INVESTOR RELATIONS
| All News Releases > | Financial News > |  |
|
|||||
Jan 26, 2006Frontier Airlines Reports Fiscal Third Quarter 2006 ResultsDENVER, Jan. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Frontier Airlines, Inc. (NASDAQ: FRNT) today reported a net loss of $10.3 million, or $0.28 cents per diluted common share, for the airline's third fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2005 compared to a net loss of $11.1 million, or $0.31 cents per diluted common share, for the same period last year. Included in the net loss for the three months ended December 31, 2005 were the following items before the effect of income taxes: unrealized losses on fuel hedges of $1.5 million and gains of $0.3 million related primarily to the sale of Boeing parts held for sale. These items, net of income taxes, increased Frontier's net loss by $.03 cents per diluted common share. Included in the net loss for the quarter ended December 31, 2004 were the following items before the effect of income taxes: a gain on the sale of assets of $0.1 million, a write down of $0.7 million of the carrying value of expendable Boeing 737 inventory, and an unrealized loss on fuel derivative hedges of $3.2 million. These items, net of income taxes, increased Frontier's net loss by $.07 cents per diluted common share. Chief Executive Officer's Comments Frontier President and CEO Jeff Potter said, "While this quarter's results are in stark contrast with the previous quarter's profits, we once again saw several promising indicators. Our mainline passenger revenue increased almost 20 percent as we carried 14 percent more passengers on capacity growth of only nine percent. In addition, our year-over-year mainline average fare improved for the fourth straight quarter, increasing almost two percent on a year-over- year basis. However, the resulting nine percent increase in mainline revenue per available seat mile (RASM), was overshadowed by three significant aberrations to our fiscal performance -- a 35 percent year-over-year increase in fuel cost per gallon; an estimated $4.8 million in lost revenue due to the disruption of our Cancun and Cozumel service as a result of Hurricane Wilma; and an estimated $1.2 million in lost revenue due to the discontinuation of service to New Orleans as a result of Hurricane Katrina." "Outside of the significant fiscal impact of fuel and hurricanes, we did have several operational bright spots during the quarter including a number of record-breaking load factor days during the December holiday period. It has taken our company and all of our employees several years of hard work and effort to become the preferred carrier for an ever-increasing number of travelers in Denver, and we don't intend to cede that position. We have built our product to be the best in the industry and with our fares being on equal footing in the Denver market, we have every confidence that customers will continue to choose the superior product that offers them the greatest value, which is Frontier." Operating Highlights Mainline passenger revenue increased 19.4 percent as mainline revenue passenger miles (RPMs) grew at a rate of 9.2 percent during the fiscal third quarter, while mainline capacity growth as measured by mainline available seat miles (ASMs) increased 8.6 percent from the same quarter last year. As a result, the airline's mainline load factor was 72.1 percent for its fiscal third quarter of 2006, 0.4 load factor points more than the airline's mainline load factor of 71.7 percent during the same quarter last year. The airline's mainline breakeven load factor, excluding special items, for the fiscal third quarter 2006 decreased 1.3 load factor points from 76.0 percent to 74.7 percent. Frontier's mainline breakeven load factor, excluding special items, decreased from the prior comparable period as a result of an increase in our total mainline RASM of 10.3 percent, which was significantly offset by an increase in our mainline cost per available seat mile (CASM) to 9.32 cents during the quarter ended December 31, 2005, primarily due to increases in fuel costs, from 8.80 cents during the quarter ended December 31, 2004, a 5.9 percent increase. During the fiscal third quarter 2006, the airline's mainline passenger RASM increased 9.2 percent to 8.68 cents from the same quarter last year. The increase in mainline RASM was due to the combination of the 8.5 percent increase in mainline yield per RPM and slightly improved year-over-year load factor. Mainline average length of haul decreased 4.1 percent on a year-over-year basis, primarily because the prior year included traffic from the Company's focus city, Los Angeles, which the Company subsequently discontinued. Mainline fuel cost per gallon, excluding unrealized hedging losses, averaged $2.17 during the quarter ended December 31, 2005, compared to an average of $1.55 during the quarter ended December 31, 2004, an increase of 40 percent. Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Paul Tate discussed unit costs for the airline's quarter ended December 31, 2005, stating, "Even with our more traditional hub and spoke model, we achieved a four percent decline in year-over-year CASM excluding fuel, to 6.17 cents from 6.43 cents, further strengthening our position as one of the industry's low cost producers. This cost savings was achieved despite a nine percent year-over-year mainline passenger unit revenue increase and a four percent length of haul decrease." The airline's current unrestricted cash and short-term investments and working capital as of December 31, 2005 was $222.7 million and $113.9 million, respectively. This compares to the Company's unrestricted cash and short-term investments and working capital for the same period last year of $149.0 million and $55.9 million, respectively. The airline's fleet in service on December 31, 2005 consisted of 16 owned Airbus A319 and A318 aircraft and 33 leased Airbus A319 and A318 aircraft. Business developments during the quarter included:
* Closed a $92 million convertible debt offering.
* Frontier's maintenance personnel ratified a three-year contract.
* Added Acapulco and Cozumel to Frontier's Mexico service, bringing the
total number of Mexico cities served to seven.
* Received approval to serve Cancun with non-stop service from
Indianapolis beginning in March 2006.
* Ranked number one in "On Time Arrival Performance" among all carriers at
the 33 largest airports in America for the month of September and in the
top five for on time arrival performance for four consecutive months.
* Hired Chris Collins as new Senior Vice President of Operations.
* Renewed contract with Intrawest Colorado to be the "Official and
Exclusive Airline of Winter Park and Copper Mountain."
* Expanded service to five of Frontier's top markets, including Salt Lake
City, Dallas, Phoenix, Las Vegas and Chicago-Midway.
* Received prestigious "Outstanding Corporation" award from Volunteers of
America, recognizing Frontier's significant community contributions.
Potter concluded, "As we enter the final quarter of our fiscal year, we have several challenges, principally in the form of record high fuel prices. However, we have an even greater number of opportunities in front of us. Specifically, we have announced our intention to enter the Canadian market. We will receive the first of six new aircraft deliveries for the calendar year that will provide the capacity for significant expansion with new frequencies and destinations. While we recognize that the increased competition in our hometown market of Denver will generate new pressures, we face that competition with the confidence that comes from knowing that we have a product that is second to none, a continued company-wide focus on cost containment that is yielding results, and an employee group that will accept nothing less than the very best from one another and from this company. "In light of our positive momentum, and assuming fuel remains at an average of $2 per gallon, we anticipate that our coming quarter will produce better earnings results than last year's March quarter, with results expected to be approximately break-even." Senior leadership will host a conference call to discuss Frontier's quarterly earnings on January 27, 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/IC/CEPage.asp?ID=99836. Currently in its 12th year of operations, Denver-based Frontier Airlines is the second largest jet service carrier at Denver International Airport, employing approximately 4,600 aviation professionals. With 49 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 47 destinations in 28 states spanning the nation from coast to coast and to seven cities in Mexico. 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 2005, Frontier ranked as one of the "Top 10 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 http://www.frontierairlines.com/. Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts 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: the timing of, and expense associated with, expansion and modification of our operations in accordance with our business strategy or in response to competitive pressures or other factors; failure of our new markets to perform as anticipated; the inability to achieve a level of revenue through fares sufficient to obtain profitability due to competition from other air carriers and excess capacity in the markets we serve; the inability to obtain sufficient gates at Denver International Airport to accommodate the expansion of our operations; general economic factors and behavior of the fare-paying public and its potential impact on our liquidity; terrorist attacks or other incidents that could cause the public to question the safety and/or efficiency of air travel; hurricanes and their impact on oil production; operational disruptions, including weather; industry consolidation; the impact of labor disputes; enhanced security requirements; changes in the government's policy regarding relief or assistance to the airline industry; the economic environment of the airline industry generally; increased federal scrutiny of low-fare carriers generally that may increase our operating costs or otherwise adversely affect us; 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. under recent changes to the bilateral agreement in place between the two countries; the availability of suitable aircraft, which may inhibit our ability to achieve operating economies and implement our business strategy; the unavailability of, or inability to secure upon acceptable terms, debt or operating lease financing necessary to acquire aircraft which we have ordered; uncertainties regarding aviation fuel prices, and various risk factors to our business discussed in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 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, 2005 and a Form 8-K filed on November 29, 2005. 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, INC.
SELECTED BALANCE SHEET DATA
(unaudited)
December 31, December 31,
2005 2004
Balance Sheet Data (In thousands):
Cash, cash equivalents and
short-term investments $222,680 $148,989
Current assets 346,151 239,441
Total assets 916,986 750,021
Current liabilities 232,238 183,535
Long-term debt 410,866 287,153
Total liabilities 681,069 509,148
Stockholders' equity 235,917 240,873
Working capital 113,913 55,906
FRONTIER AIRLINES, INC.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE THREE MONTHS AND NINE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2005 AND 2004
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
December 31, December 31, December 31, December 31,
2005 2004 2005 2004
Revenues:
Passenger -
mainline $217,812,040 $182,360,545 655,276,441 $539,971,428
Passenger-
regional
partner 23,489,827 21,582,231 69,834,655 62,618,444
Cargo 1,461,832 1,188,514 4,053,577 3,862,018
Other 4,198,861 3,106,181 12,631,427 8,643,425
Total
revenues 246,962,560 208,237,471 741,796,100 615,095,315
Operating expenses:
Flight
operations 35,187,555 32,545,417 104,097,155 96,107,230
Aircraft fuel 77,649,123 53,806,536 208,391,165 138,524,787
Aircraft lease 23,370,956 23,034,636 70,273,868 64,232,862
Aircraft and
traffic
servicing 35,183,456 32,287,621 101,050,337 95,208,836
Maintenance 18,487,070 19,170,439 57,015,422 57,326,354
Promotion and
sales 19,851,722 18,738,362 60,368,849 57,827,342
General and
administrative 12,481,000 12,827,674 36,802,629 35,155,449
Operating
expenses -
regional
partner 29,143,742 24,012,344 79,569,264 68,874,118
Aircraft lease
and facility
exit costs -- -- 3,364,515 --
(Gains) losses
on sales of
assets, net (273,565) (119,565) (964,742) 484,666
Impairments -- 658,424 -- 5,259,624
Depreciation 7,545,117 6,559,021 21,079,516 19,783,602
258,626,176 223,520,909 741,047,978 638,784,870
Total
operating
expenses
Operating
income (11,663,616) (15,283,438) 748,122 (23,689,555)
Nonoperating
income
(expense):
Interest
income 2,559,727 1,049,917 5,835,209 2,406,186
Interest
expense (5,709,068) (3,384,302) (14,870,882) (9,405,161)
Other, net (53,016) 341,287 (203,441) 172,570
Total
nonoperating
income
(expense), net (3,202,357) (1,993,098) (9,239,114) (6,826,405)
Loss before
income tax
expense (14,865,973) (17,276,536) (8,490,992) (30,515,960)
Income tax
benefit (4,575,753) (6,218,492) (2,372,376) (10,802,228)
Net loss $(10,290,220) $(11,058,044) $(6,118,616) $(19,713,732)
Loss per share:
Basic and
diluted $(0.28) $(0.31) $(0.17) $ (0.55)
Weighted average
shares of
common stock
outstanding:
Basic and
diluted 36,187,528 35,623,885 36,127,533 35,612,440
FRONTIER AIRLINES, INC.
Comparative Operating Statistics
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
December 31 December 31
2005 2004 Change 2005 2004 Change
Selected Operating
Data - Mainline:
Passenger
revenue (000s) $217,812 $182,361 19.4% $655,276 $539,971 21.4%
Revenue
passengers
carried (000s) 1,872 1,644 13.9% 5,784 4,978 16.2%
Revenue
passenger miles
(RPMs) (000s) 1,774,114 1,625,146 9.2% 5,555,093 4,928,415 12.7%
Available seat
miles (ASMs)
(000s) 2,461,668 2,267,686 8.6% 7,326,080 6,862,911 6.7%
Passenger
load factor 72.1% 71.7% 0.4 75.8% 71.8% 4.0
pts. pts.
Break-even
load factor (1) 74.7% 76.0% (1.3) 75.2% 74.4% 0.8
pts. pts.
Block hours 50,968 45,725 11.5% 149,323 136,786 9.2%
Departures 20,835 18,136 14.9% 61,338 54,723 12.1%
Average seats
per departure 129.4 129.9 (0.4%) 129.4 130.2 (0.6%)
Average stage
length 913 963 (5.2%) 923 963 (4.2%)
Average length
of haul 948 989 (4.1%) 960 990 (3.0%)
Average daily
block hour
utilization 11.3 10.7 5.6% 11.4 11.2 1.8%
Yield per RPM
(cents) (2), (3) 12.04 11.10 8.5% 11.65 10.87 7.2%
Total yield per
RPM (cents) (3) 12.60 11.49 9.7% 12.10 11.21 7.9%
Yield per ASM
(cents) (3) 8.68 7.95 9.2% 8.84 7.81 13.2%
Total yield per
ASM (cents) 9.08 8.23 10.3% 9.17 8.05 13.9%
Cost per ASM
(cents) 9.32 8.80 5.9% 9.03 8.30 8.8%
Fuel expense per
ASM (cents) 3.15 2.37 32.9% 2.84 2.02 40.6%
Cost per ASM
excluding fuel
(cents) (4) 6.17 6.43 (4.0%) 6.19 6.28 (1.4%)
Average fare $104.72 $ 102.92 1.7% $103.42 $101.14 2.3%
Average aircraft
in service 49.0 46.4 5.6% 47.8 44.4 7.7%
Aircraft in
service at end
of period 49.0 46.0 6.5% 49.0 46.0 6.5%
Average age of
aircraft at end
of period 2.4 2.8 (14.3%) 2.4 2.8 (14.3%)
Average fuel cost
per gallon $2.21 $1.64 34.8% $1.98 $1.39 42.4%
Fuel gallons
consumed (000's) 35,076 32,725 7.2% 105,329 99,483 5.9%
FRONTIER AIRLINES, INC.
Comparative Operating Statistics,
Continued
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
December 31 December 31
2005 2004 Change 2005 2004 Change
Selected Operating
Data - Regional
Partner:
Passenger revenue
(000s) $23,490 $21,582 8.8% $69,835 $62,618 11.5%
Revenue
passengers
carried (000s) 228 221 3.2% 695 657 5.8%
Revenue
passenger miles
(RPMs) (000s) 156,565 129,301 21.1% 442,278 403,012 9.7%
Available seat
miles (ASMs)
(000s) 215,077 185,673 15.8% 608,194 554,022 9.8%
Passenger load
factor 72.8% 69.6% 3.2 72.7% 72.7% --
pts.
Yield per RPM
(cents) (2) 15.00 16.69 (10.1%) 15.79 15.54 1.6%
Yield per ASM
(cents) 10.92 11.62 (6.0%) 11.48 11.30 1.6%
Cost per ASM
(cents) 13.55 12.93 4.8% 13.08 12.43 5.2%
Average fare $103.13 $97.51 5.8% $100.54 $ 95.24 5.6%
Aircraft in
service at
end of period 9 9 -- 9 9 --
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
December 31 December 31
2005 2004 Change 2005 2004 Change
Selected Operating
Data - Combined:
Passenger
revenue (000s) $241,302 $203,943 18.3% $725,111 $602,589 20.3%
Revenue
passengers
carried (000s) 2,100 1,865 12.6% 6,479 5,635 15.0%
Revenue
passenger miles
(RPMs) (000s) 1,930,679 1,754,447 10.0% 5,997,371 5,331,427 12.5%
Available seat
miles (ASMs)
(000s) 2,676,745 2,453,359 9.1% 7,934,274 7,416,933 7.0%
Passenger
load factor 72.1% 71.5% 0.6 75.6% 71.9% 3.7
pts. pts.
Yield per RPM
(cents) (2) 12.28 11.51 6.7% 11.96 11.23 6.5%
Total yield per
RPM (cents) (3) 12.79 11.87 7.8% 12.37 11.54 7.2%
Yield per ASM
(cents) 8.86 8.23 7.7% 9.04 8.07 12.0%
Total yield
per ASM (cents) 9.23 8.49 8.7% 9.35 8.29 12.8%
Cost per ASM
(cents) 9.66 9.11 6.0% 9.34 8.61 8.5%
(1) "Break-even load factor" is the passenger load factor that will
result in operating revenues being equal to operating expenses, net
of certain adjustments, assuming constant yield per RPM and no change
in ASMs. Break-even load factor as presented above may be deemed a
non-GAAP financial measure under regulations issued by the Securities
and Exchange Commission. We believe that presentation of break-even
load factor calculated after certain adjustments is useful to
investors because the elimination of special or unusual items allows
a meaningful period-to-period comparison. Furthermore, in preparing
operating plans and forecasts we rely on an analysis of break-even
load factor exclusive of these special and unusual items. Our
presentation of non-GAAP results should not be viewed as a substitute
for our financial or statistical results based on GAAP, and other
airlines may not necessarily compute break-even load factor in a
manner that is consistent with our computation.
A reconciliation of the components of the calculation of the mainline
break-even load factor is as follows:
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
December 31 December 31
2005 2004 2005 2004
(In thousands) (In thousands)
Net loss $10,290 $ 11,058 $6,119 $19,714
Income tax benefit 4,576 6,218 2,372 10,802
Passenger revenue 217,812 182,361 655,276 539,971
Revenue - regional
partner 23,490 21,582 69,835 62,618
Charter revenue (4,251) (2,006) (7,959) (4,045)
Operating expenses -
regional partner (29,144) (24,012) (79,569) (68,874)
Passenger revenue -
mainline (excluding
charter and regional
partner revenue)
required to break
even (based on GAAP
amounts) $222,773 $195,201 $ 646,074 $560,186
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Aircraft and facility
lease exit costs -- -- (3,365) --
Gain (losses) on
sales of assets 274 120 965 (485)
Impairment and
other related
charges -- (658) -- (5,260)
Unrealized
derivative gain (1,529) (3,202) (2,254) 432
Passenger revenue -
mainline (excluding
charter and regional
partner revenue)
required to break-
even (based on
adjusted amounts) $221,518 $191,461 $ 641,420 $554,873
The calculation of the
break-even load
factor follows:
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
December 31 December 31
2005 2004 2005 2004
Calculation of mainline
break-even load factor
using GAAP amounts:
Passenger revenue -
mainline (excluding
charter and regional
partner revenue)
required to break
even (based on GAAP
amounts) ($000s) $222,773 $195,201 $ 646,074 $560,186
Mainline yield per
RPM (cents) 12.04 11.10 11.65 10.87
Mainline revenue
passenger miles
(000s) to break
even assuming
constant yield
per RPM 1,850,274 1,758,568 5,545,700 5,153,505
Mainline available
seat miles (000's) 2,461,668 2,267,686 7,326,080 6,862,911
Mainline break-even
load factor using
GAAP amounts 75.2% 77.6% 75.7% 75.1%
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) $221,518 $191,461 $ 641,420 $554,873
Mainline yield per
RPM (cents) 12.04 11.10 11.65 10.87
Mainline revenue
passenger miles (000s)
to break even assuming
constant yield
per RPM 1,839,851 1,724,139 5,505,751 5,102,653
Mainline available
seat miles (000's) 2,461,668 2,267,686 7,326,080 6,862,911
Mainline break-even
load factor using
non-GAAP amounts 74.7% 76.0% 75.2% 74.4%
Difference 0.5% 1.6% 0.5% 0.7%
(2) "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 RPMs or ASMs. 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:
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
December 31 December 31
2005 2004 2005 2004
Passenger revenues -
mainline, as
reported $217,812 $182,361 $ 655,276 $539,971
Less: charter
revenue 4,251 2,006 7,959 4,045
Passenger revenues -
mainline excluding
charter 213,561 180,355 647,317 535,926
Add: Passenger
revenues -
regional partner 23,490 21,582 69,835 62,618
Passenger revenues,
system combined $237,051 $201,937 $ 717,152 $598,544
(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, it facilitates
comparison of results of operations between current and past periods
and enables investors to better 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.
SOURCE: Frontier Airlines, Inc. CONTACT: Joe Hodas of Frontier Airlines, +1-720-374-4504, Web site: http://www.frontierairlines.com/
Related Assets
|
