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Jul 27, 2006Frontier Airlines Reports Fiscal First Quarter 2007 ResultsDENVER, July 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Frontier Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: FRNT) today reported net income of $4.0 million, or $.10 per diluted common share, for the airline's fiscal first quarter ended June 30, 2006 compared to a net loss of $2.7 million, or $0.08 per diluted common share, for the same period last year. Included in the net loss for the quarter ended June 30, 2005 were the following items before the effect of income taxes: a charge of $3.3 million relating to three leased Boeing 737-300 aircraft the Company ceased using during the quarter and a non-cash mark to market derivative loss on fuel hedges of $1.0 million. Chief Executive Officer's Comments Frontier President and CEO Jeff Potter said, "Despite significantly intensified competition at our Denver hub, and in the face of an average fuel cost per gallon that was substantially higher on a year-over-year basis, Frontier returned to profitability this quarter. My heartfelt thanks and appreciation goes out to everyone at Frontier who contributed to a great quarter. But as our employees well know, it doesn't end with one good quarter. Rather, it is only the beginning as we put forth every effort possible to return to sustained profitability in Fiscal Year 2007. "We can, however, take a few minutes to reflect on the great results we achieved over the past three months. In the midst of a challenging Denver fare environment that runs counter to the national trend, our mainline revenue per available seat mile (RASM) improved 8.5 percent. However, as good as our unit revenue improvement was, it tells only part of the story. A large part of our success in the past quarter lies in our achievements on non-fuel cost-containment. With higher passenger numbers, it is a great compliment to this company and our employees that we were able to achieve a strong 6.1 percent year-over-year decline in mainline cost per available seat mile (CASM) excluding fuel." Operating Highlights Mainline passenger revenue increased 29.0 percent as mainline revenue passenger miles (RPMs) grew at a rate of 24.2 percent during the fiscal first quarter, while mainline capacity growth as measured by mainline ASMs increased 18.9 percent from the same quarter last year. As a result, the airline's mainline load factor was 81.9 percent for its fiscal first quarter of 2007, 3.5 load factor points more than the airline's mainline load factor of 78.4 percent during the same quarter last year. The airline's mainline break-even load factor for the fiscal first quarter 2007 increased 0.9 load factor points from 78.0 percent to 78.9 percent. Frontier's mainline break-even load factor, excluding special items, increased from the prior comparable period principally as a result of the increase in fuel costs on a year-over-year basis. During the fiscal first quarter 2007, the airline's mainline RASM increased 8.5 percent to 9.57 cents from the same quarter last year. The increase in mainline RASM was due to the combination of a 4.0 percent mainline yield per RPM increase on a year-over-year basis and the 3.5 point load factor increase. Mainline average length of haul decreased 2.8 percent on a year-over-year basis. Mainline fuel cost per gallon, excluding unrealized fuel hedges, during the quarter increased 29.7 percent to $2.27 compared to $1.75 for the same period last year. The airline's mainline CASM excluding fuel for the fiscal first quarter was 6.15 cents compared to 6.55 cents for the same quarter last year, a decrease of 6.1 percent. CASM excluding fuel decreased as a result of a decrease of 0.11 cents per ASM in maintenance expenses primarily due to the absence of expenses associated with the return costs of three Boeing leased aircraft and the related 0.14 cents of aircraft lease and facility exit costs, which occurred in the quarter ended June 30, 2005. Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Paul Tate discussed the airline's year-over-year unit cost comparatives stating, "The year-over-year decrease in mainline CASM excluding fuel was achieved despite a 2.5 percent decrease in average aircraft stage length. We continue to see the unit cost benefits of operating a single mainline fleet type of modern Airbus aircraft." The airline's fleet in service on June 30, 2006 consisted of 16 owned Airbus A319 and A318 aircraft and 37 leased Airbus A319 and A318 aircraft. The airline's current unrestricted cash and working capital position as of June 30, 2006 was $276.5 million and $90.6 million, respectively. This compares to the Company's unrestricted cash and working capital position for the same period last year of $174.3 million and $36.7 million, respectively. Business developments during the quarter included:
* Announced an agreement with Denver International Airport that calls for
Frontier to take possession of 6 additional Concourse A gates on the
east side of Concourse A by mid- 2007. These additional gates relieve
the pressure of Frontier's current operation while preparing the
Company for future growth at DIA and beyond.
* Announced and subsequently began new service with five flights a day
between Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO), bringing low fares
and great customer service back to San Francisco on the Bay to the
Basin route.
* Became the first American low cost carrier to fly to Canada with the
start of new twice-daily regional jet service to Calgary. Canada also
became the third country in which Frontier offers service.
* Received tentative approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation
(DOT) for authorization to expand Mexico service by offering daily
non-stop service to Cabo San Lucas (SJD) from Los Angeles (LAX). In
addition, Frontier also filed with the DOT for authorization to fly
non-stop from Denver (DEN) to Guadalajara, Mexico (GDL) four times per
week; to fly seasonally from San Diego (SAN) to Cancun, Mexico (CUN)
once a week; and to fly seasonally from Kansas City (MCI) to Cabo San
Lucas once a week. Since the quarter ended, approval has been granted
for Denver to Guadalajara, San Diego to Cancun and Kansas City to Cabo
San Lucas service.
* Launched a new website that was over a year in the making, and based
upon extensive research and feedback sessions with its customers.
Frontier expects the new site to become the primary driver of its
ticket sales.
* Entered an exclusive three year agreement with Marriott International,
Inc.'s award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott
Rewards®, in conjunction with the EarlyReturns® frequent flyer
program. In addition to providing both organizations with a platform
for joint marketing opportunities throughout the nation, the
partnership will provide EarlyReturns® members more ways to earn
miles as well as providing additional exposure across Frontier's
growing network.
Potter concluded, "I can't stress enough just how proud I am of our Company and the 5,000 Frontier employees who continue to give everything they can to help ensure our success in this difficult environment. With their on-going efforts on the customer service side and their dedication to cost-savings, our dedicated employees are helping us retain our position as the airline of choice in Denver and around the country as we continue to expand and diversify our route map. In addition, I am confident that we can sustain our profitability into the coming quarter in a general range similar to June's quarterly results, even with fuel at historical-highs and an intensely competitive environment at our Denver hub." Senior leadership will host a conference call to discuss Frontier's quarterly earnings on July 28, 2006, at 9:00 a.m. Mountain Standard Time. The call is available via the World Wide Web on the airline's Web site at http://www.frontierairlines.com/ or using the following URL: http://www.vcall.com/CEPage.asp?ID=92860. Currently in its 13th year of operations, Denver-based Frontier Airlines is the second largest jet service carrier at Denver International Airport, employing approximately 5,000 aviation professionals. With 54 aircraft and the youngest Airbus fleet in North America, Frontier offers 24 channels of DIRECTV® service in every seatback along with 33 inches of legroom in an all coach configuration. In conjunction with Frontier JetExpress operated by Horizon Air, Frontier operates routes linking its Denver hub to 55 destinations including 47 destinations in 29 states spanning the nation from coast to coast, seven cities in Mexico and one city in Canada. Frontier's maintenance and engineering department has received the Federal Aviation Administration's highest award, the Diamond Certificate of Excellence, in recognition of 100 percent of its maintenance and engineering employees completing advanced aircraft maintenance training programs, for seven consecutive years. In July 2006, Frontier ranked as one of the "Top 5 Domestic Airlines" as determined by readers of Travel & Leisure magazine. Frontier provides capacity information and other operating statistics on its Web site, which may be viewed at FrontierAirlines.com. Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts, including certain statements by Messrs. Potter and Tate and projections of future performance, may be considered forward-looking statements as that item is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Many of these risks and uncertainties cannot be predicted with accuracy and some might not even be anticipated. Some of the factors that could significantly impact the forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to: further downward pressure on airfares due to competition, demand or other factors; continuing adverse effects of high fuel costs; increased prices for fuel and the inability to recover these higher fuel costs in airfares; actions of competing airlines, such as increasing capacity and pricing actions of United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and other competitors, particularly in some of our Mexico destinations due to the increase in the number of domestic airlines authorized to serve Mexico markets from the U.S.; unanticipated decreases in the volume of passenger traffic due to terrorist acts or additional incidents that could cause the public to question the safety and/or efficiency of air travel; negative public perceptions associated with increased security wait times at various domestic airports; the inability to secure adequate gate facilities at Denver International Airport and at other airports where Frontier operates; weather, maintenance or other operational disruptions; air traffic control-related difficulties; the impact of labor issues; actions of the federal and local governments; changes in the government's policy regarding relief to the airline industry, especially as it relates to war risk insurance; the stability of the U.S. economy and the economic environment of the airline industry. Any forward-looking statement is qualified by reference to these risks and factors. These risks and factors are not exclusive, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward- looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this press release. Additional information regarding these and other factors may be contained in the Company's SEC filings, including without limitation, the Company's Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended March 31, 2006. The Company's filings are available from the Securities and Exchange Commission or may be obtained through the Company's website, http://www.frontierairlines.com/. FRONTIER AIRLINES HOLDINGS, INC.
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA
(unaudited)
June 30, June 30,
2006 2005
Balance Sheet Data:
Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term
investments $ 276,466 $174,284
Current assets 415,582 299,629
Total assets 998,477 839,008
Current liabilities 324,955 262,882
Long-term debt 399,400 318,023
Total liabilities 764,795 602,036
Stockholders' equity 233,652 236,972
Working capital 90,627 36,747
FRONTIER AIRLINES HOLDINGS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2006 AND 2005
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
2006 2005
Revenues:
Passenger - mainline $268,364,527 $208,067,483
Passenger - regional partner 27,328,542 22,954,030
Cargo 1,618,709 1,218,934
Other 4,751,477 4,169,614
Total revenues 302,063,255 236,410,061
Operating expenses:
Flight operations 39,835,654 34,793,709
Aircraft fuel 90,414,585 59,829,548
Aircraft lease 25,882,272 23,108,954
Aircraft and traffic servicing 37,988,089 31,753,244
Maintenance 20,595,735 20,010,658
Promotion and sales 26,676,864 21,871,913
General and administrative 13,294,228 12,251,067
Operating expenses - regional partner 29,482,528 24,117,887
Aircraft lease and facility exit costs (14,241) 3,311,888
(Gains) losses on sales of assets, net (306,646) (88,038)
Depreciation 7,532,140 6,672,077
Total operating expenses 291,381,208 237,632,907
Operating income (loss) 10,682,047 (1,222,846)
Nonoperating income (expense):
Interest income 3,953,658 1,364,398
Interest expense (6,832,554) (4,118,118)
Other, net 44,786 (102,639)
Total nonoperating expense, net (2,834,110) (2,856,359)
Income (loss) before income tax
expense (benefit) 7,847,937 (4,079,205)
Income tax expense (benefit) 3,890,670 (1,345,457)
Net income (loss) $3,957,267 $(2,733,748)
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic $0.11 $(0.08)
Diluted $0.10 $(0.08)
Weighted average shares of
common stock outstanding:
Basic 36,590,002 36,027,655
Diluted 46,046,558 36,027,655
FRONTIER AIRLINES HOLDINGS, INC.
COMPARATIVE CONSOLIDATED OPERATING STATISTICS
(unaudited)
Year Ended, Three Months Ended
March 31, June 30, %
2006 2006 2005 Change
Selected Operating
Data - Mainline:
Passenger revenue (000s) $878,681 $268,365 $208,067 29.0%
Revenue passengers
carried (000s) 7,764 2,404 1,884 27.6%
Revenue passenger
miles (RPMs) (000s) 7,436,830 2,284,552 1,840,099 24.2%
Available seat miles
(ASMs) (000s) 9,885,599 2,789,113 2,345,897 18.9%
Passenger load factor 75.2% 81.9% 78.4% 3.5 pts.
Break-even load factor (1) 75.7% 78.9% 78.0% .9 pts.
Block hours 202,300 57,018 47,379 20.3%
Departures 82,878 23,490 19,314 21.6%
Average seats per departure 129.4 129.5 129.2 0.2%
Average stage length 922 917 940 (2.5%)
Average length of haul 958 950 977 (2.8%)
Average daily block
hour utilization 11.5 12.2 11.5 6.1%
Passenger yield per
RPM (cents) (2) (3) 11.68 11.69 11.24 4.0%
Total yield per RPM (cents) 12.12 12.03 11.60 3.7%
Passenger yield per
ASM (cents) (2) (3) 8.79 9.57 8.82 8.5%
Total yield per ASM (cents) 9.12 9.85 9.10 8.2%
Cost per ASM (cents) 9.06 9.39 9.10 3.2%
Fuel expense per ASM (cents) 2.85 3.24 2.55 27.1%
Cost per ASM excluding
fuel (cents) (4) 6.21 6.15 6.55 (6.1%)
Average fare $103.05 $102.22 $102.06 0.2%
Average aircraft in service 48.2 51.3 45.3 13.3%
Aircraft in service at
end of period 50 53 48 10.4%
Average age of aircraft
at end of period 2.6 2.7 1.9 42.1%
Average fuel cost per
gallon (excluding mark to
market derivative gains
(losses)) (5) $2.05 $2.27 $1.75 29.7%
Fuel gallons consumed
(000's) 141,474 39,722 33,691 17.9%
Selected Operating
Data - Regional Partner:
Passenger revenue (000s) $92,826 $27,329 $22,954 19.1%
Revenue passengers carried
(000s) 912 264 233 13.3%
Revenue passenger miles
(RPMs) (000s) 591,787 170,450 136,757 24.6%
Available seat miles
(ASMs) (000s) 821,244 214,881 188,685 13.9%
Passenger load factor (4) 72.1% 79.3% 72.5% 6.8 pts
Passenger yield per
RPM (cents) 15.69 16.03 16.78 (4.5%)
Passenger yield per
ASM (cents) 11.30 12.72 12.17 4.5%
Cost per ASM (cents) 13.01 13.72 12.78 7.4%
Average fare $101.78 $103.49 $98.57 5.0%
Aircraft in service at
end of period 9 9 9 0.0%
FRONTIER AIRLINES HOLDINGS, INC.
COMPARATIVE CONSOLIDATED OPERATING STATISTICS (unaudited)
Continued
Year Ended Three Months Ended
March 31, June 30, %
2006 2006 2005 Change
Selected Operating
Data - Combined:
Passenger revenue (000s) $971,507 $295,694 $231,021 28.0%
Revenue passengers
carried (000s) 8,676 2,668 2,117 26.0%
Revenue passenger
miles (RPMs) (000s) 8,028,617 2,455,002 1,976,856 24.2%
Available seat miles
(ASMs) (000s) 10,706,843 3,003,994 2,534,582 18.5%
Passenger load factor 75.0% 81.7% 78.0% 3.7 pts.
Passenger yield per
RPM (cents) 11.98 11.99 11.63 3.1%
Total yield per RPM (cents) 12.38 12.30 11.96 2.8%
Passenger yield per
ASM (cents) 8.98 9.80 9.07 8.0%
Total yield per ASM (cents) 9.29 10.06 9.33 7.8%
Cost per ASM (cents) 9.36 9.70 9.38 3.4%
(1) "Break-even load factor" is the passenger load factor that will
result in operating revenues being equal to operating expenses,
assuming constant revenue per passenger mile and expenses.
A reconciliation of the components of the calculation of mainline
break-even load factor is as follows:
Year Ended Three Months Ended
March 31, June 30,
2006 2006 2005
(In thousands)
Net (income) loss $13,971 $(3,957) $2,734
Income tax (expense) benefit 6,497 (3,891) 1,345
Passenger revenue 878,681 268,365 208,067
Regional partner expense (106,866) (29,483) (24,118)
Regional partner revenue 92,826 27,329 22,954
Charter revenue (10,011) (1,389) (1,211)
Passenger revenue mainline
(excluding charter and regional
partner revenue) required to
break-even $875,098 $256,974 $209,771
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Unrealized gains (losses) on
fuel hedging 976 (185) (1,007)
Aircraft and facility
lease exit costs (3,414) 14 (3,312)
Impairments -- -- --
Gains (losses) on sales
of assets, net 1,144 307 88
Passenger revenue- mainline
(excluding charter and regional
partner revenue) required to
break-even (based on adjusted
amounts) $873,804 $257,110 $205,540
The calculation of the break-even load factor follows:
Year Ended Three Months Ended
March 31, June 30,
2006 2006 2005
(In thousands)
Calculation of mainline break-even
load factor using GAAP amounts:
Passenger revenue -
mainline (excluding charter)
required to break-even ($000s) $875,098 $ 256,974 $209,771
Mainline yield per RPM (cents) 11.68 11.69 11.24
Mainline RPMs (000s) required
to break-even assuming constant
yield per RPM 7,492,277 2,198,238 1,866,290
Mainline ASMs (000's) 9,885,599 2,789,113 2,345,897
Mainline break-even load factor 75.8% 78.8% 79.5%
Calculation of mainline break-even
load factor using non-GAAP amounts:
Passenger revenue (excluding
charter and regional partner
revenue) required to break even
(based on adjusted amounts) ($000s) $873,804 $ 257,111 $205,540
Mainline yield per RPM (cents) 11.68 11.69 11.24
Mainline revenue passenger miles
(000s) to break even assuming
constant yield per RPM 7,481,199 2,199,401 1,828,865
Mainline available seat miles
(000's) 9,885,599 2,789,113 2,345,897
Mainline break-even load factor
using non-GAAP amounts 75.7% 78.9% 78.0%
(2) "Passenger yield per RPM" is determined by dividing passenger revenues
(excluding charter revenue) by revenue passenger miles.
(3) For purposes of these yield calculations, charter revenue is excluded
from passenger revenue. These figures may be deemed non-GAAP
financial measures under regulations issued by the Securities and
Exchange Commission. We believe that presentation of yield excluding
charter revenue is useful to investors because charter flights are not
included in RPM's or ASM's. Furthermore, in preparing operating plans
and forecasts, we rely on an analysis of yield exclusive of charter
revenue. Our presentation of non-GAAP financial measures should not
be viewed as a substitute for our financial or statistical results
based on GAAP. The calculation of passenger revenue excluding charter
revenue is as follows:
Year Ended Three Months Ended
March 31, June 30,
2006 2006 2005
(In thousands)
Passenger revenue - mainline,
as reported $878,681 $268,365 $208,067
Less: charter revenue 10,011 1,389 1,211
Passenger revenues - mainline
excluding charter 868,670 266,976 206,856
Add: Passenger revenues -
regional partner 92,826 27,329 22,954
Passenger revenues, system combined $961,496 $294,305 $229,810
(4) This may be deemed a non-GAAP financial measure under regulations
issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission. We believe the
presentation of financial information excluding fuel expense is useful
to investors because we believe that fuel expense tends to fluctuate
more than other operating expenses. Excluding fuel from the cost of
mainline operations facilitates the comparison of results of
operations between current and past periods and enables investors to
forecast future trends in our operations. Furthermore, in preparing
operating plans and forecasts, we rely, in part, on trends in our
historical results of operations excluding fuel expense. However, our
presentation of non-GAAP financial measures should not be viewed as a
substitute for our financial results determined in accordance with
GAAP.
(5) "Average fuel cost per gallon" includes a non-cash mark to market
derivative gain of $975,000, for the year ended March 31, 2006, and a
non-cash mark to market derivative loss of $185,000 and $1,007,000 for
the quarters ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
SOURCE: Frontier Airlines Holdings, Inc. CONTACT: Joe Hodas of Frontier Airlines, +1-720-374-4504, Web site: http://www.vcall.com/CEPage.asp?ID=92860 Web site: http://www.frontierairlines.com/
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