Spirit Airlines reports its highest Second Quarter pre-tax margin in its history

Spirit Airlines, Inc. (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) today reported second quarter 2013 financial results.

Adjusted net income for the second quarter 2013 increased 29.6 percent to $45.8 million¹($0.63 per diluted share) compared to $35.3 million¹ ($0.49 per diluted share) for the second quarter 2012. GAAP net income for the second quarter 2013 was $42.1 million ($0.58 per diluted share) compared to $34.6 million ($0.48 per diluted share) in the second quarter 2012.
Spirit achieved an adjusted pre-tax margin of 17.8 percent¹ and a GAAP pre-tax margin of 16.4 percent for the second quarter 2013.
Spirit ended the second quarter 2013 with $525 million in unrestricted cash.
Spirit’s return on invested capital (before taxes and excluding special items) for the last twelve months ended June 30, 2013 was 28.8 percent. See “Calculation for Return on Invested Capital” table below for more details.

Revenue Performance

For the second quarter 2013, Spirit’s total operating revenue was $407.3 million, an increase of 17.6 percent compared to the second quarter 2012.

Total revenue per available seat mile (“RASM”) for the second quarter 2013 was 11.91 cents, a decrease of 2.8 percent compared to the second quarter 2012. The calendar shift of Easter occurring in March this year compared to in April in 2012 negatively impacted second quarter 2013 results.

Passenger flight segment (“PFS”) volume for the second quarter 2013 grew 19.1 percent year over year. Average non-ticket revenue per PFS for the second quarter 2013 increased 3.8 percent year over year to $53.43. The growth in non-ticket revenue per PFS was driven primarily by various changes in late 2012 to the pricing structure for optional services.

Cost Performance

Total operating expenses for the second quarter 2013 increased 17.0 percent year over year to $340.6 million on a capacity increase of 21.0 percent.

During the second quarter 2013, the Company entered into lease extensions covering fourteen of its existing A319 aircraft. In addition to extending the lease termination dates, the Company negotiated reduced lease rates resulting in lower rent expense for the remaining term of the leases as well as other benefits. In the second quarter 2012, the Company incurred one-time start-up costs and other related expenses associated with its seat maintenance program. On a per available seat mile basis, the net effect of these items was offset by higher depreciation and amortization expense related to amortization of heavy maintenance events and maintenance expense related to the growth and aging of our fleet, resulting in a second quarter 2013 cost per available seat mile excluding special items and fuel (“Adjusted CASM ex-fuel”) of 6.00 cents, a decrease of 0.8 percent year over year.

Selected Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Items

As of June 30, 2013, Spirit had $525 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, no restricted cash, no debt on its balance sheet, and total shareholders’ equity of $658 million.

For the six months ended June 30, 2013, Spirit incurred capital expenditures of $13.8 million. The Company paid $19.7 million in pre-delivery deposits for future deliveries of aircraft, net of refunds, and recorded a change of $16.6 million in maintenance deposits, net of reimbursements.

Fleet

In the second quarter 2013, Spirit took delivery of one new A320 aircraft, ending the quarter with 50 aircraft in its fleet. The Company also took delivery of one new A320 in July 2013 and has three more new A320 aircraft scheduled for delivery by year-end 2013.

Spirit Airlines: