ATSG Reports First Quarter 2024 Results

Raises 2024 Financial Outlook

Expands and Extends Flying Agreement with Amazon

WILMINGTON, Ohio--()--Air Transport Services Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATSG), the leading provider of medium wide-body freighter aircraft leasing, contracted air transportation, and related services, today reported consolidated financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024. Those results, as compared with the same period in 2023, were as follows:

First Quarter Results

  • Revenues $486 million, down 3%
  • GAAP Earnings per Share (diluted) from Continuing Operations $0.13, down $0.12
  • GAAP Pretax Earnings from Continuing Operations $12.4 million, down $14.1 million
  • Adjusted Pretax* Earnings $15.2 million, down $22.6 million
  • Adjusted EPS* $0.16, down $0.20
  • Adjusted EBITDA* $127.3 million, down 8%

Earlier today, ATSG announced agreements to operate ten additional Boeing 767 freighters for Amazon.com Services LLC by the end of 2024, and to extend their commercial flying agreement to May 2029, with mutual extension rights for five additional years. The agreement includes the award to Amazon of an additional 2.9 million warrants to purchase ATSG common shares and changes to the terms of existing warrants already held by Amazon, as described in the Form 8-K we will file.

Joe Hete, chairman and chief executive officer of ATSG, said, "I am proud of the focus and execution of the entire ATSG team as we continue to navigate a challenging market. The changes to our Amazon arrangement announced earlier today are a testament to the high quality of service we provide to our customer. Our priorities remain safe operations, customer satisfaction, cost control, and disciplined capital allocation. We completed the conversion and delivery of four 767-300 freighters to customers in the quarter. Additionally, we have customer interest in other aircraft we have available for lease. We are focused on generating positive cash flow in 2024 and are off to a strong start in the first quarter, having generated $15 million in Free Cash Flow*."

* Adjusted EPS (Earnings per Share), Adjusted Pretax Earnings, Adjusted EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization), Free Cash Flow, and Adjusted Free Cash Flow are non-GAAP financial measures and are defined and reconciled to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP at the end of this release.

Segment Results

Cargo Aircraft Management (CAM)

  • Aircraft leasing and related revenues decreased 7% for the first quarter, reflecting the benefit of revenues from fifteen additional freighter leases, including twelve additional 767-300s and three Airbus A321-200s since the end of March 2023. These leases were more than offset by the returns of twelve 767-200 freighters and four 767-300 freighters over that same period. Revenue reductions associated with the 767-200 fleet include the effect of fewer cycles operated by lessees under our 767-200 engine power program. Excluding the revenues from that program, segment revenues would have been flat versus the prior-year quarter.
  • CAM’s first quarter pretax earnings decreased $21 million, or 61%, to $13 million versus the prior-year quarter. The biggest driver of the year-over-year decrease was the previously mentioned reduction in 767-200 freighter lease and engine power program revenues. Segment interest expense and depreciation both increased by $5 million versus the prior-year quarter.
  • CAM deployed four newly converted 767-300 freighters to external lessees during the quarter. Three 767-200 freighters and one 767-300 freighter were returned upon lease expiration, with the 767-300 and one of the 767-200s subsequently leased to ABX Air. At the end of the first quarter, ninety CAM-owned freighter aircraft were leased to external customers, two fewer than a year ago.
  • Twenty-four CAM-owned aircraft were in or awaiting conversion to freighters at the end of the first quarter, three fewer than at the end of the prior-year quarter. This included thirteen 767s, six A321s, and five A330s.

ACMI Services

  • Pretax loss was $3 million in the first quarter, versus a loss of $2 million in the first quarter of 2023. For the quarter, interest expense increased by $0.5 million.
  • Revenue block hours for ATSG's airlines decreased 3% versus the prior-year quarter. The decrease included three fewer aircraft in service than a year ago. Cargo block hours decreased 3% for the first quarter, driven by a mix of routes that included more domestic and less international flying than a year ago. Passenger block hours were flat in the quarter, as more charter flying hours for Omni Air International offset fewer flying hours for the military versus the prior-year quarter.

2024 Outlook

Taking into account the flying opportunities from ten more Amazon 767 freighters, ATSG expects Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $516 million in 2024, an increase of $10 million from the outlook provided in February 2024. This forecast excludes any contribution from additional aircraft leases or flying opportunities not currently under contractual commitment. This projection assumes the startup of all ten Amazon-provided 767-300s prior to December 1, 2024, and costs associated with bringing them into service and adding over 50 additional pilots at ABX Air. The Company continues to see the potential for additional Adjusted EBITDA from new lease commitments for available aircraft and opportunities for additional flying.

Capital spending expectations for 2024 remain unchanged at $410 million, down $380 million from 2023. ATSG's total projected capital spend includes growth capital of $245 million.

The projection for Adjusted EPS remains unchanged at 55 cents to 80 cents diluted for 2024, assuming a stable share count at current levels.

Hete concluded, “We have made significant progress toward achieving positive free cash flow in 2024. The expansion of our flying agreement with Amazon should only help reach that goal. Our amended agreement also provides opportunity for a combination of up to ten lease extensions and/or additional assigned aircraft, beyond the initial ten we will bring into service this year. Furthermore, CAM is well-positioned to lease additional freighters to other customers with minimal incremental capital investment as market demand improves. We look forward to further cash flow improvement next year, with increased Adjusted EBITDA and even lower capex."

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This release, including the attached tables reconciling results to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") in the United States, contains financial measures that are not calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP ("non-GAAP financial measures"), as further described in such tables. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate historical results and project future results. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures assist in highlighting operational trends, facilitating period-over-period comparisons, and providing additional clarity about events and trends affecting core operating performance. Disclosing these non-GAAP financial measures provides insight to investors about additional metrics that management uses to evaluate past performance and prospects for future performance. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the Company's results as reported under GAAP and may be calculated differently by other companies.

The historical non-GAAP financial measures included in this release are reconciled to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in the non-GAAP reconciliation tables included later in this release. The Company does not provide a reconciliation of projected Adjusted EBITDA or Adjusted EPS, as permitted by Item 10(e)(1)(i)(B) of Regulation S-K, because it is unable to predict with reasonable accuracy the value of certain adjustments and as a result, the comparable GAAP measures are unavailable without unreasonable efforts. For example, certain adjustments can be significantly impacted by the re-measurements of financial instruments including stock warrants issued to a customer. The Company’s earnings on a GAAP basis, including its earnings per share on a GAAP basis, and the non-GAAP adjustments for gains and losses resulting from the re-measurement of stock warrants, will depend on, among other things, the future prices of ATSG stock, interest rates, and other assumptions which are highly uncertain. As a result, the Company believes such reconciliations of forward-looking information would imply a degree of precision and certainty that could be confusing to investors.

Conference Call

ATSG will host an investor conference call on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at 10 a.m. Eastern Time to review its results for the first quarter of 2024, and its outlook for the remainder of the year. Live call participants must register via this link, which is also available at ATSG’s website (www.atsginc.com) under “Investors” and “Presentations.” Once registered, call participants will receive dial-in numbers and a unique Personal Identification Number (PIN) that must be entered to join the live call. Listen-only access to live and replay versions of the call, including slides, will be available via a webcast link at the same ATSG website location. Slides that accompany management’s discussion of first-quarter results may be downloaded from there starting shortly before the start of the call at 10 a.m.

About ATSG

ATSG is a leading provider of aircraft leasing and air cargo transportation and related services to domestic and foreign air carriers and other companies that outsource their air cargo lift requirements. ATSG, through its leasing and airline subsidiaries, is the world's largest owner and operator of converted Boeing 767 freighter aircraft. Through its principal subsidiaries, including three airlines with separate and distinct U.S. FAA Part 121 Air Carrier certificates, ATSG provides aircraft leasing, air cargo lift, passenger ACMI and charter services, aircraft maintenance services and airport ground services. ATSG's subsidiaries include ABX Air, Inc.; Airborne Global Solutions, Inc.; Airborne Maintenance and Engineering Services, Inc., including its subsidiary, Pemco World Air Services, Inc.; Air Transport International, Inc.; Cargo Aircraft Management, Inc.; and Omni Air International, LLC. For more information, please see www.atsginc.com.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements

Throughout this release, Air Transport Services Group, Inc. (ATSG") makes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended (the Act). Except for historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this release contain forward-looking statements that involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Such statements are provided under the safe harbor protection of the Act. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding anticipated operating results, prospects and levels of assets under management, technological developments, economic trends, expected transactions and similar matters. The words may, believe, expect, anticipate, target, goal, project, estimate, guidance, forecast, outlook, will, continue, likely, should, hope, seek, plan, intend and variations of such words and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Similarly, descriptions of ATSGs objectives, strategies, plans, goals or targets are also forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are susceptible to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors. While ATSG believes that the assumptions underlying its forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that any of the assumptions could prove to be inaccurate and, accordingly, ATSGs actual results and experiences could differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in its forward-looking statements. A number of important factors could cause ATSG's actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: (i) unplanned changes in the market demand for our assets and services, including the loss of customers or a reduction in the level of services we perform for customers; (ii) our operating airlines' ability to maintain on-time service and control costs; (iii) the cost and timing with respect to which we are able to purchase and modify aircraft to a cargo configuration; (iv) fluctuations in ATSG's traded share price and in interest rates, which may result in mark-to-market charges on certain financial instruments; (v) the number, timing, and scheduled routes of our aircraft deployments to customers; (vi) our ability to remain in compliance with key agreements with customers, lenders and government agencies; (vii) the impact of current supply chain constraints both within and outside the United States, which may be more severe or persist longer than we currently expect; (viii) the impact of the current competitive labor market, which could restrict our ability to fill key positions; (ix) changes in general economic and/or industry-specific conditions, including inflation and regulatory changes; and (x) other uncontrollable factors such as geopolitical tensions or conflicts and human health crises. Other factors that could cause ATSGs actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are discussed in Risk Factors in Item 1A of ATSG's Form 10-K and are contained from time to time in its other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Readers should carefully review this release and should not place undue reliance on ATSG's forward-looking statements. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and factors that ATSG currently deems immaterial may become material, and it is impossible for ATSG to predict these events or how they may affect it. These forward-looking statements were based only on information, plans and estimates as of the date of this release. Except as may be required by applicable law, ATSG undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, new information, future events or other changes. ATSG does not endorse any projections regarding future performance that may be made by third parties.

 

AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (UNAUDITED)
(In thousands, except per share data)

 
 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

REVENUES

 

$

485,517

 

 

$

501,095

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries, wages and benefits

 

 

171,482

 

 

 

176,715

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

90,380

 

 

 

84,728

 

Maintenance, materials and repairs

 

 

49,883

 

 

 

43,833

 

Fuel

 

 

63,545

 

 

 

66,755

 

Contracted ground and aviation services

 

 

15,706

 

 

 

17,788

 

Travel

 

 

30,446

 

 

 

29,553

 

Landing and ramp

 

 

4,030

 

 

 

4,124

 

Rent

 

 

7,532

 

 

 

8,112

 

Insurance

 

 

2,736

 

 

 

2,548

 

Other operating expenses

 

 

16,773

 

 

 

19,516

 

 

 

 

452,513

 

 

 

453,672

 

OPERATING INCOME

 

 

33,004

 

 

 

47,423

 

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

 

239

 

 

 

215

 

Non-service component of retiree benefit costs

 

 

(1,085

)

 

 

(3,218

)

Net gain (loss) on financial instruments

 

 

2,355

 

 

 

(1,740

)

Loss from non-consolidated affiliate

 

 

(79

)

 

 

(406

)

Interest expense

 

 

(21,988

)

 

 

(15,705

)

 

 

 

(20,558

)

 

 

(20,854

)

EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES

 

 

12,446

 

 

 

26,569

 

INCOME TAX EXPENSE

 

 

(3,827

)

 

 

(6,428

)

EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

 

 

8,619

 

 

 

20,141

 

EARNINGS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF TAXES

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET EARNINGS

 

$

8,619

 

 

$

20,141

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EARNINGS PER SHARE - CONTINUING OPERATIONS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.13

 

 

$

0.28

 

Diluted

 

$

0.13

 

 

$

0.25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES - CONTINUING OPERATIONS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

64,973

 

 

 

71,802

 

Diluted

 

 

67,235

 

 

 

83,057

 

 

AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
(In thousands, except share data)

 
 

 

 

March 31, 2024

 

 

December 31, 2023

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

23,181

 

 

$

53,555

 

Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,193 in 2024 and $1,065 in 2023

 

 

219,946

 

 

 

215,581

 

Inventory

 

 

49,847

 

 

 

49,939

 

Prepaid supplies and other

 

 

22,386

 

 

 

26,626

 

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

 

 

315,360

 

 

 

345,701

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net

 

 

2,866,335

 

 

 

2,820,769

 

Customer incentive

 

 

57,049

 

 

 

60,961

 

Goodwill and acquired intangibles

 

 

479,874

 

 

 

482,427

 

Operating lease assets

 

 

49,140

 

 

 

54,060

 

Other assets

 

 

123,979

 

 

 

118,172

 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

$

3,891,737

 

 

$

3,882,090

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

249,828

 

 

$

227,652

 

Accrued salaries, wages and benefits

 

 

55,271

 

 

 

56,650

 

Accrued expenses

 

 

9,786

 

 

 

10,784

 

Current portion of debt obligations

 

 

54,768

 

 

 

54,710

 

Current portion of lease obligations

 

 

18,947

 

 

 

20,167

 

Unearned revenue

 

 

31,075

 

 

 

30,226

 

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

 

419,675

 

 

 

400,189

 

Long term debt

 

 

1,663,006

 

 

 

1,707,572

 

Stock warrant obligations

 

 

1,626

 

 

 

1,729

 

Post-retirement obligations

 

 

17,504

 

 

 

19,368

 

Long term lease obligations

 

 

31,250

 

 

 

34,990

 

Other liabilities

 

 

89,235

 

 

 

64,292

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

288,016

 

 

 

285,248

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, 20,000,000 shares authorized, including 75,000 Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 150,000,000 shares authorized; 65,702,385 and 65,240,961 shares issued and outstanding in 2024 and 2023, respectively

 

 

657

 

 

 

652

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

838,402

 

 

 

836,270

 

Retained earnings

 

 

597,828

 

 

 

589,209

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

(55,462

)

 

 

(57,429

)

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

1,381,425

 

 

 

1,368,702

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

$

3,891,737

 

 

$

3,882,090

 

 

AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED SUMMARY OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
(In thousands)

 
 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING CASH FLOWS

 

$

126,420

 

 

$

216,378

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aircraft acquisitions and freighter conversions

 

 

(71,895

)

 

 

(164,608

)

Planned aircraft maintenance, engine overhauls and other non-aircraft additions to property and equipment

 

 

(30,426

)

 

 

(54,193

)

Proceeds from property and equipment

 

 

895

 

 

 

9,860

 

Acquisitions and investments in businesses

 

 

(9,800

)

 

 

(800

)

TOTAL INVESTING CASH FLOWS

 

 

(111,226

)

 

 

(209,741

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principal payments on secured debt

 

 

(140,105

)

 

 

(25,214

)

Proceeds from revolver borrowings

 

 

95,000

 

 

 

105,000

 

Payments for financing costs

 

 

 

 

 

(484

)

Purchase of common stock

 

 

 

 

 

(21,918

)

Taxes paid for conversion of employee awards

 

 

(463

)

 

 

(1,553

)

TOTAL FINANCING CASH FLOWS

 

 

(45,568

)

 

 

55,831

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH

 

$

(30,374

)

 

$

62,468

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD

 

$

53,555

 

 

$

27,134

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD

 

$

23,181

 

 

$

89,602

 

 

AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
PRETAX EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS AND ADJUSTED PRETAX EARNINGS SUMMARY
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION
(In thousands)

 
 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

March 31,

 

 

2024

 

2023

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

CAM

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aircraft leasing and related revenues

$

108,645

 

$

117,074

 

Lease incentive amortization

 

(3,096

)

 

(5,030

)

Total CAM

 

105,549

 

 

112,044

 

ACMI Services

 

323,824

 

 

334,127

 

Other Activities

 

109,040

 

 

110,588

 

Total Revenues

 

538,413

 

 

556,759

 

Eliminate internal revenues

 

(52,896

)

 

(55,664

)

Customer Revenues

$

485,517

 

$

501,095

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pretax Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

CAM, inclusive of interest expense

 

13,409

 

 

34,200

 

ACMI Services, inclusive of interest expense

 

(3,485

)

 

(2,411

)

Other Activities

 

2,307

 

 

654

 

Net, unallocated interest expense

 

(976

)

 

(510

)

Non-service components of retiree benefit costs

 

(1,085

)

 

(3,218

)

Net gain (loss) on financial instruments

 

2,355

 

 

(1,740

)

Loss from non-consolidated affiliates

 

(79

)

 

(406

)

Earnings from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes (GAAP)

$

12,446

 

$

26,569

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjustments to Pretax Earnings from Continuing Operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add customer incentive amortization

 

3,912

 

 

5,822

 

Add loss from non-consolidated affiliates

 

79

 

 

406

 

Less net (gain) loss on financial instruments

 

(2,355

)

 

1,740

 

Less non-service components of retiree benefit costs

 

1,085

 

 

3,218

 

Add net charges for hangar foam incident

 

 

 

41

 

Adjusted Pretax Earnings (non-GAAP)

$

15,167

 

$

37,796

 

Adjusted Pretax Earnings (non-GAAP) excludes certain items included in GAAP-based Pretax Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes because these items are distinctly different in their predictability among periods, or not closely related to our operations. Presenting this measure provides investors with a comparative metric of fundamental operations, while highlighting changes to certain items among periods. Adjusted Pretax Earnings should not be considered an alternative to Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP.

 

AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ADJUSTED EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST, TAXES, DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION
(In thousands)

 
 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes

 

$

12,446

 

 

$

26,569

 

Interest Income

 

 

(239

)

 

 

(215

)

Interest Expense

 

 

21,988

 

 

 

15,705

 

Depreciation and Amortization

 

 

90,380

 

 

 

84,728

 

EBITDA from Continuing Operations (non-GAAP)

 

$

124,575

 

 

$

126,787

 

Add customer incentive amortization

 

 

3,912

 

 

 

5,822

 

Add start-up loss from non-consolidated affiliates

 

 

79

 

 

 

406

 

Less net (gain) loss on financial instruments

 

 

(2,355

)

 

 

1,740

 

Less non-service components of retiree benefit costs

 

 

1,085

 

 

 

3,218

 

Add net charges for hangar foam fire suppression system discharge

 

 

 

 

 

41

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP)

 

$

127,296

 

 

$

138,014

 

 

Management uses Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP, defined below) to assess the performance of the Company's operating results among periods. It is a metric that facilitates the comparison of financial results of underlying operations. Additionally, these non-GAAP adjustments are similar to the adjustments used by lenders in the Company’s senior secured credit facility to assess financial performance and determine the cost of borrowed funds. The adjustments also remove the non-service cost components of retiree benefit plans because they are not closely related to ongoing operating activities. To improve comparability between periods, the adjustments also exclude from EBITDA from Continuing Operations the recognition of charges related to the discharge of a foam fire suppression system in a Company aircraft hangar, net of related insurance recoveries. Management presents EBITDA from Continuing Operations (defined below), a commonly referenced metric, as a subtotal toward calculating Adjusted EBITDA.

EBITDA from Continuing Operations (non-GAAP) is defined as Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes plus net interest expense, depreciation, and amortization expense. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA from Continuing Operations less financial instrument revaluation gains or losses, non-service components of retiree benefit costs, amortization of warrant-based customer incentive costs recorded in revenue, charge off of debt issuance costs upon refinancing, costs from non-consolidated affiliates and charges related to the discharge of a foam fire suppression system, net of insurance recoveries.

 

AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CASH FLOWS
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION
(In thousands)

 
 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES (GAAP)

 

$

126,420

 

 

$

216,378

 

Sustaining capital expenditures

 

 

(30,426

)

 

 

(54,193

)

ADJUSTED FREE CASH FLOW (non-GAAP)

 

$

95,994

 

 

$

162,185

 

Aircraft acquisitions and freighter conversions

 

 

(71,895

)

 

 

(164,608

)

Proceeds from property and equipment

 

 

895

 

 

 

9,860

 

Acquisitions and investments in businesses

 

 

(9,800

)

 

 

(800

)

FREE CASH FLOW (non-GAAP)

 

$

15,194

 

 

$

6,637

 

 

Sustaining capital expenditures includes cash outflows for planned aircraft maintenance, engine overhauls, information systems and other non-aircraft additions to property and equipment. It does not include expenditures for aircraft acquisitions and related passenger-to-freighter conversion costs.

Adjusted Free Cash Flow (non-GAAP) includes cash flow from operating activities net of expenditures for planned aircraft maintenance, engine overhauls and other non-aircraft additions to property and equipment. Free Cash Flow (non-GAAP) is net cash from operating activities reduced for net cash flows from investing activities. Management believes that adjusting GAAP operating cash flows is useful for investors to evaluate the company's ability to generate adjusted free cash flow for growth initiatives, debt service, stock buy-backs or other discretionary allocations of capital.

AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ADJUSTED EARNINGS AND ADJUSTED EARNINGS PER SHARE
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION
(In thousands)

Management presents Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted Earnings Per Share, both non-GAAP financial measures, to provide additional information regarding earnings per share without the volatility otherwise caused by the items below among periods.

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31, 2024

 

 

March 31, 2023

 

 

 

$

 

 

$ Per Share

 

 

$

 

 

$ Per Share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings from Continuing Operations - basic (GAAP)

 

$

8,619

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

20,141

 

 

 

 

 

Gain from warrant revaluation, net tax1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(108

)

 

 

 

 

Convertible notes interest charges, net of tax 2

 

 

159

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

776

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings from Continuing Operations - diluted (GAAP)

 

 

8,778

 

 

 

0.13

 

 

 

20,809

 

 

$

0.25

 

Adjustments, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer incentive amortization3

 

 

2,993

 

 

 

0.04

 

 

 

4,546

 

 

 

0.06

 

Non-service component of retiree benefits4

 

 

830

 

 

 

0.01

 

 

 

2,513

 

 

 

0.03

 

Derivative and warrant revaluation5

 

 

(1,802

)

 

 

(0.02

)

 

 

1,466

 

 

 

0.02

 

Loss from affiliates6

 

 

60

 

 

 

 

 

 

317

 

 

 

 

Hangar foam incident7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

32

 

 

 

 

Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted Earnings Per Share (non-GAAP)

 

$

10,859

 

 

$

0.16

 

 

$

29,683

 

 

$

0.36

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average Shares - diluted1

 

 

67,235

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

83,057

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted Earnings Per Share should not be considered as alternatives to Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Weighted Average Shares - diluted or Earnings (Loss) Per Share from Continuing Operations or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted Earnings Per Share should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the Company's results as reported under GAAP.

  1. Under U.S. GAAP, certain warrants are reflected as a liability and unrealized warrant gains are typically removed from diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) calculations, while unrealized warrant losses are not removed because they are dilutive to EPS. For each quarter, additional shares assumes that Amazon net settled its remaining warrants that were above the strike price. Each year reflects an average of the quarterly shares.
  2. Under U.S. GAAP, certain types of convertible debt are treated under the "if-convert method" if dilutive for EPS. Stock-based compensation awards are treated under the "treasury stock method" if dilutive for EPS. The non-GAAP presentation adds the dilutive effects that were excluded under GAAP.
  3. Removes the amortization of the warrant-based customer incentives which are recorded against revenue over the term of the related aircraft leases and customer contracts.
  4. Removes the non-service component effects of employee post-retirement plans.
  5. Removes gains and losses from financial instruments, including derivative interest rate instruments and warrant revaluations.
  6. Removes losses for the Company's non-consolidated affiliates.
  7. Removes losses for the Company's non-consolidated affiliates.

AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
AIRCRAFT FLEET

Aircraft Types

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2023

 

December 31, 2023

 

March 31, 2024

 

December 31, 2024
Projected1

 

 

Freighter

 

Passenger

 

Freighter

 

Passenger

 

Freighter

 

Passenger

 

Freighter

 

Passenger

Aircraft in service

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B767-2002

 

31

 

3

 

22

 

3

 

20

 

3

 

15

 

3

B767-300

 

80

 

8

 

87

 

8

 

91

 

9

 

100

 

9

B777-200

 

 

3

 

 

3

 

 

3

 

 

3

B757-200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B757 Combi

 

 

4

 

 

4

 

 

4

 

 

4

A321-200

 

 

 

3

 

 

3

 

 

3

 

Total Aircraft in Service

 

111

 

18

 

112

 

18

 

114

 

19

 

118

 

19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aircraft available for lease

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B767-200

 

 

 

1

 

 

1

 

 

 

B767-300

 

 

 

3

 

 

3

 

 

10

 

A321

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

 

A330

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

Total Aircraft Available for Lease

 

 

 

4

 

 

4

 

 

18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aircraft in Cargo Modification

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B767-300

 

18

 

 

9

 

 

5

 

 

 

A321

 

9

 

 

6

 

 

6

 

 

 

A330

 

 

 

2

 

 

4

 

 

5

 

Feedstock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B767

 

 

 

5

 

 

8

 

 

9

 

A321

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A330

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

 

Total Aircraft

 

138

 

18

 

139

 

18

 

142

 

19

 

151

 

19

 

Aircraft in Service Deployments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

2023

 

2023

 

2024

 

2024 Projected

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dry leased without CMI

 

40

 

42

 

46

 

43

Dry leased with CMI

 

52

 

48

 

44

 

40

Customer provided for CMI

 

13

 

16

 

16

 

27

ACMI/Charter3

 

24

 

24

 

27

 

27

  1. Projected aircraft levels for December 31, 2024 include customer commitments for new leases, management's estimates of existing lease renewals, aircraft expected to complete the freighter modification process and scheduled aircraft acquisitions during 2024.
  2. As Boeing 767-200 aircraft are retired from service, management plans to use the engines and related parts to support the remaining Boeing 767 fleet and part sales.
  3. ACMI/Charter includes four Boeing 767 passenger aircraft leased from external companies through December 31, 2023 and five Boeing 767 passenger aircraft leased from external companies after December 31, 2023.

 

Contacts

Quint Turner, ATSG Inc. Chief Financial Officer
937-366-2303

Contacts

Quint Turner, ATSG Inc. Chief Financial Officer
937-366-2303