Mesa Airlines, the regional air carrier providing scheduled passenger service to 121 cities in 41 states, the District of Columbia, the Bahamas, and Mexico as well as cargo services out of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, has reported its latest results. The firm, that as of June 30, 2022, Mesa operated a fleet of 168 aircraft with approximately 360 daily departures, posted a pretax loss of $12.5 million, an adjusted net loss of $3.9 million for the second quarter of the year.
A couple of key aircraft highlights of the quarter saw the airline add a third cargo aircraft to its fleet supporting DHL and Mesa added a second CRJ simulator to increase pilot training capacity, which will go some way in combatting the pilot shortage in the U.S.
Jonathan Ornstein, Chairman and CEO, said, “While demand remained resilient for the quarter, our financial results continue to be impacted by industry-wide, elevated pilot attrition and the significant reduction in the commercial pilot pipeline, exacerbated by the 1,500-hour rule. Looking forward, we intend to take dramatic action to address the pilot shortage through increased recruiting, additional simulator capacity, and expansion of our pilot pipeline. We are also pleased that United Airlines has expanded the Aviate program to include all of our pilots.”
Fiscal Third Quarter Details:
Total operating revenues in Q3 2022 were $134.4 million, an increase of $9.2 million (7.4%) from $125.2 million for Q3 2021. Contract revenue increased $9.2 million, or 8.4%. This was due to the return to normal rates from our partners, which were temporarily reduced last year related to the PSP program. These were partially offset by a reduction in block hours. Mesa’s Q3 2022 results include, per GAAP, the recognition of $6.8 million of previously deferred revenue, versus the deferral of $1.9 million of revenue in Q3 2021. The remaining deferred revenue balance of $22.7 million will be recognized as flights are completed over the remaining terms of the contracts.
Mesa’s Adjusted EBITDA1 for Q3 2022 was $20.1 million, compared to $35.3 million in Q3 2021, and Adjusted EBITDAR1 was $29.4 million for Q3 2022, compared to $44.9 million in Q3 2021.
Mesa’s Q3 FY22 results reflect a net loss of $10.0 million, or $(0.28) per diluted share, compared to net income of $4.3 million, or $0.11 per diluted share for Q3 FY21. Mesa’s Q3 FY22 adjusted pre-tax loss1 was $8.7 million versus an adjusted pre-tax income1 of $5.8 million in Q3 FY21. The year over year decrease in adjusted pre-tax income of $14.5 million was primarily due to lower block hours, the net impact of the PSP program, and the change in deferred revenue.
Operationally, the Company ran a controllable completion factor of 98.8% for American and 99.8% for United during Q3 2022. This is compared to a controllable completion factor of 99.4% for American and 99.9% for United during Q3 2021. This excludes cancellations due to weather and air traffic control.
With respect to a total completion factor that includes all cancellations, Mesa reported a total completion factor of 97.7% for American and 98.8% for United during Q3 2022. This is compared to a total completion factor of 97.6% for American and 99.2% for United during Q3 2021.
Liquidity and Capital Resources:
Mesa ended the quarter at $54.4 million in unrestricted cash and equivalents. As of June 30, 2022, the Company had $653.4 million in total debt secured primarily with aircraft and engines.
Fleet:
For the three months ended June 30, 2022, 46% of the Company’s total revenue was derived from our contracts with United, 47% from American, 2% from DHL, and 5% from leases of aircraft to a third party.
Below is our current and future fleet plan by partner and fleet type for FY22:
| Fleet Plan (FY22) | Q1 (Dec '21) | Q2 (Mar '22) | Q3 (Jun '22) | Q4 (Sep '22) |
| Actual | Actual | Actual | Forecast | |
| E-175 – UA | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 |
| CRJ-900 – AA | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 |
| 737-400F – DHL | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Sub-total | 122 | 123 | 123 | 123 |
| CRJ-700 leased | 17 | 18 | 20 | 20 |
| CRJ-700 to be leased to third party | 3 | 2 | - | - |
| CRJ spares or parked | 25 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
| CRJ held for sale | - | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Total fleet | 167 | 168 | 168 | 168 |
1Reconciliation of GAAP versus Non-GAAP Disclosures
(In thousands, except for per diluted share) (Unaudited)
| Three Months Ended June 30, 2022 | Three Months Ended June 30, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Income (Loss) Before Taxes | Income Tax (Expense)/ Benefit | Net Income (Loss) | Net Income (Loss) per Diluted Share | Income Before Taxes | Income Tax (Expense)/ Benefit | Net Income | Net Income per Diluted Share | |||||||||||||
| GAAP Income (Loss) | $ | (12,478 | ) | 2,493 | (9,985 | ) | $ | (0.28 | ) | $ | 5,801 | $ | (1,525 | ) | 4,276 | $ | 0.11 | |||
| Adjustments(1) | (135 | ) | 32 | (103 | ) | $ | (0.00 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Loss on Investments, | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net(2) | 3,926 | (896 | ) | 3,030 | $ | 0.08 | ||||||||||||||
| Adjusted Income | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (Loss) | (8,687 | ) | 1,629 | (7,058 | ) | $ | (0.20 | ) | 5,801 | (1,525 | ) | 4,276 | $ | 0.11 | ||||||
| Interest Expense | 8,716 | 8,627 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Interest Income | (24 | ) | (82 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and Amortization | 20,103 | 20,933 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | 20,108 | 35,279 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Aircraft Rent | 9,299 | 9,648 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDAR | $ | 29,407 | $ | 44,927 | ||||||||||||||||
| (1) | Includes true-up adjustment of ($0.1) million recorded during the three months ended June 2022. This adjustment is related to the termination loss previously recorded in Q2 2022 pertaining to the abandonment of one of our leased facilities. | |
| (2) | Includes losses resulting from changes in the fair value of the Company's investments in equity securities of $3.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022. |
.
| Nine Months Ended June 30, 2022 | Nine Months Ended June 30, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Income (Loss) Before Taxes | Income Tax (Expense)/ Benefit | Net Income (Loss) | Net Income (Loss) per Diluted Share | Income Before Taxes | Income Tax (Expense)/ Benefit | Net Income | Net Income per Diluted Share | ||||||||||||
| GAAP Income (Loss) | $ | (86,029 | ) | 18,987 | (67,042 | ) | $ | (1.86 | ) | $ | 32,319 | (8,236 | ) | 24,083 | $ | 0.62 | |||
| Adjustments (1)(2)(3)(4) | 39,708 | (9,065 | ) | 30,643 | $ | 0.85 | 3,558 | (900 | ) | 2,658 | $ | 0.07 | |||||||
| Loss on Investments, Net(5) | 12,649 | (2,888 | ) | 9,761 | $ | 0.27 | |||||||||||||
| Adjusted Income (Loss) | (33,672 | ) | 7,034 | (26,638 | ) | $ | (0.74 | ) | 35,877 | (9,136 | ) | 26,741 | $ | 0.69 | |||||
| Interest Expense | 24,766 | 26,464 | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest Income | (117 | ) | (287 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and Amortization | 61,878 | 62,108 | |||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | 52,856 | 124,162 | |||||||||||||||||
| Aircraft Rent | 28,319 | 29,688 | |||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDAR | $ | 81,174 | $ | 153,850 | |||||||||||||||
| (1) | Includes adjustment for gain on extinguishment of debt of $1.0 million related to repayment of the Company’s aircraft debts during the nine months ended June 30, 2021. | |
| (2) | Includes adjustment for lease termination expense of $4.5 million during our nine months ended June 30, 2021 related to the purchase of a CRJ-900 aircraft which was previously leased from Bombardier Capital. | |
| (3) | Includes adjustment for impairment charges of $39.5 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2022 related to certain of the Company's aircraft which are classified as held for sale. | |
| (4) | Includes adjustment related to the abandonment of one of our leased facilities resulting in operating lease right-of-use asset impairment charges of $0.2 million during our nine months ended June 30, 2022. | |
| (5) | Includes losses resulting from changes in the fair value of the Company's investments in equity securities of $12.6 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2022. | |
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited)
| Three Months Ended June 30, 2022 | Nine Months Ended June 30, 2021 | |||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||
| Operating revenues: | ||||||||||||||||
| Contract revenue | $ | 118,899 | $ | 109,654 | $ | 367,781 | $ | 318,524 | ||||||||
| Pass-through and other revenue | 15,498 | 15,503 | 37,586 | 54,284 | ||||||||||||
| Total operating revenues | 134,397 | 125,157 | 405,367 | 372,808 | ||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
| Flight operations | 43,254 | 41,314 | 133,262 | 115,681 | ||||||||||||
| Maintenance | 49,694 | 51,986 | 156,032 | 156,623 | ||||||||||||
| Aircraft rent | 9,299 | 9,648 | 28,319 | 29,688 | ||||||||||||
| General and administrative | 11,112 | 12,087 | 31,550 | 36,324 | ||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 20,103 | 20,933 | 61,878 | 62,108 | ||||||||||||
| Lease termination | — | — | — | 4,508 | ||||||||||||
| Impairment of assets held for sale | — | — | 39,475 | — | ||||||||||||
| Other operating expenses | 722 | 916 | 3,379 | 3,148 | ||||||||||||
| Government grant recognition | — | (26,101 | ) | — | (93,379 | ) | ||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 134,184 | 110,783 | 453,895 | 314,701 | ||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | 213 | 14,374 | (48,528 | ) | 58,107 | |||||||||||
| Other income (expense), net: | ||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | (8,716 | ) | (8,627 | ) | (24,766 | ) | (26,464 | ) | ||||||||
| Interest income | 24 | 82 | 117 | 287 | ||||||||||||
| Loss on investments, net | (3,926 | ) | — | (12,649 | ) | — | ||||||||||
| Other income (expense), net | (73 | ) | (28) | (203 | ) | 389 | ||||||||||
| Total other (expense), net | (12,691 | ) | (8,573 | ) | (37,501 | ) | (25,788 | ) | ||||||||
| Income (loss) before taxes | (12,478 | ) | 5,801 | (86,029 | ) | 32,319 | ||||||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | (2,493 | ) | 1,525 | (18,987 | ) | 8,236 | ||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (9,985 | ) | $ | 4,276 | $ | (67,042 | ) | $ | 24,083 | ||||||
| Net income (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders | ||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | (0.28 | ) | $ | 0.12 | $ | (1.86 | ) | $ | 0.68 | ||||||
| Diluted | $ | (0.28 | ) | $ | 0.11 | $ | (1.86 | ) | $ | 0.62 | ||||||
| Weighted-average common shares outstanding | ||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 36,183 | 35,769 | 36,064 | 35,642 | ||||||||||||
| Diluted | 36,183 | 39,513 | 36,064 | 38,811 | ||||||||||||
MESA AIR GROUP, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except shares) (Unaudited)
| June 30, 2022 | June 30, 2021 | |||||
| ASSETS | ||||||
| CURRENT ASSETS: | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 54,448 | $ | 120,517 | ||
| Restricted cash | 3,348 | 3,350 | ||||
| Receivables, net | 4,050 | 3,167 | ||||
| Expendable parts and supplies, net | 26,341 | 24,467 | ||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 7,234 | 6,885 | ||||
| Total current assets | 95,421 | 158,386 | ||||
| Property and equipment, net | 1,072,826 | 1,151,891 | ||||
| Intangible assets, net | 6,026 | 6,792 | ||||
| Lease and equipment deposits | 6,972 | 6,808 | ||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets | 65,878 | 93,100 | ||||
| Deferred heavy maintenance, net | 6,848 | 3,499 | ||||
| Assets held for sale | 36,528 | — | ||||
| Other assets | 29,686 | 36,121 | ||||
| TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 1,320,185 | $ | 1,456,597 | ||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||
| CURRENT LIABILITIES: | ||||||
| Current portion of long-term debt and finance leases | $ | 112,776 | $ | 111,710 | ||
| Current portion of deferred revenue | 726 | 6,298 | ||||
| Current maturities of operating leases | 16,854 | 32,652 | ||||
| Accounts payable | 66,811 | 61,476 | ||||
| Accrued compensation | 10,781 | 12,399 | ||||
| Other accrued expenses | 32,322 | 33,657 | ||||
| Total current liabilities | 240,270 | 258,192 | ||||
| NONCURRENT LIABILITIES: | ||||||
| Long-term debt and finance leases, excluding current portion | 523,231 | 539,700 | ||||
| Noncurrent operating lease liabilities | 20,585 | 33,991 | ||||
| Deferred credits | 3,295 | 3,934 | ||||
| Deferred income taxes | 50,803 | 69,940 | ||||
| Deferred revenue, net of current portion | 21,994 | 28,202 | ||||
| Other noncurrent liabilities | 36,971 | 34,591 | ||||
| Total noncurrent liabilities | 656,879 | 710,358 | ||||
| Total liabilities | 897,149 | 968,550 | ||||
| STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: | ||||||
| Preferred stock of no par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding | — | — | ||||
| Common stock of no par value and additional paid-in capital, 125,000,000 shares authorized; 36,292,401 (2022) and 35,958,759 (2021) shares issued and outstanding, and 4,899,497 (2022) and 4,899,497 (2021) warrants issued and outstanding | 258,403 | 256,372 | ||||
| Retained earnings | 164,633 | 231,675 | ||||
| Total stockholders' equity | 423,036 | 488,047 | ||||
| TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | $ | 1,320,185 | $ | 1,456,597 | ||
MESA AIR GROUP, INC.
Operating Highlights (unaudited)
| Three months ended | |||||||||
| June 30 | |||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | Change | |||||||
| Available Seat Miles (thousands) | 1,553,616 | 2,056,905 | -24.5 | % | |||||
| Block Hours | 63,486 | 85,162 | -25.5 | % | |||||
| Average Stage Length (miles) | 619 | 651 | -4.9 | % | |||||
| Departures | 33,291 | 42,390 | -21.5 | % | |||||
| Passengers | 2,164,295 | 2,572,303 | -15.9 | % | |||||
| Controllable Completion Factor* | |||||||||
| American | 98.77 | % | 99.42 | % | -0.7 | % | |||
| United | 99.76 | % | 99.98 | % | -0.2 | % | |||
| Total Completion Factor** | |||||||||
| American | 97.66 | % | 97.57 | % | 0.1 | % | |||
| United | 98.83 | % | 99.21 | % | -0.4 | % | |||
*Controllable Completion Factor excludes cancellations due to weather and air traffic control
**Total Completion Factor includes all cancellations
Source: Mesa Air Group, Inc.