Exhibit 99.1
Mesa Air Group Reports Fourth Quarter 2008 Revenue and Earnings
PHOENIX, January 13, 2009 - Mesa Air Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: MESA) (the "Company") announced today fourth quarter losses from continuing operations of $22.3million ($0.83 per diluted share) on gross operating revenues of $325.3 million. This compares to losses from continuing operations of $62.2 million ($2.16 per diluted share) in the fourth quarter of 2007 on gross operating revenues of $327.8 million. Total operating revenues decreased $2.6 million year-over-year, or 0.8%, primarily as a result of a year-over-year decrease in capacity partially offset by an increase in fuel revenue. Total Pro Forma Net income for the fourth quarter 2008 was $3.1 million compared to $2.2 million for the same period of the prior year. Pro forma net income for the quarter includes adjustments for the following items on an after tax basis: $10.0 million of vendor settlements, $4.9 million related to lease return costs, $3.7 million for loss from equity method investments, $2.0 million expense from the Aloha Airlines settlement,$1.8million for the adjustment to income tax valuation allowance, $1.5 million loss on disposal of assets, $0.9 million costs associated with our Chinese joint-venture,$0.4 million of legal expense for our go! operations and a net $0.2 million of additional pro forma items.
Total Available Seat Miles ("ASMs") for the fourth quarter of 2008 decreased 13.9% from the fourthquarter of 2007, primarily as a result of a decrease in the number of aircraft flown from162 as of September 30, 2007 to 159 as of September 30, 2008. On September 30, 2008, Mesa's jet fleet was comprised of 45 Canadian Regional Jet (CRJ) -900's, 44 CRJ-200's, 20 CRJ-700's and34 Embraer Regional-145's. The turboprop fleet consisted of 16 DeHavilland Dash 8's.
At September 30, 2008, the total balance of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and marketable securities was $64.9 million.
Events during the fourth quarter included:
--go! On November 28, 2008 Mesa announced entering into a settlement with the former controlling shareholder of Aloha Airlines concerning the Aloha Airlines lawsuit over Mesa's Hawaiian inter-island flight services operated under the go! brand name. Under the terms of the settlement and without admitting any wrongdoing, Mesa agreed to make a $2.0 million cash payment, issue shares of common stock equal to 10% of its outstanding shares and provide inter-island travel benefits to certain former Aloha Airlines employees. Under the terms of the settlement, if the shareholder is able to purchase the "Aloha" name in the upcoming bankruptcy court auction, it will license the "Aloha" name to Mesa.
Mesa continued to expand its inter-island Hawaiian operation, go! During the fourth quarter 2008, available seat miles increased 18.5% from the same quarter in the prior year.
---Maintenance: In July 2008 Mesa entered into a new Time and Material Maintenance Program with GE. This agreement terminates the terms of a previous contract for the maintenance and repair of Mesa's owned or operated CF34-3B1 engines, settled Mesa's prior payment obligations and awarded a new exclusive 5-year contract for the maintenance repair, and overhaul of Mesa's CF34-3 engines. In accordance with the agreement, Mesa entered into a note payable for $22.0 million in addition to a $6.0 million payment for past due receivables.
---Delta: On August 1, 2008, Delta notified Mesa of the termination of the CRJ-900 Delta Connection Agreement, citing an alleged failure to meet certain contractual benchmarks contained in the CRJ-900 Delta Connection Agreement. Mesa denies having violated the Delta Connection Agreement and intends to challenge Delta's decision. At year end, Mesa was operating seven CRJ-900's as Freedom Airlines under this Delta Connection Agreement.The Company subleased the Delta Connection CRJ-900 Aircraft from Delta for $1 per month per aircraft and these aircraft have been returned to Delta in connection with this termination with no further financial obligation to Mesa.
"2008 was a very challenging year operationally and financially for the Company," said Mesa Chairman and CEO, Jonathan Ornstein. "While many obstacles lay ahead, we are encouraged that the restructuring efforts begun in 2008 may permit the emergence of a reinvigorated company in 2009. We continue to execute our restructuring plan and take steps needed to improve the financial and operational performance of the Company."
OPERATING DATA:
| Three Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | ||||||
| Sep. 30, 2008 | Sep. 30, 2007 | Sep. 30, 2008 | Sep. 30, 2007 | ||||
| Passengers | 3,139,094 | 3,948,287 | 13,453,831 | 15,993,110 | |||
| Available seat miles ("ASM") (000's) | 1,890,870 | 2,196,057 | 8,027,966 | 8,996,959 | |||
| Revenue passenger miles (000's) | 1,475,901 | 1,702,926 | 6,020,008 | 6,879,624 | |||
| Load factor | 78.1% | 77.5% | 75.0% | 76.5% | |||
| Yield per revenue passenger mile (cents) | 22.0 | 19.3 | 22.0 | 18.9 | |||
| Revenue per ASM (cents) | 17.2 | 14.9 | 16.5 | 14.4 | |||
| Operating cost per ASM (cents) | 18.0 | 18.7 | 16.4 | 15.2 | |||
| Average stage length (miles) | 412 | 392 | 403 | 392 | |||
| Number of operating aircraft in fleet | 159 | 162 | 159 | 162 | |||
| Gallons of fuel consumed | 33,922,360 | 44,218,985 | 154,814,813 | 201,526,868 | |||
| Block hours flown | 106,568 | 134,722 | 476,368 | 564,379 | |||
| Departures | 69,351 | 90,652 | 310,956 | 378,291 | |||
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| MESA AIR GROUP, INC. | ||||
| CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | ||||
| (In thousands, except per share amounts) | ||||
| Three Months Ended September 30, | ||||
| 2008 | 2007 | |||
| (Unaudited) | ||||
| (In thousands, except per share data) | ||||
| Operating revenues: | ||||
| Passenger | $ 322,795 | $ 325,161 | ||
| Freight and other | 2,481 | 2,682 | ||
| Total operating revenues | 325,276 | 327,843 | ||
| Operating expenses: | ||||
| Flight operations | 91,334 | 99,239 | ||
| Fuel | 134,042 | 106,206 | ||
| Maintenance | 65,688 | 64,476 | ||
| Aircraft and traffic servicing | 15,773 | 20,589 | ||
| Promotion and sales | 1,254 | 639 | ||
| General and administrative | 22,770 | 24,112 | ||
| Depreciation and amortization | 8,795 | 9,428 | ||
| Loss contingency and settlement of lawsuit | - | 86,870 | ||
| Bankruptcy and vendor settlements | - | - | ||
| Impairment and restructuring (credits) | 209 | - | ||
| Total operating expenses | 339,865 | 411,559 | ||
| Operating income (loss) | (14,589) | (83,716) | ||
| Other income (expense): | ||||
| Interest expense | (8,682) | (10,383) | ||
| Interest income | 868 | 2,903 | ||
| Gain on extinguishment of debt | - | - | ||
| Loss from equity method investments | (3,987) | (658) | ||
| Other income (expense) | (2,732) | (1,645) | ||
| Total other expense | (14,532) | (9,783) | ||
| Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes | (29,121) | (93,499) | ||
| Income tax provision (benefit) | (6,863) | (31,343) | ||
| Net income (loss) from continuing operations | (22,258) | (62,156) | ||
| Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes | (8,356) | (6,036) | ||
| . | ||||
| Net income (loss) | $ (30,614) | $ (68,192) | ||
| Basic income (loss) per common share: | ||||
| Income (loss) from continuing operations | $ (0.83) | $ (2.16) | ||
| Loss from discontinued operations | (0.31) | (0.21) | ||
| Net income (loss) per share | $ (1.15) | $ (2.37) | ||
| Diluted income (loss) per common share: | ||||
| Income (loss) from continuing operations | $ (0.83) | $ (2.16) | ||
| Loss from discontinued operations | (0.31) | (0.21) | ||
| Net income (loss) per share | $ (1.15) | $ (2.37) | ||
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| Three Months Ended September 30, | ||||
| 2008 | 2007 | |||
| PRO FORMA (After tax): | ||||
| Net income (loss) from continuing operations | $ (22,258) | $ (62,156) | ||
| Adjustment to income tax valuation allowance | 1,837 | - | ||
| Net gain on securities | (46) | (191) | ||
| Loss on disposal | 1,452 | 229 | ||
| (Gain) on extinguishment of debt | - | - | ||
| Lease return costs | 4,872 | 1,659 | ||
| Vendor settlements | 10,015 | - | ||
| Severance | 200 | - | ||
| go! legal expenses | 433 | 1,259 | ||
| Start up costs on China JV | 909 | 2,968 | ||
| Loss contingency - Aloha/Hawaiian settlement | 1,988 | 57,749 | ||
| Loss from equity method investments | 3,665 | 724 | ||
| Pro forma net income from continuing operations | $ 3,067 | $ 2,241 | ||
| Pro forma income per common share: | ||||
| Basic | $ 0.11 | $ 0.08 | ||
| Diluted | $ 0.11 | $ 0.08 | ||
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| MESA AIR GROUP, INC. | ||||
| CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | ||||
| (In thousands, except per share amounts) | ||||
| Year Ended September 30, | ||||
| 2008 | 2007 | |||
| (Unaudited) | ||||
| (In thousands, except per share data) | ||||
| Operating revenues: | ||||
| Passenger | $ 1,313,436 | $ 1,313,220 | ||
| Freight and other | 12,675 | 10,168 | ||
| Gross operating revenues | 1,326,111 | 1,323,388 | ||
| Impairment of contract incentives | - | (25,324) | ||
| Net operating revenues | 1,326,111 | 1,298,064 | ||
| Operating expenses: | ||||
| Flight operations | 364,659 | 382,504 | ||
| Fuel | 517,907 | 438,010 | ||
| Maintenance | 262,868 | 254,626 | ||
| Aircraft and traffic servicing | 76,284 | 82,248 | ||
| Promotion and sales | 4,682 | 3,605 | ||
| General and administrative | 83,115 | 71,818 | ||
| Depreciation and amortization | 37,674 | 39,354 | ||
| Loss contingency and settlement of lawsuits | (31,265) | 86,870 | ||
| Bankruptcy and vendor settlements | (27) | 434 | ||
| Impairment and restructuring charges | 209 | 12,367 | ||
| Total operating expenses | 1,316,106 | 1,371,836 | ||
| Operating income (loss) | 10,005 | (73,772) | ||
| Other income (expense): | ||||
| Interest expense | (36,081) | (39,380) | ||
| Interest income | 6,511 | 14,314 | ||
| Gain on extinguishment of debt | 14,680 | - | ||
| Loss from equity method investments | (5,446) | (3,868) | ||
| Other income (expense) | 8,919 | (6,216) | ||
| Total other expense | (11,417) | (35,150) | ||
| Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes | (1,412) | (108,922) | ||
| Income tax provision (benefit) | 4,323 | (37,384) | ||
| Net income (loss) from continuing operations | (5,735) | (71,538) | ||
| Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes | (23,425) | (10,023) | ||
| Net income (loss) | $ (29,160) | $ (81,561) | ||
| Basic income (loss) per common share: | ||||
| Income (loss) from continuing operations | $ (0.21) | $ (2.31) | ||
| Loss from discontinued operations | (0.86) | (0.32) | ||
| Net income (loss) per share | $ (1.07) | $ (2.63) | ||
| Diluted income (loss) per common share: | ||||
| Income (loss) from continuing operations | $ (0.21) | $ (2.31) | ||
| Loss from discontinued operations | (0.86) | (0.32) | ||
| Net income (loss) per share | $ (1.07) | $ (2.63) | ||
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| Year Ended September 30, | ||||
| 2008 | 2007 | |||
| PRO FORMA (After tax): | ||||
| Net income (loss) from continuing operations | $ (5,735) | $ (71,538) | ||
| Adjustment to income tax valuation allowance | 1,837 | $ - | ||
| Net (gain) loss on securities | (5,487) | 1,980 | ||
| Loss (gain) on disposal | 1,632 | 229 | ||
| (Gain) on extinguishment of debt | (9,046) | - | ||
| Lease return costs | 10,866 | 2,975 | ||
| Vendor/code share partner settlements | 12,345 | 1,678 | ||
| Severance | 200 | - | ||
| go! legal expenses | 2,255 | 1,259 | ||
| Start up costs associated with China joint venture | 2,650 | 3,074 | ||
| Loss contingency - Aloha/Hawaiian settlement | (19,024) | 57,749 | ||
| Loss from equity method investments | 3,842 | 2,835 | ||
| Impairment charges | - | 23,445 | ||
| Pro forma net income from continuing operations | $ (3,665) | $ 23,686 | ||
| Pro forma income per common share: | ||||
| Basic | $ (0.14) | $ 0.76 | ||
| Diluted | $ (0.14) | $ 0.66 | ||
This press release contains various forward-looking statements that are based on management's beliefs, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable; it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Such statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, estimated, projected or expected.
Mesa currently operates 159 aircraft with over 800 daily system departures to 124 cities, 38 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, the Bahamas and Mexico. Mesa operates as Delta Connection, US Airways Express and United Express under contractual agreements with Delta Air Lines, US Airways and United Airlines, respectively, and independently as Mesa Airlines and go!. In June 2006 Mesa launched inter-island Hawaiian service as go!. This operation links Honolulu to the neighbor island airports of Hilo, Kahului, Kona and Lihue. The Company, founded by Larry and Janie Risley in New Mexico in 1982, has approximately 5,000 employees and was awarded Regional Airline of the Year by Air Transport World magazine in 1992 and 2005. Mesa is a member of the Regional Airline Association and Regional Aviation Partners.
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