US Airways improves near-term and future liquidity; Continental and Expressjet fined
The majority of North and South American carriers' stocks were down with the wider market on Tuesday (24-Nov-2009), following reports of slowing economic recovery and lukewarm consumer confidence. As a result, the AMEX Airline Index was stationery, as the Dow fell 0.2%. Airline stocks were further deteriorated by another rise in oil prices (+0.4%), to USD77.74.
US Airways improves near-term and future liquidity
US Airways (+6.5%) was one of the few carriers whose stocks rose on Tuesday, after announcing it has completed a series of transactions with key business partners designed to improve its near-term and future liquidity. The carrier will significantly reduce capital expenditures over the next three years, eliminate the need to access aircraft finance markets in 2010 and extend certain debt maturities. These transactions improve projected year-end 2009 liquidity by approximately USD150 million and generate, in aggregate, approximately USD450 million of projected liquidity improvements by the end of 2010.
The carrier's actions include the deferral of 54 Airbus aircraft previously scheduled for delivery between 2010 and 2012 that are now to be delivered in 2013 and beyond. These deferral arrangements will reduce US Airways aircraft capital expenditures over the next three years by approximately USD2.5 billion, and reduce near- and medium-term obligations to Airbus and others by approximately USD132 million. In addition, commencement of US Airways' Airbus A350 XWB operations, with aircraft deliveries originally scheduled to start in 2015, now to be postponed until 2017. These deferrals will not significantly alter the airline's capacity plans, as aircraft originally scheduled to be replaced will be retained until the rescheduled new aircraft delivery dates. The carrier now plans to take delivery of two A320 and two A330 aircraft in 2010 and an additional 24 A320 family aircraft in 2011 and 2012.
In addition to the aircraft deferral, US Airways has arranged credit facilities in the amount of USD95 million and USD180 million of aircraft financing commitments for the 2010 deliveries. Also, the Company has agreed with Barclays to permanently lower the monthly unrestricted cash condition precedent for the advance purchase of frequent flyer miles and defer for 14 months the amortization of USD200 million advanced in connection with the previous purchase of miles.
US Airways Chairman and CEO, Doug Parker, stated "these moves are part of our continuing efforts to improve our balance sheet and return the Company to profitability…with these strategic initiatives behind us, we believe US Airways is well positioned to take full advantage of the recovering economy".
The cost: deferred deliveries
The carrier's financial improvement was at the expense of new aircraft deliveries over the next three years. At the end of 2010 it expects to realize USD450 million in liquidity and end this year with USD150 million.
The airline has been high on analysts' endangered list, along with other U.S. legacy carriers. Yesterday's announcement is just the latest in similar financial maneuvers and cutbacks designed to avoid a third trip into bankruptcy court. It filed in both 2002 and 2004.
The company lost USD1.7 billion in the nine months ending 30-Sep-2008, when it was being seriously damaged by fuel prices it was unable to offset with higher yields. This year, with a more realistic fuel price, things have looked considerably better. In the nine months to 30-Sep-2009, US Airways lost only a relatively modest USD125 million.
While it expects to continue deliveries of 28 aircraft for which it already has financing in place, US Airways is deferring delivery of 54 Airbus until 2013 in addition to the deferral of the A350 XWB from 2015 until 2017. The postponement of its fleet renewal program includes aircraft originally set for delivery between 2010 and 2012.
The move takes out about USD2.5 billion in capital expenditures over the next three years and reduces near- and medium-term obligations to Airbus by about USD132 million.
US Airways fleet and orders: as at 25-Nov-09
|
Manufacturer |
Type |
In Service |
Order |
Storage |
Grand Total |
|
A319 |
93 |
8 |
101 |
||
|
69 |
51 |
1 |
121 |
||
|
A321 |
48 |
17 |
65 |
||
|
12 |
22 |
34 |
|||
|
22 |
22 |
||||
|
737 (CFMI) |
64 |
64 |
|||
|
29 |
3 |
32 |
|||
|
10 |
10 |
||||
|
190 |
21 |
12 |
2 |
35 |
|
|
Grand Total |
|
346 |
132 |
6 |
484 |
Source: Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation & Ascend
The deferrals announced on Tuesday are part of an 82-aircraft replacement program that included 72 A320s and 10 A330s. The 2015 deliveries, now deferred to between 2017 and 2019 included 22 A330s and A350s. The deferrals had already been baked into Airbus production plans - they came as "no surprise" to Airbus.
A strategic pattern over the past 100 days
"This is our third major strategic move in the past 100 days, following announcements of our innovative slot transaction with Delta Air Lines and the realignment of our network to focus on our most profitable flying," said US Airways Chairman and CEO Doug Parker. "These moves are part of our continuing efforts to improve our balance sheet and return the company to profitability…with these strategic initiatives behind us we believe US Airways is well positioned to take full advantage of the recovering economy."
The Tempe, AZ-based company is dramatically reducing capital expenditures over the next three years, extending certain debt maturities and eliminating the need, next year, to access aircraft finance markets, which the company said, remain "uncertain and expensive." The deal, with key business partners improves near-term and future liquidity, said the company, which expects to finish the year with $150 million in liquidity.
The deferrals do not however mean that fleet renewal is off the table. "Although we will slow deliveries during the next three years, over that period we will continue to modernize our fleet, which is already one of the youngest in the United States," said Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Derek Kerr. "The company will take delivery of two A320 and two A330 aircraft in 2010 and an additional 24 A320 family aircraft in 2011 and 2012. We have financing commitments for all 28 aircraft and believe this is a more manageable delivery rate given the current economic environment."
(1) Credit facilities put in place
In addition to the aircraft deferral, US Airways has arranged credit facilities in the amount of USD95 million and USD180 million of aircraft financing commitments for the 2010 deliveries. Also, the company has agreed with Barclays to permanently lower the monthly unrestricted cash condition precedent for the advance purchase of frequent flyer miles; it may also defer for 14 months the amortization of USD200 million advanced in connection with the previous purchase of miles.
(2) Route retrenchments
The retrenchment announced last month included dropping five European destinations and returning its Beijing route authority to the Department of Transportation. US Airways also pulled in its network to focus on Charlotte (CLT), Philadelphia (PHL) and Phoenix (PHX), and a focus city at Washington's National Airport (DCA).
However, it retained its LaGuardia-Boston shuttle service after earlier announcing the closure of its Boston, LaGuardia and Las Vegas crew bases.
(3) Slot swaps
It also did a slot swap with Delta for 42 slot pairs at DCA slots, for 125 slot pairs to Delta at LaGuardia. It said that the four points, by the end of 2010, will represent 99% of the airline's available seat miles (ASMs) versus roughly 93% during October. The company also said that the Delta transaction is expected to improve its profitability by more than USD75 million annually.
Undoubtedly this latest move again provides some breathing space for US Airways. But survival in the long term is the goal, there are still a lot of hard yards to be won. Despite operating a young fleet - at least by US airline standards - there will need to be more cost cuts to come.
Legacy carriers down on lowered price targets
Avondale Partners lowered its price targets for US legacy carriers during trading, stating the weak economy will continue to restrict profit growth for the carriers in 2010 and stocks should continue to rise and fall with economic predictions. Price target adjustments were as follows:
- AMR/American Airlines (0.0%): to USD12 from USD32;
- Continental Airlines (-0.5%): to USD22 from USD49;
- Delta Air Lines (-0.9%): to USD13 from USD20;
- UAL Corp./United Airlines (-1.0%): to USD13 from USD50;
- US Airways (+6.5%): from USD10 from USD32.
Continental and Expressjet fined by DOT
The Department of Transportation levied a total civil penalty of USD100,000 against Continental Airlines (-0.5%) and Expressjet Airlines (-4.3%) for their roles in causing the passengers on board a flight to remain on the aircraft at Rochester International Airport for an unreasonable period of time on 08-Aug-2009. Continental also provided a full refund to each passenger and also offered each passenger additional compensation to tangibly acknowledge their time and discomfort. Expressjet stocks took the largest fall on Tuesday as a result.
North & South America selected airlines daily share price movements (% change): 24-Nov-09
Source: Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation & Yahoo! Finance