Volaris Reports Second Quarter 2019 Results: 10.1% TRASM Increase and 4.6% Reduction of Unit Cost Excluding Fuel

Volaris* (NYSE: VLRS and BMV: VOLAR), the ultra-low-cost airline serving Mexico, the United States and Central America, today announced its financial results for the second quarter 2019.

The following financial information, unless otherwise indicated, is presented in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

Second Quarter 2019 Highlights

Total operating revenues were Ps.8,329 million for the second quarter, an increase of 33.7% year over year.

Total ancillary revenues were Ps.2,909 million for the second quarter, an increase of 38.9% year over year. Total ancillary revenues per passenger for the second quarter reached Ps.514, an increase of 10.3% year over year. Total ancillary revenues represented 34.9% of the total operating revenues for the second quarter 2019, increasing 1.3 percentage points with respect to the same period of last year.

Total operating revenues per available seat mile (TRASM) were Ps.135.5 cents for the second quarter, an increase of 10.1% year over year.

Operating expenses per available seat mile (CASM) were Ps.124.9 cents for the second quarter, a decrease of 1.2% year over year; with an average economic fuel cost per gallon of Ps.48.9 for the second quarter, an increase of 8.0% year over year.

Operating expenses excluding fuel, per available seat mile (CASM ex-fuel) reached Ps.74.5 cents for the second quarter, a decrease of 4.6% year over year.

Operating income was Ps.659 million for the second quarter, an improvement compared with the operating loss of Ps.163 million for the same period of last year. Operating margin for the second quarter was 7.9%, an improvement in margin of 10.5 percentage points year over year.

Net income was Ps.119 million (Ps.0.12 per share / US$0.06 per ADS), with a net margin of 1.4% for the second quarter.

At the close of the second quarter, the Mexican peso appreciated 1.1% against the U.S. dollar with respect to the exchange rate at the close of the previous quarter (Ps.19.38 per US dollar). The Company booked a foreign exchange gain of Ps.3 million as a consequence of our U.S. dollar net monetary liability position, as result of the adoption of IFRS16.

Net cash flows provided by operating activities and investing activities were Ps.1,527 million and Ps.171 million, respectively. The cash flow used in financing activities was Ps.571 million, which included Ps.1,582 million of aircraft rental payments, and inflows of Ps.1,500 million, related to the issuance of asset backed trust notes (certificados bursátiles fiduciarios). The negative net foreign exchange difference was Ps.74 million, with net cash generation in the second quarter of Ps.1,053 million. As of June 30, 2019, cash and cash equivalents were Ps.8,124 million.

Resilient Macroeconomics and Domestic Consumer Demand, Peso Appreciation and Fuel Price Pressures

Resilient macroeconomics and domestic consumer demand: The macroeconomic indicators in Mexico during the second quarter were stable, with same store sales1 increasing 4.8% year over year; remittances2 increasing 2.5% year over year during April and May 2019; and the Mexican Consumer Confidence Balance Indicator (BCC) 3 increased 22% in the second quarter year over year.
Air traffic volume increase: The Mexican General Aviation of Civil Aviation reported an overall passenger volume growth for Mexican carriers of 11.2% year over year during April and May of 2019; domestic overall passenger volume increased 10.7%, while the international overall passenger volume increased 3.0%.

Exchange rate volatility: The Mexican peso appreciated 1.3% year over year against the US dollar, from an average exchange rate of Ps.19.37 pesos per US dollar in the second quarter 2018 to Ps.19.12 pesos per US dollar during the second quarter 2019. At the end of the second quarter 2019, the Mexican peso appreciated 1.1% with respect to the exchange rate of the end of the previous quarter. The Company booked a foreign exchange gain of Ps.3 million as a consequence of our US dollar net monetary liability position, resulting from the adoption of IFRS16.

Higher fuel prices: The average economic fuel cost per gallon increased 8.0% in the second quarter of 2019, year over year, reaching Ps.48.9 per gallon (US$2.6).

Passenger Traffic Stimulation, Further Ancillary Revenue Expansion, and Positive TRASM Growth

Passenger traffic stimulation: Volaris booked 5.7 million passengers in the second quarter 2019, an increase of 25.9% year over year. Volaris traffic (measured in terms of revenue passenger miles, or RPMs) increased 23.8% year over year. System load factor during the second quarter increased 1.5 percentage points year over year, reaching 87.3%.

Positive TRASM growth: For the second quarter 2019, TRASM increased 10.1% year over year. During the second quarter 2019, the total capacity, in terms of ASMs, increased 21.6% year over year.

Total ancillary revenue growth: For the second quarter 2019, total ancillary revenue increased 38.9% year over year. Total ancillary revenue per passenger for the second quarter 2019 increased 10.3% year over year. The total ancillary revenue generation continues to grow with new and mature products, appealing to customers' needs, representing 34.9% of total operating revenue of the second quarter, an increase of 1.3 percentage points year over year.
New routes: Volaris began operations in five new domestic routes from Chihuahua, Durango and Queretaro and four new international routes from Chicago, Dallas and Phoenix.

The Cost Control Discipline and peso appreciation Offset Fuel Price Pressure

CASM and CASM ex fuel for the second quarter 2019 reached Ps.124.9 (US$6.5 cents) and Ps.74.5 cents (US$3.9 cents), respectively. This represented decreases of 1.2% and 4.6%, respectively; mainly driven by a tighter cost control discipline and the average exchange rate appreciation of 1.3%; despite the average economic fuel cost per gallon rising 8.0%.
Young and Fuel-efficient Fleet

During the second quarter 2019, the Company incorporated two aircraft (A320 neo) to its fleet; also during this quarter two redeliveries were registered (A320 ceo). As of June 30, 2019, Volaris' fleet was composed of 78 aircraft (8 A319s, 55 A320s and 15 A321s), with an average age of 4.8 years. At the end of the second quarter 2019, Volaris' fleet had an average of 186 seats, 76% of which were in sharklet-equipped aircraft, and 24% were NEO.
Solid Balance Sheet and Good Liquidity

Net cash flows provided by operating activities and investing activities were Ps.1,527 million and Ps.171 million, respectively. The cash flow used in financing activities was Ps.571 million, which included Ps.1,582 million of aircraft rental payments, and inflows of Ps.1,500 million, related to the issuance of asset backed trust notes (certificados bursátiles fiduciarios).The negative net foreign exchange difference was Ps.74 million, while the net cash generation in the second quarter was Ps.1,053 million. As of June 30, 2019, cash and cash equivalents were Ps.8,124 million, representing 29.8% of last twelve months of the operating revenue. Volaris registered a negative net debt (or a positive net cash position) of Ps.4,050 million (excluding lease liability recognized under the IFRS16 adoption) and total equity of Ps.4,095 million.

Transition to IFRS 16

The Company adopted IFRS 16 as of January 1st, 2019, using the full retrospective method. The cumulative effect of adopting IFRS 16 has been recognized as an adjustment to the opening balance as of January 1st, 2017 as an increase in assets and liabilities and an adjustment in the retained earnings. The full disclosure and the estimated unaudited figures of this initial adoption are included in the Company´s 2018 annual report.

This quarterly earnings release includes supplemental information for comparable purposes, with recast, estimated unaudited 2018 figures with the IFRS 16 adoption effects. These figures were derived from unaudited financial statements included in the quarterly reports on Form 6-K reported during the year ended as of December 31, 2018.

Starting on March 25, 2019, the Company established a hedge on its USD denominated revenues, through a non-derivative financial instrument, using the lease liabilities denominated in USD as a hedge instrument. This hedging relationship is designated as a cash flow hedge of forecasted revenues to mitigate the volatility of the foreign exchange variation arising from the revaluation of its lease liabilities. The non-material impact of this hedge resulting from the second quarter 2019, has been presented as part of the total operating revenue.

Additionally, on the same date, the Company established a hedge on a portion of its forecasted fuel expense, through a non-derivative financial instrument, using as hedge instrument a portion of its USD denominated monetary assets. This hedging relationship is designated as a cash flow hedge of forecasted fuel expense to mitigate the volatility of the foreign exchange variation arising from the revaluation of this portion of USD denominated monetary asset. The non-material impact of this hedge, resulting from the second quarter 2019, has been presented as part of the total fuel expense.
Investors are urged to carefully read the Company's periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission, for additional information regarding the Company.