Sun Country Airlines Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Sun Country Airlines (NASDAQ: SNCY) reported its Q2 2024 financial results, marking its eighth consecutive profitable quarter. Despite challenges, the company achieved:

- Revenue of $254 million, down 2.6% year-over-year
- GAAP diluted EPS of $0.03
- Adjusted diluted EPS of $0.06
- Operating income of $12 million with a 4.9% margin
- Adjusted operating income of $14 million with a 5.5% margin

The company's diversified model continues to drive performance. Notable highlights include a revised agreement with Amazon, extending through 2030 with options until 2037, and the addition of eight new freighter aircraft. Sun Country also launched a new mobile app and expanded international service from Milwaukee.

Positive

• Eighth consecutive profitable quarter
• Adjusted operating margin of 5.5%, among industry leaders for low-cost airlines
• Revised agreement with Amazon, extending through 2030 with options until 2037
• Addition of eight new freighter aircraft to the fleet
• Total operating expense grew less than total block hours
• Adjusted CASM decreased by 4.9% year-over-year
• Charter revenue per block hour increased 14.4% year-over-year
• Cargo revenue increased 1.7% year-over-year

Negative

• Revenue decreased 2.6% year-over-year to $254 million
• GAAP operating income decreased 65.3% year-over-year to $12.4 million
• Net income decreased 91.2% year-over-year to $1.8 million
• Scheduled service TRASM decreased 21.3% year-over-year
• Total fare per scheduled passenger decreased 20.1% year-over-year
• Fuel expense increased 18.8% year-over-year
• Net debt increased to $551.8 million from $517.2 million at year-end 2023

Insights

Financial Analyst

Sun Country Airlines' Q2 2024 results present a mixed picture. Despite challenging market conditions, the company managed to maintain profitability, albeit at reduced levels compared to the previous year. Here are the key takeaways:

• Revenue declined by 2.6% year-over-year to $254.4 million, impacted by a soft domestic revenue environment and late-June operational challenges.
• GAAP operating margin contracted to 4.9% from 13.6% in Q2 2023, while adjusted operating margin fell to 5.5% from 15.3%.
• Diluted EPS dropped significantly to $0.03 from $0.35 in the same quarter last year.
• The company's diversified business model, including scheduled service, charter and cargo operations, helped mitigate some of the headwinds in the domestic market.

The revised agreement with Amazon, announced in June, is a positive development that should strengthen Sun Country's revenue diversification and earnings potential. However, investors should note that the full benefits of this agreement won't materialize until late Q1 2025.

Cost management remains a bright spot, with adjusted CASM decreasing by 4.9% year-over-year, marking the third consecutive quarter of unit cost decline. This demonstrates the company's ability to control expenses in a challenging environment.

Looking ahead, the guidance for Q3 2024 suggests continued pressure on revenues and margins. The projected operating income margin of 3% to 5% represents a significant decline from the same period last year, indicating ongoing challenges in the domestic market.

While Sun Country's diversified model provides some resilience, the company's performance remains vulnerable to broader industry headwinds, particularly in the domestic leisure travel segment. Investors should closely monitor the company's ability to navigate these challenges while capitalizing on its unique business model and new opportunities like the expanded Amazon partnership.

Market Research Analyst

Sun Country's Q2 results offer valuable insights into the current state of the US airline industry, particularly the low-cost carrier segment. The company's performance reflects broader market trends that investors should consider:

• Overcapacity in the domestic market is pressuring unit revenues, as evidenced by the 21.3% year-over-year decrease in scheduled service TRASM.
• The total fare per scheduled passenger dropped by 20.1%, indicating intense price competition and potentially softer demand in the leisure travel segment.
• Despite these challenges, passenger numbers grew, with scheduled service revenue passengers increasing by 16.1%. This suggests that while demand for air travel remains strong, airlines are struggling to maintain pricing power.

Sun Country's diversified model, which includes charter and cargo operations, provides some insulation from these market pressures. The 2.8% increase in charter service revenue and 1.7% growth in cargo revenue demonstrate the value of this strategy in a challenging environment for scheduled passenger services.

The company's cost control measures are noteworthy, with adjusted CASM falling 4.9% year-over-year. This ability to manage costs effectively could be a key differentiator in a market where revenue growth is constrained.

Looking ahead, Sun Country's guidance for Q3 2024 suggests that industry headwinds are expected to persist. The projected flat to slightly negative revenue growth and compressed operating margins indicate that the domestic airline market is likely to remain challenging in the near term.

For investors, Sun Country's results and outlook provide important context for assessing the broader airline industry. The company's unique model may offer some advantages, but it's clear that even diversified carriers are not immune to the current market pressures. As the industry grapples with overcapacity and pricing challenges, cost management and operational efficiency will be critical factors in determining which airlines can maintain profitability and market share.

Revenue of $254 million, impacted by late-June cancellations
GAAP diluted EPS of $0.03, operating income of $12 million and margin of 4.9%
Adj. diluted EPS⁽¹⁾ of $0.06, adjusted operating income⁽¹⁾ of $14 million and margin of 5.5%

MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sun Country Airlines Holdings, Inc. (“Sun Country Airlines,” “Sun Country,” the “Company”) (NASDAQ: SNCY) today reported financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2024.

“Sun Country is pleased to report our eighth consecutive profitable quarter with GAAP EPS of $0.03 and adjusted EPS of $0.06⁽¹⁾,” said Jude Bricker, Chief Executive Officer of Sun Country. “Despite a soft domestic revenue environment and some late-June operational challenges, we delivered a GAAP operating margin of 4.9% and an adjusted operating margin of 5.5%⁽¹⁾. Sun County’s financial results continue to be among the industry leaders at a particularly challenging time for low-cost airlines. This is the direct result of the unique, diversified model that we have built over the last 6 years. The revised agreement with Amazon that we announced in June will further strengthen the diversification of our revenue base and should significantly add to our earnings. We want to thank our employees for their hard work and dedication during a challenging operating period.”

Overview of Second Quarter

	Three Months Ended June 30,
(unaudited) (in millions, except per share amounts)		2024				2023				% Change
Total Operating Revenue	$	254.4			$	261.1				(2.6	)
Operating Income		12.4				35.6				(65.3	)
Income Before Income Tax		3.1				26.8				(88.5	)
Net Income		1.8				20.6				(91.2	)
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.03			$	0.35				(91.4	)

	Three Months Ended June 30,
(unaudited) (in millions, except per share amounts)		2024				2023				% Change
Adjusted Operating Income(1)	$	13.9			$	40.0				(65.2	)
Adjusted Income Before Income Tax(1)		4.7				31.3				(85.1	)
Adjusted Net Income(1)		3.0				24.1				(87.5	)
Adjusted diluted earnings per share(1)	$	0.06			$	0.40				(85.0	)

	Six Months Ended June 30,
(unaudited) (in millions, except per share amounts)		2024				2023				% Change
Total Operating Revenue	$	565.9			$	555.2				1.9
Operating Income		67.5				91.4				(26.1	)
Income Before Income Tax		49.6				76.4				(35.1	)
Net Income		37.1				58.9				(37.0	)
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.67			$	0.99				(32.3	)

	Six Months Ended June 30,
(unaudited) (in millions, except per share amounts)		2024				2023				% Change
Adjusted Operating Income(1)	$	70.6			$	98.5				(28.3	)
Adjusted Income Before Income Tax(1)		52.7				83.8				(37.1	)
Adjusted Net Income(1)		39.5				64.5				(38.8	)
Adjusted diluted earnings per share(1)	$	0.72			$	1.08				(33.3	)

Amounts presented in the tables above may not recalculate due to rounding

For the quarter ended June 30, 2024, Sun Country reported net income of approximately $2 million and income before income tax of $3 million, on $254 million of revenue. Adjusted income before income tax⁽¹⁾ for the quarter was approximately $5 million. GAAP operating income during the quarter was $12 million, while adjusted operating income⁽¹⁾ was $14 million, operating margin was 4.9% and adjusted operating margin⁽¹⁾ was 5.5%_.

“Despite the challenging domestic revenue environment, and the fact that second quarter is a seasonally weaker quarter for Sun Country, we continued our two-year run of profitable quarters,” said Dave Davis, President and Chief Financial Officer. “Our results were driven by continued cost control, as total operating expense grew less than total block hours and adjusted CASM⁽²⁾ decreased by 4.9% year over year. This is the third consecutive quarter where Sun Country’s unit costs declined on a year-over-year basis. The strength of the Sun Country model is driven by our diversified revenue streams, which other carriers cannot readily duplicate. We move capacity to the lines of business that will maximize profitability. Our revised agreement with Amazon is a great example of the power of this diversification. As new Amazon aircraft come into service starting in late-first quarter 2025, we intend to moderately shrink our scheduled service business to accommodate the Amazon growth. Our intent is to begin growing the scheduled service business again in 2026.”

Notable Highlights

• Entered into a revised Air Transport Services Agreement with Amazon that includes an extension of the agreement through 2030 with options to further extend through 2037, the addition of eight new freighter aircraft to our fleet and revised economics reflecting the realities of the post-pandemic cost environment.
• Launched a new mobile app to enhance the travel experience for Sun Country customers.
• Extended the existing leases on two 737-800 aircraft Sun Country has on lease to another carrier. These aircraft are now expected to redeliver to Sun Country in May 2025 and November 2025, respectively. Upon expiry of these subleases, the aircraft are expected to be inducted into the Sun Country passenger fleet.
• Extended the selling schedule through April 29, 2025 which includes more than 55 nonstop destinations from Minneapolis-St Paul next winter.
• Announced new international service from Milwaukee, WI to the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. Sun Country now offers the most international destinations from Milwaukee.
  

Capacity

System block hours flown during the second quarter of 2024 grew by 8.9% year-over-year. All of this growth was allocated to the scheduled service business, resulting in an 18.2% increase in scheduled service ASMs. Scheduled service ASM growth will slow substantially in the third quarter of 2024 to an expected 7 to 8% increase over third quarter 2023. Cargo block hours declined in the second quarter by 2.4% year-over-year due to scheduled maintenance during the quarter.

Charter block hours under long-term contracts comprised over 77% of the total charter flying performed in the second quarter of 2024. Second quarter ad-hoc charter block hours grew 57% versus a year ago. Charter flying was also optimized to minimize non-productive ferry flights, resulting in improved performance on an overall block hours decline of 10.2% year-over-year.

Revenue

The domestic market continued to be impacted by overcapacity in the second quarter which pressured unit revenue. The Company reported total revenue of $254 million for the second quarter, which was 2.6% less than the second quarter of 2023. Scheduled service TRASM⁽³⁾ of 10.03 cents decreased 21.3% year-over-year, while scheduled service ASMs increased 18.2%. The second quarter 2024 total fare per scheduled passenger of $142 was lower than second quarter 2023 by 20.1% as scheduled service revenue passengers grew 16.1%. The Company’s second quarter charter service revenue was $51 million, an increase of 2.8% year-over-year. On a rate basis, second quarter 2024 charter revenue per block hour was 14.4% higher than the rate in the second quarter of 2023. This rate increase includes the impact of higher fuel prices.

In the second quarter of 2024, cargo revenue was $25 million, a 1.7% increase versus the second quarter of 2023. The variance was primarily driven by the annual rate escalation which went into effect in mid-December 2023.

Cost

Sun Country continues to demonstrate excellent cost management, with second quarter CASM falling 5.1% and adjusted CASM⁽²⁾ falling 4.9% year-over-year. Total GAAP operating expenses increased 7.3% year-over-year, primarily due to an 18.8% increase in fuel expense resulting from a 5.5% increase in fuel price and a 19.6% increase in scheduled service block hours. Non fuel expenses that exceeded block hour growth included ground handling expenses, which increased 16.6% driven by a 12% increase in passenger segment departures as well as an increase in rate, and landing fees and airport rent which increased 14.9% due to the expiration of COVID assistance that airports have used to limit rate increases. The remaining expenses grew less than total block hour growth.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

Total liquidity⁽⁴⁾ was $153 million on June 30, 2024, while the Company’s net debt⁽⁵⁾ was $552 million.

(in millions - amounts may not recalculate due to rounding)	June 30, 2024				December 31, 2023
	(Unaudited)
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$	26.9			$	46.3
Available-for-Sale Securities		101.9				134.2
Amount Available Under Revolving Credit Facility		24.4				24.7
Total Liquidity	$	153.2			$	205.2
(in millions - amounts may not recalculate due to rounding)	June 30, 2024				December 31, 2023
	(Unaudited)
Total Debt, net	$	365.5			$	401.6
Finance Lease Obligations		297.3				277.3
Operating Lease Obligations		17.8				18.8
Total Debt, net, and Lease Obligations		680.6				697.7
Cash and Cash Equivalents		26.9				46.3
Available-for-Sale Securities		101.9				134.2
Net Debt	$	551.8			$	517.2

Fleet

As of June 30, 2024, the Company had 44 aircraft in its passenger service fleet, operated 12 freighter aircraft in its cargo operation and had seven aircraft that are currently on lease to unaffiliated airlines.

Guidance for Third Quarter 2024

	Q3 2024		H/(L) vs Q3 2023
Total revenue - millions	$245 to $255		(2%) to 2%
Economic fuel cost per gallon	$2.82		(11)%
Operating income margin - percentage	3% to 5%		(5pp) to (3pp)
Effective tax rate	23%
Total system block hours - thousands	36.5 to 37.5		5% to 8%

Conference Call & Webcast Details

Sun Country Airlines will host a conference call to discuss its second quarter 2024 results at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday, August 2, 2024. A live broadcast of the conference call will be available via the investor relations section of Sun Country Airlines’ website at https://ir.suncountry.com/news-events/events-and-presentations. The online replay will be available on the same website approximately one hour after the call.

About Sun Country Airlines

Sun Country Airlines is a new breed of hybrid low-cost air carrier, whose mission is to connect guests to their favorite people and places, to create lifelong memories and transformative experiences. Sun Country dynamically deploys shared resources across our synergistic scheduled service, charter, and cargo businesses. Based in Minnesota, we focus on serving leisure and visiting friends and relatives (“VFR”) passengers and charter customers and providing cargo service to Amazon, with flights throughout the United States and to destinations in Mexico, Central America, Canada, and the Caribbean. For photos, b-roll and additional company information, visit https://www.stories.suncountry.com/multimedia.

End Notes

1 -	See additional details, including reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP measures, in the section titled “Non-GAAP financial measures”
2 -	Adjusted CASM is a non-GAAP measure derived from CASM by excluding fuel costs, non-cash management stock compensation expense, costs arising from its cargo operations, depreciation and amortization recognized on certain assets that generate lease income, certain commissions, and other costs of selling its vacations product from this measure. See table titled “Reconciliation of CASM to Adjusted CASM”
3 -	Scheduled Service TRASM includes Schedule Service revenue, Ancillary revenue, and ASM generating revenue classified within Other Revenue on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations / Scheduled Service ASMs. Other Revenue includes rental revenue associated with certain assets that generate lease income of approximately $9.9 and $5.9 million in the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 and $19.1 and $5.9 in the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, which is not included.
4 -	Total liquidity = cash and cash equivalents + available-for-sale securities + amount available under revolver
5 -	Net debt = current portion of long-term debt + long-term debt + finance lease obligations + operating lease obligations – cash and cash equivalents - available-for-sale securities

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and, in each case, their negative or other various or comparable terminology. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenue, projected costs, prospects, plans, objectives of management, and expected market growth are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are relating to:

• our strategy, outlook and growth prospects;
• our operational and financial targets and dividend policy;
• general economic trends and trends in the industry and markets;
• potential repurchases of our common stock; and
• the competitive environment in which we operate.

These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements reflect our views with respect to future events as of the date of this press release and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this press release and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or review publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date of this press release. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our views to change. You should read this press release completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures, or investments we may undertake. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements. Additional information concerning certain factors is contained in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to the Company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We sometimes use information that is derived from the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, but that is not presented in accordance with GAAP. We believe these non-GAAP measures provide a meaningful comparison of our results to others in the airline industry and our prior year results. Investors should consider these non-GAAP financial measures in addition to, and not as a substitute for, our financial performance measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Further, our non-GAAP information may be different from the non-GAAP information provided by other companies. We believe certain charges included in our operating expenses on a GAAP basis make it difficult to compare our current period results to prior periods as well as future periods and guidance. The tables below show a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures used in this document to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited- amounts may not recalculate due to rounding)
	Three Months Ended June 30,
		2024				2023			% Change
Operating Revenues:
Scheduled Service	$	88,078			$	111,467				(21.0	)
Charter		51,009				49,626				2.8
Ancillary		77,308				66,773				15.8
Passenger		216,395				227,866				(5.0	)
Cargo		25,447				25,017				1.7
Other		12,539				8,203				52.9
Total Operating Revenue		254,381				261,086				(2.6	)
Operating Expenses:
Aircraft Fuel		62,188				52,360				18.8
Salaries, Wages, and Benefits		79,359				75,919				4.5
Aircraft Rent		—				779				(100.0	)
Maintenance		17,339				15,942				8.8
Sales and Marketing		8,392				8,507				(1.4	)
Depreciation and Amortization		23,631				22,355				5.7
Ground Handling		11,368				9,747				16.6
Landing Fees and Airport Rent		13,723				11,944				14.9
Other Operating, net		26,016				27,946				(6.9	)
Total Operating Expenses		242,016				225,499				7.3
Operating Income		12,365				35,587				(65.3	)
Non-operating Income (Expense):
Interest Income		1,800				2,545				(29.3	)
Interest Expense		(11,077	)			(11,239	)			(1.4	)
Other, net		(4	)			(143	)			(97.2	)
Total Non-operating Expense, net		(9,281	)			(8,837	)			5.0
Income before Income Tax		3,084				26,750				(88.5	)
Income Tax Expense		1,272				6,132				(79.3	)
Net Income	$	1,812			$	20,618				(91.2	)
Net Income per share to common stockholders:
Basic	$	0.03			$	0.37				(91.9	)
Diluted	$	0.03			$	0.35				(91.4	)
Shares used for computation:
Basic		52,689,408				56,084,759				(6.1	)
Diluted		54,792,848				59,712,048				(8.2	)

	Six Months Ended June 30,
		2024				2023			% Change
Operating Revenues:
Scheduled Service	$	229,272			$	264,124				(13.2	)
Charter		98,321				95,813				2.6
Ancillary		163,466				135,198				20.9
Passenger		491,059				495,135				(0.8	)
Cargo		49,395				48,378				2.1
Other		25,410				11,688				117.4
Total Operating Revenue		565,864				555,201				1.9
Operating Expenses:
Aircraft Fuel		132,492				124,650				6.3
Salaries, Wages, and Benefits		161,597				151,349				6.8
Aircraft Rent		—				2,259				(100.0	)
Maintenance		34,156				28,981				17.9
Sales and Marketing		19,071				18,436				3.4
Depreciation and Amortization		47,440				41,815				13.5
Ground Handling		20,522				18,917				8.5
Landing Fees and Airport Rent		28,452				22,889				24.3
Other Operating, net		54,593				54,535				0.1
Total Operating Expenses		498,323				463,831				7.4
Operating Income		67,541				91,370				(26.1	)
Non-operating Income (Expense):
Interest Income		4,248				5,286				(19.6	)
Interest Expense		(22,189	)			(19,869	)			11.7
Other, net		42				(355	)			(111.8	)
Total Non-operating Expense, net		(17,899	)			(14,938	)			19.8
Income before Income Tax		49,642				76,432				(35.1	)
Income Tax Expense		12,517				17,486				(28.4	)
Net Income	$	37,125			$	58,946				(37.0	)
Net Income per share to common stockholders:
Basic	$	0.70			$	1.05				(33.3	)
Diluted	$	0.67			$	0.99				(32.3	)
Shares used for computation:
Basic		52,861,973				56,364,170				(6.2	)
Diluted		55,095,265				59,630,008				(7.6	)

KEY OPERATING STATISTICS - amounts may not recalculate due to rounding
The following tables presents key operating statistics and metrics for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023.
	Three Months Ended June 30,
		2024				2023			% Change
Scheduled Service Statistics:
Revenue passenger miles (RPMs) – thousands		1,392,312				1,216,261				14.5
Available seat miles (ASMs) – thousands		1,675,927				1,417,778				18.2
Load factor		83.1	%			85.8	%			(2.7	)	(3)
Revenue passengers carried		1,167,039				1,005,126				16.1
Departures		7,681				6,401				20.0
Block hours		23,400				19,561				19.6
Scheduled service TRASM(1)- cents		10.03				12.74				(21.3	)
Average base fare per passenger	$	75.47			$	110.90				(31.9	)
Ancillary revenue per passenger	$	66.24			$	66.43				(0.3	)
Total fare per passenger	$	141.71			$	177.33				(20.1	)
Fuel gallons - thousands		18,019				15,128				19.1
Charter Statistics:
Departures		2,537				2,759				(8.0	)
Block hours		5,089				5,666				(10.2	)
Available seats miles (ASMs) - thousands		309,857				337,319				(8.1	)
Fuel gallons - thousands		3,599				4,023				(10.5	)
Cargo Statistics:
Departures		3,246				3,184				1.9
Block hours		8,363				8,570				(2.4	)
Total System Statistics:
Average passenger aircraft		42.2				42.0				0.5
Passenger aircraft – end of period		44				43				2.3
Cargo aircraft – end of period		12				12				—
Leased aircraft – end of period		7				5				40.0
Available seat miles (ASMs) – thousands		2,011,921				1,780,340				13.0
Departures		13,610				12,495				8.9
Block hours		37,281				34,230				8.9
Daily utilization – hours		7.5				6.7				11.9
Average stage length – miles		1,054				1,046				0.8
Total revenue per ASM (TRASM) - cents		10.89				12.93				(15.8	)
Cost per ASM (CASM) - cents		12.03				12.67				(5.1	)
Adjusted CASM(2)- cents		7.49				7.88				(4.9	)
Fuel gallons - thousands		21,864				19,399				12.7
Fuel cost per gallon	$	2.86			$	2.71				5.5
Employees at end of period		3,079				2,749				12.0

1 – See note 3 in end notes

2 – See note 4 in end notes

3- Percentage point difference

	Six Months Ended June 30,
		2024				2023			% Change
Scheduled Service Statistics:
Revenue passenger miles (RPMs) – thousands		3,047,163				2,648,392				15.1
Available seat miles (ASMs) – thousands		3,568,818				3,043,506				17.3
Load factor		85.4	%			87.0	%			(1.6	)	(3)
Revenue passengers carried		2,324,550				2,003,364				16.0
Departures		14,850				12,578				18.1
Block hours		48,896				41,503				17.8
Scheduled service TRASM(1)- cents		11.18				13.31				(16.0	)
Average base fare per passenger	$	98.63			$	131.84				(25.2	)
Ancillary revenue per passenger	$	70.32			$	67.49				4.2
Total fare per passenger	$	168.95			$	199.33				(15.2	)
Fuel gallons - thousands		38,069				32,511				17.1
Charter Statistics:
Departures		4,829				5,128				(5.8	)
Block hours		9,989				10,720				(6.8	)
Available seats miles (ASMs) - thousands		608,915				639,231				(4.7	)
Fuel gallons - thousands		7,032				7,550				(6.9	)
Cargo Statistics:
Departures		6,207				6,211				(0.1	)
Block hours		16,052				16,346				(1.8	)
Total System Statistics:
Average passenger aircraft		42.1				41.7				1.0
Passenger aircraft – end of period		44				43				2.3
Cargo aircraft – end of period		12				12				—
Leased aircraft – end of period		7				5				40.0
Available seat miles (ASMs) – thousands		4,223,807				3,725,341				13.4
Departures		26,149				24,167				8.2
Block hours		75,717				69,313				9.2
Daily utilization – hours		7.8				7.0				11.4
Average stage length – miles		1,150				1,132				1.6
Total revenue per ASM (TRASM) - cents		11.77				13.45				(12.5	)
Cost per ASM (CASM) - cents		11.80				12.45				(5.2	)
Adjusted CASM(2)- cents		7.28				7.47				(2.5	)
Fuel gallons - thousands		45,540				40,472				12.5
Fuel cost per gallon	$	2.94			$	3.10				(5.2	)
Employees at end of period		3,079				2,749				12.0

1 – See note 3 in end notes

2 – See note 4 in end notes

3- Percentage point difference

SUMMARY BALANCE SHEET (Dollars in millions) (amounts may not recalculate due to rounding)
	June 30, 2024				December 31, 2023				% Change
	(Unaudited)
Cash & Cash Equivalents	$	26.9			$	46.3				(41.9	)
Other Current Assets		186.8				225.1				(17.0	)
Total Current Assets		213.7				271.4				(21.3	)
Total Property & Equipment, net		1,002.4				969.0				3.4
Other		387.8				383.3				1.2
Total Assets		1,603.9				1,623.6				(1.2	)
Air Traffic Liabilities		116.9				158.0				(26.0	)
Current Finance Lease Obligations		34.1				44.8				(23.9	)
Current Operating Lease Obligations		2.4				2.2				9.1
Current Maturities of Long-Term Debt, net		75.9				74.2				2.3
Income Tax Receivable Agreement Liability		8.0				3.3				142.4
Other Current Liabilities		130.0				136.2				(4.6	)
Total Current Liabilities		367.3				418.6				(12.3	)
Finance Lease Obligations		263.2				232.5				13.2
Operating Lease Obligations		15.4				16.6				(7.2	)
Long-Term Debt, net		289.6				327.5				(11.6	)
Income Tax Receivable Agreement Liability		89.7				97.8				(8.3	)
Other		31.9				16.2				96.9
Total Liabilities		1,057.0				1,109.2				(4.7	)
Total Stockholders’ Equity	$	546.9			$	514.4				6.3

SUMMARY CASH FLOW (Dollars in millions) (Unaudited - amounts may not recalculate due to rounding)
	Six Months Ended June 30,
		2024				2023			% Change
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	$	38.9			$	95.7				(59.4	)
Purchases of Property & Equipment		(38.2	)			(192.4	)			(80.1	)
Other, net		41.8				24.3				72.0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities		3.5				(168.0	)		NM
Common Stock Repurchases		(11.5	)			(22.2	)			(48.2	)
Proceeds from Borrowing		10.0				119.2				(91.6	)
Repayment of Finance Lease Obligations		(20.9	)			(8.7	)			140.2
Repayment of Borrowings		(46.8	)			(21.8	)			114.7
Other, net		(2.9	)			(2.8	)			3.6
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities		(72.0	)			63.6			NM
Net Decrease in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash		(29.6	)			(8.7	)			240.2
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash – Beginning of the Period		63.7				102.9				(38.1	)
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash – End of the Period	$	34.0			$	94.2				(63.9	)

NM - not meaningful

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Operating Income Margin, Adjusted Income Before Income Tax, Adjusted Pre-tax Margin, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Net Income per Share, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin

Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Operating Income Margin, Adjusted Income Before Income Tax, Adjusted Pre-tax Margin, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Net Income per share, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin are non-GAAP measures included as supplemental disclosure because we believe they are useful indicators of our operating performance. Derivations of Operating Income and Net Income are well recognized performance measurements in the airline industry that are frequently used by our management, as well as by investors, securities analysts and other interested parties in comparing the operating performance of companies in our industry.

The measures described above have limitations as analytical tools. Some of the limitations applicable to these measures include: they do not reflect the impact of certain cash and non-cash charges resulting from matters we consider not to be indicative of our ongoing operations; and other companies in our industry may calculate these non-GAAP measures differently than we do, limiting each measure’s usefulness as a comparative measure. Because of these limitations, the following non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for performance measures calculated in accordance with GAAP and may not be the same as or comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies due to the possible differences in the method of calculation and in the items being adjusted.

For the aforementioned reasons, Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Operating Income Margin, Adjusted Income Before Income Tax, Adjusted Pre-tax Margin, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Net Income per Share, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin have significant limitations which affect their use as indicators of our profitability. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this information.

Reconciliation of GAAP Operating Income to Adjusted Operating Income Dollars in millions – Unaudited - amounts may not recalculate due to rounding
The following table presents the reconciliation of GAAP operating income to adjusted operating income.
	Three Months Ended June 30,								Six Months Ended June 30,
		2024				2023				2024				2023
Operating Revenue	$	254.4			$	261.1			$	565.9			$	555.2
Operating Income		12.4				35.6				67.5				91.4
Stock Compensation Expense		1.6				4.4				3.1				7.1
Adjusted Operating Income	$	13.9			$	40.0			$	70.6			$	98.5
Operating Income Margin		4.9	%			13.6	%			11.9	%			16.5	%
Adjusted Operating Income Margin		5.5	%			15.3	%			12.5	%			17.7	%

Reconciliation of GAAP Income Before Income Tax to Adjusted Income Before Income Tax Dollars in millions – Unaudited - amounts may not recalculate due to rounding
The following table presents the reconciliation of GAAP income before income tax to adjusted income before income tax.
	Three Months Ended June 30,								Six Months Ended June 30,
		2024				2023				2024				2023
Net Income	$	1.8			$	20.6			$	37.1			$	58.9
Add: Provision for Income Tax Expense		1.3				6.1				12.5				17.5
Income Before Income Tax, as reported		3.1				26.8				49.6				76.4
Pre-tax margin		1.2	%			10.2	%			8.8	%			13.8	%
Stock Compensation Expense		1.6				4.4				3.1				7.1
Tax Receivable Agreement adjustment(1)		—				—				—				(0.4	)
Secondary offering costs		—				0.1				—				0.6
Adjusted Income Before Income Tax	$	4.7			$	31.3			$	52.7			$	83.8
Adjusted Pre-tax margin		1.8	%			12.0	%			9.3	%			15.1	%
(1) This represents the adjustment to the TRA for the period, which is recorded in Non-Operating Income (Expense)

Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income and Earnings per Share to Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Earnings per Share Dollars and shares in millions, except for per share – Unaudited - amounts may not recalculate due to rounding
The following table presents the reconciliation of GAAP net income and earnings per share to adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share.
	Three Months Ended June 30,
		2024								2023
	Dollars				Per Share - diluted				Dollars				Per Share - diluted
Net Income	$	1.8			$	0.03			$	20.6			$	0.35
Stock Compensation Expense		1.6				0.03				4.4				0.07
Tax Receivable Agreement adjustment(1)		—				—				—				—
Secondary offering costs		—				—				0.1				0.00
Income tax effect of adjusting items, net(2)		(0.4	)			(0.01	)			(1.0	)			(0.02	)
Adjusted Net Income	$	3.0			$	0.06			$	24.1			$	0.40
Diluted share count		54.8								59.7

	Six Months Ended June 30,
		2024								2023
	Dollars				Per Share - diluted				Dollars				Per Share - diluted
Net Income	$	37.1			$	0.67			$	58.9			$	0.99
Stock Compensation Expense		3.1				0.06				7.1				0.12
Tax Receivable Agreement adjustment(1)		—				—				(0.4	)			(0.01	)
Secondary offering costs		—				—				0.6				0.01
Income tax effect of adjusting items, net(2)		(0.7	)			(0.01	)			(1.8	)			(0.03	)
Adjusted Net Income	$	39.5			$	0.72			$	64.5			$	1.08
Diluted share count		55.1								59.6
(1) This represents the adjustment to the TRA for the period, which is recorded in Non-Operating Income (Expense)
(2) The tax effect of adjusting items, net is calculated at the Company’s statutory rate for the application period

Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA Dollars in millions – Unaudited - amounts may not recalculate due to rounding
The following tables present the reconciliation of net income to adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented below.
	Three Months Ended June 30,								Six Months Ended June 30,
		2024				2023				2024				2023
Net Income	$	1.8			$	20.6			$	37.1			$	58.9
Interest Income		(1.8	)			(2.5	)			(4.2	)			(5.3	)
Interest Expense		11.1				11.2				22.2				19.9
Stock Compensation Expense		1.6				4.4				3.1				7.1
Tax Receivable Agreement adjustment(1)		—				—				—				(0.4	)
Secondary offering costs		—				0.1				—				0.6
Provision for Income Taxes		1.3				6.1				12.5				17.5
Depreciation and Amortization		23.6				22.4				47.4				41.8
Adjusted EBITDA	$	37.6			$	62.3			$	118.1			$	140.2
Adjusted EBITDA margin		14.8	%			23.9	%			20.9	%			25.3	%
(1) This represents the adjustment to the TRA for the period, which is recorded in Non-Operating Income (Expense)

Adjusted CASM

Adjusted CASM is a non-GAAP measure derived from CASM by excluding fuel costs, costs related to our cargo operations, stock based compensation, depreciation and amortization recognized on certain assets that generate lease income, certain commissions and other costs of selling our vacations product from this measure as these costs are unrelated to our airline operations and improve comparability to our peers. Adjusted CASM is an important measure used by management and by our board of directors in assessing quarterly and annual cost performance. Adjusted CASM is also a measure commonly used by industry analysts and we believe it is an important metric by which they compare our airline to others in the industry, although other airlines may exclude certain other costs in their calculation of Adjusted CASM. The measure is also the subject of frequent questions from investors.

Adjusted CASM excludes fuel costs. By excluding volatile fuel costs that are outside of our control from our unit metrics, we believe that we have better visibility into the results of operations and our non-fuel cost initiatives. Our industry is highly competitive and is characterized by high fixed costs, so even a small reduction in non-fuel operating costs can lead to a significant improvement in operating results. In addition, we believe that all domestic carriers are similarly impacted by changes in jet fuel costs over the long run, so it is important for management and investors to understand the impact and trends in company-specific cost drivers, such as labor rates, aircraft and maintenance costs, and productivity, which are more controllable by management.

We have excluded costs related to the cargo operations and depreciation recognized on our aircraft and flight equipment held for operating lease as these operations do not create ASMs. We have entered into a series of transactions where we act as an aircraft lessor. As of June 30, 2024, we leased or subleased seven aircraft. Depreciation expense on these aircraft materially began during the three months ended June 30, 2023. Adjusted CASM further excludes other adjustments, as defined in the relevant reporting period, that are not representative of the ongoing costs necessary to our airline operations and may improve comparability between periods. We also exclude stock compensation expense when computing Adjusted CASM. The Company’s compensation strategy includes the use of stock-based compensation to attract and retain employees and executives and is principally aimed at aligning their interests with those of our stockholders and at long-term employee retention, rather than to motivate or reward operational performance for any particular period. Thus, stock-based compensation expense varies for reasons that are generally unrelated to operational decisions and performance in any period.

As derivations of Adjusted CASM are not determined in accordance with GAAP, such measures are susceptible to varying calculations and not all companies calculate the measures in the same manner. As a result, derivations of Adjusted CASM as presented may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. Adjusted CASM should not be considered in isolation or as a replacement for CASM. For the aforementioned reasons, Adjusted CASM has significant limitations which affect its use as an indicator of our profitability. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this information.

Reconciliation of CASM to Adjusted CASM Amounts may not recalculate due to rounding, dollar amounts in millions
The following table presents the reconciliation of CASM to Adjusted CASM.
	Three Months Ended June 30,
		2024								2023
	Operating Expenses - mm					Per ASM (cents)			Operating Expenses - mm					Per ASM (cents)
CASM	$	242.0				12.03			$	225.5				12.67
Less:
Aircraft Fuel		62.2				3.09				52.4				2f.94
Stock Compensation Expense		1.6				0.08				4.4				0.25
Cargo expenses, not already adjusted above		25.3				1.26				26.0				1.46
Sun Country Vacations		0.3				0.01				0.3				0.01
Leased Aircraft, Depreciation and Amortization Expense(1)		2.1				0.10				2.3				0.13
Adjusted CASM	$	150.7				7.49			$	140.2				7.88
Available seat miles (ASMs) - mm		2,011.9								1,780.3

	Six Months Ended June 30,
		2024								2023
	Operating Expenses - mm					Per ASM (cents)			Operating Expenses - mm					Per ASM (cents)
CASM	$	498.3				11.80			$	463.8				12.45
Less:
Aircraft Fuel		132.5				3.14				124.7				3.35
Stock Compensation Expense		3.1				0.07				7.1				0.19
Cargo expenses, not already adjusted above		50.2				1.19				50.8				1.36
Sun Country Vacations		0.8				0.02				0.7				0.02
Leased Aircraft, Depreciation and Amortization Expense(1)		4.3				0.10				2.3				0.06
Adjusted CASM	$	307.4				7.28			$	278.3				7.47
Available seat miles (ASMs) - mm		4,223.8								3,725.3
(1) Includes both the Company's Owned Aircraft Held for Operating Lease as well as subleased aircraft. These aircraft are leased to unaffiliated third parties.

FAQ

What was Sun Country Airlines' (SNCY) revenue in Q2 2024?

Sun Country Airlines reported revenue of $254 million for Q2 2024, which was 2.6% less than Q2 2023.

What was Sun Country Airlines' (SNCY) EPS for Q2 2024?

Sun Country Airlines reported GAAP diluted EPS of $0.03 and adjusted diluted EPS of $0.06 for Q2 2024.

How did Sun Country Airlines' (SNCY) operating margin perform in Q2 2024?

Sun Country Airlines achieved a GAAP operating margin of 4.9% and an adjusted operating margin of 5.5% in Q2 2024.

What significant agreement did Sun Country Airlines (SNCY) revise in Q2 2024?

Sun Country Airlines entered into a revised Air Transport Services Agreement with Amazon, extending through 2030 with options to further extend through 2037.

How did Sun Country Airlines' (SNCY) scheduled service capacity change in Q2 2024?

Sun Country Airlines' scheduled service ASMs increased by 18.2% year-over-year in Q2 2024.