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Parent Company of American Airlines (AMR) Reports First Quarter 2010 Net Loss of $505 Million
Posted by: TimothyT on: 04/21/2010 10:26 AM in Aviation [ Print ]
Today, AMR Corporation (NYSE: AMR), the parent company of American Airlines, Inc., reported a net loss of $505 million for the first quarter of 2010, or $1.52 per share. The results include the impact of a $53 million, or $.16 per share, special item related to the devaluation of the Venezuelan currency in January. Excluding that special item, AMR lost $452 million, or $1.36 per share, in the first quarter.
This compares to a net loss of $375 million, or $1.35 per share, in the first quarter of 2009. The first quarter 2009 results included a $13 million charge, or $0.05 per share, related to A300 aircraft retirements during that quarter. Excluding that special item, AMR lost $362 million, or $1.30 per share, in the first quarter of 2009.
"While we made significant progress in improving revenue performance in the first quarter and enhancing our competitive position, we were simply unable to overcome the challenges of the global economic environment coupled with once-again escalating fuel prices," said AMR Chairman and CEO Gerard Arpey. "As we move forward, we remain focused on continuing to bolster our domestic and international networks, managing our costs, and finding ways to generate additional revenue. I want to thank employees for their commitment as we continue to face challenges, and I am confident that our overall strategy, anchored by our Flight Plan 2020, will position us for long-term success."
American reached important milestones in the first quarter as it seeks to bolster future revenue and expand American's global network through strategic partnerships and other initiatives. American and Japan Air Lines (JAL), which reaffirmed its partnership in the global oneworld® Alliance, filed for anti-trust immunity with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for a trans-Pacific joint business between North America and Asia.
In addition, the DOT granted tentative approval for American to begin an immunized trans-Atlantic joint business with British Airways and Iberia Airlines, and the airlines continue to work with European Commission regulators to achieve approval of their plans. American expects that the joint business will be launched in the second half of this year.
As part of its domestic network strategy that focuses resources in its cornerstone markets of Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles and New York, American bolstered its commitment to New York with several important initiatives.
American announced new flights and routes at New York's LaGuardia Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), as well as an inter-airline passenger agreement with JetBlue Airways for service to and from New York City and Boston. By year end, at LaGuardia and JFK combined, American and American Eagle will add 31 total flights to and from 13 additional airports, bringing total NYC departures to 216 and unique destinations to 63. American customers will have new access to 18 domestic routes on JetBlue that don't overlap American's existing network, and JetBlue customers will have new access to 12 non-overlapping international routes of American's. When combined with new options for travel on JetBlue, American's New York customers will have access to 81 destinations on 271 nonstop flights by the end of 2010.
American believes these New York service enhancements, together with related facilities and aircraft upgrades and an expanded marketing partnership with the city's tourism arm, NYC & Company, will build additional passenger demand for its international network to Europe, Asia and South America, including its planned trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific joint businesses.
"Strengthening and defending our global network is an integral part of our strategy, and we made significant progress in the first quarter to expand our global reach, which our loyal customers will appreciate," said Arpey. "We look forward to starting our joint business with British Airways and Iberia later this year, as well as to proving our case that we should be granted anti-trust immunity with JAL. And, we believe our link to JetBlue and increased commitment to New York position us exceedingly well to compete effectively in the hugely important New York City market."
Financial and Operational Performance (Excluding Impact of Special Items)
AMR reported first quarter consolidated revenues of approximately $5.1 billion, an increase of 4.7%, year over year. American, its regional affiliates, and AA Cargo, as well as the 'other revenue' category, experienced year-over-year increases, as total operating revenue was approximately $229 million better in first quarter 2010 compared to the first quarter of the previous year.
Consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (unit revenue) grew 7.3 percent compared to the first quarter of 2009, while mainline unit revenue at American grew 6.8 percent. Tight capacity control that drove higher load factors and revenue management efforts led to the increase. Inclement weather and natural disasters in Haiti and Chile reduced revenue by an estimated $20-25 million in the first quarter.
Passenger yield, which represents the average fares paid, increased at American by 3.7 percent year over year in the first quarter.
Mainline unit costs in the first quarter increased 5.7 percent year over year, excluding fuel costs. Non-fuel unit cost performance was driven primarily by headwinds associated with capacity reductions, costs associated with maintenance events that were completed earlier than planned, and revenue-related expenses.
Including the impact of fuel hedging, AMR paid $211 million more for jet fuel in the first quarter, at an average of $2.23 per gallon, than it would have paid at prices prevailing during the first quarter of 2009, when it paid $1.91 per gallon.
Mainline capacity, or total available seat miles, in the first quarter decreased by 2.5 percent compared to the prior year's first quarter, as the Company seeks to maintain capacity discipline.
American's mainline load factor – or percentage of total seats filled – was 77.9 percent during the first quarter of 2010, 2.2 points higher than the year-ago period.
Balance Sheet Update
AMR ended the first quarter with approximately $5.0 billion in cash and short-term investments, including a restricted balance of $460 million, compared to a balance of $3.3 billion in cash and short-term investments, including a restricted balance of $462 million, at the end of the first quarter of 2009.
AMR's Total Debt, which it defines as the aggregate of its long-term debt, capital lease obligations, the principal amount of airport facility tax-exempt bonds, and the present value of aircraft operating lease obligations, was $15.9 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2010, compared to $14.4 billion a year earlier.
AMR's Net Debt, which it defines as Total Debt less unrestricted cash and short-term investments, was $11.4 billion at the end of the first quarter, compared to $11.5 billion in the first quarter of 2009.
Parent Company of American Airlines (AMR) Reports First Quarter 2010 Net Loss of $505 Million
This compares to a net loss of $375 million, or $1.35 per share, in the first quarter of 2009. The first quarter 2009 results included a $13 million charge, or $0.05 per share, related to A300 aircraft retirements during that quarter. Excluding that special item, AMR lost $362 million, or $1.30 per share, in the first quarter of 2009.
"While we made significant progress in improving revenue performance in the first quarter and enhancing our competitive position, we were simply unable to overcome the challenges of the global economic environment coupled with once-again escalating fuel prices," said AMR Chairman and CEO Gerard Arpey. "As we move forward, we remain focused on continuing to bolster our domestic and international networks, managing our costs, and finding ways to generate additional revenue. I want to thank employees for their commitment as we continue to face challenges, and I am confident that our overall strategy, anchored by our Flight Plan 2020, will position us for long-term success."
American reached important milestones in the first quarter as it seeks to bolster future revenue and expand American's global network through strategic partnerships and other initiatives. American and Japan Air Lines (JAL), which reaffirmed its partnership in the global oneworld® Alliance, filed for anti-trust immunity with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for a trans-Pacific joint business between North America and Asia.
In addition, the DOT granted tentative approval for American to begin an immunized trans-Atlantic joint business with British Airways and Iberia Airlines, and the airlines continue to work with European Commission regulators to achieve approval of their plans. American expects that the joint business will be launched in the second half of this year.
As part of its domestic network strategy that focuses resources in its cornerstone markets of Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles and New York, American bolstered its commitment to New York with several important initiatives.
American announced new flights and routes at New York's LaGuardia Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), as well as an inter-airline passenger agreement with JetBlue Airways for service to and from New York City and Boston. By year end, at LaGuardia and JFK combined, American and American Eagle will add 31 total flights to and from 13 additional airports, bringing total NYC departures to 216 and unique destinations to 63. American customers will have new access to 18 domestic routes on JetBlue that don't overlap American's existing network, and JetBlue customers will have new access to 12 non-overlapping international routes of American's. When combined with new options for travel on JetBlue, American's New York customers will have access to 81 destinations on 271 nonstop flights by the end of 2010.
American believes these New York service enhancements, together with related facilities and aircraft upgrades and an expanded marketing partnership with the city's tourism arm, NYC & Company, will build additional passenger demand for its international network to Europe, Asia and South America, including its planned trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific joint businesses.
"Strengthening and defending our global network is an integral part of our strategy, and we made significant progress in the first quarter to expand our global reach, which our loyal customers will appreciate," said Arpey. "We look forward to starting our joint business with British Airways and Iberia later this year, as well as to proving our case that we should be granted anti-trust immunity with JAL. And, we believe our link to JetBlue and increased commitment to New York position us exceedingly well to compete effectively in the hugely important New York City market."
Financial and Operational Performance (Excluding Impact of Special Items)
AMR reported first quarter consolidated revenues of approximately $5.1 billion, an increase of 4.7%, year over year. American, its regional affiliates, and AA Cargo, as well as the 'other revenue' category, experienced year-over-year increases, as total operating revenue was approximately $229 million better in first quarter 2010 compared to the first quarter of the previous year.
Consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (unit revenue) grew 7.3 percent compared to the first quarter of 2009, while mainline unit revenue at American grew 6.8 percent. Tight capacity control that drove higher load factors and revenue management efforts led to the increase. Inclement weather and natural disasters in Haiti and Chile reduced revenue by an estimated $20-25 million in the first quarter.
Passenger yield, which represents the average fares paid, increased at American by 3.7 percent year over year in the first quarter.
Mainline unit costs in the first quarter increased 5.7 percent year over year, excluding fuel costs. Non-fuel unit cost performance was driven primarily by headwinds associated with capacity reductions, costs associated with maintenance events that were completed earlier than planned, and revenue-related expenses.
Including the impact of fuel hedging, AMR paid $211 million more for jet fuel in the first quarter, at an average of $2.23 per gallon, than it would have paid at prices prevailing during the first quarter of 2009, when it paid $1.91 per gallon.
Mainline capacity, or total available seat miles, in the first quarter decreased by 2.5 percent compared to the prior year's first quarter, as the Company seeks to maintain capacity discipline.
American's mainline load factor – or percentage of total seats filled – was 77.9 percent during the first quarter of 2010, 2.2 points higher than the year-ago period.
Balance Sheet Update
AMR ended the first quarter with approximately $5.0 billion in cash and short-term investments, including a restricted balance of $460 million, compared to a balance of $3.3 billion in cash and short-term investments, including a restricted balance of $462 million, at the end of the first quarter of 2009.
AMR's Total Debt, which it defines as the aggregate of its long-term debt, capital lease obligations, the principal amount of airport facility tax-exempt bonds, and the present value of aircraft operating lease obligations, was $15.9 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2010, compared to $14.4 billion a year earlier.
AMR's Net Debt, which it defines as Total Debt less unrestricted cash and short-term investments, was $11.4 billion at the end of the first quarter, compared to $11.5 billion in the first quarter of 2009.
Parent Company of American Airlines (AMR) Reports First Quarter 2010 Net Loss of $505 Million