Hawaiian Holdings Reports 2023 Second Quarter Financial Results: Japan Strengthening Adds to Robust Leisure Travel Demand

HONOLULU, July 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA) (the "Company"), parent company of Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. ("Hawaiian"), today reported its financial results for the second quarter of 2023.

"I want to thank our team members who have been taking care of our guests in a dynamic operating environment," said Hawaiian Airlines President and CEO Peter Ingram. "Demand remains strong throughout our network, and we have recently seen a significant increase in bookings by travelers in Japan, an important geography that has trailed in the recovery of the overall market. Against the backdrop of improving operations and robust demand, I am excited about the major initiatives we're on track to deliver in the second half of the year."

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

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of June 30, 2023, the Company had:

• Unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $1.3 billion
• $1.6 billion in liquidity, including its undrawn $235 million revolving credit facility
• Outstanding debt and finance lease obligations of $1.7 billion

Revenue Environment

Leisure demand remains historically high; Hawaiian's North America load factor of 90.4% was the highest second quarter load factor for its North America routes since 2017, and Neighbor Island load factor of 75.3% was the highest for the quarter since 2015. In addition to continuing strong US point of sale demand for International travel, Japan-originating traffic increased on Hawaiian's International routes, contributing to an overall 16.2 point increase in International load factor year over year. Operating revenue was up 2.2% from the second quarter of 2022 on 11.0% higher capacity across Hawaiian's network. International revenue increased 160.2% from the second quarter of 2022 on a 141.4% increase in capacity.

Second Quarter 2023 Highlights

Operations

• Completed the transition of A330 aircraft maintenance from a vendor-managed services agreement to internal resources; self-managed maintenance will allow Hawaiian to exercise greater control over its day-to-day operation and control costs more effectively as the operation grows with the introduction of A330 freighter aircraft

Routes and Network

• Resumed service between Honolulu and Fukuoka, Japan on April 28 with thrice-weekly service
• Initiated weekly service to Rarotonga on May 20, greatly expanding travel opportunities between Hawaiian's 15 gateways on the US Mainland and the Cook Islands

Awards and Recognition

• Rated the #1 Domestic Airline, for the second consecutive year, in Travel+Leisure's annual reader survey
• Ranked highest for economy travel customer satisfaction in Consumer Reports' 2023 Airline Travel Buying Guide
• Rated Best Domestic Airline for Food in Food & Wine's Global Tastemaker Awards

Guest Experience

• Unveiled the Boeing 787 Dreamliner interior cabin design and a new business class product, the Leihōkū suites.  These 34 seats feature flat beds, privacy doors and shared double suites; the aircraft, expected to enter service in 2024, will immerse all guests in cabin design elements that evoke Hawaiʻi's rich natural world through bold textures, island-inspired sunrise and sunset lighting and sinuous ocean and wind patterns

People

• Promoted Brent Overbeek to Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer and Avi Mannis to Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer; they will jointly lead Hawaiian's commercial strategy
• Appointed Lokesh Amaranayaka as Vice President of Airport Operations

Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance

• Invested in United Airlines Ventures Sustainable Flight Fund, an investment fund which prioritizes investments in new technology, advanced fuel sources and proven producers, all in an effort to help scale the supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)
• Published the 2023 Corporate Kuleana Report, highlighting the Company's progress on Environmental, Social and Governance priorities, including the Company's plans to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050, eliminate single-use plastics from cabin service by 2029, and offer more locally sourced food onboard; the report also highlights Hawaiian's employee diversity, including the highest percentage of women pilots of any major U.S. airline
• Donated 34 million HawaiianMiles to support Moananuiākea, the Polynesian Voyaging Society's 47-month circumnavigation of the Pacific Ocean on the voyaging canoes Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia

Third Quarter 2023 Outlook

The table below summarizes the Company's expectations for the quarter ending September 30, 2023 expressed as an expected percentage change compared to the results for the quarter ended September 30, 2022. Figures include the impacts of the Company's freighter operation, which are not material.

Full Year 2023 Outlook 

The table below summarizes the Company's updated expectations for the full year ending December 31, 2023 expressed as an expected percentage change compared to the results for the year ended December 31, 2022. Figures include the impacts of the Company's freighter operation, which are not material.

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

Investor Conference Call

Hawaiian Holdings' quarterly results conference call is scheduled to begin today, July 25, 2023, 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

Now in its 94th year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawaiʻi's biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers approximately 150 daily flights within the Hawaiian Islands, and nonstop flights between Hawaiʻi and 15 U.S. gateway cities – more than any other airline – as well as service connecting Honolulu and American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Tahiti.

Consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler and TripAdvisor have placed Hawaiian among the top of all domestic airlines serving Hawaiʻi. The carrier was named Hawaiʻi's best employer by Forbes in 2022 and has topped Travel + Leisure's World's Best list as the No. 1 U.S. airline for the past two years. Hawaiian has also led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for 18 consecutive years (2004-2021) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The airline is committed to connecting people with aloha by offering complimentary meals for all guests on transpacific routes and the convenience of no change fees on Main Cabin and Premium Cabin seats. HawaiianMiles members also enjoy flexibility with miles that never expire. As Hawai'i's hometown airline, Hawaiian encourages guests to Travel Pono and experience the islands safely and respectfully.

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, expectations relating to major initiatives for the second half of 2023; the Company's timing and expectations related to network and route recovery; expectations relating to the impact of self-managed aircraft maintenance; expectations relating to the timing of aircraft entry into service; future domestic and international demand for air travel; the Company's environmental commitments; the Company's outlook for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 and twelve-months ending December 31, 2023; statements regarding the Company's future performance; 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.  

The Company is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause the Company's results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including the risks, uncertainties and assumptions discussed from time to time in the Company's 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 1.
Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited)

Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheet (unaudited)

Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)

Table 2.
Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.
Selected Consolidated Statistical Data (unaudited)

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 adjusted net loss, adjusted diluted EPS, adjusted pre-tax margin, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted operating cost per ASM (CASM excluding fuel and non-recurring items).  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:

• CBA related expense. 
  • In February 2023, pilots represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) ratified a new four-year CBA, which included, amongst other things, a signing bonus, pay scale increases across all fleet types, improved health benefits and cost sharing, and enhancements to the Company's postretirement and disability plans. In connection with the ratification, the Company recorded a signing bonus and vacation liability true-up of $17.7 million which were recorded in wages and benefits during the quarter ended March 31, 2023.
  • In February 2022, the Company received notice from International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) that the agreement was ratified by its members. The new CBA included a signing bonus of $2.1 million, which was recorded in wages and benefits. During the second quarter of 2022, the Company and the IAM also completed a separation program under the CBA and recognized an additional $2.6 million one-time expense, which was recorded in wages and benefits.
• Contract termination amortization.  In December 2022, the Company entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with one of its third-party service providers to early terminate its Amended and Restated Complete Fleet Services Agreement (Amended CFS) covering A330-200 aircraft. The Amended CFS was originally scheduled to run through December 2027, and will now terminate in April 2023. Upon execution of the MOU, the Company agreed to pay a total of $12.5 million in termination fees, which was recognized in fiscal year 2022. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had approximately $24.1 million in deferred liabilities to be recognized into earnings over the remaining contract term as contra-maintenance materials and repairs expense. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, the Company recognized approximately $6.0 million and $24.1 million, respectively, in amortization within Maintenance, materials and repairs in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
     
• Loss (gain) on sale of aircraft. During the second quarter of 2023, the Company completed the sale of one ATR-42 aircraft and recognized a loss of approximately $0.4 million on such sale. During the three months ended June 30, 2022, the Company sold three ATR-72 aircraft and recorded a $2.6 million gain on sale of aircraft, which was recorded in other operating expense.
    
• Gain on sale of commercial real estate.  In February 2023, the Company entered into an agreement for the sale of its commercial real estate and recognized a gain on sale of $10.2 million, which was recorded in Other operating expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
    
• Interest income on federal tax refund.  In March 2023, the Company received $4.7 million in interest income related to a refund received on the Company's income tax return. The interest income received was recorded in Interest income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
    
• Changes in fair value of fuel derivative contracts.  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.
    
• Loss on extinguishment of debt. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company recognized a $8.6 million loss on the extinguishment of its remaining outstanding Series 2020-1A and Series 2020-1B Equipment Notes. Loss on extinguishment of debt is excluded to allow investors to better analyze the Company's core operational performance and more readily compare its results to other airlines in the periods presented below.
    
• Unrealized gain on foreign debt.  Unrealized gain on foreign debt is based on fluctuation in exchange rates and the measurement of foreign-denominated debt to the Company's functional currency.
    
• Unrealized loss on equity securities.  Unrealized loss on equity securities is driven by changes in market prices and currency fluctuations, which is recorded in Other nonoperating expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company believes that adjusting for the impact of the changes in fair value of equity securities and fuel derivative contracts, fluctuations in exchange rates on debt instruments denominated in foreign currency, and non-recurring expenses and income/gains (including CBA-related, contract termination amortization, interest income on tax refund, gain or loss on sale of aircraft, gain on sale of commercial real estate, and loss on extinguishment of debt), helps investors better analyze the Company's operational performance and compare its results to other airlines in the periods presented.

Adjusted EBITDA

The Company believes that adjusting earnings for interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, 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.

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.

Pre-tax margin

The Company excludes changes in fair value of equity securities and fuel derivative contracts, fluctuations and exchange rates on debt instruments denominated in foreign currency, and non-recurring items from pre-tax margin for the same reasons as described above.

SOURCE Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.