Highlights of US Airways Group, Inc.'s (the Company's) third quarter 2008 results:
TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
US Airways Group, Inc. (NYSE: LCC) today reported a net loss for
its third quarter 2008 of $242 million or $2.35 per share which
excluded special charges that totaled $623 million. Special charges in
the third quarter 2008 included $488 million of unrealized losses
resulting from mark-to-market adjustments on fuel hedging instruments.
On a GAAP basis, the Company reported a net loss for its third quarter
2008 of $865 million, or $8.45 per share, compared to a net profit of
$177 million, or $1.87 per diluted share for the same period last
year. See the accompanying notes in the Financial Tables section of
this press release for a reconciliation of GAAP financial information
to non-GAAP financial information.
US Airways Chairman and CEO Doug Parker said, "Our third quarter
loss reflects the crippling fuel price environment that US Airways and
other airlines faced this summer. Fortunately, oil prices have
recently fallen to levels well below those experienced in the third
quarter, but at the same time concerns have increased about the impact
the global economic crisis may place on demand for air travel.
"While we are concerned about the global economic environment, we
are encouraged by the aggressive steps that both US Airways and our
industry have taken to adapt to a quickly changing and challenging
environment. We, along with the industry, have made significant
reductions in capacity for 2009 and beyond. The industry is also
moving to a more profitable a la carte pricing model of its product
and services with US Airways at the forefront of that change. We
expect these new a la carte pricing initiatives to contribute between
$400 million and $500 million in revenue during 2009.
"We are particularly pleased with the outstanding operational
reliability our team is producing. Through the first eight months of
2008, US Airways ranked number one in on-time performance among the
ten largest U.S. airlines as measured by the DOT after ranking tenth
on the same measure during 2007. This remarkable turnaround is due to
the efforts of all of our employees. We are proud to have awarded
nearly $16 million thus far in 2008 through our Triple Play employee
incentive program, and we look forward to additional payouts in the
months ahead.
"Our actions to improve profitability, as well as our outstanding
operational performance, have allowed us to raise approximately $950
million of new financing and near-term liquidity commitments which we
announced separately today. This financing package dramatically
improves our liquidity position in these uncertain times and places US
Airways' total cash position relative to annual revenues among the
highest of U.S. airlines.
"In summary, we believe US Airways is very well positioned to
manage through turbulent times. We have reduced capacity to better
match demand and adjusted our business model to improve profitability.
Our team is doing an outstanding job of taking care of our customers
and our investors and business partners have displayed confidence in
us with $950 million of new financing and near-term liquidity
commitments. While it is difficult to make projections in such
volatile times, based on what we know today which includes the current
price of fuel, we expect 2009 will be a much better year than 2008 for
both US Airways and our industry," concluded Parker.
Revenue and Cost Comparisons
Mainline passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) in the
third quarter was 11.32 cents, up 4.4 percent over the same period
last year. Express PRASM was 19.55 cents, up 1.3 percent over the
third quarter 2007. Total mainline and Express PRASM for US Airways
Group was 12.71 cents, which was up 4.6 percent over the third quarter
2007 on a 0.4 percent increase in total available seat miles (ASMs).
Mainline cost per available seat mile (CASM) was 16.01 cents, up
44.1 percent versus the same period last year on a decrease in
mainline capacity of 1.4 percent versus the third quarter of 2007.
Fuel expense was the driver in the Company's increase in unit costs as
the average mainline fuel price per gallon (excluding realized
gains/losses on fuel hedging instruments) increased 68 percent
year-over-year. Excluding fuel, unrealized and realized gains/losses
on fuel hedging instruments, and special charges, mainline CASM was
8.08 cents, up 5.3 percent from the same period last year.
Chief Financial Officer Derek Kerr stated, "Our third quarter
results reflect the unprecedented rise in the price of fuel that we
and the industry faced throughout most of the summer. Had the average
price per gallon remained constant from the third quarter 2007, our
total fuel expense, including realized gains/losses on fuel hedging
instruments, would have been approximately $538 million lower."
Third Quarter Special Charges
During the third quarter, the Company recognized $623 million of
special charges. These special charges included a $488 million
non-cash unrealized net loss associated with the change in fair value
of the Company's outstanding fuel hedge contracts, of which
approximately $320 million was a reversal of mark-to-market gains
recognized in prior periods. Other special charges included a $127
million impairment loss on certain available for sale auction rate
securities, of which $103 million was previously recorded in other
comprehensive income (a subset of stockholders' equity), that is now
considered to be other than temporary, and $8 million in charges
related to involuntary furloughs as well as terminations of non-union
administrative and management staff as a result of capacity
reductions.
Liquidity
As of Sept. 30, 2008, the Company had $2.3 billion in total cash
and investments, of which $0.7 billion was restricted. Included in the
Company's restricted cash balance was $159 million related to letters
of credit collateralizing certain counterparties to the Company's fuel
hedging transactions. During the quarter, the Company raised $179
million through an underwritten public stock offering. Proceeds from
that offering are included in the total cash and investments balance
reported above.
The Company also announced today it has raised approximately $950
million of financing and near-term liquidity commitments. On October
20, 2008 the Company closed on $800 million of these transactions with
$400 million of proceeds used to prepay the Company's $1.6 billion
bank debt facility. In exchange for this prepayment, the unrestricted
cash covenant contained in the loan agreement for the bank debt
facility has been reduced from $1.25 billion to $850 million. The
remaining proceeds from these financing transactions, approximately
$370 million after payment of certain bank and other service fees,
increase the Company's total cash position and will be used for
general corporate purposes. The remaining $150 million of liquidity
commitments are expected to close during the fourth quarter, with cash
benefits realized through 2009.
Notable Accomplishments
Marketing
-- Announced plans to operate year-round, daily non-stop service
to Tel Aviv from the airline's Philadelphia hub. This route,
which has received DOT approval and is awaiting Israeli
government approval, is slated to begin July 1, 2009 and will
be operated with A330-200 aircraft.
-- Also announced new seasonal service to Birmingham, United
Kingdom and Oslo, Norway from Philadelphia. The service is
slated to begin in May 2009 and be operated with Boeing 757
ETOPS aircraft.
-- Expanded the in-flight a la carte revenue model to include
beverages effective Aug. 1, 2008.
-- Extended the Choice Seats program, which now includes 25
percent of the main cabin. The airline also began beta testing
Choice Seats sales at airport kiosks and ticket counters at
some locations, and anticipates full roll-out through these
channels by year's end.
Operations
-- US Airways sustained its operational turnaround momentum in
the third quarter with top-three finishes in August for both
on-time arrival and baggage handling performance among the ten
largest U.S. carriers according to the DOT. The Company has
ranked in the top three of the ten largest U.S. airlines in
seven of the eight reporting months (January through August)
for on-time arrival and ranks number one cumulatively during
this reporting period.
-- US Airways received its tenth consecutive Diamond Award for
maintenance training excellence from the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) for its Charlotte, North Carolina hub
line maintenance facility. The program, which began in 1991,
consists of both initial and recurrent training in FAA
regulations and policy and aviation industry maintenance
training.
-- The Company is aggressively enhancing airport infrastructure
through technology and re-design to create cost efficiencies
and improve the passenger travel experience. Major projects
include the installation of gate readers to facilitate the
boarding process and the deployment of baggage scanners to
facilitate baggage handling.
People
-- As part of the Company's employee incentive plan, employees
received $100 for US Airways' top-three on-time arrival and
baggage handling rankings ($50 for each goal) for the August
top-three ranking in both of these areas. Year-to-date,
employees have shared approximately $16 million in "Triple
Play" payments.
Analyst Conference Call/Webcast Details
US Airways will conduct a live audio webcast of its earnings call
today at 1:00 p.m. EDT, which will be available to the public on a
listen-only basis at www.usairways.com under the About US // Investor
Relations tab. An archive of the call/webcast will be available in the
Public/Investor Relations portion of the Web site through Nov. 23,
2008.
The airline will also update its investor relations guidance on
its Web site (www.usairways.com). Information that will be updated
includes cost per available seat mile (CASM) excluding fuel and
transition expenses, fuel prices and hedging positions, other
revenues, estimated interest expense/income and merger related
transition expense guidance. The investor relations update page also
includes the airline's capacity, fleet plan, and estimated capital
spending for 2008.
About US Airways
US Airways, along with US Airways Shuttle and US Airways Express,
operates approximately 3,200 flights per day and serves 200
communities in the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Caribbean and Latin
America. The airline employs more than 34,000 aviation professionals
worldwide and is a member of the Star Alliance network, which offers
our customers 18,000 daily flights to 965 destinations in 162
countries worldwide. In the first eight months of 2008, US Airways
ranked first in on-time performance among the ten largest U.S.
carriers according to the Department of Transportation's Air Travel
Consumer Report. And for the tenth consecutive year, the airline
received a Diamond Award for maintenance training excellence from the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its Charlotte, North
Carolina hub line maintenance facility. For more company information,
visit usairways.com. (LCCF)
Forward Looking Statements
Certain of the statements contained herein should be considered
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward looking
statements may be identified by words such as "may," "will," "expect,"
"intend," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "plan," "could,"
"should," and "continue" and similar terms used in connection with
statements regarding the outlook, expected fuel costs, revenue and
pricing environment, and expected financial performance of US Airways
Group (the "Company"). Such statements include, but are not limited
to, statements about the benefits of the business combination
transaction involving America West Holdings Corporation and US Airways
Group, including future financial and operating results, the Company's
plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, and other statements
that are not historical facts. These statements are based upon the
current beliefs and expectations of the Company's management and are
subject to significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the
Company's actual results and financial position to differ materially
from these statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are
not limited to, the following: the impact of future significant
operating losses; changes in prevailing interest rates and increased
costs of financing; the impact of economic conditions; the Company's
high level of fixed obligations (including compliance with financial
covenants related to those obligations) and the ability of the Company
to obtain and maintain any necessary financing for operations and
other purposes; the ability of the Company to maintain adequate
liquidity; labor costs, relations with unionized employees generally
and the impact and outcome of the labor negotiations; the impact of
high fuel costs, significant disruptions in fuel supply and further
significant increases to fuel prices; reliance on vendors and service
providers and the ability of the Company to obtain and maintain
commercially reasonable terms with those vendors and service
providers; reliance on automated systems and the impact of any failure
or disruption of these systems; the impact of changes in the Company's
business model; the impact of industry consolidation; competitive
practices in the industry, including significant fare restructuring
activities, capacity reductions or other restructuring or
consolidation activities by major airlines; the ability to attract and
retain qualified personnel; the impact of global instability including
the potential impact of current and future hostilities, terrorist
attacks, infectious disease outbreaks or other global events;
government legislation and regulation, including environmental
regulation; the Company's ability to obtain and maintain adequate
facilities and infrastructure to operate and grow the Company's
network; costs of ongoing data security compliance requirements and
the impact of any data security breach; interruptions or disruptions
in service at one or more of the Company's hub airports; the impact of
any accident involving the Company's aircraft; delays in scheduled
aircraft deliveries or other loss of anticipated fleet capacity;
security-related and insurance costs; weather conditions; the cyclical
nature of the airline industry; the impact of foreign currency
exchange rate fluctuations; the ability to use pre-merger NOLs and
certain other tax attributes; ability to complete the integration of
labor groups; the ability to maintain contracts critical to the
Company's operations; the ability of the Company to attract and retain
customers; and other risks and uncertainties listed from time to time
in the Company's reports to the SEC. There may be other factors not
identified above of which the Company is not currently aware that may
affect matters discussed in the forward-looking statements, and may
also cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed.
The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update any
forward-looking statement to reflect actual results, changes in
assumptions or changes in other factors affecting such estimates other
than as required by law. Additional factors that may affect the future
results of the Company are set forth in the section entitled "Risk
Factors" in the Company's Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
June 30, 2008 and in the Company's filings with the SEC, which are
available at www.usairways.com
US Airways Group, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in millions, except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)
3 Months Ended 3 Months Ended Percent
September 30, 2008 September 30, 2007 Change
------------------ ------------------ -------
Operating revenues:
Mainline passenger $ 2,197 $ 2,133 3.0
Express passenger 771 692 11.3
Cargo 37 32 14.8
Other 256 179 43.4
------------------ ------------------
Total operating
revenues 3,261 3,036 7.4
------------------ ------------------
Operating expenses:
Aircraft fuel and
related taxes 1,110 692 60.4
Loss (gain) on fuel
hedging
instruments, net:
Realized (68) (20) nm
Unrealized 488 (13) nm
Salaries and related
costs 567 555 2.1
Express expenses:
Fuel 349 199 75.4
Other 495 450 9.9
Aircraft rent 183 182 0.3
Aircraft maintenance 188 144 30.8
Other rent and
landing fees 137 141 (2.5)
Selling expenses 120 116 3.7
Special items, net 8 17 (51.5)
Depreciation and
amortization 52 47 12.8
Goodwill impairment - - -
Other 321 324 (1.6)
------------------ ------------------
Total operating
expenses 3,950 2,834 39.4
------------------ ------------------
Operating income
(loss) (689) 202 nm
------------------ ------------------
Nonoperating income
(expense):
Interest income 19 43 (56.3)
Interest expense,
net (57) (66) (13.9)
Other, net (135) 2 nm
------------------ ------------------
Total nonoperating
expense, net (173) (21) nm
------------------ ------------------
Income (loss) before
income taxes (862) 181 nm
Income tax provision 3 4 (25.5)
------------------ ------------------
Net income (loss) $ (865) $ 177 nm
================== ==================
Earnings (loss) per
share:
Basic $ (8.45) $ 1.93
================== ==================
Diluted $ (8.45) $ 1.87
================== ==================
Shares used for
computation (in
thousands):
Basic 102,406 91,542
================== ==================
Diluted 102,406 95,492
================== ==================
9 Months Ended 9 Months Ended Percent
September 30, 2008 September 30, 2007 Change
------------------ ------------------ -------
Operating revenues:
Mainline passenger $ 6,364 $ 6,233 2.1
Express passenger 2,230 2,039 9.4
Cargo 111 102 8.3
Other 652 550 18.7
------------------ ------------------
Total operating
revenues 9,357 8,924 4.9
------------------ ------------------
Operating expenses:
Aircraft fuel and
related taxes 3,018 1,900 58.9
Loss (gain) on fuel
hedging
instruments, net:
Realized (342) 17 nm
Unrealized 262 (128) nm
Salaries and related
costs 1,701 1,659 2.5
Express expenses:
Fuel 938 539 73.8
Other 1,462 1,382 5.8
Aircraft rent 544 542 0.3
Aircraft maintenance 601 479 25.5
Other rent and
landing fees 424 408 4.1
Selling expenses 340 347 (1.9)
Special items, net 67 83 (19.0)
Depreciation and
amortization 159 137 16.3
Goodwill impairment 622 - nm
Other 982 952 3.2
------------------ ------------------
Total operating
expenses 10,778 8,317 29.6
------------------ ------------------
Operating income
(loss) (1,421) 607 nm
------------------ ------------------
Nonoperating income
(expense):
Interest income 69 131 (47.8)
Interest expense,
net (173) (206) (15.9)
Other, net (140) (11) nm
------------------ ------------------
Total nonoperating
expense, net (244) (86) nm
------------------ ------------------
Income (loss) before
income taxes (1,665) 521 nm
Income tax provision 3 15 (80.8)
------------------ ------------------
Net income (loss) $(1,668) $ 506 nm
================== ==================
Earnings (loss) per
share:
Basic $(17.47) $ 5.54
================== ==================
Diluted $(17.47) $ 5.33
================== ==================
Shares used for
computation (in
thousands):
Basic 95,522 91,461
================== ==================
Diluted 95,522 95,776
================== ==================
US Airways Group, Inc.
Operating Statistics
3 Months Ended 3 Months Ended Percent
September 30, 2008 September 30, 2007 Change
------------------ ------------------ -------
Mainline
---------------------
Revenue passenger
miles (millions) 16,270 16,395 (0.8)
Available seat miles
(ASM) (millions) 19,402 19,669 (1.4)
Passenger load factor
(percent) 83.9 83.4 0.5 pts
Yield (cents) 13.50 13.01 3.8
Passenger revenue per
ASM (cents) 11.32 10.85 4.4
Passenger
enplanements
(thousands) 14,068 14,962 (6.0)
Departures
(thousands) 124.7 131.6 (5.3)
Aircraft at end of
period 358 359 (0.3)
Block hours
(thousands) 331.8 340.1 (2.4)
Average stage length
(miles) 986 945 4.4
Average passenger
journey (miles) 1,645 1,558 5.5
Fuel consumption
(gallons in
millions) 297.3 311.3 (4.5)
Average aircraft fuel
price including
related taxes
(dollars per gallon) 3.73 2.22 68.0
Average aircraft fuel
price including
related taxes and
realized loss (gain)
on fuel hedging
instruments, net
(dollars per gallon) 3.50 2.16 62.5
Full-time equivalent
employees at end of
period 32,779 34,321 (4.5)
Operating cost per
ASM (cents) 16.01 11.11 44.1
Operating cost per
ASM excluding
special items
(cents) 13.45 11.09 21.3
Operating cost per
ASM excluding
special items, fuel
and realized gain
(loss) on fuel
hedging instruments,
net (cents) 8.08 7.68 5.3
Express*
---------------------
Revenue passenger
miles (millions) 2,942 2,704 8.8
Available seat miles
(millions) 3,943 3,587 9.9
Passenger load factor
(percent) 74.6 75.4 (0.8)pts
Yield (cents) 26.20 25.61 2.3
Passenger revenue per
ASM (cents) 19.55 19.31 1.3
Passenger
enplanements
(thousands) 7,117 6,662 6.8
Aircraft at end of
period 296 283 4.6
Fuel consumption
(gallons in
millions) 91.8 86.3 6.4
Average aircraft fuel
price including
related taxes
(dollars per gallon) 3.80 2.30 64.9
Operating cost per
ASM (cents) 21.40 18.09 18.3
Operating cost per
ASM excluding fuel,
net (cents) 12.55 12.55 -
TOTAL - Mainline &
Express
---------------------
Revenue passenger
miles (millions) 19,212 19,099 0.6
Available seat miles
(millions) 23,345 23,256 0.4
Passenger load factor
(percent) 82.3 82.1 0.2 pts
Yield (cents) 15.45 14.79 4.4
Passenger revenue per
ASM (cents) 12.71 12.15 4.6
Total revenue per ASM
(cents) 13.97 13.06 7.0
Passenger
enplanements
(thousands) 21,185 21,624 (2.0)
Aircraft at end of
period 654 642 1.9
Fuel consumption
(gallons in
millions) 389.1 397.6 (2.1)
Average aircraft fuel
price including
related taxes
(dollars per gallon) 3.75 2.24 67.4
Operating cost per
ASM (cents) 16.92 12.19 38.8
9 Months Ended 9 Months Ended Percent
September 30, 2008 September 30, 2007 Change
------------------ ------------------ -------
Mainline
---------------------
Revenue passenger
miles (millions) 46,952 47,106 (0.3)
Available seat miles
(ASM) (millions) 57,124 57,748 (1.1)
Passenger load factor
(percent) 82.2 81.6 0.6 pts
Yield (cents) 13.56 13.23 2.4
Passenger revenue per
ASM (cents) 11.14 10.79 3.2
Passenger
enplanements
(thousands) 42,014 44,317 (5.2)
Departures
(thousands) 377.6 397.6 (5.0)
Aircraft at end of
period 358 359 (0.3)
Block hours
(thousands) 996.4 1,019.8 (2.3)
Average stage length
(miles) 965 929 3.9
Average passenger
journey (miles) 1,583 1,505 5.1
Fuel consumption
(gallons in
millions) 881.9 909.8 (3.1)
Average aircraft fuel
price including
related taxes
(dollars per gallon) 3.42 2.09 63.9
Average aircraft fuel
price including
related taxes and
realized loss (gain)
on fuel hedging
instruments, net
(dollars per gallon) 3.03 2.11 44.1
Full-time equivalent
employees at end of
period 32,779 34,321 (4.5)
Operating cost per
ASM (cents) 14.67 11.07 32.5
Operating cost per
ASM excluding
special items
(cents) 13.00 11.17 16.4
Operating cost per
ASM excluding
special items, fuel
and realized gain
(loss) on fuel
hedging instruments,
net (cents) 8.32 7.85 6.0
Express*
---------------------
Revenue passenger
miles (millions) 8,333 7,827 6.5
Available seat miles
(millions) 11,434 10,592 8.0
Passenger load factor
(percent) 72.9 73.9 (1.0)pts
Yield (cents) 26.76 26.05 2.7
Passenger revenue per
ASM (cents) 19.50 19.25 1.3
Passenger
enplanements
(thousands) 20,382 19,474 4.7
Aircraft at end of
period 296 283 4.6
Fuel consumption
(gallons in
millions) 268.8 256.6 4.8
Average aircraft fuel
price including
related taxes
(dollars per gallon) 3.49 2.10 65.9
Operating cost per
ASM (cents) 20.98 18.14 15.7
Operating cost per
ASM excluding fuel,
net (cents) 12.78 13.05 (2.0)
TOTAL - Mainline &
Express
---------------------
Revenue passenger
miles (millions) 55,285 54,933 0.6
Available seat miles
(millions) 68,558 68,340 0.3
Passenger load factor
(percent) 80.6 80.4 0.2 pts
Yield (cents) 15.55 15.06 3.2
Passenger revenue per
ASM (cents) 12.54 12.10 3.6
Total revenue per ASM
(cents) 13.65 13.06 4.5
Passenger
enplanements
(thousands) 62,396 63,791 (2.2)
Aircraft at end of
period 654 642 1.9
Fuel consumption
(gallons in
millions) 1,150.7 1,166.4 (1.3)
Average aircraft fuel
price including
related taxes
(dollars per gallon) 3.44 2.09 64.4
Operating cost per
ASM (cents) 15.72 12.17 29.2
* Express includes US Airways Group's wholly owned regional airline
subsidiaries, Piedmont Airlines and PSA Airlines, as well as
operating and financial results from capacity purchase agreements
with Mesa Airlines, Chautauqua Airlines, Air Wisconsin Airlines and
Republic Airlines.
Reconciliation of GAAP Financial Information to Non-GAAP Financial
Information
US Airways Group, Inc. (the "Company") is providing disclosure of the
reconciliation of reported non-GAAP financial measures to their
comparable financial measures on a GAAP basis. The Company believes
that the non-GAAP financial measures provide investors the ability to
measure financial performance excluding special items, which is more
indicative of the Company's ongoing performance and is more
comparable to measures reported by other major airlines. The Company
believes that the presentation of mainline and Express CASM excluding
fuel and gain or loss on fuel hedging instruments is useful to
investors as both the cost and availability of fuel are subject to
many economic and political factors beyond the Company's control.
3 Months 3 Months 9 Months 9 Months
Ended Ended Ended Ended
September September September September
30, 2008 30, 2007 30, 2008 30, 2007
--------- --------- --------- ---------
(in millions, except share and per
share amounts)
Reconciliation of Net Income
(Loss) Excluding Special
Items for US Airways Group,
Inc.
------------------------------
Net income (loss) as reported $ (865) $ 177 $(1,668) $ 506
Special items:
Unrealized loss (gain) on
fuel hedging instruments,
net (1) 488 (13) 262 (128)
Special items, net (2) 8 17 67 83
Goodwill impairment (3) - - 622 -
Other operating special
items, net (4) - - - (9)
Nonoperating special items,
net (5) 127 - 134 18
Non-cash tax provision from
utilization of pre-
acquisition NOL (6) - 4 - 10
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Net income (loss) as adjusted
for special items $ (242) $ 185 $ (583) $ 480
========= ========= ========= =========
Shares used for computation
(in thousands):
Basic 102,406 91,542 95,522 91,461
========= ========= ========= =========
Diluted 102,406 95,492 95,522 95,776
========= ========= ========= =========
Earnings (loss) per share as
adjusted for special items:
Basic $ (2.35) $ 2.02 $ (6.09) $ 5.25
========= ========= ========= =========
Diluted (7) $ (2.35) $ 1.96 $ (6.09) $ 5.06
========= ========= ========= =========
3 Months 3 Months 9 Months 9 Months
Ended Ended Ended Ended
September September September September
30, 2008 30, 2007 30, 2008 30, 2007
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Reconciliation of Operating
Cost per ASM Excluding
Special Items, Fuel, Realized
Gain (Loss) on Fuel Hedging
Instruments, Net - Mainline
only
------------------------------
US Airways Group, Inc.
------------------------------
(in millions)
Total operating expenses $ 3,950 $ 2,834 $10,778 $ 8,317
Less Express expenses:
Fuel (349) (199) (938) (539)
Other (495) (450) (1,462) (1,382)
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Total mainline operating
expenses 3,106 2,185 8,378 6,396
Special items:
Unrealized gain (loss) on
fuel hedging instruments,
net (1) (488) 13 (262) 128
Special items, net (2) (8) (17) (67) (83)
Goodwill impairment (3) - - (622) -
Other operating special
items, net (4) - - - 9
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Mainline operating expenses,
excluding special items 2,610 2,181 7,427 6,450
Aircraft fuel and related
taxes (1,110) (692) (3,018) (1,900)
Realized gain (loss) on fuel
hedging instruments, net 68 20 342 (17)
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Mainline operating expenses,
excluding special items,
fuel and realized gain
(loss) on fuel hedging
instruments, net $ 1,568 $ 1,509 $ 4,751 $ 4,533
========= ========= ========= =========
(in cents)
Mainline operating expenses
per ASM 16.01 11.11 14.67 11.07
Special items per ASM
Unrealized gain (loss) on
fuel hedging instruments,
net (1) (2.52) 0.07 (0.46) 0.22
Special items, net (2) (0.04) (0.09) (0.12) (0.14)
Goodwill impairment (3) - - (1.09) -
Other operating special
items, net (4) - - - 0.02
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Mainline operating expenses
per ASM, excluding special
items 13.45 11.09 13.00 11.17
Aircraft fuel and related
taxes (5.72) (3.52) (5.28) (3.29)
Realized gain (loss) on fuel
hedging instruments, net 0.35 0.10 0.60 (0.03)
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Mainline operating expenses
per ASM, excluding special
items, fuel and realized
gain (loss) on fuel hedging
instruments, net $ 8.08 $ 7.68 $ 8.32 $ 7.85
========= ========= ========= =========
3 Months 3 Months 9 Months 9 Months
Ended Ended Ended Ended
September September September September
30, 2008 30, 2007 30, 2008 30, 2007
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Reconciliation of Operating
Cost per ASM Excluding Fuel -
Express only
------------------------------
US Airways Group, Inc.
------------------------------
(in millions)
Total Express operating
expenses $ 844 $ 649 $ 2,400 $ 1,921
Aircraft fuel and related
taxes (349) (199) (938) (539)
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Express operating expenses,
excluding fuel $ 495 $ 450 $ 1,462 $ 1,382
========= ========= ========= =========
(in cents)
Express operating expenses
per ASM 21.40 18.09 20.98 18.14
Aircraft fuel and related
taxes (8.85) (5.55) (8.20) (5.09)
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Express operating expenses
per ASM, excluding fuel $ 12.55 $ 12.55 $ 12.78 $ 13.05
========= ========= ========= =========
Note: Amounts may not recalculate due to rounding.
FOOTNOTES:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
1) The 2008 third quarter and nine month periods included $488 million
and $262 million of unrealized losses, respectively, and the 2007
third quarter and nine month periods included $13 million and $128
million of unrealized gains, respectively, resulting from mark-to-
market accounting for changes in the fair value of the Company's
fuel hedging instruments.
2) In the third quarter of 2008, in connection with planned capacity
reductions, the Company recorded $8 million in charges related to
involuntary furloughs as well as terminations of non-union
administrative and management staff. The 2008 nine month period
included this $8 million charge, as well as $18 million of non-
cash accounting charges related to the decline in fair market
value of certain spare parts associated with the Company's Boeing
737 aircraft fleet, $35 million of merger related transition
expenses, and $6 million in charges for lease return costs and
lease cancellation penalties related to certain Airbus aircraft as
a result of the capacity reductions. The 2007 third quarter and
nine month periods included $17 million and $83 million,
respectively, of merger related transition expenses.
3) The 2008 nine month period included a non-cash accounting charge of
$622 million to write off all the goodwill created by the merger
of US Airways Group, Inc. and America West Holdings Corporation in
September of 2005.
4) The 2007 nine month period included $9 million of insurance
settlement proceeds related to business interruption and property
damages incurred as a result of Hurricane Katrina.
5) The 2008 third quarter included a $127 million other than temporary
nonoperating impairment charge for the Company's investments in
auction rate securities due to the length of time and extent to
which the fair value has been less than cost for these securities.
The 2008 nine month period included $140 million in other than
temporary nonoperating impairment charges for investments in
auction rate securities, as well as a $2 million write-off of debt
discount and debt issuance costs in connection with the
refinancing of certain aircraft equipment notes, offset by $8
million in gains on forgiveness of debt. The 2007 nine month
period included an $18 million write-off of debt issuance costs in
connection with the refinancing of the $1.25 billion GE debt.
6) For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company
utilized $4 million and $10 million, respectively, of NOL acquired
from US Airways. The valuation allowance associated with the
acquired NOL was recognized as a reduction of goodwill rather than
a reduction in tax expense. As a result, the Company recorded non-
cash expense for income taxes of $4 million and $10 million,
respectively, in the three and nine months ended September 30,
2007.
7) The 2007 diluted EPS computation excludes interest associated with
the 7.0% senior convertible notes of $1 million and $4 million for
the three and nine month periods, respectively.
US Airways Group, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in millions)
(unaudited)
September 30, 2008 December 31, 2007
------------------ -----------------
Assets
Current assets
Cash, cash equivalents and
investments in marketable
securities 1,277 2,174
Restricted cash 161 2
Accounts receivable, net 423 374
Materials and supplies, net 261 249
Prepaid expenses and other 476 548
------------------ -----------------
Total current assets 2,598 3,347
Property and equipment
Flight equipment 3,031 2,414
Ground property and equipment 777 703
Less accumulated depreciation
and amortization (900) (757)
------------------ -----------------
2,908 2,360
Equipment purchase deposits 225 128
------------------ -----------------
Total property and
equipment 3,133 2,488
Other assets
Other intangibles, net 551 553
Restricted cash 583 466
Investments in marketable
securities 261 353
Goodwill - 622
Other assets, net 211 211
------------------ -----------------
Total other assets 1,606 2,205
Total assets $ 7,337 $8,040
================== =================
Liabilities and Stockholders'
Equity
Current liabilities
Current maturities of debt and
capital leases 191 117
Accounts payable 538 366
Air traffic liability 962 832
Accrued compensation and
vacation 173 225
Accrued taxes 122 152
Other accrued expenses 892 859
------------------ -----------------
Total current liabilities 2,878 2,551
Noncurrent liabilities and
deferred credits
Long-term debt and capital
leases, net of current
maturities 3,423 3,031
Deferred gains and credits,
net 152 168
Employee benefit liabilities
and other 865 851
------------------ -----------------
Total noncurrent
liabilities and deferred
credits 4,440 4,050
Stockholders' equity
Common stock 1 1
Additional paid-in capital 1,741 1,536
Accumulated other
comprehensive income 55 10
Accumulated deficit (1,765) (95)
Treasury stock (13) (13)
------------------ -----------------
Total stockholders' equity 19 1,439
------------------ -----------------
Total liabilities and
stockholders' equity $ 7,337 $8,040
================== =================
Source: US Airways Group, Inc.