Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK) today reported financial results for the second quarter ending June 30, 2024, and provided outlook for the third quarter ending September 30, 2024 and full year 2024.
"It's clear that premium airlines are rising above the rest of the industry, and Alaska's product and performance put us in that top tier, with a strong long-term outlook to grow and compete," said CEO Ben Minicucci. "That's how we brought in record quarterly revenue and achieved a 15.8% adjusted pretax margin that should lead the industry. Thank you to our 23,000 employees for being safe, operating well, and taking care of our guests through our biggest summer travel season ever."
Financial Results:
Operational Updates:
Network and Commercial Updates:
Sustainability Updates:
Awards and Recognition:
The following table reconciles the company's reported GAAP net income per share (EPS) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 to adjusted amounts.
Three Months Ended June 30, | |||||||
2024 | 2023 | ||||||
(in millions, except per share amounts) | Dollars | Diluted EPS | Dollars | Diluted EPS | |||
Net income per share | $ 220 | $ 1.71 | $ 240 | $ 1.86 | |||
Mark-to-market fuel hedge adjustments | (5) | (0.04) | 1 | 0.01 | |||
Special items - operating | 146 | 1.14 | 186 | 1.44 | |||
Special items - net non-operating | — | — | 6 | 0.05 | |||
Income tax effect of reconciling items above | (34) | (0.26) | (46) | (0.36) | |||
Adjusted net income per share | $ 327 | $ 2.55 | $ 387 | $ 3.00 | |||
Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||
2024 | 2023 | ||||||
(in millions, except per-share amounts) | Dollars | Diluted EPS | Dollars | Diluted EPS | |||
Net income per share | $ 88 | $ 0.69 | $ 98 | $ 0.76 | |||
Mark-to-market fuel hedge adjustments | (18) | (0.14) | 21 | 0.16 | |||
Special items - operating | 180 | 1.41 | 250 | 1.94 | |||
Special items - net non-operating | — | — | 6 | 0.05 | |||
Income tax effect of reconciling items above | (39) | (0.31) | (67) | (0.52) | |||
Adjusted net income per share | $ 211 | $ 1.65 | $ 308 | $ 2.39 |
Statistical data, as well as a reconciliation of the reported non-GAAP financial measures, can be found in the accompanying tables. A glossary of financial terms can be found on the last page of this release.
Alaska will hold its quarterly conference call to discuss second quarter results at 8:30 a.m. PDT on July 18, 2024. A webcast of the call is available to the public at www.investor.alaskaair.com. For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available after the call.
References in this update to "Air Group," "Company," "we," "us," and "our" refer to Alaska Air Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries, unless otherwise specified.
This news release may contain forward-looking statements subject to the safe harbor protection provided by Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to future events and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual outcomes to be materially different from those indicated by our forward-looking statements, assumptions or beliefs. For a comprehensive discussion of potential risk factors, see Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. Some of these risks include competition, labor costs, relations and availability, general economic conditions including those associated with pandemic recovery, increases in operating costs including fuel, inability to meet cost reduction, ESG and other strategic goals, seasonal fluctuations in demand and financial results, supply chain risks, events that negatively impact aviation safety and security, and changes in laws and regulations that impact our business. All of the forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the risk factors discussed in our most recent Form 10-K and in our subsequent SEC filings. We operate in a continually changing business environment, and new risk factors emerge from time to time. Management cannot predict such new risk factors, nor can it assess the impact, if any, of such new risk factors on our business or events described in any forward-looking statements. We expressly disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made today to conform them to actual results. Over time, our actual results, performance or achievements may differ from the anticipated results, performance or achievements that are expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements, assumptions or beliefs and such differences might be significant and materially adverse.
Alaska Airlines and our regional partners serve more than 120 destinations across the United States, the Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Mexico. We offer our guests a premium flying experience with award-winning customer service and an industry-leading loyalty program, Mileage Plan. With our fellow oneworld Alliance members and additional Global Partners, our guests have more choices than ever to purchase, earn or redeem on alaskaair.com across 30 airlines and more than 1,000 worldwide destinations. Learn more about Alaska at news.alaskaair.com and follow @alaskaairnews for news and stories. Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited) | |||||||||||
Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||
(in millions, except per share amounts) | 2024 | 2023 | Change | 2024 | 2023 | Change | |||||
Operating Revenue | |||||||||||
Passenger revenue | $ 2,651 | $ 2,598 | 2 % | $ 4,655 | $ 4,582 | 2 % | |||||
Mileage Plan other revenue | 174 | 170 | 2 % | 338 | 324 | 4 % | |||||
Cargo and other revenue | 72 | 70 | 3 % | 136 | 128 | 6 % | |||||
Total Operating Revenue | 2,897 | 2,838 | 2 % | 5,129 | 5,034 | 2 % | |||||
Operating Expenses | |||||||||||
Wages and benefits | 782 | 754 | 4 % | 1,586 | 1,477 | 7 % | |||||
Variable incentive pay | 49 | 57 | (14) % | 93 | 104 | (11) % | |||||
Aircraft fuel, including hedging gains and | 615 | 573 | 7 % | 1,180 | 1,238 | (5) % | |||||
Aircraft maintenance | 129 | 125 | 3 % | 251 | 249 | 1 % | |||||
Aircraft rent | 46 | 54 | (15) % | 93 | 113 | (18) % | |||||
Landing fees and other rentals | 173 | 167 | 4 % | 338 | 319 | 6 % | |||||
Contracted services | 106 | 95 | 12 % | 203 | 190 | 7 % | |||||
Selling expenses | 84 | 81 | 4 % | 161 | 147 | 10 % | |||||
Depreciation and amortization | 128 | 113 | 13 % | 254 | 217 | 17 % | |||||
Food and beverage service | 67 | 60 | 12 % | 125 | 114 | 10 % | |||||
Third-party regional carrier expense | 64 | 54 | 19 % | 118 | 106 | 11 % | |||||
Other | 186 | 182 | 2 % | 391 | 359 | 9 % | |||||
Special items - operating | 146 | 186 | (22) % | 180 | 250 | (28) % | |||||
Total Operating Expenses | 2,575 | 2,501 | 3 % | 4,973 | 4,883 | 2 % | |||||
Operating Income | 322 | 337 | (4) % | 156 | 151 | 3 % | |||||
Non-operating Income (Expense) | |||||||||||
Interest income | 24 | 22 | 9 % | 41 | 39 | 5 % | |||||
Interest expense | (36) | (28) | 29 % | (71) | (56) | 27 % | |||||
Interest capitalized | 6 | 7 | (14) % | 12 | 14 | (14) % | |||||
Special items - net non-operating | — | (6) | (100) % | — | (6) | (100) % | |||||
Other - net | — | (7) | (100) % | — | (16) | (100) % | |||||
Total Non-operating Expense | (6) | (12) | (50) % | (18) | (25) | (28) % | |||||
Income Before Income Tax | 316 | 325 | 138 | 126 | |||||||
Income tax expense | 96 | 85 | 50 | 28 | |||||||
Net Income | $ 220 | $ 240 | $ 88 | $ 98 | |||||||
Basic Earnings Per Share | $ 1.74 | $ 1.88 | $ 0.70 | $ 0.77 | |||||||
Diluted Earnings Per Share | $ 1.71 | $ 1.86 | $ 0.69 | $ 0.76 | |||||||
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding used | |||||||||||
Basic | 126.337 | 127.440 | 126.153 | 127.470 | |||||||
Diluted | 128.310 | 128.919 | 127.857 | 128.860 |
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited) | |||
(in millions) | June 30, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |
ASSETS | |||
Current Assets | |||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 1,115 | $ 281 | |
Marketable securities | 1,394 | 1,510 | |
Total cash and marketable securities | 2,509 | 1,791 | |
Receivables - net | 370 | 383 | |
Inventories and supplies - net | 106 | 116 | |
Prepaid expenses | 179 | 176 | |
Other current assets | 212 | 239 | |
Total Current Assets | 3,376 | 2,705 | |
Property and Equipment | |||
Aircraft and other flight equipment | 10,734 | 10,425 | |
Other property and equipment | 1,941 | 1,814 | |
Deposits for future flight equipment | 383 | 491 | |
13,058 | 12,730 | ||
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization | 4,537 | 4,342 | |
Total Property and Equipment - net | 8,521 | 8,388 | |
Other Assets | |||
Operating lease assets | 1,142 | 1,195 | |
Goodwill and intangible assets | 2,033 | 2,033 | |
Other noncurrent assets | 270 | 292 | |
Total Other Assets | 3,445 | 3,520 | |
Total Assets | $ 15,342 | $ 14,613 |
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited) | |||
(in millions, except share amounts) | June 30, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | |||
Current Liabilities | |||
Accounts payable | $ 203 | $ 207 | |
Accrued wages, vacation and payroll taxes | 513 | 584 | |
Air traffic liability | 1,576 | 1,136 | |
Other accrued liabilities | 852 | 800 | |
Deferred revenue | 1,312 | 1,221 | |
Current portion of operating lease liabilities | 153 | 158 | |
Current portion of long-term debt and finance leases | 359 | 353 | |
Total Current Liabilities | 4,968 | 4,459 | |
Long-Term Debt, Net of Current Portion | 2,313 | 2,182 | |
Noncurrent Liabilities | |||
Long-term operating lease liabilities, net of current portion | 1,050 | 1,125 | |
Deferred income taxes | 746 | 695 | |
Deferred revenue | 1,329 | 1,382 | |
Obligation for pension and post-retirement medical benefits | 358 | 362 | |
Other liabilities | 352 | 295 | |
Total Noncurrent Liabilities | 3,835 | 3,859 | |
Commitments and Contingencies | |||
Shareholders' Equity | |||
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, Authorized: 5,000,000 shares, none issued or | — | — | |
Common stock, $0.01 par value, Authorized: 400,000,000 shares, Issued: 2024 - | 1 | 1 | |
Capital in excess of par value | 757 | 695 | |
Treasury stock (common), at cost: 2024 - 14,094,740 shares; 2023 - 12,870,477 shares | (868) | (819) | |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (287) | (299) | |
Retained earnings | 4,623 | 4,535 | |
4,226 | 4,113 | ||
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity | $ 15,342 | $ 14,613 |
SUMMARY CASH FLOW (unaudited) | |||||
Six Months Ended | Three Months | Three Months | |||
Cash Flows from Operating Activities: | |||||
Net Income (Loss) | $ 88 | $ (132) | $ 220 | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by | 291 | 168 | 123 | ||
Changes in working capital | 493 | 256 | 237 | ||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 872 | 292 | 580 | ||
Cash Flows from Investing Activities: | |||||
Property and equipment additions | (587) | (57) | (530) | ||
Supplier proceeds | 162 | 162 |
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