 96,917 | $ | 1,352,844 | $ | 12,795 | $ | 807 | $ | 1,463,363 | ||||||||||
Less amount representing interest | 535 | 332,667 | 3,583 | 31 | 336,816 | |||||||||||||||
Present value of minimum lease payments | $ | 96,382 | $ | 1,020,177 | $ | 9,212 | $ | 776 | $ | 1,126,547 | ||||||||||
Less current portion | 94,834 | 112,189 | 2,137 | 551 | 209,711 | |||||||||||||||
Long-term portion | $ | 1,548 | $ | 907,988 | $ | 7,075 | $ | 225 | $ | 916,836 |
Commitments related to the Company's noncancellable short-term operating leases not recorded on the Company's condensed balance sheets are expected to be $0.5 million for the remainder of 2019 and none in 2020 and beyond.
In June 2019, the Company entered into an aircraft sale agreement to acquire four A320 aircraft previously operated by the Company under operating leases. The agreement provides for the purchase by the Company of each aircraft to occur during the third quarter of 2019. The aggregate gross purchase price for the 4 aircraft was $141.3 million, and the payment of the price for each aircraft at the time of the sale will be comprised of a cash payment net of the amount of maintenance reserves and security deposits for such aircraft held by the applicable lessor pursuant to the lease for such aircraft. The contract was deemed a lease modification, which resulted in a change of classification from operating leases to finance leases for the four aircraft. The Company recorded a finance lease obligation of $94.9 million calculated as the present value of the remaining lease payments, including the final payment to purchase the aircraft and included within current maturities of long-term debt and finance leases on the Company's condensed balance sheets. In addition, the Company recorded finance lease assets of $140.5 million, which include related amounts previously recorded as maintenance reserves and security deposits and included within flight equipment on the Company's condensed balance sheets.
The remainder of the Company's finance lease obligations relate to leased computer and office equipment. Payments under these finance lease agreements are fixed for terms ranging from 3 to 5 years. Accounting for finance leases is substantially unchanged under Topic 842. Finance lease assets are recorded within property and equipment and the related liabilities are recorded within current maturities of long-term debt and finance leases and long-term debt and finance leases, less current maturities in the Company's condensed balance sheets.
The table below presents information for lease costs related to the Company's finance and operating leases:
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Three Months Ended June 30, 2019 | Six Months Ended June 30, 2019 | ||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||
Finance lease cost | |||||||
Amortization of leased assets | $ | 519 | $ | 728 | |||
Interest of lease liabilities | 309 | 339 | |||||
Operating lease cost | |||||||
Operating lease cost (1) | 48,639 | 98,353 | |||||
Short-term lease cost (1) | 3,509 | 6,958 | |||||
Variable lease cost (1) | 31,653 | 59,770 | |||||
Total lease cost | $ | 84,629 | $ | 166,148 |
(1) Expenses are classified within aircraft rent and landing fees and other rents on the Company's condensed statements of operations.
The table below presents lease-related terms and discount rates as of June 30, 2019:
June 30, 2019 | ||
Weighted-average remaining lease term | ||
Operating leases | 9.8 years | |
Finance leases | 0.8 years | |
Weighted-average discount rate | ||
Operating leases | 6.52 | % |
Finance leases | 3.93 | % |
10. | Commitments and Contingencies |
Aircraft-Related Commitments and Financing Arrangements
The Company’s contractual purchase commitments consist primarily of aircraft and engine acquisitions through manufacturers. As of June 30, 2019, the Company's aircraft orders consisted of the following:
Airbus | ||
A320neo | ||
Remainder of 2019 | 8 | |
2020 | 17 | |
2021 | 18 | |
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As of June 30, 2019, the Company has no contractual aircraft purchase commitments beyond 2021. The Company also has one spare engine order for a V2500 SelectTwo engine with International Aero Engines ("IAE") and six spare engine orders for PurePower PW1100G-JM engines with Pratt & Whitney. Spare engines are scheduled for delivery from 2020 through 2023. Purchase commitments for these aircraft and engines, including estimated amounts for contractual price escalations and pre-delivery payments, are expected to be $388.5 million for the remainder of 2019, $858.0 million in 2020, $776.1 million in 2021, $17.6 million in 2022, $8.3 million in 2023, and none in 2024 and beyond. As of June 30, 2019, the Company has secured sale-leaseback financing commitments for six aircraft being delivered in the remainder of 2019. As of June 30, 2019, the Company does not have financing commitments in place for the remaining 37 Airbus aircraft on firm order, which are scheduled for delivery in the remainder of 2019 through 2021.
Interest commitments related to the secured debt financing of 62 delivered aircraft as of June 30, 2019 are $42.6 million for the remainder of 2019, $78.5 million in 2020, $71.3 million in 2021, $64.3 million in 2022, $54.1 million in 2023, and
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$157.9 million in 2024 and beyond. For principal commitments related to these financed aircraft, refer to Note 12, Debt and Other Obligations.
The Company is contractually obligated to pay the following minimum guaranteed payments for its reservation system and other miscellaneous subscriptions and services as of June 30, 2019: $6.9 million for the remainder of 2019, $17.4 million in 2020, $14.7 million in 2021, $13.9 million in 2022, $12.7 million in 2023, and $60.0 million thereafter. During the first quarter of 2018, the Company entered into a contract renewal with its reservation system provider which expires in 2028.
Litigation
The Company is subject to commercial litigation claims and to administrative and regulatory proceedings and reviews that may be asserted or maintained from time to time. The Company believes the ultimate outcome of such lawsuits, proceedings and reviews will not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on its financial position, liquidity or results of operations.
Credit Card Processing Arrangements
The Company has agreements with organizations that process credit card transactions arising from the purchase of air travel, baggage charges, and other ancillary services by customers. As is standard in the airline industry, the Company's contractual arrangements with credit card processors permit them, under certain circumstances, to retain a holdback or other collateral, which the Company records as restricted cash, when future air travel and other future services are purchased via credit card transactions. The required holdback is the percentage of the Company's overall credit card sales that its credit card processors hold to cover refunds to customers if the Company fails to fulfill its flight obligations.
The Company's credit card processors do not require the Company to maintain cash collateral provided that the Company satisfies certain liquidity and other financial covenants. Failure to meet these covenants would provide the processors the right to place a holdback resulting in a commensurate reduction of unrestricted cash. As of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company was in compliance with such liquidity and other financial covenants in its credit card processing agreements and the processors were holding back no remittances.
The maximum potential exposure to cash holdbacks by the Company's credit card processors, based upon advance ticket sales and $9 Fare Club memberships as of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, was $450.1 million and $321.0 million, respectively.
Employees
The Company has 5 union-represented employee groups that together represented approximately 80% of all employees at June 30, 2019. The table below sets forth the Company's employee groups and status of the collective bargaining agreements as of June 30, 2019.
Employee Groups | Representative | Amendable Date | Percentage of Workforce | |||
Pilots | Air Line Pilots Association, International ("ALPA") | February 2023 | 26% | |||
Flight Attendants | Association of Flight Attendants ("AFA-CWA") | May 2021 | 46% | |||
Dispatchers | Professional Airline Flight Control Association ("PAFCA") | October 2023 | 1% | |||
Ramp Service Agents | International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers ("IAMAW") | June 2020 | 4% | |||
Passenger Service Agents | Transport Workers Union of America ("TWU") | NA | 3% |
In August 2015, the Company's collective bargaining agreement with its pilots, represented by ALPA, became amendable. In February 2018, the pilot group voted to approve a new five-year agreement with the Company. In connection with the new agreement, the Company recorded a one-time ratification incentive of $80.7 million, including payroll taxes, and an $8.5 million adjustment related to other contractual provisions. These amounts totaling $89.2 million were recorded in special charges within operating expenses in the condensed statements of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2018. For additional information, refer to Note 4, Special Charges.
In June 2018, the NMB notified the Company that the TWU filed an application seeking a representation election for the Company's passenger service agents. The NMB determined that a representation election would be held and the voting period
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for the election took place through September 4, 2018. The Company’s passenger service agents voted to be represented by the TWU, but the representation applies only to the Company’s Fort Lauderdale station where the Company has direct employees in the passenger service classification. The Company and the TWU began meeting in late October 2018 to negotiate an initial collective bargaining agreement. As of June 30, 2019, the Company continued to negotiate with the TWU.
The Company is self-insured for healthcare claims, up to a stop-loss amount for eligible participating employees and qualified dependent medical claims, subject to deductibles and limitations. The Company’s liabilities for claims incurred but not reported are determined based on an estimate of the ultimate aggregate liability for claims incurred. The estimate is calculated from actual claim rates and adjusted periodically as necessary. The Company has accrued $5.0 million and $4.4 million in health care claims as of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.
11. | Fair Value Measurements |
Under ASC 820, "Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures," disclosures relating to how fair value is determined for assets and liabilities are required, and a hierarchy for which these assets and liabilities must be grouped is established, based on significant levels of inputs, as follows:
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.
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.
Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The Company utilizes several valuation techniques in order to assess the fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities.
Fuel Derivative Instruments
From time to time, the Company may enter into fuel derivative contracts in order to mitigate the risk of future volatility in fuel prices. The Company’s fuel derivative contracts generally consist of jet fuel swaps and jet fuel options. These instruments are valued using energy and commodity market data, which is derived by combining raw inputs with quantitative models and processes to generate forward curves and volatilities.
The Company utilizes the market approach to measure fair value for its fuel derivative instruments, if any. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities.
The Company has not historically elected hedge accounting on its fuel derivative instruments, if any. As a result, the Company would record the fair value adjustment of any fuel derivatives in the accompanying condensed statements of operations within aircraft fuel and on the condensed balance sheets within prepaid expenses and other current assets or other current liabilities, depending on whether the net fair value of the derivatives is in an asset or liability position as of the respective date. Fair values of any fuel derivative instruments are determined using standard option valuation models. The Company also considers counterparty risk and its own credit risk in its determination of all estimated fair values. The Company offsets fair value amounts recognized for any derivative instruments executed with the same counterparty under a master netting arrangement. The Company determines fair value of any jet fuel options utilizing an option pricing model based on inputs that are either readily available in public markets or can be derived from information available in publicly quoted markets. The Company has consistently applied these valuation techniques in all periods presented and believes it has obtained the most accurate information available for the types of derivative contracts it may hold.
The fair value of the Company's jet fuel swaps, if any, are determined based on inputs that are readily available in public markets or can be derived from information available in publicly quoted markets; therefore, the Company categorizes these instruments as Level 2. Due to the fact that certain inputs utilized to determine the fair value of jet fuel options are unobservable (principally implied volatility), the Company categorizes these derivatives as Level 3. Implied volatility of a jet fuel option is the volatility of the price of the underlying commodity that is implied by the market price of the option based on an option pricing model. Thus, it is the volatility that when used in a particular pricing model yields a theoretical value for the
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option equal to the current market price of that option. Implied volatility, a forward-looking measure, differs from historical volatility because the latter is calculated from known past returns. At each balance sheet date, the Company substantiates and adjusts unobservable inputs. The Company routinely assesses the valuation model's sensitivity to changes in implied volatility. As of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company had no outstanding jet fuel derivatives.
Long-Term Debt
The estimated fair value of the Company's term loan debt agreements and revolving credit facility have been determined to be Level 3 as certain inputs used to determine the fair value of these agreements are unobservable. The Company utilizes a discounted cash flow method to estimate the fair value of the Level 3 long-term debt. The estimated fair value of the Company's publicly and non-publicly held EETC debt agreements has been determined to be Level 2 as the Company utilizes quoted market prices in markets with low trading volumes to estimate the fair value of its Level 2 long-term debt.
The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company's long-term debt at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 were as follows:
June 30, 2019 | December 31, 2018 | Fair Value Level Hierarchy | |||||||||||||||
Carrying Value | Estimated Fair Value | Carrying Value | Estimated Fair Value | ||||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||||
Fixed-rate senior term loans | $ | 364.0 | $ | 382.4 | $ | 382.4 | $ | 373.6 | Level 3 | ||||||||
Fixed-rate junior term loans | 26.8 | 27.4 | 31.1 | 31.1 | Level 3 | ||||||||||||
Fixed-rate term loans | 672.7 | 700.4 | 625.1 | 600.1 | Level 3 | ||||||||||||
2015-1 EETC Class A | 363.6 | 382.7 | 378.6 | 374.8 | Level 2 | ||||||||||||
2015-1 EETC Class B | 76.0 | 78.2 | 80.0 | 78.1 | Level 2 | ||||||||||||
2015-1 EETC Class C | 103.8 | 105.9 | 109.5 | 107.9 | Level 2 | ||||||||||||
2017-1 EETC Class AA | 235.4 | 240.7 | 242.5 | 228.8 | Level 2 | ||||||||||||
2017-1 EETC Class A | 78.5 | 78.9 | 80.8 | 76.6 | Level 2 | ||||||||||||
2017-1 EETC Class B | 77.2 | 77.8 | 83.7 | 79.1 | Level 2 | ||||||||||||
2017-1 EETC Class C | 85.5 | 87.6 | 85.5 | 84.2 | Level 2 | ||||||||||||
Revolving credit facility | 160.0 | 160.0 | 135.3 | 135.3 | Level 3 | ||||||||||||
Total long-term debt | $ | 2,243.5 | $ | 2,322.0 | $ | 2,234.5 | $ | 2,169.6 |
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 are comprised of liquid money market funds and cash, and are categorized as Level 1 instruments. The Company maintains cash with various high-quality financial institutions.
Short-term Investment Securities
Short-term investment securities at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 are classified as available-for-sale and generally consist of U.S. Treasury and U.S. government agency securities with contractual maturities of 12 months or less. The Company's short-term investment securities are categorized as Level 1 instruments, as the Company uses quoted market prices in active markets when determining the fair value of these securities. For additional information, refer to Note 6, Short-term Investment Securities.
Assets and liabilities measured at gross fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below:
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Fair Value Measurements as of June 30, 2019 | |||||||||||||||
Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | ||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,110.8 | $ | 1,110.8 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||
Short-term investment securities | 104.2 | 104.2 | — | — | |||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 1,215.0 | $ | 1,215.0 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||
Total liabilities | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — |
Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2018 | |||||||||||||||
Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | ||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,004.7 | $ | 1,004.7 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||
Short-term investment securities | 102.8 | 102.8 | — | — | |||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 1,107.5 | $ | 1,107.5 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||
Total liabilities | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — |
The Company had no transfers of assets or liabilities between any of the above levels during the periods ended June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018.
The Company's Valuation Group, which reports to the Chief Financial Officer, is made up of individuals from the Company's Treasury and Corporate Accounting departments. The Valuation Group is responsible for the execution of the Company's valuation policies and procedures. The Valuation Group compares the results of the Company's internally developed valuation methods with counterparty reports at each balance sheet date, assesses the Company's valuation methods for accurateness and identifies any needs for modification.
12. | Debt and Other Obligations |
As of June 30, 2019, the Company had outstanding non-public and public debt instruments. During the six months ended June 30, 2019, the Company incurred debt through fixed-rate term loans and a previously existing revolving credit facility described below.
Fixed-rate term loans
During 2018, the Company entered into a facility agreement, which as of June 30, 2019, provided $70.0 million for two Airbus A320 aircraft delivered in 2019. The loans extended under the facility agreement are secured by a first-priority security interest on the individual aircraft. These loans have a term life of 12 years and amortize on a mortgage-style basis, which requires quarterly principal and interest payments.
Revolving credit facility
During 2018, the Company entered into a revolving credit facility for up to $160 million secured by the collateral assignment of certain of the Company's rights under the purchase agreement with Airbus, related to 43 Airbus A320neo aircraft scheduled to be delivered between August 2019 and December 2021. The final maturity of the facility is December 30, 2020. As of June 30, 2019, the Company had drawn $160.0 million on the facility which is included in long-term debt and finance leases, less current maturities on the Company's condensed balance sheets. The revolving credit facility bears variable interest based on LIBOR.
Long-term debt is comprised of the following:
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As of | Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||||||
June 30, 2019 | December 31, 2018 | 2019 | 2018 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
(in millions) | (weighted-average interest rates) | |||||||||||||||||||
Fixed-rate senior term loans due through 2027 | $ | 364.0 | $ | 382.4 | 4.10 | % | 4.10 | % | 4.10 | % | 4.10 | % | ||||||||
Fixed-rate junior term loans due through 2022 | 26.8 | 31.1 | 6.90 | % | 6.90 | % | 6.90 | % | 6.90 | % | ||||||||||
Fixed-rate loans due through 2031 | 672.7 | 625.1 | 3.48 | % | 3.83 | % | 3.48 | % | 3.83 | % | ||||||||||
Fixed-rate class A 2015-1 EETC due through 2028 | 363.6 | 378.6 | 4.10 | % | 4.10 | % | 4.10 | % | 4.10 | % | ||||||||||
Fixed-rate class B 2015-1 EETC due through 2024 | 76.0 | 80.0 | 4.45 | % | 4.45 | % | 4.45 | % | 4.45 | % | ||||||||||
Fixed-rate class C 2015-1 EETC due through 2023 | 103.8 | 109.5 | 4.93 | % | 4.93 | % | 4.93 | % | 4.93 | % | ||||||||||
Fixed-rate class AA 2017-1 EETC due through 2030 | 235.4 | 242.5 | 3.38 | % | 3.38 | % | 3.38 | % | 3.38 | % | ||||||||||
Fixed-rate class A 2017-1 EETC due through 2030 | 78.5 | 80.8 | 3.65 | % | 3.65 | % | 3.65 | % | 3.65 | % | ||||||||||
Fixed-rate class B 2017-1 EETC due through 2026 | 77.2 | 83.7 | 3.80 | % | 3.80 | % | 3.80 | % | 3.80 | % | ||||||||||
Fixed-rate class C 2017-1 EETC due through 2023 | 85.5 | 85.5 | 5.11 | % | 5.11 | % | 5.11 | % | 5.11 | % | ||||||||||
Revolving credit facility due in 2020 | 160.0 | 135.3 | 3.86 | % | N/A | 3.87 | % | N/A | ||||||||||||
Long-term debt | 2,243.5 | 2,234.5 | ||||||||||||||||||
Less current maturities | 175.5 | 162.8 | ||||||||||||||||||
Less unamortized discounts, net | 44.2 | 47.7 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 2,023.8 | $ | 2,024.0 |
The Company's debt financings are collateralized by first priority security interest in the individual aircraft being financed with the exception of the Company's revolving credit facility secured by the Company's rights under the purchase agreement with Airbus related to certain A320neo aircraft. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, the Company made scheduled principal payments of $47.9 million and $85.8 million, respectively, on its outstanding debt obligations. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, the Company made scheduled principal payments of $42.0 million and $60.6 million, respectively, on its outstanding debt obligations.
At June 30, 2019, long-term debt principal payments for the next five years and thereafter are as follows:
June 30, 2019 | ||||
(in millions) | ||||
Remainder of 2019 | $ | 89.4 | ||
2020 | 216.1 | |||
2021 | 285.8 | |||
2022 | 164.3 | |||
2023 | 303.1 | |||
2024 and beyond | 1,184.8 | |||
Total debt principal payments | $ | 2,243.5 |
Interest Expense
Interest expense related to long-term debt and finance leases consists of the following:
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Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||
2019 | 2018 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||
Fixed-rate senior term loans | $ | 3,878 | $ | 4,257 | $ | 7,823 | $ | 8,573 | |||||||
Fixed-rate junior term loans | 489 | 636 | 1,012 | 1,303 | |||||||||||
Fixed-rate term loans | 6,432 | 4,881 | 12,634 | 9,792 | |||||||||||
Class A 2015-1 EETC | 3,709 | 4,015 | 7,547 | 8,157 | |||||||||||
Class B 2015-1 EETC | 841 | 930 | 1,721 | 1,942 | |||||||||||
Class C 2015-1 EETC | 1,280 | 789 | 2,615 | 789 | |||||||||||
Class AA 2017-1 EETC | 1,997 | 1,576 | 3,986 | 2,257 | |||||||||||
Class A 2017-1 EETC | 720 | 568 | 1,437 | 814 | |||||||||||
Class B 2017-1 EETC | 737 | 654 | 1,491 | 936 | |||||||||||
Class C 2017-1 EETC | 1,092 | 466 | 2,171 | 466 | |||||||||||
Revolving credit facility | 1,559 | — | 2,973 | — | |||||||||||
Amortization of deferred financing costs | 2,177 | 1,655 | 4,369 | 3,146 | |||||||||||
Commitment and other fees | 46 | 53 | 119 | 133 | |||||||||||
Finance leases | 309 | 18 | 339 | 39 | |||||||||||
Total | $ | 25,266 | $ | 20,498 | $ | 50,237 | $ | 38,347 |
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ITEM 2. | MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS |
Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), which are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections. Forward-looking statements are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. All statements other than statements of historical factors are “forward-looking statements” for purposes of these provisions. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “predict,” “potential,” and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results and the timing of certain events to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those identified below, and those discussed in the section titled “Risk Factors” in this report and in Item 1A "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Furthermore, such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements.
Overview
Spirit Airlines, headquartered in Miramar, Florida, offers affordable travel to value-conscious customers. Our all-Airbus fleet is one of the youngest and most fuel efficient in the United States. We currently operate more than 600 daily flights to 76 destinations in 16 countries including the United States and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Our stock trades under the symbol "SAVE" on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE").
We focus on value-conscious travelers who pay for their own travel, and our business model is designed to deliver what our guests want: low fares and a great experience. We compete based on total price. We allow our guests to see all available options and their respective prices prior to purchasing a ticket, and this full transparency illustrates that our total price, including options selected, is lower on average than other airlines. By offering guests unbundled base fares, we give them the power to save by paying only for the Á La SmarteTM options they choose, such as checked and carry-on bags and advance seat assignments. We record revenue related to these options as non-fare passenger revenue, which is recorded within passenger revenues in our statement of operations.
We use low fares to address underserved markets, which helps us to increase passenger volume, load factors and non-ticket revenue on the flights we operate. We also have high-density seating configurations on our aircraft and a simplified onboard product designed to lower costs. High passenger volumes and load factors help us sell more ancillary products and services, which in turn allows us to reduce our fares even further.
We are committed to delivering the best value in the sky while providing an exceptional guest experience. Our new mobile-friendly website makes booking easier. Our new mobile application allows check-in while on the go, and our airport kiosks and self bag-tagging help our guests move through the airport more quickly.
Comparative Operating Statistics:
The following tables set forth our operating statistics for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2019 and 2018:
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Three Months Ended June 30, | Percent Change | |||||||
2019 | 2018 | |||||||
Operating Statistics (unaudited) (A): | ||||||||
Average aircraft | 134.5 | 118.7 | 13.3 | % | ||||
Aircraft at end of period | 135 | 119 | 13.4 | % | ||||
Average daily aircraft utilization (hours) | 12.8 | 12.6 | 1.6 | % | ||||
Average stage length (miles) | 1,004 | 1,051 | (4.5 | )% | ||||
Block hours | 157,182 | 136,357 | 15.3 | % | ||||
Departures | 58,517 | 49,404 | 18.4 | % | ||||
Passenger flight segments (PFSs) (thousands) | 8,953 | 7,554 | 18.5 | % | ||||
Revenue passenger miles (RPMs) (thousands) | 9,157,488 | 7,961,128 | 15.0 | % | ||||
Available seat miles (ASMs) (thousands) | 10,775,878 | 9,515,842 | 13.2 | % | ||||
Load factor (%) | 85.0 | % | 83.7 | % | 1.3 pts | |||
Fare revenue per passenger flight segment ($) | 57.60 | 58.19 | (1.0 | )% | ||||
Non-ticket revenue per passenger flight segment ($) | 55.54 | 54.57 | 1.8 | % | ||||
Total revenue per passenger flight segment ($) | 113.14 | 112.76 | 0.3 | % | ||||
Average yield (cents) | 11.06 | 10.70 | 3.4 | % | ||||
TRASM (cents) | 9.40 | 8.95 | 5.0 | % | ||||
CASM (cents) | 7.88 | 7.81 | 0.9 | % | ||||
Adjusted CASM (cents) | 7.86 | 7.76 | 1.3 | % | ||||
Adjusted CASM ex-fuel (cents) | 5.41 | 5.17 | 4.6 | % | ||||
Fuel gallons consumed (thousands) | 122,447 | 106,144 | 15.4 | % | ||||
Average economic fuel cost per gallon ($) | 2.16 | 2.32 | (6.9 | )% |
(A) See "Glossary of Airline Terms" elsewhere in this quarterly report for definitions used in this table.
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Six Months Ended June 30, | Percent Change | |||||||
2019 | 2018 | |||||||
Operating Statistics (unaudited) (A): | ||||||||
Average aircraft | 132.6 | 116.4 | 13.9 | % | ||||
Aircraft at end of period | 135 | 119 | 13.4 | % | ||||
Average daily aircraft utilization (hours) | 12.5 | 12.3 | 1.6 | % | ||||
Average stage length (miles) | 1,016 | 1,038 | (2.1 | )% | ||||
Block hours | 300,612 | 259,310 | 15.9 | % | ||||
Departures | 110,692 | 94,386 | 17.3 | % | ||||
Passenger flight segments (PFSs) (thousands) | 16,773 | 14,092 | 19.0 | % | ||||
Revenue passenger miles (RPMs) (thousands) | 17,290,518 | 14,774,647 | 17.0 | % | ||||
Available seat miles (ASMs) (thousands) | 20,604,922 | 17,924,606 | 15.0 | % | ||||
Load factor (%) | 83.9 | % | 82.4 | % | 1.5 pt | |||
Fare revenue per passenger flight segment ($) | 55.57 | 55.51 | 0.1 | % | ||||
Non-ticket revenue per passenger flight segment ($) | 55.85 | 54.90 | 1.7 | % | ||||
Total revenue per passenger flight segment ($) | 111.42 | 110.41 | 0.9 | % | ||||
Average yield (cents) | 10.81 | 10.53 | 2.7 | % | ||||
TRASM (cents) | 9.07 | 8.68 | 4.5 | % | ||||
CASM (cents) | 7.85 | 8.29 | (5.3 | )% | ||||
Adjusted CASM (cents) | 7.83 | 7.76 | 0.9 | % | ||||
Adjusted CASM ex-fuel (cents) | 5.43 | 5.25 | 3.4 | % | ||||
Fuel gallons consumed (thousands) | 232,275 | 201,147 | 15.5 | % | ||||
Average economic fuel cost per gallon ($) | 2.13 | 2.24 | (4.9 | )% |
(A) See "Glossary of Airline Terms" elsewhere in this quarterly report for definitions used in this table.
Executive Summary
For the second quarter of 2019, we achieved a 16.2% operating margin, an increase of 3.5 percentage points compared to the prior year period. We generated pre-tax income of $148.6 million and net income of $114.5 million on operating revenues of $1,013.0 million. For the second quarter of 2018, we generated pre-tax income of $15.1 million and net income of $11.3 million on operating revenues of $851.8 million.
Our adjusted CASM ex-fuel for the second quarter of 2019 was 5.41 cents, a 4.6% increase year over year. The increase on a per-ASM basis was primarily due to an increase in other operating expense due to higher passenger reaccommodation expense, period over period.
As of June 30, 2019, we had 135 Airbus A320-family aircraft in our fleet comprised of 31 A319s, 62 A320s, 30 A321s, and 12 A320neos. With the scheduled delivery of 8 aircraft during the remainder of 2019, we expect to end 2019 with 143 aircraft in our fleet.
Since the delivery of our initial five A320neo aircraft in the fourth quarter of 2016, we have experienced introductory issues with the new-generation PW1100G-JM engines, which has resulted in diminished service availability of such aircraft. We continuously work with Pratt & Whitney to secure support and relief in connection with possible engine related operation disruptions.
Comparison of three months ended June 30, 2019 to three months ended June 30, 2018
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Operating Revenues
Operating revenues increased $161.2 million, or 18.9%, to $1,013.0 million for the second quarter of 2019, as compared to the second quarter of 2018, primarily due to an increase in traffic of 15.0%, an increase in average yield of 3.4% and a load factor increase of 130 basis points.
Total revenue per available seat mile ("TRASM") for the second quarter of 2019 was 9.40 cents, an increase of 5.0%, as compared to the second quarter of 2018. This increase was due to a higher average yield and higher load factor, year over year. The increase in average yield was driven by our continued revenue management initiatives and a strong demand environment.
Total revenue per passenger flight segment increased 0.3%, year over year. Fare revenue per passenger flight segment decreased 1.0% and non-ticket revenue per passenger flight segment increased 1.8%. The increase in non-ticket revenue per passenger flight segment was primarily attributable to higher bag revenue, seat revenue and fee revenue per passenger flight segment, as compared to the prior year period.
Operating Expenses
Operating expenses increased $105.8 million, or 14.2%, to $849.0 million for the second quarter of 2019 compared to $743.3 million for the second quarter of 2018, primarily due to an increase in operations as reflected by a 13.2% capacity growth and a 15.0% increase in traffic.
Aircraft fuel expense includes into-plane fuel expense (defined below) and realized and unrealized gains and losses associated with our fuel derivative contracts, if any. Into-plane fuel expense is defined as the price that we generally pay at the airport, including taxes and fees. Into-plane fuel prices are affected by the global oil market, refining costs, taxes and fees, which can vary by region in the United States and other countries where we operate. Into-plane fuel expense approximates cash paid to the supplier and does not reflect the effect of any fuel derivatives. From time to time, we may enter into fuel derivative contracts to protect the refining price risk between the price of crude oil and the price of refined jet fuel. We had no activity related to fuel derivative instruments during the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018. Historically, management has chosen not to elect hedge accounting on any fuel derivative instruments and, as a result, changes in the fair value of fuel derivative contracts have been recorded each period in aircraft fuel expense.
Aircraft fuel expense increased by $18.8 million, or 7.6%, from $246.2 million in the second quarter of 2018 to $265.0 million in the second quarter of 2019. This higher fuel expense, year over year, was due to a 15.4% increase in fuel gallons consumed, partially offset by a 6.9% decrease in average economic fuel cost per gallon.
The elements of the changes in aircraft fuel expense are illustrated in the following table:
Three Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||
2019 | 2018 | |||||||||
(in thousands, except per gallon amounts) | Percent Change | |||||||||
Fuel gallons consumed | 122,447 | 106,144 | 15.4 | % | ||||||
Into-plane fuel cost per gallon | $ | 2.16 | $ | 2.32 | (6.9 | )% | ||||
Into-plane fuel expense | $ | 265,006 | $ | 246,180 | 7.6 | % | ||||
Realized losses (gains) related to fuel derivative contracts, net | — | — | NM | |||||||
Unrealized losses (gains) related to fuel derivative contracts, net | — | — | NM | |||||||
Aircraft fuel expense (per statements of operations) | $ | 265,006 | $ | 246,180 | 7.6 | % |
Gulf Coast Jet indexed fuel is the basis for a substantial majority of our fuel consumption and is impacted by both the price of crude oil as well as increases or decreases in refining margins associated with the conversion of crude oil to jet fuel. The into-plane fuel cost per gallon decrease of 6.9% was primarily a result of a decrease in jet fuel prices.
We track economic fuel expense, which we believe is the best measure of the effect fuel prices are currently having on our business, because it most closely approximates the net cash outflow associated with purchasing fuel used for our operations during the period. We define economic fuel expense as into-plane fuel expense and realized gains or losses on fuel derivative contracts. The key difference between aircraft fuel expense as recorded in our condensed statements of operations and economic fuel expense is unrealized mark-to-market changes in the value of aircraft fuel derivatives outstanding. Many industry analysts evaluate airline results using economic fuel expense and it is used in our internal management reporting.
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The elements of the changes in economic fuel expense are illustrated in the following table:
Three Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||
2019 | 2018 | |||||||||
(in thousands, except per gallon amounts) | Percent Change | |||||||||
Into-plane fuel expense | $ | 265,006 | $ | 246,180 | 7.6 | % | ||||
Realized losses (gains) related to fuel derivative contracts, net | — | — | NM | |||||||
Economic fuel expense | $ | 265,006 | $ | 246,180 | 7.6 | % | ||||
Fuel gallons consumed | 122,447 | 106,144 | 15.4 | % | ||||||
Economic fuel cost per gallon | $ | 2.16 | $ | 2.32 | (6.9 | )% |
During the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, we had no activity related to fuel derivatives and thus had no realized or unrealized losses (gains) related to fuel derivative contracts.
We measure our operating cost performance on a per-ASM basis, since one ASM is the unit of production of an airline’s capacity. The following table presents our cost per-ASM, or unit cost, for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, followed by explanations of the material changes on a dollar basis and/or unit cost basis:
Three Months Ended June 30, | Dollar Change | Percent Change | Cost per ASM | Per-ASM Change | Percent Change | |||||||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | 2018 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | (in cents) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aircraft fuel | $ | 265,006 | $ | 246,180 | $ | 18,826 | 7.6 | % | 2.46 | 2.59 | (0.13 | ) | (5.0 | )% | ||||||||||||
Salaries, wages, and benefits | 216,375 | 187,756 | 28,619 | 15.2 | % | 2.01 | 1.97 | 0.04 | 2.0 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Landing fees and other rents | 64,711 | 58,602 | 6,109 | 10.4 | % | 0.60 | 0.62 | (0.02 | ) | (3.2 | )% | |||||||||||||||
Aircraft rent | 46,522 | 41,745 | 4,777 | 11.4 | % | 0.43 | 0.44 | (0.01 | ) | (2.3 | )% | |||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 54,913 | 45,618 | 9,295 | 20.4 | % | 0.51 | 0.48 | 0.03 | 6.3 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Distribution | 40,602 | 34,997 | 5,605 | 16.0 | % | 0.38 | 0.37 | 0.01 | 2.7 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Maintenance, materials and repairs | 34,688 | 31,653 | 3,035 | 9.6 | % | 0.32 | 0.33 | (0.01 | ) | (3.0 | )% | |||||||||||||||
Special charges | — | 174 | (174 | ) | NM | — | — | — | NM | |||||||||||||||||
Loss on disposal of assets | 1,550 | 4,644 | (3,094 | ) | NM | 0.01 | 0.05 | (0.04 | ) | NM | ||||||||||||||||
Other operating | 124,651 | 91,881 | 32,770 | 35.7 | % | 1.16 | 0.97 | 0.19 | 19.6 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Total operating expenses | $ | 849,018 | $ | 743,250 | $ | 105,768 | 14.2 | % | 7.88 | 7.81 | 0.07 | 0.9 | % | |||||||||||||
Adjusted CASM (1) | 7.86 | 7.76 | 0.10 | 1.3 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Adjusted CASM ex-fuel (2) | 5.41 | 5.17 | 0.24 | 4.6 | % |
(1) | Reconciliation of CASM to Adjusted CASM: |
Three Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||
2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||
(in millions) | Per ASM | (in millions) | Per ASM | ||||||||||
CASM (cents) | 7.88 | 7.81 | |||||||||||
Unrealized losses (gains) related to fuel derivative contracts, net | $ | — | — | $ | — | — | |||||||
Loss on disposal of assets | 1.6 | 0.01 | 4.6 | 0.05 | |||||||||
Special charges | — | — | 0.2 | — | |||||||||
Adjusted CASM (cents) | 7.86 | 7.76 |
(2) | Excludes aircraft fuel expense, loss on disposal of assets and special charges. |
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Our adjusted CASM ex-fuel for the second quarter of 2019 was up 4.6% as compared to the second quarter of 2018. The increase on a per-ASM basis was primarily due to an increase in other operating expense due to higher passenger reaccommodation expense, period over period.
Labor costs for the second quarter of 2019 increased $28.6 million, or 15.2%, as compared to the second quarter of 2018. The increase was primarily driven by an 11.2% increase in our pilot and flight attendant workforce resulting from an increase to our aircraft fleet of 16 additional aircraft, since the second quarter of 2018. On both a dollar and per-ASM basis, labor costs increased due to the rate increase our pilots received in connection with the new collective bargaining agreement that became effective on March 1, 2018. This increase was partially offset by lower bonus expense, as compared to the prior year period, due to lower metric performance, period over period.
Landing fees and other rents for the second quarter of 2019 increased $6.1 million, or 10.4%, as compared to the second quarter of 2018, primarily due to an 18.4% increase in departures. The increase in departures was partially offset by a decrease in average landing fee rates based on the mix of airports where we flew as well as a decrease in gate charges and an increase in signatory adjustments, as compared to the prior year period. On a per-ASM basis, landing fees and other rents decreased, period over period, primarily due to a decrease in average landing fee rates based on the mix of airports where we flew, as compared to the prior year period.
Aircraft rent expense for the second quarter of 2019 increased by $4.8 million, or 11.4%, as compared to the second quarter of 2018. This increase in aircraft rent expense was primarily driven by an increase in the number of aircraft financed under operating leases throughout the current period, as compared to the prior year period. Since the second quarter of 2018, we have acquired seven new aircraft financed under operating leases. The increases generated by the new leased aircraft were partially offset by the purchase of one aircraft off lease during the second quarter of 2019 and the modification of four aircraft leases from operating to finance leases in June 2019. For additional information on these four aircraft, please refer to "Notes to Condensed Financial Statements - 9. Leases." On a per-ASM basis, aircraft rent expense decreased primarily due to a change in the composition of our aircraft fleet between leased aircraft (for which rent expense is recorded under aircraft rent) and purchased aircraft (for which depreciation expense is recorded under depreciation and amortization). Since the prior year period, we have taken delivery of nine new purchased aircraft, which increased capacity but had no effect on aircraft rent expense, as these assets were purchased and are being depreciated over their useful life.
Depreciation and amortization for the second quarter of 2019 increased by $9.3 million, or 20.4%, as compared to the prior year period. The increase in depreciation expense was primarily driven by the purchase of 9 new aircraft and the purchase of 1 previously leased aircraft made since the second quarter of 2018.
We account for heavy maintenance under the deferral method. Under the deferral method, the cost of heavy maintenance is capitalized and amortized as a component of depreciation and amortization expense in the statement of operations until the earlier of the next heavy maintenance event or end of the lease term. The amortization of heavy maintenance costs was $14.8 million and $9.7 million for the second quarters of 2019 and 2018, respectively. The increase in amortization of heavy maintenance was primarily due to the timing of maintenance events, as compared to the prior year period. This increase in heavy maintenance amortization was the driver of the per-ASM increase in depreciation and amortization expense, period over period. As our fleet continues to grow and age, we expect that the amount of deferred heavy maintenance events will increase and will result in an increase in the amortization of those costs. If heavy maintenance events were amortized within maintenance, materials and repairs expense in the condensed statements of operations, our maintenance, materials and repairs expense would have been $49.4 million and $41.4 million for the second quarter of 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Distribution costs increased by $5.6 million, or 16.0%, in the second quarter of 2019 as compared to the second quarter of 2018. The increase on a dollar basis was primarily due to increased sales volume. On a per-ASM basis, distribution costs increased slightly as credit card fee rates were higher, as compared to the prior year period.
Maintenance, materials and repairs expense for the second quarter of 2019 increased by $3.0 million, or 9.6%, as compared to the second quarter of 2018. The increase in maintenance costs on a dollar basis was due to routine and ongoing maintenance on a growing fleet. On a per-ASM basis, maintenance costs decreased primarily due to a decrease in consumables and expendables, as compared to the prior year period. We expect maintenance expense to increase as our fleet continues to grow and age, resulting in the need for additional or more frequent repairs over time.
Other operating expense for the second quarter of 2019 increased by $32.8 million, or 35.7%, as compared to the second quarter of 2018 primarily due to an increase in overall operations and an increase in passenger reaccommodation expense. As compared to the prior year period, we increased departures by 18.4% and had 18.5% more passenger flight segments, which drove increases in variable operating expenses. In addition, we had higher passenger reaccommodation expense, period over period, due to multiple storm-related flight disruptions during the second quarter of 2019. On a per-ASM basis, this higher
25
passenger reaccommodation expense was the main driver of the increase in other operating expense, as compared to the prior year period.
Other (Income) Expense
Our interest expense and corresponding capitalized interest for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 primarily represents interest related to the financing of purchased aircraft. As of June 30, 2019 and 2018, we had 62 and 53 aircraft financed through secured long-term debt arrangements, respectively. Please see "Notes to Condensed Financial Statements—12. Debt and Other Obligations" for further discussion.
Our interest income for the three months ended June 30, 2019 represents interest income earned on cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments. Interest income for the three months ended June 30, 2018 primarily represents interest income earned on cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and funds required to be held in escrow in accordance with the terms of our EETC.
We had no special charges, non-operating for the three months ended June 30, 2019. Our special charges, non-operating for the three months ended June 30, 2018, represents interest related to the aircraft purchase agreement to acquire 14 A319 aircraft previously operated under operating leases. The contract was deemed a lease modification which resulted in a change of classification from operating leases to finance leases. Please see "Notes to Condensed Financial Statements—4. Special Charges" for further discussion.
Income Taxes
Our effective tax rate for the second quarter of 2019 was 22.9% compared to 25.7% for the second quarter of 2018. The decrease in tax rate is attributed primarily to an increase in discrete tax benefits related to equity compensation and a reduction in our state effective rate. While we expect our tax rate to be fairly consistent in the near term, it will tend to vary depending on recurring items such as the amount of income we earn in each state and the state tax rate applicable to such income. Discrete items particular to a given year may also affect our effective tax rates.
Comparison of six months ended June 30, 2019 to six months ended June 30, 2018
Operating Revenues
Operating revenues increased $312.8 million, or 20.1%, to $1,868.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019, compared to the prior year period, due primarily to an increase in traffic of 17.0%, an increase in average yield of 2.7% and a load factor increase of 150 basis points.
TRASM for the six months ended June 30, 2019 was 9.07 cents, an increase of 4.5% compared to the same period of 2018. This increase was primarily driven by a higher average yield and higher load factor, year over year.
Total revenue per passenger flight segment increased from $110.41 for the six months ended June 30, 2018 to $111.42 for the six months ended June 30, 2019. Our fare revenue per passenger flight segment slightly increased from $55.51 to $55.57, or 0.1%, as compared to the prior year period, and non-ticket revenue per passenger flight segment increased from $54.90 to $55.85, or 1.7%, as compared to the prior year period. The increase in non-ticket revenue per passenger flight segment was primarily attributable to higher bag revenue, seat revenue and fee revenue per passenger flight segment, as compared to the prior year.
Operating Expenses
Operating expenses increased for the six months ended June 30, 2019 by $130.8 million, or 8.8%, as compared to the same period for 2018 primarily due to a 15.0% capacity growth and a 17.0% increase in traffic. This increase was partially offset by a decrease of $89.3 million in special charges, year over year.
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The elements of the changes in aircraft fuel expense are illustrated in the following table:
Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||
2019 | 2018 | |||||||||
(in thousands, except per gallon amounts) | Percent Change | |||||||||
Fuel gallons consumed | 232,275 | 201,147 | 15.5 | % | ||||||
Into-plane fuel cost per gallon | $ | 2.13 | $ | 2.24 | (4.9 | )% | ||||
Into-plane fuel expense | $ | 494,642 | $ | 450,826 | 9.7 | % | ||||
Realized losses (gains) related to fuel derivative contracts, net | — | — | NM | |||||||
Unrealized losses (gains) related to fuel derivative contracts, net | — | — | NM | |||||||
Aircraft fuel expense (per statements of operations) | $ | 494,642 | $ | 450,826 | 9.7 | % |
The elements of the changes in economic fuel expense are illustrated in the following table:
Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||
2019 | 2018 | |||||||||
(in thousands, except per gallon amounts) | Percent Change | |||||||||
Into-plane fuel expense | $ | 494,642 | $ | 450,826 | 9.7 | % | ||||
Realized losses (gains) related to fuel derivative contracts, net | — | — | NM | |||||||
Economic fuel expense | $ | 494,642 | $ | 450,826 | 9.7 | % | ||||
Fuel gallons consumed | 232,275 | 201,147 | 15.5 | % | ||||||
Economic fuel cost per gallon | $ | 2.13 | $ | 2.24 | (4.9 | )% |
During the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, we had no activity related to fuel derivatives and thus had no realized or unrealized losses (gains) related to fuel derivative contracts.
We measure our operating cost performance on a per-ASM basis, since one ASM is the unit of production of an airline’s capacity. The following table presents our cost per-ASM, or unit cost, for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, followed by explanations of the material changes on a unit cost basis and/or dollar basis:
Six Months Ended June 30, | Dollar Change | Percent Change | Cost per ASM | Per-ASM Change | Percent Change | |||||||||||||||||||||
Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | 2018 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | (in cents) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aircraft fuel | $ | 494,642 | $ | 450,826 | $ | 43,816 | 9.7 | % | 2.40 | 2.52 | (0.12 | ) | (4.8 | )% | ||||||||||||
Salaries, wages, and benefits | 420,276 | 342,852 | 77,424 | 22.6 | % | 2.04 | 1.91 | 0.13 | 6.8 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Landing fees and other rents | 124,360 | 108,232 | 16,128 | 14.9 | % | 0.60 | 0.60 | — | — | % | ||||||||||||||||
Aircraft rent | 92,304 | 91,936 | 368 | 0.4 | % | 0.45 | 0.51 | (0.06 | ) | (11.8 | )% | |||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 105,639 | 84,991 | 20,648 | 24.3 | % | 0.51 | 0.47 | 0.04 | 8.5 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Distribution | 76,321 | 65,628 | 10,693 | 16.3 | % | 0.37 | 0.37 | — | — | % | ||||||||||||||||
Maintenance, materials and repairs | 66,292 | 61,363 | 4,929 | 8.0 | % | 0.32 | 0.34 | (0.02 | ) | (5.9 | )% | |||||||||||||||
Special charges | — | 89,342 | (89,342 | ) | NM | — | 0.50 | (0.50 | ) | NM | ||||||||||||||||
Loss on disposal of assets | 3,463 | 5,492 | (2,029 | ) | NM | 0.02 | 0.03 | (0.01 | ) | NM | ||||||||||||||||
Other operating | 233,713 | 185,523 | 48,190 | 26.0 | % | 1.13 | 1.04 | 0.09 | 8.7 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Total operating expenses | $ | 1,617,010 | $ | 1,486,185 | $ | 130,825 | 8.8 | % | 7.85 | 8.29 | (0.44 | ) | (5.3 | )% | ||||||||||||
Adjusted CASM (1) | 7.83 | 7.76 | 0.07 | 0.9 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Adjusted CASM ex-fuel (2) | 5.43 | 5.25 | 0.18 | 3.4 | % |
(1) | Reconciliation of CASM to Adjusted CASM: |
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Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||
2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||
(in millions) | Per ASM | (in millions) | Per ASM | ||||||||||
CASM (cents) | 7.85 | 8.29 | |||||||||||
Unrealized losses (gains) related to fuel derivative contracts, net | $ | — | — | $ | — | — | |||||||
Loss on disposal of assets | 3.5 | 0.02 | 5.5 | 0.03 | |||||||||
Special charges | — | — | 89.3 | 0.50 | |||||||||
Adjusted CASM (cents) | 7.83 | 7.76 |
(2) | Excludes aircraft fuel expense, loss on disposal of assets and special charges. |
Our adjusted CASM ex-fuel for the six months ended June 30, 2019 increased by 3.4% as compared to the same period in 2018. The increase on a per-ASM basis was primarily due to increases in salaries, wages, and benefits expense and other operating expense, partially offset by a decrease in aircraft rent expense, period over period.
Labor costs for the six months ended June 30, 2019 increased $77.4 million, or 22.6%, as compared to the same period in 2018. The increase was primarily driven by an 11.6% increase in our pilot and flight attendant workforce resulting from an increase to our aircraft fleet of 16 additional aircraft since the end of the second quarter of 2018. On both a dollar and per-ASM basis, labor costs increased due to the rate increase our pilots received in connection with the new collective bargaining agreement that became effective on March 1, 2018.
Landing fees and other rents for the six months ended June 30, 2019 increased $16.1 million, or 14.9%, as compared to the same period in 2018 primarily due to a 17.3% increase in departures. The increase in departures was partially offset by an increase in signatory adjustments and a decrease in gate charges, as compared to the prior year period. On a per-ASM basis, landing fees remained stable period over period.
Aircraft rent expense for the six months ended June 30, 2019 increased by $0.4 million, or 0.4%, as compared to the same period in 2018. This slight increase in aircraft rent expense was primarily driven by an increase in the number of aircraft financed under operating leases throughout the current period, as compared to the prior year period. Since the second quarter of 2018, we have acquired seven new aircraft financed under operating leases. The increases generated by the new leased aircraft were almost fully offset by the purchase of 14 aircraft off lease during the second quarter of 2018, the purchase of 1 aircraft off lease during the second quarter of 2019 and the modification of 4 aircraft leases from operating to finance leases in June 2019. For additional information on these four aircraft, please refer to "Notes to Condensed Financial Statements - 9. Leases." On a per-ASM basis, aircraft rent expense decreased primarily due to a change in the composition of our aircraft fleet between leased aircraft (for which rent expense is recorded under aircraft rent) and purchased aircraft (for which depreciation expense is recorded under depreciation and amortization). Since the prior year period, we have taken delivery of nine new aircraft, which increased capacity but had no effect on aircraft rent expense, as these assets were purchased and are being depreciated over their useful life.
Depreciation and amortization increased by $20.6 million, or 24.3%, as compared to the prior year period. The increase in depreciation expense on both a dollar and per-ASM basis was primarily driven by the purchase of 9 new aircraft, the purchase of 14 previously leased aircraft made during the second quarter of 2018 and the purchase of 1 previously leased aircraft made during the second quarter of 2019.
We account for heavy maintenance under the deferral method. Under the deferral method, the cost of heavy maintenance is capitalized and amortized as a component of depreciation and amortization expense in the statement of operations until the earlier of the next heavy maintenance event or end of the lease term. The amortization of heavy maintenance costs was $27.8 million and $21.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The increase in amortization of heavy maintenance was primarily due to the timing of maintenance events, as compared to the prior year period. This increase in heavy maintenance amortization was the driver of the per-ASM increase in amortization expense, period over period. As our fleet continues to age, we expect that the amount of deferred heavy maintenance events will increase and will result in an increase in the amortization of those costs. If heavy maintenance events were amortized within maintenance, materials and repairs expense in the condensed statements of operations, our maintenance, materials and repairs expense would have been $94.1 million and $82.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
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Distribution costs increased by $10.7 million, or 16.3%, for the six months ended June 30, 2019 as compared to the same period in 2018. The increase on a dollar basis was primarily due to increased sales volume. On a per-ASM basis, distribution costs remained stable, as compared to the prior period.
Maintenance, materials and repairs expense for the six months ended June 30, 2019 increased by $4.9 million, or 8.0%, as compared to the prior year period. The increase in maintenance costs on a dollar basis was due to routine and ongoing maintenance on a growing fleet. On a per-ASM basis, maintenance costs decreased year over year primarily due to fewer aircraft paint events and a decrease in consumables and expendables, as compared to the prior year period. We expect maintenance expense to increase as our fleet continues to grow and age, resulting in the need for additional or more frequent repairs over time.
We had no special charges for the six months ended June 30, 2019. Special charges for the six months ended June 30, 2018 primarily consisted of $89.2 million recognized in connection with the new collective bargaining agreement with our pilots that became effective on March 1, 2018. The total amount includes a one-time ratification incentive of $80.7 million, including payroll taxes, and an $8.5 million adjustment related to other contractual provisions. For additional information, please refer to "Notes to Condensed Financial Statements - 4. Special Charges."
Other operating expense for the six months ended June 30, 2019 increased by $48.2 million, or 26.0%, as compared to the prior period, primarily due to an increase in overall operations. As compared to the prior year period, we increased departures by 17.3% and had 19.0% more passenger flight segments, which drove increases in variable operating expenses. In addition, we had higher passenger reaccommodation expense, period over period, due to multiple storm-related flight disruptions during the second quarter of 2019. On a per-ASM basis, this higher passenger reaccommodation expense was the main driver of the increase in other operating expense, as compared to the prior year period.
Other (Income) Expense
Our interest expense and corresponding capitalized interest for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 primarily represents interest related to the financing of purchased aircraft. As of June 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company had 62 and 53 aircraft financed through secured long-term debt arrangements, respectively. Please see "Notes to Condensed Financial Statements—12. Debt and Other Obligations" for further discussion.
Our interest income for the six months ended June 30, 2019 represents interest income earned on cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments. Interest income for the six months ended June 30, 2018 primarily represents interest income earned on cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and on funds required to be held in escrow in accordance with the terms of our EETC.
We had no special charges, non-operating for the six months ended June 30, 2019. Our special charges, non-operating for the six months ended June 30, 2018, represents interest related to the aircraft purchase agreement for the acquisition of 14 A319 aircraft previously operated under operating leases. The contract was deemed a lease modification which resulted in a change of classification from operating leases to finance leases. Please see "Notes to Condensed Financial Statements—4. Special Charges" for further discussion.
Income Taxes
Our effective tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2019 was 22.7% compared to 24.4% for the six months ended June 30, 2018. The decrease in tax rate is attributed primarily to an increase in discrete tax benefits related to equity compensation and a reduction in our state effective rate. While we expect our tax rate to be fairly consistent in the near term, it will tend to vary depending on recurring items such as the amount of income we earn in each state and the state tax rate applicable to such income. Discrete items particular to a given year may also affect our effective tax rates.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our primary sources of liquidity are cash on hand, cash provided by operations and capital from debt financing. Primary uses of liquidity are for working capital needs, capital expenditures, aircraft and engine pre-delivery deposit payments ("PDPs"), debt and lease obligations and maintenance reserves. Our total cash at June 30, 2019 was $1,110.8 million, an increase of $106.1 million from December 31, 2018. In addition to cash and cash equivalents, as of June 30, 2019, we had $104.2 million in short-term investment securities.
Currently, one of our largest capital expenditure needs is funding the acquisition costs of our aircraft. Aircraft may be acquired through debt financing, cash purchases, direct leases or sale-leaseback transactions. During the six months ended June 30, 2019, we purchased 2 aircraft through debt financing transactions and made $131.6 million in debt payments (principal, interest and fees) on our outstanding debt obligations. The debt entered into in the current year matures in 2031. In addition, during the six months ended June 30, 2019, we purchased two new engines for $17.9 million and one aircraft and one engine off lease for $25.8 million. Upon the purchase off lease, the assets previously recorded in our operating lease right-of-
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use asset (in accordance with the adoption of Topic 842) were recorded within flight equipment on our condensed balance sheets. For additional information regarding our adoption of Topic 842, refer to "Notes to Condensed Financial Statements - 9. Leases."
Under our agreement with Airbus for aircraft, and International Aero Engines AG ("IAE") and Pratt & Whitney for engines, we are required to pay PDPs relating to future deliveries at various times prior to each delivery date. During the six months ended June 30, 2019, we paid $75.8 million in PDPs, net of refunds, and $4.9 million of capitalized interest for future deliveries of aircraft and spare engines. As of June 30, 2019, we had $289.9 million of pre-delivery deposits on flight equipment, including capitalized interest, on our condensed balance sheets.
During the fourth quarter of 2018, we entered into a revolving credit facility for up to $160 million secured by the collateral assignment of certain of our rights under our purchase agreement with Airbus, related to 43 Airbus A320neo aircraft scheduled to be delivered between August 2019 and December 2021. The final maturity of the facility is December 30, 2020. As of June 30, 2019, we had drawn $160.0 million on the facility.
As of June 30, 2019, we have secured sale-leaseback financing commitments for six aircraft, being delivered in the remainder of 2019 and do not have financing commitments in place for the remaining 37 Airbus firm aircraft orders, scheduled for delivery between the remainder of 2019 through 2021. Future aircraft deliveries may be paid in cash, leased or otherwise financed based on market conditions, our prevailing level of liquidity, and capital market availability.
In addition to funding the acquisition of our future fleet, we are required to make maintenance reserve payments for some of the leased aircraft in our current fleet. Maintenance reserves are paid to aircraft lessors and are held as collateral in advance of our performance of major maintenance activities. During the six months ended June 30, 2019, we recorded a decrease of $6.2 million in maintenance reserves, including reimbursements, and as of June 30, 2019, we had $209.1 million ($124.6 million in aircraft maintenance deposits and $84.5 million in long-term aircraft maintenance deposits) on our condensed balance sheet.
Net Cash Flows Provided By Operating Activities. Operating activities in the six months ended June 30, 2019 provided $341.0 million in cash compared to $251.0 million provided in the six months ended June 30, 2018. The increase is primarily due to an $89.3 million decrease in special charges within operating income, as compared to the prior year period. Special charges recorded in the six months ended June 30, 2018 relate to the one-time ratification incentive associated with the new collective bargaining agreement with our pilots that became effective on March 1, 2018. For additional information, refer to "Notes to Condensed Financial Statements - 4. Special Charges." This increase was partially offset by a decrease in other liabilities, year over year.
Net Cash Flows Used In Investing Activities. In the six months ended June 30, 2019, investing activities used $238.5 million, compared to $410.8 million used in the prior year period. The decrease was mainly driven by fewer purchases of property and equipment, year over year.
Net Cash Flows Provided By Financing Activities. During the six months ended June 30, 2019, financing activities provided $3.5 million in cash compared to $171.4 million provided in the six months ended June 30, 2018. We received $94.7 million in connection with the revolving credit facility and the debt financing related to two aircraft delivered during the six months ended June 30, 2019. We paid $85.8 million in debt principal obligations related to the financing of our aircraft. In addition, we paid $5.2 million to repurchase common stock necessary to satisfy tax withholding requirements from employees who received restricted stock and performance share units.
Commitments and Contractual Obligations
Our contractual purchase commitments consist primarily of aircraft and engine acquisitions through manufacturers. As of June 30, 2019, our firm aircraft orders consisted of the following:
Airbus | ||
A320neo | ||
Remainder of 2019 | 8 | |
2020 | 17 | |
2021 | 18 | |
43 |
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As of June 30, 2019, we have no contractual aircraft purchase commitments beyond 2021.We also have a spare engine order for one V2500 SelectTwo engine with IAE and six spare engine orders for PurePower PW 1100G-JM engines with Pratt & Whitney. Spare engines are scheduled for delivery from 2020 through 2023. Committed expenditures for these aircraft and spare engines, including estimated amounts for contractual price escalations and aircraft PDPs, are expected to be $388.5 million for the 2019, $858.0 million in 2020, $776.1 million in 2021, $17.6 million in 2022, $8.3 million in 2023 and $0.0 million in 2024 and beyond. As of June 30, 2019, we have secured sale-leaseback financing commitments for six aircraft, being delivered in the remainder of 2019. As of June 30, 2019, we do not have financing commitments in place for the remaining 37 Airbus aircraft on firm order, which are scheduled for delivery in the remainder of 2019 through 2021.
We have significant obligations for aircraft and spare engines as 46 of our 135 aircraft and 11 of our 22 spare engines are financed under operating leases. These leases expire between 2019 and 2034. During the first quarter of 2019, we adopted Topic 842 using the modified retrospective approach with an effective date of January 1, 2019. As such, prior year financial statements were not recast under the new lease standard. With the new lease standard, operating leases with terms greater than 12 months are included within operating lease right-of-use assets with the corresponding liabilities included within current maturities of operating leases and operating leases, less current maturities on our condensed balance sheets. Leases with a term of 12 months or less are not recorded on our condensed balance sheets. Accounting for finance leases is substantially unchanged under Topic 842. Please see "Notes to Condensed Financial Statements—9. Leases" for further discussion on the adoption of Topic 842.
Aircraft rent payments were $48.5 million and $52.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and $96.0 million and $109.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Our aircraft lease payments for 49 of our aircraft are fixed-rate obligations. One of our leases provides for variable rent payments, which fluctuate based on changes in LIBOR.
We have contractual obligations and commitments primarily with regard to future purchases of aircraft and engines, payments of debt, and lease arrangements. The following table discloses aggregate information about our contractual obligations as of June 30, 2019 and the periods in which payments are due (in millions):
Remainder of 2019 | 2020 - 2021 | 2022 - 2023 | 2024 and beyond | Total | ||||||||||||||||
Long-term debt (1) | $ | 89 | $ | 502 | $ | 467 | $ | 1,185 | $ | 2,243 | ||||||||||
Interest commitments (2) | 43 | 150 | 118 | 158 | 469 | |||||||||||||||
Finance and operating lease obligations | 185 | 350 | 331 | 598 | 1,464 | |||||||||||||||
Flight equipment purchase obligations | 389 | 1,634 | 26 | — | 2,049 | |||||||||||||||
Other (3) | 7 | 32 | 27 | 60 | 126 | |||||||||||||||
Total future payments on contractual obligations | $ | 713 | $ | 2,668 | $ | 969 | $ | 2,001 | $ | 6,351 |
(1) Includes principal only associated with senior and junior term loans, fixed-rate loans, Class A, Class B, and Class C Series 2015-1 EETCs, Class AA, Class A, Class B, and Class C Series 2017-1 EETCs, and our revolving credit facility. Refer to "Notes to the Financial Statements - 12. Debt and Other Obligations."
(2) Related to senior and junior term loans, fixed-rate loans, and Class A, Class B, and Class C Series 2015-1 EETCs, and Class AA, Class A, Class B, and Class C Series 2017-1 EETCs. Includes interest accrued as of June 30, 2019 related to our variable-rate revolving credit facility.
(3) Primarily related to our reservation system and other miscellaneous subscriptions and services. Refer to "Notes to the Financial Statements - 10. Commitments and Contingencies."
Some of our master lease agreements provide that we pay maintenance reserves to aircraft lessors to be held as collateral in advance of our required performance of major maintenance activities. Some maintenance reserve payments are fixed contractual amounts, while others are based on utilization. In addition to the contractual obligations disclosed in the table above, we have fixed maintenance reserve payments for these aircraft and related flight equipment, including estimated amounts for contractual price escalations, which are $1.4 million for the remainder of 2019, $2.6 million in 2020, $2.6 million in 2021, $2.7 million in 2022, $2.5 million in 2023, and $0.5 million in 2024 and beyond. Our lease agreements generally provide that maintenance reserves are reimbursable to us upon completion of the maintenance event. Some of our master lease agreements do not require that we pay maintenance reserves so long as our cash balance does not fall below a certain level. As of June 30, 2019, we are in full compliance with those requirements and do not anticipate having to pay reserves related to these master leases in the future.
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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of June 30, 2019, we had lines of credit related to corporate credit cards of $33.6 million from which we had drawn $1.2 million.
As of June 30, 2019, we had lines of credit with counterparties for both physical fuel delivery and derivatives in the amount of $41.5 million. As of June 30, 2019, we had drawn $23.8 million on these lines of credit for physical fuel delivery. We are required to post collateral for any excess above the lines of credit if the derivatives are in a net liability position and make periodic payments in order to maintain an adequate undrawn portion for physical fuel delivery. As of June 30, 2019, we did not hold any derivatives.
As of June 30, 2019, we have $10.9 million in uncollateralized surety bonds and a $35.0 million unsecured standby letter of credit facility, representing an off balance-sheet commitment, of which $21.4 million had been drawn upon for issued letters of credit.
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GLOSSARY OF AIRLINE TERMS
Set forth below is a glossary of industry terms:
“Adjusted CASM” means operating expenses, excluding unrealized gains or losses related to fuel derivative contracts, out-of-period fuel federal excise tax, loss on disposal of assets, special charges and supplemental rent adjustment for liabilities accrued in prior years that are no longer probable, divided by ASMs.
“Adjusted CASM ex-fuel” means operating expenses excluding aircraft fuel expense, loss on disposal of assets, special charges and supplemental rent adjustment for liabilities accrued in prior years that are no longer probable, divided by ASMs.
“AFA-CWA” means the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA.
“Air traffic liability” or “ATL” means the value of tickets sold in advance of travel.
“ALPA” means the Air Line Pilots Association, International.
“ASIF” means an Aviation Security Infrastructure Fee assessed by the TSA on each airline.
“Available seat miles” or “ASMs” means the number of seats available for passengers multiplied by the number of miles the seats are flown, also referred to as "capacity."
“Average aircraft” means the average number of aircraft in our fleet as calculated on a daily basis.
“Average daily aircraft utilization” means block hours divided by number of days in the period divided by average aircraft.
“Average economic fuel cost per gallon” means total aircraft fuel expense, excluding unrealized gains or losses related to fuel derivative contracts and out-of-period fuel federal excise tax, divided by the total number of fuel gallons consumed.
“Average stage length” represents the average number of miles flown per flight.
“Average yield” means average operating revenue earned per RPM, calculated as total revenue divided by RPMs, also referred to as "passenger yield."
“Block hours” means the number of hours during which the aircraft is in revenue service, measured from the time of gate departure before take-off until the time of gate arrival at the destination.
“CASM” or “unit costs” means operating expenses divided by ASMs.
“CBA” means a collective bargaining agreement.
“CBP” means United States Customs and Border Protection.
“DOT” means the United States Department of Transportation.
"EETC" means enhanced equipment trust certificate.
“EPA” means the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
“FAA” means the United States Federal Aviation Administration.
“Fare revenue per passenger flight segment” means total fare passenger revenue divided by passenger flight segments.
“FCC” means the United States Federal Communications Commission.
"FLL Airport" means the Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport.
“GDS” means Global Distribution System (e.g., Amadeus, Galileo, Sabre and Worldspan).
"IAMAW" means the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
“Into-plane fuel cost per gallon” means into-plane fuel expense divided by number of fuel gallons consumed.
“Into-plane fuel expense” represents the cost of jet fuel and certain other charges such as fuel taxes and oil.
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“Load factor” means the percentage of aircraft seats actually occupied on a flight (RPMs divided by ASMs).
“NMB” means the National Mediation Board.
"Non-ticket revenue" means the sum of non-fare passenger revenues and other revenues.
“Non-ticket revenue per passenger flight segment” means total non-fare passenger revenue and other revenue divided by passenger flight segments.
“OTA” means Online Travel Agent (e.g., Orbitz and Travelocity).
“Passenger flight segments” means the total number of passengers flown on all flight segments.
“PDP” means pre-delivery deposit payment.
"PAFCA" means the Professional Airline Flight Control Association.
“Revenue passenger mile” or “RPM” means one revenue passenger transported one mile. RPMs equals revenue passengers multiplied by miles flown, also referred to as “traffic.”
“RLA” means the United States Railway Labor Act.
"Total operating revenue per-ASM," "TRASM" or "unit revenue" means operating revenue divided by ASMs.
“TWU” means the Transport Workers Union of America.
“TSA” means the United States Transportation Security Administration.
“ULCC” means “ultra low-cost carrier.”
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ITEM 3. | QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK |
Market Risk-Sensitive Instruments and Positions
We are subject to certain market risks, including commodity prices (specifically aircraft fuel) and interest rates. We purchase the majority of our jet fuel at prevailing market prices and seek to manage market risk through execution of our hedging strategy and other means. We have market-sensitive instruments in the form of fixed-rate debt instruments, short-term investment securities and, from time to time, financial derivative instruments used to hedge our exposure to jet fuel price increases and interest rate increases. We do not purchase or hold any derivative financial instruments for trading purposes. The adverse effects of changes in these markets could pose a potential loss as discussed below. The sensitivity analysis provided below does not consider the effects that such adverse changes may have on overall economic activity, nor does it consider additional actions we may take to mitigate our exposure to such changes. Actual results may differ.
Aircraft Fuel. Our results of operations can vary materially due to changes in the price and availability of aircraft fuel. Aircraft fuel expense for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 represented approximately 30.6% and 30.3% of our operating expenses, respectively. Volatility in aircraft fuel prices or a shortage of supply could have a material adverse effect on our operations and operating results. We source a significant portion of our fuel from refining resources located in the southeast United States, particularly facilities adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico. Gulf Coast fuel is subject to volatility and supply disruptions, particularly during hurricane season when refinery shutdowns have occurred, or when the threat of weather-related disruptions has caused Gulf Coast fuel prices to spike above other regional sources. Both jet fuel swaps and jet fuel options are used at times to protect the refining price risk between the price of crude oil and the price of refined jet fuel, and to manage the risk of increasing fuel prices. Gulf Coast Jet indexed fuel is the basis for a substantial majority of our fuel consumption. Based on our annual fuel consumption over the last 12 months, a hypothetical 10% increase in the average price per gallon of aircraft fuel would have increased into-plane aircraft fuel expense by approximately $98 million. As of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, we did not have any outstanding jet fuel derivatives and we have not engaged in fuel derivative activity since 2015.
Interest Rates. We have market risk associated with our short-term investment securities, which had a fair market value of $104.2 million and $102.8 million, as of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. We also have market risk associated with changing interest rates due to LIBOR-based lease rates on one of our aircraft. A hypothetical 10% change in interest rates would affect total aircraft rent expense by less than $0.1 million per annum.
Fixed-Rate Debt. As of June 30, 2019, we had $2,083.5 million outstanding in fixed-rate debt related to the purchase of 32 Airbus A320 aircraft and 30 Airbus A321 aircraft which had a fair value of $2,162.0 million. As of December 31, 2018, we had $2,099.2 million outstanding in fixed-rate debt related to the purchase of 30 Airbus A320 aircraft and 30 Airbus A321 aircraft, which had a fair value of $2,034.2 million.
Variable-Rate Debt. As of June 30, 2019, we had $160.0 million outstanding in variable-rate long-term debt, which had a fair value of $160.0 million. As of December 31, 2018, we had $135.3 million outstanding in variable-rate debt, which had a fair value of $135.3 million. During the six months ended June 30, 2019, a hypothetical increase of 100 basis points in average annual interest rates would have increased the annual interest expense on our variable-rate long-term debt by $0.8 million.
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ITEM 4. | CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES |
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2019. The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2019, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended June 30, 2019, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. | LEGAL PROCEEDINGS |
We are subject to commercial litigation claims and to administrative and regulatory proceedings and reviews that may be asserted or maintained from time to time. We believe the ultimate outcome of such lawsuits, proceedings and reviews will not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our financial position, liquidity or results of operations.
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ITEM 1A. | RISK FACTORS |
There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in Item 1A Risk Factors contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 13, 2019. Investors are urged to review these risk factors carefully.
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ITEM 2. | UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS |
Repurchases of Equity Securities
The following table reflects our repurchases of our common stock during the second quarter of 2019. All stock repurchases during this period were made from employees who received restricted stock units. All employee stock repurchases were made at the election of each employee pursuant to an offer to repurchase by us. In each case, the shares repurchased constituted the portion of vested shares necessary to satisfy tax withholding requirements.
ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES | ||||||||||||||
Period | Total Number of Shares Purchased | Average Price Paid per Share | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs | Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet be Purchased Under Plans or Programs | ||||||||||
April 1-30, 2019 | 11 | $ | 56.22 | — | $ | — | ||||||||
May 1-31, 2019 | 262 | $ | 47.33 | — | $ | — | ||||||||
June 1-30, 2019 | 244 | $ | 48.93 | — | $ | — | ||||||||
Total | 517 | $ | 48.27 | — |
ITEM 3. | DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES |
None
ITEM 4. | MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES |
Not applicable
ITEM 5. | OTHER INFORMATION |
None
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ITEM 6. | EXHIBITS |
Exhibit Number | Description of Exhibits | |
31.1 | ||
31.2 | ||
32.1* | ||
32.2* | ||
101.INS | XBRL Instance Document - The instance document does not appear in the interactive data file because its XBRL tags are embedded within the inline XBRL document. | |
101.SCH | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema | |
101.CAL | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase | |
101.LAB | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase | |
101.PRE | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase |
* | Exhibits 32.1 and 32.2 are being furnished and shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, nor shall such exhibits be deemed to be incorporated by reference in any registration statement or other document filed under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except as otherwise specifically stated in such filing. |
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
SPIRIT AIRLINES, INC. | ||
Date: July 24, 2019 | By: | /s/ Scott M. Haralson |
Scott M. Haralson | ||
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
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