Hawaiian Holdings Reports 2021 First Quarter Financial Results

HONOLULU, April 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. HA (the "Company"), parent company of Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. ("Hawaiian"), today reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2021.

"We reached an important inflection point during the first quarter on our path to recovery with an encouraging rebound in demand, despite the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impose on our business. Bookings in North America improved materially as we began to realize the pent up demand for leisure travel after a year of lockdown," said Peter Ingram, Hawaiian Airlines President and CEO. "I am grateful to my colleagues who continue to connect people with aloha in the face of historic uncertainty. I am more optimistic each day about our progress as we rebuild our network and capitalize on the resilience of Hawai'i as a post-pandemic vacation destination."

Statistical data, as well as a reconciliation of the reported non-GAAP financial measures, can be found in the accompanying tables.

First Quarter 2021

Financial Results

For the first quarter of 2021, the Company reported a net loss of $60.7 million, and adjusted net loss of $190.6 million. 

The Company reported total revenue of $182 million, down 72% compared to the first quarter of 2019, on 49% lower capacity.  After a slow start to the year, the Company experienced a rebound in close-in demand in North America in March 2021. 

The Company reported total operating expenses of $255.4 million, and operating expenses excluding non-recurring items of $402.7 million, down 33% compared to the first quarter of 2019.

Routes and Network

Throughout the first quarter of 2021, the State of Hawai'i continued its Safe Travels program, which allows guests to avoid quarantine with evidence of a negative COVID-19 test, subject to certain additional county-specific requirements.

The Company continued to rebuild as well as expand its network primarily in North America. During the first quarter, the Company operated an average of 51% of its first quarter system 2019 capacity, comprised of 73%, 38% and 12% of North America, Neighbor Island and International 2019 capacity levels, respectively.

In March and April of 2021, the Company launched four new North America routes. Starting in the summer of 2021, the Company will expand frequencies on the less than daily routes.

• Daily service between Kahului, Maui (OGG) and Long Beach (LGB), which started March 9, 2021.
• Twice weekly service between Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and Orlando International Airport (MCO), which started March 11, 2021.
• Five-times-weekly service between Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and Ontario International Airport (ONT), which started March 16, 2021.
• Twice weekly service between Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), which started April 21, 2021.

In April 2021, the Company announced it will initiate four-times-weekly service between Kahului, Maui (OGG) and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) starting in May 2021.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of March 31, 2021, the Company had:

• Unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $1.9 billion, up $1.0 billion from December 31, 2020
• Outstanding debt and finance lease obligations of $2.1 billion, up $852 million from December 31, 2020
• Air traffic liability of $687 million, up $154 million from December 31, 2020

The Company further enhanced its liquidity position during the first quarter of 2021, including:

• In February 2021, Hawaiian completed a private placement by Hawaiian Brand Intellectual Property, Ltd., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Hawaiian, and HawaiianMiles Loyalty, Ltd., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Hawaiian, of an aggregate of $1.2 billion principal amount of 5.75% senior secured notes due 2026.
• In March 2021, the Company completed an at-the-market equity offering ("ATM program") of shares of its common stock. The Company issued an aggregate of 5.0 million shares through the ATM program, raising net proceeds of $109 million, of which $68 million was raised in the first quarter of 2021.
• As of March 31, 2021, the Company has received $147.3 million in grants and $20.2 million in loans pursuant to the Payroll Support Program Extension Agreement (the "PSP Extension Agreement") with the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

In February 2021, the Company repaid in full the $45 million loan from the U.S. Department of Treasury under the Economic Relief Program pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the "CARES Act"). This debt extinguishment resulted in the recognition of a non-operating loss of $4 million.

In February 2021, the Company repaid $235 million of borrowings under its revolving credit facility, of which the full amount is available to the Company.

In the second quarter of 2021, the Company expects to receive approximately $25.1 million pursuant to the PSP Extension Agreement and approximately $179.7 million in Payroll Support Program funds pursuant to a Payroll Support Program 3 Agreement ("PSP3") with the U.S. Department of Treasury under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

As of March 31, 2021, the Company had $2.1 billion in liquidity, including the undrawn portion of its revolver. This figure does not include the $205 million of additional PSP Extension Agreement and PSP3 funding that the Company expects to receive in the second quarter. The Company is confident it has the liquidity to weather the remaining near-term effects of the pandemic and is not currently looking to raise additional capital.

Guest Experience

The Company continues to adapt its policies and services to better meet the needs of its guests. In April 2021, the Company announced that HawaiianMiles – the currency of its award-winning loyalty program – will no longer expire. This policy comes in addition to the elimination of change fees and the extension of status for Hawaiian's elite members.

In the first quarter, the Company joined the State of Hawai'i Pre-Clear Program, allowing its guests in both domestic and participating international markets (Japan and Korea) who are entering the state of Hawai'i to validate their pre-travel testing status at their departure airport and avoid lines upon arrival in Hawai'i.

Starting June 1, 2021, the Company will bring back more of its signature onboard services, including drink service, complimentary Koloa Breeze cocktails, and a curated assortment of alcoholic beverages and snacks for purchase, in addition to the complimentary meals it has served throughout the pandemic, while maintaining the highest standards of safety for its guests and guest-facing team members.

The Company continues its enhanced cleaning procedures and guest-facing protocols to minimize the risk of transmission of COVID-19. Understanding that health and safety are still critical concerns for our guests, the Company will continue to focus on effective measures such as:

• Frequent cleaning and disinfecting of counters and self-service check-in kiosks in airports.
• Ensuring hand sanitizers are readily available for guests at airports it serves.
• Requiring guests and guest facing employees to wear a face mask or covering, with guests required to wear masks from check-in to deplaning (except when eating or drinking on board).
• Performing enhanced aircraft cleaning between flights and during overnight parking.

Awards and Recognition

The Company maintained its #1 national ranking for On-Time Performance for the 17th consecutive year in 2020 as well as in January and February of 2021, as reported in the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Air Travel Consumer Report.

Second Quarter 2021 Outlook

The Company expects to continue to rebuild its network in the second quarter, and expects significant sequential improvement in revenue compared to the first quarter, primarily driven by strength in North America.  The Company expects a sequential increase in operating expenses, excluding non-recurring items, driven by the increase in capacity as compared to the first quarter. 

The table below summarizes the Company's expectations for the second quarter ending June 30, 2021, expressed as an expected percentage change compared to the results for the quarter ended June 30, 2019, as applicable.

Statistical information, as well as a reconciliation of certain non-GAAP financial measures, can be found in the accompanying tables.

Full Year 2021 Outlook

The Company expects its capital expenditures for the full year of 2021 to be between $50 and $60 million.

Investor Conference Call

Hawaiian Holdings' quarterly results conference call is scheduled to begin today (April 27, 2021) at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time (USA).  The conference call will be broadcast live over the Internet. Investors may access and listen to the live audio webcast on the investor relations section of the Company's website at HawaiianAirlines.com. For those who are not available for the live webcast, a replay of the webcast will be archived for 90 days on the investor relations section of the Company's website.

About Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance from 2004-2019 as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. U.S. DOT results for 2020 will be reported in February 2021. Consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and TripAdvisor have placed Hawaiian among the top of all domestic airlines serving Hawai'i.

Now in its 92nd year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawai'i's biggest and longest-serving airline. In 2019, Hawaiian offered nonstop flights between Hawai'i and more U.S. gateway cities (13) than any other airline, along with service connecting the islands with Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hawaiian is offering an adjusted schedule of daily flights within the Hawaiian Islands and between Hawai'i and the U.S. mainland as well as Japan and South Korea.

The airline is committed to the health and safety of its guests and employees and has reinforced enhanced cleaning procedures across its business. While the experience may be a little different, the authentic Hawaiian hospitality remains unchanged. Additional details on how Hawaiian is keeping guests and employees safe can be found at HawaiianAirlines.com/KeepingYouSafe.

Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow Hawaiian's Twitter updates (@HawaiianAir), become a fan on Facebook (Hawaiian Airlines), and follow us on Instagram (hawaiianairlines). For career postings and updates, follow Hawaiian's LinkedIn page.

For media inquiries, please visit Hawaiian Airlines' online newsroom. 

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that reflect the Company's current views with respect to certain current and future events and financial performance.  Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the Company's ability and timing to rebuild its business, including its network, from the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic; funds the Company expects to receive under the PSP Extension Agreement and PSP3; the Company's ability to weather the remaining near-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; the Company's intention to bring back traditional onboard services; the Company's continued focus on effective cleaning, sanitization and safety efforts; the Company's expectations related to rebuilding its network and significant sequential improvement in revenue in the second quarter of 2021, including the expected strength of the North America market; the Company's expectations regarding the sequential increase in operating expenses, excluding non-recurring items, driven by the increase in capacity in the second quarter of 2021; the Company's outlook for the second quarter of 2021, including expectations regarding a ASMs, total revenue, operating expense, interest expense, adjusted EBITDAR, effective tax rate, capital expenditures and statements as to other matters that do not relate strictly to historical facts or statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing.  Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," variations of such words, and similar expressions are also intended to identify such forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements are and will be subject to many risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the Company's operations and business environment, all of which may cause the Company's actual results to be materially different from any future results, expressed or implied, in these forward-looking statements.  These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the continuing and developing effects of the spread of COVID-19 on the Company's business operations and financial condition; the duration of government-mandated and other restrictions on travel; the full effect that the quarantine, restrictions on travel and other measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 will have on demand for air travel in the markets in which the Company operates; fluctuations and the extent of declining demand for air transportation in the markets in which the Company operates; the Company's dependence on the tourism industry; the Company's ability to manage its available cash; the Company's ability to accurately forecast economic volatility; macroeconomic developments; political developments; the price and availability of aircraft fuel; labor negotiations; regulatory determinations and related developments; competitive pressures, including the impact of industry capacity between North America and Hawai'i and interisland; changes in the Company's future capital needs; and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.

The risks, uncertainties and assumptions referred to above that could cause the Company's results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements also include the risks, uncertainties and assumptions discussed from time to time in the Company's other public filings and public announcements, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other documents that may be filed by the Company from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  All forward-looking statements included in this document are based on information available to the Company on the date hereof.  The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date hereof even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied herein will not be realized.

Table 3.
Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.
Economic Fuel Expense (unaudited)

The Company believes that economic fuel expense is a good measure of the effect of fuel prices on its business as it most closely approximates the net cash outflow associated with the purchase of fuel for its operations in a period. The Company defines economic fuel expense as GAAP fuel expense plus losses/(gains) realized through actual cash (receipts)/payments received from or paid to hedge counterparties for fuel hedge derivative contracts settled during the period.

Table 4.
Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.
Non-GAAP Financial Reconciliation (unaudited)

The Company evaluates its financial performance utilizing various GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures, including net income (loss), operating expenses, diluted net income per share, CASM, PRASM, RASM, Passenger Revenue per RPM, EBITDAR, and pre-tax margin.  Pursuant to Regulation G, the Company has included the following reconciliation of reported non-GAAP financial measures to comparable financial measures reported on a GAAP basis.  The adjustments are described below:

• During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the effective tax rate included a tax benefit of $14.2 million resulting from the rate differential between the prevailing tax rate of 21% during the years that generated net operating losses and the previous tax rate of 35% that was in effect during the years to which net operating losses were carried back as a result of the enactment of the CARES Act.
• During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company recognized $147.3 million in contra-expense related to grant proceeds under the PSP Extension Agreement. The grant proceeds were recognized in proportion to estimated wages and benefits expense over the period the PSP Extension Agreement covers. The Company utilized all proceeds received in the first quarter of 2021 pursuant to the PSP Extension Agreement as of March 31, 2021.
• Loss on extinguishment of debt is excluded to allow investors to better analyze our core operational performance and more readily compare our results to other airlines in the periods presented below.
• Changes in fair value of fuel derivative contracts, net of tax, are based on market prices for open contracts as of the end of the reporting period, and include the unrealized amounts of fuel derivatives (not designated as hedges) that will settle in future periods and the reversal of prior period unrealized amounts.
• Changes in fair value of foreign currency derivative contracts, net of tax, are based on market prices for open contracts as of the end of the reporting period, including the unrealized amounts of foreign currency derivatives (not designated as hedges) that will settle in future periods and the reversal of prior period unrealized amounts.
• Unrealized loss (gain) on foreign debt is based on fluctuation in exchange rates and the measurement of foreign-denominated debt to our functional currency.
• The Company recorded the following as special items:
• During the three months ended March 31, 2020, a charge of $20.2 million was recorded for the ratification of a collective bargaining agreement with the Association of Flight Attendants in April 2020 (related to service prior to January 1, 2020).
• During the three months ended March 31, 2020, a special charge of $106.7 million was recorded for goodwill impairment resulting from the decline in the market value of the Company's equity (i.e., share price), and the Company's inability to support the carrying value of goodwill on its financial statements.

The Company believes that adjusting for the impact of an effective tax rate differential, the recognition of grant proceeds, changes in fair value of fuel and foreign currency derivative contracts, fluctuations in exchange rates on debt instruments denominated in foreign currency, special items and the loss recognized on the extinguishment of debt helps investors better analyze the Company's operational performance and compare its results to other airlines in the periods presented.

Operating Costs per Available Seat Mile (CASM)
The Company has separately listed in the table below its fuel costs per ASM and non-GAAP unit costs, excluding fuel and non-recurring items.  These amounts are included in CASM, but for internal purposes the Company consistently uses cost metrics that exclude fuel and non-recurring items (if applicable) to measure and monitor its costs.

Operating Expenses Excluding Non-recurring Items Outlook

The Company excludes non-recurring items from its operating expense outlook for the same reasons as described above.

Adjusted EBITDAR

The Company believes that adjusting earnings for interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, aircraft rent expense, non-recurring operating expenses (such as changes in unrealized gains and losses on financial instruments) and one-time charges helps investors better analyze the Company's financial performance by allowing for company-to-company and period-over-period comparisons that are unaffected by company-specific or one-time occurrences.  Although aircraft rent expense is a recurring cash operating expense, it is a variable metric across the airline industry because airlines use different practices in obtaining aircraft, including renting and financing. Presentation of EBITDA unadjusted for aircraft rent expense would eliminate the costs of financing and owning aircraft (interest and depreciation expense), but not the cost of leasing aircraft (aircraft rent expense).

SOURCE Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.