SkyWest, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Annual 2024 Profit

Yahoo

30-01-2025

Fourth Quarter and Annual 2024 Summary
Q4 2024 pre-tax income of $134 million, net income of $97 million, or $2.34 per diluted share
Full year 2024 pre-tax income of $432 million, net income of $323 million, or $7.77 per diluted share
SkyWest reached a multi-year contract extension with American Airlines that allows for a total of 74 CRJ700s under agreement
SkyWest took delivery of four new E175 aircraft under a previously announced agreement with United
ST. GEORGE, Utah, January 30, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SkyWest, Inc. (NASDAQ: SKYW) ("SkyWest") today reported financial and operating results for Q4 2024, including net income of $97 million, or $2.34 per diluted share, compared to net income of $18 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, for Q4 2023. SkyWest also reported net income of $323 million, or $7.77 per diluted share, for the 2024 year, compared to net income of $34 million, or $0.77 per diluted share, for the 2023 year.
Commenting on the results, Chip Childs, Chief Executive Officer of SkyWest, said, "We are honored to be named one of the World's Most Admired™ Companies for 2025 by Fortune Magazine and pleased that our operational momentum continues. We are continuing to make improvements in returning daily scheduled service to smaller communities, increasing the utilization and efficiency of all fleet types, and quickly placing new aircraft deliveries into service. I want to thank the SkyWest team for their exceptional teamwork as we continue to execute on these growth opportunities, including progress with expanding our CRJ550 and E175 fleets."
Financial Results
Revenue was $944 million in Q4 2024, up $192 million, or 26%, from $752 million in Q4 2023. SkyWest's block hour production increased 20% in Q4 2024 compared to Q4 2023, which reflects improvements in captain availability since Q4 2023.
For purposes of revenue comparability year-over-year, SkyWest recognized $20 million of previously deferred revenue under its flying contracts during Q4 2024, compared to deferring $63 million of revenue during Q4 2023. As of December 31, 2024, SkyWest had cumulative deferred revenue of $322 million under its flying contracts on its balance sheet.
Operating expenses were $800 million in Q4 2024, up $76 million, or 10%, from $724 million in Q4 2023, driven by the increase in flight production year-over-year.
Capital and Liquidity
SkyWest had $802 million in cash and marketable securities at December 31, 2024, down from $836 million at September 30, 2024 and down from $835 million at December 31, 2023.
Total debt at December 31, 2024 was $2.7 billion, flat from September 30, 2024 and down from $3.0 billion at December 31, 2023. Capital expenditures during Q4 2024 were $186 million for the purchase of four debt-financed E175 aircraft, spare engines and other fixed assets.
Under its previously announced share repurchase program authorized by the SkyWest Board of Directors in May 2023, SkyWest repurchased 47,000 shares of common stock for $4.9 million during Q4 2024 at an average price per share of $104.51. As of December 31, 2024, SkyWest had $48 million of remaining availability under its current share repurchase program.
Commercial Agreements
SkyWest is coordinating with its major airline partners to optimize the timing of upcoming announced fleet deliveries. The table below summarizes E175 aircraft deliveries SkyWest received during 2024 and anticipated future deliveries during the periods indicated based on currently available information, which is subject to change.
Completed
Anticipated
2024
2025
2026
Total
Delta Air Lines
1
ꟷ
ꟷ
1
United Airlines
24(1)
7
8
39
Alaska Airlines
ꟷ
1
ꟷ
1
Total
25
8
8
41
(1) 20 of the 24 E175 deliveries completed in 2024 for United Airlines were partner-financed aircraft.
By the end of 2026, SkyWest is scheduled to operate a total of 278 E175 aircraft.
About SkyWest
SkyWest, Inc. is the holding company for SkyWest Airlines, SkyWest Charter ("SWC") and SkyWest Leasing, an aircraft leasing company. SkyWest Airlines has a fleet of approximately 500 aircraft connecting passengers to over 240 destinations throughout North America. SkyWest Airlines operates through partnerships with United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines carrying more than 42 million passengers in 2024.
SkyWest will host its conference call to discuss its fourth quarter 2024 results today, January 30, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. Mountain Time. The conference call number is 1-888-330-2455 for domestic callers, and 1-240-789-2717 for international callers. Please call up to ten minutes in advance to ensure you are connected prior to the start of the call. The conference call will also be available live on the Internet at https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/312398142. This press release and additional information regarding SkyWest, including access information for the digital rebroadcast of the fourth quarter 2024 results call, participation at investor conferences and investor presentations can be accessed at inc.skywest.com.
Forward Looking-Statements
In addition to historical information, this release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "forecasts," "expects," "intends," "believes," "anticipates," "estimates," "should," "likely" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the continued demand for our product, the effect of economic conditions on SkyWest's business, financial condition and results of operations, the scheduled aircraft deliveries, fleet expansion and anticipated fleet size for SkyWest in upcoming periods, expected production levels in future periods and associated staffing challenges, pilot attrition trends, SkyWest's coordination with major airline partners to optimize the delivery of aircraft under previously announced agreements and quickly placing new aircraft deliveries into service, the expected terms, timing and benefits related to SkyWest's leasing, strategic partnership and joint venture transactions, scheduled flight service to smaller communities, increasing the utilization and efficiency of all fleet types as well as SkyWest's future financial and operating results, plans, objectives, expectations, estimates, intentions and outlook, and other statements that are not historical facts. All forward-looking statements included in this release are made as of the date hereof and are based on information available to SkyWest as of such date. SkyWest assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements unless required by law. Readers should note that many factors could affect the future operating and financial results of SkyWest and could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements set forth in this release. These factors include, but are not limited to: the challenges of competing successfully in a highly competitive and rapidly changing industry; developments associated with fluctuations in the economy and the demand for air travel, including related to inflationary pressures, and related decreases in customer demand and spending; uncertainty regarding potential future outbreaks of infectious diseases or other health concerns, and the consequences of such outbreaks to the travel industry, including travel demand and travel behavior, and our major airline partners in general and the financial condition and operating results of SkyWest in particular; the prospects of entering into agreements with existing or other carriers to fly new aircraft; uncertainty regarding timing and performance of key third-party service providers; ongoing negotiations between SkyWest and its major airline partners regarding their contractual obligations; uncertainties regarding operation of new aircraft; the ability to attract and retain qualified pilots, including captains, and related staffing challenges; the impact of regulatory issues such as pilot rest rules and qualification requirements; the ability to obtain aircraft financing; the financial stability of SkyWest's major airline partners and any potential impact of their financial condition on the operations of SkyWest; fluctuations in flight schedules, which are determined by the major airline partners for whom SkyWest conducts flight operations; variations in market and economic conditions; significant aircraft lease and debt commitments; estimated useful life of long-lived assets, residual aircraft values and related impairment charges; labor relations and costs; the impact of global instability; rapidly fluctuating fuel costs and potential fuel shortages; the impact of weather-related, natural disasters and other air safety incidents on air travel and airline costs; aircraft deliveries; uncertainty regarding ongoing hostility between Russia and the Ukraine, as well as Israel and Hamas, and the related impacts on macroeconomic conditions and on the international operations of any of our major airline partners as a result of such conflict; and other unanticipated factors. Risk factors, cautionary statements and other conditions which could cause SkyWest's actual results to differ materially from management's current expectations are contained in SkyWest's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.
SkyWest, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(Dollars and Shares in Thousands, Except per Share Amounts)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
Year Ended
December 31,
December 31,
2024
2023
2024
2023
OPERATING REVENUES:
Flying agreements
$
912,845
$
728,267
$
3,412,798
$
2,834,397
Lease, airport services and other
31,557
23,520
115,122
101,035
Total operating revenues
944,402
751,787
3,527,920
2,935,432
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Salaries, wages and benefits
380,493
331,956
1,463,932
1,322,615
Aircraft maintenance, materials and repairs
202,308
190,271
712,642
673,453
Depreciation and amortization
94,534
95,237
383,880
383,115
Aircraft fuel
22,193
23,340
87,409
85,913
Airport-related expenses
24,771
18,992
85,836
72,640
Aircraft rentals
1,332
1,452
5,257
25,507
Other operating expenses
74,695
62,917
294,307
268,120
Total operating expenses
800,326
724,165
3,033,263
2,831,363
OPERATING INCOME
144,076
27,622
494,657
104,069
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest income
11,835
12,167
47,961
43,928
Interest expense
(27,737
)
(31,049
)
(114,340
)
(130,930
)
Other income, net
5,432
15,698
3,865
23,242
Total other expense, net
(10,470
)
(3,184
)
(62,514
)
(63,760
)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
133,606
24,438
432,143
40,309
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
36,229
6,922
109,181
5,967
NET INCOME
$
97,377
$
17,516
$
322,962
$
34,342
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE
$
2.42
$
0.43
$
8.02
$
0.78
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE
$
2.34
$
0.42
$
7.77
$
0.77
Weighted average common shares:
Basic
40,317
40,706
40,262
43,940
Diluted
41,702
41,776
41,547
44,599
SkyWest, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Summary of Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in Thousands)
(Unaudited)
December 31,
December 31,
2024
2023
Cash and marketable securities
$
801,628
$
835,223
Other current assets
315,439
296,673
Total current assets
1,117,067
1,131,896
Property and equipment, net
5,521,796
5,405,685
Deposits on aircraft
65,612
77,282
Other long-term assets
435,392
411,430
Total assets
$
7,139,867
$
7,026,293
Current portion, long-term debt
$
535,589
$
443,869
Other current liabilities
894,002
810,423
Total current liabilities
1,429,591
1,254,292
Long-term debt, net of current maturities
2,136,786
2,562,183
Other long-term liabilities
1,164,709
1,096,316
Stockholders' equity
2,408,781
2,113,502
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$
7,139,867
$
7,026,293
SkyWest, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Additional Operational Information (unaudited)
SkyWest's fleet in scheduled service or under contract by aircraft type:
December 31, 2024
September 30, 2024
December 31, 2023
E175 aircraft
262
258
237
CRJ900 aircraft
36
36
41
CRJ700 aircraft (1)
119
109
118
CRJ200 aircraft
75
81
89
Total aircraft in service or under contract
492
484
485
________________(1) Includes CRJ550 aircraft, a 50-seat configuration of the CRJ700 aircraft.
As of December 31, 2024, SkyWest leased 35 CRJ700/CRJ550s and five CRJ900s to third parties and had 18 CRJ200s that are configured for service under SWC operations (these aircraft are excluded from the table above).
Selected operational data:
For the three months endedDecember 31,
For the year endedDecember 31,
Block hours by aircraft type:
2024
2023
% Change
2024
2023
% Change
E175s
211,519
177,104
19.4
%
792,318
677,886
16.9
%
CRJ900s
23,711
17,198
37.9
%
84,883
76,588
10.8
%
CRJ700s
68,506
59,820
14.5
%
244,909
218,059
12.3
%
CRJ200s
46,582
36,632
27.2
%
169,930
167,910
1.2
%
Total block hours
350,318
290,754
20.5
%
1,292,040
1,140,443
13.3
%
Departures
206,588
177,433
16.4
%
766,742
691,962
10.8
%
Passengers carried
11,231,510
9,925,655
13.2
%
42,335,302
38,597,309
9.7
%
Adjusted flight completion
99.9
%
99.9
%
—
pts
99.9
%
99.9
%
—
pts
Raw flight completion
99.0
%
99.5
%
(0.5
)
pts
98.9
%
98.8
%
0.1
pts
Passenger load factor
82.2
%
83.4
%
(1.2
)
pts
82.8
%
83.6
%
(0.8
)
pts
Average trip length
443
445
(0.4
)
%
464
453
2.4
%
Adjusted flight completion percent excludes weather cancellations. Raw flight completion includes weather cancellations.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250130684506/en/
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