Allegiant Travel Company First Quarter 2018 Financial Results

LAS VEGAS, April 25, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ:ALGT) today reported the following financial results for the first quarter 2018, as well as comparisons to the prior year:

"We are proud to announce our 61st consecutive profitable quarter," stated Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr., chairman and CEO of Allegiant Travel Company. "We are in the final year of our fleet transition and are seeing impressive results. Our first quarter operating margin only declined approximately one percentage point in spite of a greater than 20 percent increase in the cost of fuel. The transition to an all-Airbus fleet has been and continues to be a substantial one-time effort.  We look forward to its completion.

“In addition, we are seeing a very positive impact from the transition to our new revenue management system. The year-over-year scheduled service load factor in March rose for the first time since 2011 without a sacrifice in March yields. Last but absolutely not least, we have continued to see a material improvement in our operations. According to the latest DOT statistics, in January our cancellation rate was the second lowest in the industry, which demonstrates our operational integrity and commitment to safety and reliability. This is directly correlated with the hard work of team members and the strong safety culture embedded throughout our system."

Shareholder returns

• 2018 shareholder returns - $11 million in the first quarter through dividends
  • Will pay dividends of $0.70 per share on June 1, 2018 to shareholders of record as of May 18, 2018
  • Current share repurchase authority of $100 million as of April 25, 2018

Balance sheet update

• Amended senior secured revolving credit facility to increase borrowing limit to $81 million, in the first quarter
  • The revolver is currently undrawn
• 24 Airbus aircraft are unencumbered as of April 25, 2018

Changes to Accounting Standards

• On January 1, Allegiant adopted several new accounting standards, including the new revenue recognition standard
• The prior periods presented here have been recast to reflect adoption of these new standards. In particular, Allegiant is no longer disaggregating passenger revenue by scheduled service and air-related ancillary revenue
  • Including all adjustments related to the New Revenue Standard, TRASM increased 1.4 percent
  • Excluding these items, TRASM would have increased 2.5 percent over the same period last year

2018 outlook

• Second quarter TRASM impact - Earlier Easter in the quarter is expected to decrease TRASM by two percentage points as part of Easter travel was in the first quarter of this year
• Second quarter scheduled and system ASMs are expected to grow between ten and fourteen percent vs last year
• 2018 fuel cost is expected to be $2.20 per gallon
• 2018 tax rate  - 2018 effective tax rate is expected to decline to between 21 and 22 percent impacted by:
  • Adjustment of deferred tax balances due to the dissolution of foreign subsidiaries which are special purpose entities that were set up for the 12 aircraft on lease to a European carrier

* - Previous guidance as of January 31, 2018
** - Excludes Sunseeker Resorts
*** - Not included in capital expenditure total

Aircraft listed in table above include only in-service aircraft, planned retirements and future aircraft under contract (subject to change)

Allegiant Travel Company will host a conference call with analysts at 4:30 p.m. ET Wednesday, April 25, 2018 to discuss its first quarter 2018 financial results. A live broadcast of the conference call will be available via the Company’s Investor Relations website homepage at http://ir.allegiantair.com. The webcast will also be archived in the “Events & Presentations” section of the website.

Allegiant.®

Las Vegas-based Allegiant (NASDAQ:ALGT) is focused on linking travelers in small cities to world-class leisure destinations. The airline offers industry-low fares on an all-jet fleet while also offering other travel-related products such as hotel rooms and rental cars. All can be purchased only through the company website, Allegiant.com. Beginning with one aircraft and one route in 1999, the company has grown to more than 80 aircraft and approximately 400 routes across the country with base airfares less than half the cost of the average domestic roundtrip ticket. For downloadable press kit, including photos, visit: http://gofly.us/iiFa303wrtF.

Media Inquiries: mediarelations@allegiantair.com

Investor Inquiries: ir@allegiantair.com

Under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are only estimates or predictions based on our management's beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. Forward-looking statements include our statements regarding future expenses, ASM growth, expected capital expenditures, number of contracted aircraft to be placed in service in the future, timing of aircraft retirements, as well as other information concerning future results of operations, business strategies, financing plans, industry environment and potential growth opportunities. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts and can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as the words "believe," "expect," “guidance,” "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate", “project”, “hope” or similar expressions.

Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Important risk factors that could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements generally may be found in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. These risk factors include, without limitation, an accident involving, or problems with, our aircraft, public perception of our safety, our reliance on our automated systems, limitation on growth as we transition to a single fleet type, risk of breach of security of personal data, volatility of fuel costs, labor issues and costs, the ability to obtain regulatory approvals as needed , the effect of economic conditions on leisure travel, debt covenants and balances, the ability to finance aircraft under contract, terrorist attacks, risks inherent to airlines, our competitive environment, our reliance on third parties who provide facilities or services to us, the possible loss of key personnel, economic and other conditions in markets in which we operate, the ability to successfully develop a hotel-condo project in Southwest Florida, governmental regulation, increases in maintenance costs and cyclical and seasonal fluctuations in our operating results.

Any forward-looking statements are based on information available to us today and we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of future events, new information or otherwise.

Detailed financial information follows:

*NM - Not meaningful
(1) Passenger revenue previously reported as Scheduled service revenue.
(2) The Company's unvested restricted stock awards are considered participating securities as they receive non-forfeitable rights to cash dividends at the same rate as common stock. The Basic and Diluted earnings per share calculations for the periods presented reflect the two-class method mandated by ASC Topic 260, "Earnings Per Share." The two-class method adjusts both the net income and the shares used in the calculation. Application of the two-class method did not have a significant impact on the Basic and Diluted earnings per share for the periods presented.

(1) Except load factor and percent of sales through website, which is percentage point change.
(2) Various components of this measurement do not have a direct correlation to ASMs. These figures are provided on a per ASM basis to facilitate comparison with airlines reporting revenues on a per ASM basis. The 2017 figure reflected has been adjusted from previously reported as a result of recast.
(3) Reflects division of passenger revenue between scheduled service and air-related charges in Company's booking path.

Summary Balance Sheet

Summary Cash Flow

* Includes aircraft pre-delivery deposits.

EPS Calculation

The following table sets forth the computation of net income per share, on a basic and diluted basis, for the periods indicated (share count and dollar amounts other than per-share amounts in table are in thousands):

Appendix A
Consolidated Statements of Income
As Recast for Adoption of New Accounting Standard on January 1, 2018
Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2017
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standard Update ("ASU") 2014-09: Revenue from Contracts with Customers (the “New Revenue Standard”). In accordance with the transition provisions of this new standard, the Company has recast certain 2017 financial information previously reported in accordance with GAAP in effect as of December 31, 2017 to reflect the expected effects of adoption. This recast financial information is labeled “As Recast” and is included for supplemental purposes only. The adoption and related disclosures required by GAAP will be reported in the Company’s report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018.

*Labeled as "Scheduled service revenue" in previous filings.

Consolidated Statements of Income
As Recast for Adoption of New Accounting Standard on January 1, 2018
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)

As previously discussed, on January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the New Revenue Standard. The following table presents the As Recast quarterly and annual 2017 Consolidated Statements of Income.

*Labeled as "Scheduled service revenue" in previous filings.

2017 Quarterly Adjustments to Statements of Income
Resulting From Adoption of New Accounting Standard on January 1, 2018
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)

As previously discussed, on January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the New Revenue Standard. The following table presents certain selected line items As Recast from the Company's quarterly and annual 2017 Consolidated Statements of Income.

Consolidated Balance Sheets
As Recast for Adoption of New Accounting Standard on January 1, 2018
December 31, 2017
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)

As previously discussed, on January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the New Revenue Standard. The following table presents the effects of the adoption of the New Revenue Standard on the December 31, 2017 consolidated balance sheet.