US Airways Group, Inc. (NYSE: LCC) today reported December, fourth quarter and year ending traffic results for 2006.
TEMPE, Ariz. – For America West operated flights, revenue passenger miles (RPMs) for the month were 1.9 billion, down 2.6 percent from December 2005. Capacity was 2.5 billion available seat miles (ASMs), down 3.4 percent from December 2005. The passenger load factor for December was 77.1 percent versus 76.5 percent in December 2005.
For US Airways mainline operated flights, RPMs for December 2006 were 3.0 billion, an increase of 13.7 percent from December 2005. Capacity was 4.0 billion ASMs, up 6.8 percent from December 2005. The passenger load factor for the month of December was 75.2 percent versus 70.7 percent in December 2005.
[GADS_NEWS]„Demand continued to be strong during December, and our 35,000 employees did a fantastic job of taking care of our customers during the busy holiday travel season by safely transporting more than five million passengers during the month. We also posted continued strong revenue improvements with passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) estimated to be up over five percent on a year-over-year basis for December,“ said US Airways President Scott Kirby.
Until US Airways operates under one certificate, data for America West and US Airways operated flights will continue to be reported separately. Additionally, US Airways Express consisting of PSA Airlines and Piedmont Airlines will continue to report separate data. US Airways Group, Inc., consisting of America West, US Airways mainline and US Airways Express, combined operational information will also be reported.
The following summarizes US Airways Group, Inc., America West, US Airways mainline and US Airways Express December, fourth quarter and year ending results for 2006 and 2005:
Combined US Airways Group
%
2006 2005 Change
REVENUE PSGR MILES (000) 5,093,379 4,859,358 4.8
Domestic 4,293,752 4,111,144 4.4
International 799,627 748,214 6.9
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000) 6,752,129 6,725,771 0.4
Domestic 5,678,969 5,677,982 0.0
International 1,073,160 1,047,789 2.4
LOAD FACTOR (%) 75.4 72.2 3.2 PTS
ENPLANEMENTS 5,331,114 5,195,707 2.6
QUARTER ENDING 2006 2005 %
Change
REVENUE PSGR MILES (000) 15,226,855 14,985,406 1.6
Domestic 12,857,262 12,647,714 1.7
International 2,369,593 2,337,692 1.4
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000) 19,867,079 20,213,410 -1.7
Domestic 16,701,910 17,093,623 -2.3
International 3,165,169 3,119,787 1.5
LOAD FACTOR (%) 76.6 74.1 2.5 PTS
ENPLANEMENTS 16,197,147 16,249,009 -0.3
YEAR ENDING 2006 2005 %
Change
REVENUE PSGR MILES (000) 63,368,467 66,654,177 -4.9
Domestic 52,346,770 55,372,211 -5.5
International 11,021,697 11,281,966 -2.3
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000) 80,928,224 87,564,852 -7.6
Domestic 66,543,528 73,080,655 -8.9
International 14,384,696 14,484,197 -0.7
LOAD FACTOR (%) 78.3 76.1 2.2 PTS
ENPLANEMENTS 66,099,931 71,580,012 -7.7
America West
%
2006 2005 Change
REVENUE PSGR MILES (000) 1,910,850 1,962,056 -2.6
Domestic 1,834,503 1,894,045 -3.1
International 76,347 68,011 12.3
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000) 2,477,524 2,565,541 -3.4
Domestic 2,372,179 2,475,647 -4.2
International 105,345 89,894 17.2
LOAD FACTOR (%) 77.1 76.5 0.6 PTS
ENPLANEMENTS 1,752,688 1,800,235 -2.6
QUARTER ENDING 2006 2005 %
Change
REVENUE PSGR MILES (000) 5,618,165 5,870,086 -4.3
Domestic 5,436,697 5,692,775 -4.5
International 181,468 177,311 2.3
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000) 7,208,287 7,570,900 -4.8
Domestic 6,968,351 7,340,199 -5.1
International 239,936 230,701 4.0
LOAD FACTOR (%) 77.9 77.5 0.4 PTS
ENPLANEMENTS 5,160,522 5,404,373 -4.5
YEAR ENDING 2006 2005 %
Change
REVENUE PSGR MILES (000) 23,556,827 24,260,292 -2.9
Domestic 22,794,848 23,375,429 -2.5
International 761,979 884,863 -13.9
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000) 29,555,004 30,502,917 -3.1
Domestic 28,580,141 29,353,344 -2.6
International 974,863 1,149,573 -15.2
LOAD FACTOR (%) 79.7 79.5 0.2 PTS
ENPLANEMENTS 21,259,939 22,129,869 -3.9
US Airways Mainline
%
2006 2005 Change
REVENUE PSGR MILES (000) 2,992,337 2,632,795 13.7
Domestic 2,269,057 1,952,592 16.2
International 723,280 680,203 6.3
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000) 3,977,206 3,723,296 6.8
Domestic 3,009,391 2,765,401 8.8
International 967,815 957,895 1.0
LOAD FACTOR (%) 75.2 70.7 4.5 PTS
ENPLANEMENTS 2,941,541 2,665,210 10.4
QUARTER ENDING 2006 2005 %
Change
REVENUE PSGR MILES (000) 9,010,618 8,265,770 9.0
Domestic 6,822,493 6,105,389 11.7
International 2,188,125 2,160,381 1.3
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000) 11,754,797 11,290,460 4.1
Domestic 8,829,564 8,401,374 5.1
International 2,925,233 2,889,086 1.3
LOAD FACTOR (%) 76.7 73.2 3.5 PTS
ENPLANEMENTS 8,995,178 8,512,568 5.7
YEAR ENDING 2006 2005 %
Change
REVENUE PSGR MILES (000) 37,125,693 38,894,959 -4.5
Domestic 26,865,975 28,497,856 -5.7
International 10,259,718 10,397,103 -1.3
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000) 47,428,518 51,518,447 -7.9
Domestic 34,018,685 38,183,823 -10.9
International 13,409,833 13,334,624 0.6
LOAD FACTOR (%) 78.3 75.5 2.8 PTS
ENPLANEMENTS 36,082,747 39,977,337 -9.7
US Airways Express Piedmont Airlines,
PSA Airlines & US Airways'
MidAtlantic Division
%
2006 2005 Change
REVENUE PSGR MILES (000) 190,192 264,507 -28.1
Domestic (includes Caribbean) 190,192 264,507 -28.1
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000) 297,399 436,934 -31.9
Domestic (includes Caribbean) 297,399 436,934 -31.9
LOAD FACTOR (%) 64.0 60.5 3.5 PTS
ENPLANEMENTS (includes Caribbean) 636,885 730,262 -12.8
QUARTER ENDING 2006 2005 %
Change
REVENUE PSGR MILES (000) 598,072 849,550 -29.6
Domestic 598,072 849,550 -29.6
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000) 903,995 1,352,050 -33.1
Domestic 903,995 1,352,050 -33.1
LOAD FACTOR (%) 66.2 62.8 3.4 PTS
ENPLANEMENTS 2,041,447 2,332,068 -12.5
YEAR ENDING 2006 2005 %
Change
REVENUE PSGR MILES (000) 2,685,947 3,498,926 -23.2
Domestic 2,685,947 3,498,926 -23.2
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000) 3,944,702 5,543,488 -28.8
Domestic 3,944,702 5,543,488 -28.8
LOAD FACTOR (%) 68.1 63.1 5.0 PTS
ENPLANEMENTS 8,757,245 9,472,806 -7.6
* US Airways Express also includes data for US Airways' MidAtlantic
division through May 27, 2006.
Integration Update
US Airways is also providing a brief update on the integration process between US Airways and America West. Listed below are major accomplishments or announcements from the month of December:
- Reached a final labor agreement, including transition items, with the
Transport Workers Union (TWU), representing about 150 dispatchers.
- Successfully implemented new front-end reservations software at five
stations in preparation for the transition to one reservations system
in 2007. The remaining stations are set to have the new front end
software by the end of January.
America West and US Airways report combined operational performance numbers to the Department of Transportation. For the month of December 2006, US Airways will report a domestic on-time performance of 70.9 percent and a completion factor of 98.5 percent.
US Airways is the fifth largest domestic airline employing nearly 35,000 aviation professionals worldwide. US Airways, US Airways Shuttle and US Airways Express operate approximately 3,800 flights per day and serve more than 230 communities in the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America. The new US Airways — the product of a merger between America West and US Airways in September 2005 — is a member of the Star Alliance, which provides connections for our customers to 841 destinations in 157 countries worldwide. This press release and additional information on US Airways can be found at www.usairways.com. (LCCT)
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain of the statements contained herein should be considered „forward-looking statements“ within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as „may,“ „will,“ „expect,“ „intend,“ „indicate,“ „anticipate,“ „believe,“ „forecast,“ „estimate,“ „plan,“ „guidance,“ „outlook,“ „could,“ „should,“ „continue“ and similar terms used in connection with statements regarding the outlook of US Airways Group, Inc. (the „Company“). Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about expected fuel costs, the revenue and pricing environment, the Company’s expected financial performance and operations, future financing plans and needs, overall economic conditions and the benefits of the business combination transaction involving America West Holdings Corporation and US Airways Group, including future financial and operating results and the combined companies‘ plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. Other forward-looking statements that do not relate solely to historical facts include, without limitation, statements that discuss the possible future effects of current known trends or uncertainties or which indicate that the future effects of known trends or uncertainties cannot be predicted, guaranteed or assured. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the Company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company’s actual results and financial position to differ materially from the Company’s expectations. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: the impact of high fuel costs, significant disruptions in the supply of aircraft fuel and further significant increases to fuel prices; our high level of fixed obligations and our ability to obtain and maintain financing for operations and other purposes; our ability to achieve the synergies anticipated as a result of the merger and to achieve those synergies in a timely manner; our ability to integrate the management, operations and labor groups of US Airways Group and America West Holdings; labor costs and relations with unionized employees generally and the impact and outcome of labor negotiations; the impact of global instability, including the current instability in the Middle East, the continuing impact of the military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and the potential impact of future hostilities, terrorist attacks, infectious disease outbreaks or other global events that affect travel behavior; reliance on automated systems and the impact of any failure or disruption of these systems; the impact of future significant operating losses; changes in prevailing interest rates; our ability to obtain and maintain commercially reasonable terms with vendors and service providers and our reliance on those vendors and service providers; security-related and insurance costs; changes in government legislation and regulation; our ability to use pre-merger NOLs and certain other tax attributes; competitive practices in the industry, including significant fare restructuring activities, capacity reductions and in court or out of court restructuring by major airlines; continued existence of prepetition liabilities; interruptions or disruptions in service at one or more of our hub airports; weather conditions; our ability to obtain and maintain any necessary financing for operations and other purposes; our ability to maintain adequate liquidity; our ability to maintain contracts that are critical to our operations; our ability to operate pursuant to the terms of our financing facilities (particularly the financial covenants); our ability to attract and retain customers; the cyclical nature of the airline industry; our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; economic conditions; and other risks and uncertainties listed from time to time in our reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission. There may be other factors not identified above of which the Company is not currently aware that may affect matters discussed in the forward-looking statements, and may also cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed. All forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting such estimates. Additional factors that may affect the future results of the Company are set forth in the section entitled „Risk Factors“ in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended Sept. 30, 2006, which is available at www.usairways.com.
