Mesa Air Group Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2024 Results
Mesa Air Group (NASDAQ: MESA) reported its second quarter fiscal 2024 results, showing significant improvements. Operating revenues reached $131.6 million, an 8% increase from Q2 2023.
The company achieved a pre-tax and net income of $11.7 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, and an adjusted net income of $6.3 million, or $0.15 per diluted share.
Mesa's adjusted EBITDAR was $28.2 million, up from $7.9 million in Q2 2023. The company reduced its total debt by $221.5 million over the past year and expects to remain cash-flow neutral for the rest of the fiscal year.
Operationally, Mesa achieved a 99.85% controllable completion factor. The fleet mix for Q2 2024 included 56 E-175s and 24 CRJ-900s.
- Operating revenues increased by 8% to $131.6 million.
- Pre-tax and net income reached $11.7 million, or $0.28 per diluted share.
- Adjusted net income was $6.3 million, or $0.15 per diluted share.
- Adjusted EBITDAR of $28.2 million, up from $7.9 million in Q2 2023.
- Total operating expenses decreased by $28.8 million, or 19.3%.
- Debt reduced by $221.5 million over the past year.
- Controllable completion factor improved to 99.85%.
- Contract revenue decreased by $10 million, or 9.7%.
- Pass-through revenue decreased by $0.3 million, or 1.6%.
- 98% of the total revenue derived from a single contract with United Airlines.
- Company ended the quarter with $18.5 million in unrestricted cash, which might be considered low for some investors.
Insights
Mesa Air Group's second quarter fiscal 2024 results present a notable shift in the company's financial performance. The reported total operating revenues of
Net income of
The most notable achievement is the reduction in total operating expenses by 19.3%, primarily due to lower impairment losses and depreciation expenses. This expense management is critical for maintaining profitability and suggests that the company's restructuring efforts are bearing fruit.
However, investors should be cautious about Mesa's heavy reliance on United Airlines, with 98% of total revenue derived from this contract. Any adverse changes in this relationship could significantly impact Mesa's financial stability.
The operational metrics reported by Mesa Air Group for Q2 2024 offer insightful details about the company's current standing in the market. The controllable completion factor of 99.85% for United Airlines indicates high operational efficiency and reliability, which is important for maintaining strong partnerships with major airline clients. This slight improvement from the previous year's 99.63% demonstrates incremental operational enhancements.
The ongoing transition from CRJ-900 to E-175 aircrafts is a strategic move aimed at optimizing the fleet for higher-margin opportunities. This shift not only aligns with industry trends towards more efficient aircraft but also positions Mesa for improved profitability in the long term.
Nevertheless, Mesa's significant dependence on a single client, United Airlines, poses a risk. Diversification of the client base could mitigate this risk and provide more stability. The company's focus on enhancing its pilot pipeline and reducing pilot attrition are positive steps towards ensuring operational continuity and growth.
PHOENIX, June 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mesa Air Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: MESA) (“Mesa” or the “Company”) today reported second quarter fiscal 2024 financial and operating results.
Second Quarter Fiscal 2024 Update:
- Total operating revenues of
$131.6 million - Pre-tax income of
$11.7 million , net income of$11.7 million or$0.28 per diluted share - Adjusted net income1 of
$6.3 million 2 or$0.15 per diluted share - Adjusted EBITDAR1 of
$28.2 million - Flew
99.85% controllable completion factor
Additional Updates:
- Closed on additional five engines associated with RASPRO finance lease since June 2024 announcement
- Renegotiated operating lease on two CRJ aircraft into a fully amortized buyout lease, reducing payments by
$9.5 million over life of lease
“Our second quarter results have begun to demonstrate an improvement in our business and reflect our efforts over the past year-and-a-half to restructure and strengthen our operations, P&L, and balance sheet,” said Jonathan Ornstein, Chairman and CEO. “Given meaningfully improved block-hour rates on our E-175 flying, coupled with our initiatives to eliminate surplus CRJ assets, we achieved our first GAAP and adjusted net profits in 11 quarters, as well as our best adjusted EBITDAR result over that period. Concurrently, Mesa has reduced its total debt by
“While we still have work to do as we transition out of our CRJ-900 fleet and build our E-175 flying, we expect to remain cash-flow neutral for the remainder of the fiscal year. With an optimized asset base, our ongoing transition toward higher-margin E-175 flying, and the continued reduction in pilot attrition and strength in our pilot pipeline, we look forward to returning to consistent profitability in the future.”
Second Quarter Fiscal 2024 Details
Total operating revenues in Q2 2024 were
Total operating expenses in Q2 2024 were
Mesa’s Q2 2024 results reflect net income of
Mesa’s adjusted EBITDA1 for Q2 2024 was
______________________
1 See Reconciliation of GAAP versus non-GAAP Disclosures
2 Adjusted net income primarily excludes
Second Quarter Fiscal 2024 Operating Performance
Operationally, the Company reported a controllable completion factor of
For Q2 2024, approximately
Balance Sheet and Cash Flow
Mesa ended the March quarter with
About Mesa Air Group, Inc.
Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Mesa Air Group, Inc. is the holding company of Mesa Airlines, a regional air carrier providing scheduled passenger service to 79 cities in 36 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, Cuba, and Mexico. As of March 31, 2024, Mesa operated a fleet of 80 aircraft, with approximately 263 daily departures. The Company had approximately 2,110 employees. Mesa operates all its flights as United Express pursuant to the terms of a capacity purchase agreement entered into with United Airlines, Inc.
Important Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Press Release includes information that constitutes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Words such as “anticipate”, “estimate”, “expect”, “project”, “plan”, “intend”, “believe”, “may”, “might”, “will”, “should”, “can have”, “likely” and similar expressions are used to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current beliefs, assumptions, and expectations regarding future events, which in turn are based on information currently available to the Company. By their nature, forward-looking statements address matters that are subject to risks and uncertainties. A variety of factors could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those expressed in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements. These factors include, without limitation, the Company’s ability to respond in a timely and satisfactory matter to the inquiries by Nasdaq, the Company’s ability to regain compliance with Listing Rule, the Company’s ability to become current with its reports with the SEC, and the risk that the completion and filing of the Form 10-Qs will take longer than expected. For additional information about factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Company’s filings with the SEC, including the risk factors contained in its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Company’s other subsequent filings with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable laws.
Contact:
Mesa Air Group, Inc.
Media
media@mesa-air.com
Investor Relations
investor.relations@mesa-air.com
| MESA AIR GROUP, INC. Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income (In thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) | ||||||||
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Operating revenues: | ||||||||
| Contract revenue | $ | 113,820 | $ | 103,782 | ||||
| Pass-through and other revenue | 17,762 | 18,052 | ||||||
| Total operating revenues | 131,582 | 121,834 | ||||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||
| Flight operations | 49,329 | 54,830 | ||||||
| Maintenance | 44,272 | 45,985 | ||||||
| Aircraft rent | 1,408 | 835 | ||||||
| General and administrative | 11,133 | 13,538 | ||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 9,823 | 16,541 | ||||||
| Asset impairment | 2,659 | 16,743 | ||||||
| Other operating expenses | 1,315 | 233 | ||||||
| Total operating expenses | 119,939 | 148,705 | ||||||
| Operating income/(loss) | 11,643 | (26,871 | ) | |||||
| Other income (expense), net: | ||||||||
| Interest expense | (10,640 | ) | (13,030 | ) | ||||
| Interest income | 14 | 49 | ||||||
| Gain on investments | 7,230 | — | ||||||
| Unrealized gain/(loss) on investments, net | (6,499 | ) | 2,095 | |||||
| Gain on debt forgiveness | 10,500 | — | ||||||
| Other income, net | (516 | ) | 538 | |||||
| Total other expense, net | 89 | (10,348 | ) | |||||
| Income (loss) before taxes | 11,732 | (37,219 | ) | |||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | 72 | (2,097 | ) | |||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 11,660 | $ | (35,122 | ) | |||
| Net income (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders | ||||||||
| Basic | $ | 0.28 | $ | (0.88 | ) | |||
| Diluted | $ | 0.28 | $ | (0.88 | ) | |||
| Weighted-average common shares outstanding | ||||||||
| Basic | 41,068 | 39,932 | ||||||
| Diluted | 41,068 | 39,932 | ||||||
| MESA AIR GROUP, INC. Consolidated Balance Sheets (In thousands, except shares) (Unaudited) | ||||||||
| March 31, 2024 | September 30, 2023 | |||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| CURRENT ASSETS: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 18,529 | $ | 32,940 | |||||
| Restricted cash | 2,984 | 3,132 | ||||||
| Receivables, net | 4,650 | 8,253 | ||||||
| Expendable parts and supplies, net | 29,474 | 29,245 | ||||||
| Assets held for sale | 38,250 | 57,722 | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 4,550 | 7,294 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 98,437 | 138,586 | ||||||
| Property and equipment, net | 529,479 | 698,022 | ||||||
| Lease and equipment deposits | 1,289 | 1,630 | ||||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets | 8,074 | 9,709 | ||||||
| Deferred heavy maintenance, net | 6,466 | 7,974 | ||||||
| Assets held for sale | 41,970 | 12,000 | ||||||
| Other assets | 20,558 | 30,546 | ||||||
| TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 706,273 | $ | 898,467 | ||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
| CURRENT LIABILITIES: | ||||||||
| Current portion of long-term debt and finance leases | $ | 94,373 | $ | 163,550 | ||||
| Current portion of deferred revenue | 2,809 | 4,880 | ||||||
| Current maturities of operating leases | 2,334 | 3,510 | ||||||
| Accounts payable | 57,347 | 58,957 | ||||||
| Accrued compensation | 13,415 | 10,008 | ||||||
| Other accrued expenses | 26,525 | 27,001 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | $ | 196,803 | $ | 267,906 | ||||
| NONCURRENT LIABILITIES: | ||||||||
| Long-term debt and finance leases, excluding current portion | 299,040 | 364,728 | ||||||
| Noncurrent operating lease liabilities | 7,309 | 8,077 | ||||||
| Deferred credits | 3,720 | 4,617 | ||||||
| Deferred income taxes | 8,907 | 8,414 | ||||||
| Deferred revenue, net of current portion | 7,347 | 16,167 | ||||||
| Other noncurrent liabilities | 28,475 | 28,522 | ||||||
| Total noncurrent liabilities | 354,798 | 430,525 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | 551,601 | 698,431 | ||||||
| STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: | ||||||||
| Common stock of no par value and additional paid-in capital, 125,000,000 shares authorized; 41,172,218 (2024) and 40,940,326 (2023) shares issued and outstanding, 4,899,497 (2024) and 4,899,497 (2023) warrants issued and outstanding | 271,981 | 271,155 | ||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (117,309 | ) | (71,119 | ) | ||||
| Total stockholders' equity | 154,672 | 200,036 | ||||||
| TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | $ | 706,273 | $ | 898,467 | ||||
| MESA AIR GROUP, INC. Operating Highlights (Unaudited) | |||||||||
| Three months ended | |||||||||
| March 31, | |||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | Change | |||||||
| Available seat miles (thousands) | 961,761 | 1,065,771 | (9.8 | )% | |||||
| Block hours | 43,270 | 48,186 | (10.2 | )% | |||||
| Average stage length (miles) | 544 | 542 | 0.4 | % | |||||
| Departures | 23,691 | 26,450 | (10.4 | )% | |||||
| Passengers | 1,422,702 | 1,545,489 | (7.9 | )% | |||||
| Controllable completion factor* | |||||||||
| United | 99.85 | % | 99.63 | % | 0.2 | % | |||
| Total completion factor** | |||||||||
| United | 97.15 | % | 98.48 | % | (1.4 | )% | |||
*Controllable completion factor excludes cancellations due to weather and air traffic control
**Total completion factor includes all cancellations
Reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures
Although these financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. ("GAAP"), certain non-GAAP financial measures may provide investors with useful information regarding the underlying business trends and performance of Mesa's ongoing operations and may be useful for period-over-period comparisons of such operations. The tables below reflect supplemental financial data and reconciliations to GAAP financial statements for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022. Readers should consider these non-GAAP measures in addition to, not a substitute for, financial reporting measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures exclude some, but not all items that may affect the Company's net income or loss. Additionally, these calculations may not be comparable with similarly titled measures of other companies.
1Reconciliation of GAAP versus non-GAAP Disclosures
(In thousands, except for per diluted share) (Unaudited)
| Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 | Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income (Loss) Before Taxes | Income Tax (Expense) Benefit | Net Income (Loss) | Net Income (Loss) per Diluted Share | Income (Loss) Before Taxes | Income Tax (Expense) Benefit | Net Income (Loss) | Net Income (Loss) per Diluted Share | ||||||||||||||||||
| GAAP income (loss) | $ | 11,732 | $ | (72 | ) | $ | 11,660 | $ | 0.28 | $ | (37,219 | ) | $ | 2,097 | $ | (35,122 | ) | $ | (0.88 | ) | |||||
| Adjustments(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10) | (5,423 | ) | 33 | (5,390 | ) | $ | (0.13 | ) | 14,762 | (980 | ) | 13,782 | $ | 0.35 | |||||||||||
| Adjusted income loss | 6,309 | (39 | ) | 6,270 | $ | 0.15 | (22,457 | ) | 1,117 | (21,340 | ) | $ | (0.53 | ) | |||||||||||
| Interest expense | 10,640 | 13,030 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest income | (14 | ) | (49 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 9,823 | 16,541 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | 26,758 | 7,065 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aircraft rent | 1,408 | 835 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDAR | $ | 28,166 | $ | 7,900 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Six Months Ended March 31, 2024 | Six Months Ended March 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income (Loss) Before Taxes | Income Tax (Expense) Benefit | Net Income (Loss) | Net Income (Loss) per Diluted Share | Income (Loss) Before Taxes | Income Tax (Expense) Benefit | Net Income (Loss) | Net Income (Loss) per Diluted Share | ||||||||||||||||||
| GAAP income (loss) | $ | (45,254 | ) | $ | (936 | ) | $ | (46,190 | ) | $ | (1.13 | ) | $ | (47,238 | ) | $ | 3,027 | $ | (44,211 | ) | $ | (1.16 | ) | ||
| Adjustments(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12) | 32,217 | 666 | 32,883 | $ | 0.80 | 20,160 | (1,568 | ) | 18,592 | $ | 0.49 | ||||||||||||||
| Adjusted income loss | (13,037 | ) | (270 | ) | (13,307 | ) | $ | (0.32 | ) | (27,078 | ) | 1,459 | (25,619 | ) | $ | (0.67 | ) | ||||||||
| Interest expense | 21,800 | 24,306 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest income | (28 | ) | (120 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 23,116 | 31,744 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | 31,851 | 28,852 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aircraft rent | 2,612 | 4,918 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDAR | $ | 34,463 | $ | 33,770 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Mesa Air Group, Inc.
FAQ
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