Spirit Airlines Reports Third Quarter 2018 Results

Spirit Airlines, Inc. (NYSE: SAVE) today reported third quarter 2018 financial results.

GAAP net income for the third quarter 2018 was $97.5 million ($1.42 per diluted share), or $100.5 million ($1.47 per diluted share)1 excluding special items.

GAAP operating margin for the third quarter 2018 was 16.0 percent, or 16.1 percent excluding special items1.

Spirit ended the third quarter 2018 with unrestricted cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments of $875.9 million.
“As our third quarter results show, we are beginning to realize the benefits of the investments we’ve made to improve our business. Our passenger revenue initiatives are allowing us to better optimize yields throughout the booking curve, our ancillary revenue initiatives continue to drive improved results, and we are consistently delivering operational reliability. In fact, year-to-date, we are among the top airlines for on-time performance as measured by the D.O.T.,” said Robert Fornaro, Spirit’s Chief Executive Officer. “In addition, over the last three years we have diversified our network, increased density in several key markets to allow for increased connectivity, and culled many of our underperforming routes. We are just beginning to reap the benefit of all these changes and are excited about the potential to leverage them further.”

“Consistently delivering operational reliability is just the beginning in our quest to improve the overall guest experience. We’ve invested in Spirit Signature Service training for our flight attendants, airport personnel, and other team members, we’ve made enhancements at our airports to lessen queue times, we’ve broadened and diversified our network, and we are adding guest amenities such as the option for inflight Wi-Fi. These, and more, are part of our Invest in the Guest pledge. Improving our Guests’ experience, together with our initiatives to drive revenue and our continued determination to maintain our industry-leading low-cost structure, positions us well to deliver strong returns for our shareholders," said Ted Christie, Spirit's President.

Revenue Performance
For the third quarter 2018, Spirit's total operating revenue was $904.3 million, an increase of 31.6 percent compared to the third quarter 2017, driven by a 24.6 percent increase in passenger segments and a 3.0 percent increase in operating yields.

Total operating revenue per available seat mile ("TRASM") for the third quarter 2018 increased 5.5 percent compared to the same period last year. During the third quarter 2018, the Company's results benefited from its strategic network re-orientation, improved yield management processes, non-ticket revenue initiatives, and a strong operating environment.

On a per passenger flight segment basis, total revenue for the third quarter 2018 increased 5.6 percent year over year to $115.11 with fare revenue per passenger flight segment increasing 7.6 percent to $60.67 and non-ticket revenue per passenger flight segment increasing 3.5 percent to $54.442.

Cost Performance
For the third quarter 2018, total GAAP operating expenses, increased 30.1 percent year over year to $759.2 million. Adjusted operating expenses for the third quarter 2018 increased 32.0 percent year over year to $758.8 million3. These changes were primarily driven by increases in flight volume, fuel rates, and salaries, wages and benefits.

Aircraft fuel expense increased in the third quarter 2018 by 63.5 percent year over year, largely due to a 34.9 percent increase in the cost of fuel per gallon. Economic fuel cost per gallon in the third quarter 2018 was $2.36 compared to $1.75 for the same period last year.

Spirit reported third quarter 2018 cost per available seat mile ("ASM"), excluding special items and fuel (“Adjusted CASM ex-fuel”), of 5.22 cents3, a decrease of 3.7 percent compared to the same period last year, primarily driven by lower aircraft rent per ASM and better operational performance, partially offset by higher salaries, wages and benefits per ASM.

“Network optimization and improved yield management combined with the team's continued focus to drive ex-fuel costs down, produced an operating margin excluding special items for the third quarter 2018 of 16.1 percent, about flat year over year, despite a significant increase in the cost of fuel and higher pilot rates in connection with our new pilot agreement approved in the first quarter 2018,” said Ted Christie, Spirit's President.

Fleet
Spirit took delivery of two new A320ceo aircraft during the third quarter 2018, ending the quarter with 121 aircraft in its fleet.

New Routes
Asheville - Tampa (09/06/2018)
Houston - San Salvador, El Salvador (09/06/2018)
Newark - Atlanta (09/06/2018)
Greensboro - Tampa (09/06/2018)
Greensboro - Fort Lauderdale (09/06/2018)
Asheville - Fort Lauderdale (09/07/2018)
Asheville - Orlando (09/07/2018)
Houston - Guatemala City, Guatemala (09/07/2018)
Greensboro - Orlando (09/07/2018)