HONOLULU, Jan. 26, 2016/PRNewswire/ -- Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA) ('Holdings' or the 'Company'), parent company of Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. ('Hawaiian'), today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2015.

  • GAAP net income in the fourth quarter grew to $37.9 millionor $0.66per diluted share, a year-over-year increase of $26.8 millionor $0.49per diluted share. For the full year, GAAP net income grew to $182.6 millionor $2.98per diluted share, a year-over-year increase of $113.7 millionor $1.88per diluted share.
  • Adjusted net income in the fourth quarter grew to $48.5 millionor $0.85per diluted share, an increase of $22.4 millionor $0.45 centsper diluted share year-over-year. For the full year, adjusted net income grew to $189.3 millionor $3.09per diluted share compared to $97.1 millionor $1.55per diluted share in the prior year.
  • GAAP pre-tax margin increased to 10.7% and 12.7% for the fourth quarter and full year 2015, respectively.
  • Adjusted pre-tax margin increased to 13.8% and 13.2% for the fourth quarter and full year 2015, respectively.
  • The Company lowered its leverage ratio to 2.7x in 2015 while maintaining a strong cash position of $560 millionin unrestricted cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments.

'Our fourth quarter results finish off a great year for Hawaiian,' said Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian Airlines president and chief executive officer. 'The low cost of fuel, robust demand in all of our major geographies, manageable industry capacity growth between the US mainland and Hawai'i in the second half of the year, and the wonderful customer service delivered by my colleagues on the ground and in the air have combined for a record setting 2015. The strong financial results validate the decision we made to grow rapidly in the last five years. The cash flow we generated in 2015 was used to pay down a portion of the debt we took on to finance our growth and for the further strengthening of our balance sheet. Looking forward, our outlook is for these positive trends to continue and the headwind of a strong US dollar in our international markets to decelerate, giving us a measure of confidence that 2016 will be an even better year for our business.'

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 December 31, 2015 the Company had:

  • Unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $560 million.
  • Outstanding debt and capital lease obligations of approximately $772 millionconsisting of the following:
    • $559 millionoutstanding under secured loan agreements to finance a portion of the purchase price for 9 Airbus A330-200 aircraft.
    • $118 millionoutstanding under secured loan agreements to finance a portion of the purchase price for 15 Boeing 717-200 aircraft.
    • $95 millionin capital lease obligations to finance the acquisition of an Airbus A330-200, two Boeing 717-200 aircraft and aircraft-related equipment.
    • $0.3 millionof outstanding Convertible Senior Notes.

The Company early retired $124 million(principal balance) of existing debt in the fourth quarter. Early debt repurchases and debt retirement for the full year 2015 totaled $195 million(principal balance).

In addition, the Company repurchased 0.1 million shares or $2.5 millionof common stock in the fourth quarter. Full year repurchases totaled 1.7 million shares or $40.2 millionof common stock under its current $100 millionstock repurchase program.

2015 Highlights

Operational

  • Ranked as one of the top domestic airlines by Travel + Leisure for 2015.
  • Ranked #1 nationally for on-time performance for the 12-months ended November 2015by the U.S. Department of Transportation Air Travel Consumer Report.
  • Flew a record 10.7 million passengers in 2015, a 4.7% increase over the previous year.
  • Ratified two agreements for five-year contracts with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), increasing compensation for 2,200 employees.

New routes and increased frequencies

  • Expanded summer seasonal service from California(Los Angelesand Oakland) to Kaua'iand Kona in 2015 and announced the return of seasonal service in 2016 with an increase to daily service between Los Angelesand Kaua'i.
  • Announced expanded service to Japanwith a fourth non-stop destination from Honoluluwith daily non-stop service between Honoluluand Tokyo'sNaritaInternational Airport (NRT) beginning July 22, 2016.

Product and loyalty

  • Announced a new A330 premium cabin with 180-degree lie-flat seats beginning in 2016.
  • Completed the comprehensive interior retrofit for the Boeing 717-200 aircraft fleet.
  • Debuted a new on-board safety video featuring Hawaiian Airlines crew members and their families taking guests on a journey to their favorite locations throughout the Hawaiian Islands.
  • Official airline of the Oakland Raiders for the 2015 National Football League season.

Fleet and financing

  • Added three A330-200 aircraft under lease financing and retired two Boeing 767-300 aircraft at the end of their leases.
  • Entered into a six-year lease agreement for one A330-200 aircraft with a delivery date of summer 2016.
  • Purchased three ATR 72 turbo-prop aircraft in an all-cargo configuration for expansion of Hawaiian's cargo service.

First Quarter and Full Year 2016 Outlook

The table below summarizes the Company's expectations for the first quarter ending March 31, 2016and the full year ending December 31, 2016, expressed as an expected percentage change compared to the results for the quarter ended March 31, 2015or the year ended December 31, 2015, as applicable (the results for which are presented for reference).

First Quarter

Item

2015

First Quarter 2016 Guidance

Cost per ASM Excluding Fuel (cents)

8.46

Up 3% to up 6%

Operating Revenue Per ASM (cents)

12.77

Down 1.5% to up 1.5%

ASMs (millions)

4,229.7

Up 2.5% to up 4.5%

Gallons of jet fuel consumed (millions)

57.0

Up 1% to up 3%

Economic fuel cost per gallon (a)

$2.21

$1.50 to $1.60

Full Year

Item

2015

Full Year 2016 Guidance

Cost per ASM Excluding Fuel (cents)

8.31

Up in the low single digit range

ASMs (millions)

17,726.3

Up 2.5% to up 5.5%

Gallons of jet fuel consumed (millions)

234.2

Up 1.5% to up 4.5%

Economic fuel cost per gallon (a)

$2.04

$1.35 to $1.45

(a) Economic fuel cost per gallon estimates are based on the January 25, 2016 fuel forward curve.

Investor Conference Call

Hawaiian Holdings' quarterly and full year earnings conference call is scheduled to begin today (January 26, 2016) at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time(USA). The conference call will be broadcast live over the Internet. Investors may listen to the live audio webcast on the investor relations section of the Company's website at www.HawaiianAirlines.com. For those who are not available for the live webcast, the call will be archived and available for 90 days on the Company's investor website.

About Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for 11 years (2004-2014) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer surveys by Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and Zagat have all ranked Hawaiian the highest of all domestic airlines serving Hawai'i.

Now in its 87th year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawai'i's biggest and longest-serving airline, as well as the largest provider of passenger air service from its primary visitor markets on the U.S. mainland. Hawaiian offers nonstop service to Hawai'i from more U.S. gateway cities (11) than any other airline, along with service from Japan, South Korea, China, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoaand Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides approximately 160 jet flights daily between the Hawaiian Islands, with a total of more than 200 daily flights system-wide.

Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow updates on Twitter about Hawaiian (@HawaiianAir) and its special fare offers (@HawaiianFares), and become a fan on its Facebook page.

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 expectations regarding cost per available seat mile excluding fuel, available seat miles, gallons of jet fuel consumed and economic fuel cost per gallon, each for the quarter ending March 31, 2016and full year ending December 31, 2016; the Company's expectations regarding operating revenue per available seat mile for the quarter ending March 31, 2016; the statement of the Company's CEO regarding expectations for 2016; 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, as the case may 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 Company's ability to accurately forecast quarterly and annual results; economic volatility; the price and availability of aircraft fuel; fluctuations in demand for transportation in the markets in which the Company operates; the Company's dependence on tourist travel; foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; and the Company's ability to implement its growth strategy and related cost reduction goals.

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 1.

Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(in thousands, except for per share data) (unaudited)

Three Months Ended December 31,

Twelve Months Ended December 31,

2015

2014

% Change

2015

2014

% Change

(unaudited)

Operating Revenue:

Passenger

$

500,149

$

503,257

(0.6)

%

$

2,025,610

$

2,045,052

(1.0)

%

Other

74,005

71,582

3.4

%

291,857

269,827

8.2

%

Total

574,154

574,839

(0.1)

%

2,317,467

2,314,879

0.1

%

Operating Expenses:

Aircraft fuel, including taxes and delivery

88,399

150,756

(41.4)

%

417,728

678,253

(38.4)

%

Wages and benefits

129,631

113,005

14.7

%

499,506

447,446

11.6

%

Aircraft rent

28,921

27,324

5.8

%

115,653

106,422

8.7

%

Maintenance materials and repairs

56,136

57,617

(2.6)

%

224,648

225,619

(0.4)

%

Aircraft and passenger servicing

29,501

29,851

(1.2)

%

117,449

122,780

(4.3)

%

Commissions and other selling

28,529

28,395

0.5

%

119,746

122,518

(2.3)

%

Depreciation and amortization

26,804

25,414

5.5

%

105,581

96,374

9.6

%

Other rentals and landing fees

24,248

22,047

10.0

%

95,055

87,902

8.1

%

Purchased services

21,294

17,568

21.2

%

81,838

73,386

11.5

%

Other

31,845

25,530

24.7

%

114,160

109,047

4.7

%

Total

465,308

497,507

(6.5)

%

1,891,364

2,069,747

(8.6)

%

Operating Income

108,846

77,332

40.8

%

426,103

245,132

73.8

%

Nonoperating Income (Expense):

Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and issuance costs

(12,936)

(16,129)

(55,678)

(64,240)

Interest income

759

596

2,811

1,684

Capitalized interest

295

1,440

3,261

8,024

Losses on fuel derivatives

(31,261)

(34,965)

(59,931)

(63,471)

Loss on extinguishment of debt

(4,762)

(3,885)

(12,058)

(3,885)

Other, net

505

(5,993)

(8,820)

(9,797)

Total

(47,400)

(58,936)

(130,415)

(131,685)

Income Before Income Taxes

61,446

18,396

295,688

113,447

Income tax expense

23,546

7,297

113,042

44,521

Net Income

$

37,900

$

11,099

$

182,646

$

68,926

Net Income Per Common Stock Share:

Basic

$

0.71

$

0.20

$

3.38

$

1.29

Diluted

$

0.66

$

0.17

$

2.98

$

1.10

Weighted Average Number of Common Stock Shares Outstanding:

Basic

53,335

54,282

54,031

53,591

Diluted

57,591

66,225

61,256

62,822

Table 2.

Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.

Selected Statistical Data (unaudited)

Three Months Ended December 31,

Twelve Months Ended December 31,

2015

2014

% Change

2015

2014

% Change

(in thousands, except as otherwise indicated)

Scheduled Operations (c) :

Revenue passengers flown

2,655

2,554

4.0

%

10,665

10,191

4.7

%

Revenue passenger miles (RPM)

3,634,033

3,508,723

3.6

%

14,450,564

13,910,804

3.9

%

Available seat miles (ASM)

4,383,706

4,266,924

2.7

%

17,710,309

17,062,264

3.8

%

Passenger revenue per RPM (Yield)

13.76

¢

14.34

¢

(4.0)

%

14.02

¢

14.70

¢

(4.6)

%

Passenger load factor (RPM/ASM)

82.9

%

82.2

%

0.7

pt

81.6

%

81.5

%

0.1

pt

Passenger revenue per ASM (PRASM)

11.41

¢

11.79

¢

(3.2)

%

11.44

¢

11.99

¢

(4.6)

%

Total Operations (c) :

Revenue passengers flown

2,658

2,554

4.1

%

10,673

10,195

4.7

%

RPM

3,639,219

3,510,682

3.7

%

14,462,191

13,921,147

3.9

%

ASM

4,391,792

4,269,031

2.9

%

17,726,322

17,073,630

3.8

%

Passenger load factor (RPM/ASM)

82.9

%

82.2

%

0.7

pt

81.6

%

81.5

%

0.1

pt

Operating revenue per ASM (RASM)

13.07

¢

13.47

¢

(3.0)

%

13.07

¢

13.56

¢

(3.6)

%

Operating cost per ASM (CASM)

10.59

¢

11.65

¢

(9.1)

%

10.67

¢

12.12

¢

(12.0)

%

CASM excluding aircraft fuel (b)

8.58

¢

8.12

¢

5.7

%

8.31

¢

8.15

¢

2.0

%

Aircraft fuel expense per ASM (a)

2.01

¢

3.53

¢

(43.1)

%

2.36

¢

3.97

¢

(40.6)

%

Revenue block hours operated

42,488

42,350

0.3

%

173,546

166,362

4.3

%

Gallons of jet fuel consumed

58,008

57,865

0.2

%

234,183

230,199

1.7

%

Average cost per gallon of jet fuel (actual) (a)

$

1.52

$

2.61

(41.8)

%

$

1.78

$

2.95

(39.7)

%

Economic fuel cost per gallon (a)(d)

$

1.80

$

2.84

(36.6)

%

$

2.04

$

3.03

(32.7)

%

(a)

Includes applicable taxes and fees.

(b)

Represents adjusted unit costs, a non-GAAP measure. The Company believes this is a useful measure because it better reflects its controllable costs. See Table 4 for a reconciliation of operating expenses excluding aircraft fuel.

(c)

Includes the operations of the Company's contract carrier under a capacity purchase agreement.

(d)

See Table 3 for a reconciliation of economic fuel costs.

Table 3.

Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.

Economic Fuel Expense

(in thousands, except per-gallon amounts) (unaudited)

The Company believes that economic fuel expense is the best 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 (gains)/losses realized through actual cash (receipts)/payments received from or paid to hedge counterparties for fuel hedge derivative contracts settled during the period.

Three Months Ended December 31,

Twelve Months Ended December 31,

2015

2014

Change

2015

2014

Change

(in thousands, except per-gallon amounts)

(in thousands, except per-gallon amounts)

Aircraft fuel expense, including taxes and delivery

$

88,399

$

150,756

(41.4)

%

$

417,728

$

678,253

(38.4)

%

Realized losses on settlement of fuel derivative contracts

16,025

13,835

15.8

%

60,946

20,365

199.3

%

Economic fuel expense

$

104,424

$

164,591

(36.6)

%

$

478,674

$

698,618

(31.5)

%

Fuel gallons consumed

58,008

57,865

0.2

%

234,183

230,199

1.7

%

Economic fuel costs per gallon

$

1.80

$

2.84

(36.6)

%

$

2.04

$

3.03

(32.7)

%

Table 4.

Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.

Non-GAAP Financial Reconciliation

(in thousands, except per-share and CASM data) (unaudited)

The Company evaluates its financial performance utilizing various GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures, including net income, diluted net income per share, CASM, PRASM, RASM, Passenger Revenue per RPM and EBITDAR. 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:

•

Changes in fair value of derivative contracts, net of tax, are based on market prices for open contracts as of the end of the reporting period. This line item includes the unrealized amounts of fuel and interest rate derivatives (not designated as hedges) that will settle in future periods and the reversal of prior period unrealized amounts. Excluding the impact of these derivative adjustments allows investors to better analyze the Company's operational performance and compare the Company's results to other airlines in the periods presented below.

•

Loss on extinguishment of debt, net of tax, is excluded to allow investor to better analyze the Company's core operational performance and more readily compare its results to other airlines in the periods presented below.

Three Months Ended December 31,

Twelve Months Ended December 31,

2015

2014

2015

2014

Net Income

Diluted Net Income Per Share

Net Income

Diluted Net Income Per Share

Net Income

Diluted Net Income Per Share

Net Income

Diluted Net Income Per Share

As reported-GAAP

$

37,900

$

0.66

$

11,099

$

0.17

$

182,646

$

2.98

$

68,926

$

1.10

Add: changes in fair value of derivative contracts, net of tax

7,781

0.14

12,679

0.19

(609)

(0.01)

25,864

0.41

Add: loss on extinguishment of debt, net of tax

2,857

0.05

2,331

0.04

7,235

0.12

2,331

0.04

Adjusted net income

$

48,538

$

0.85

$

26,109

$

0.40

$

189,272

$

3.09

$

97,121

$

1.55

Three months ended December 31,

Twelve months ended December 31,

2015

2014

2015

2014

Income Before Income Taxes, as reported

$

61,446

$

18,396

$

295,688

$

113,447

Add: changes in fair value of derivative contracts

12,968

21,131

(1,015)

43,107

Add: loss on extinguishment of debt

4,762

3,885

12,058

3,885

Adjusted Income Before Income Taxes

$

79,176

$

43,412

$

306,731

$

160,439

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. 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.

Three Months Ended December 31,

Twelve Months Ended December 31,

2015

2014

2015

2014

(in thousands, except as otherwise indicated)

GAAP operating expenses

$

465,308

$

497,507

$

1,891,364

$

2,069,747

Less: aircraft fuel, including taxes and delivery

(88,399)

(150,756)

(417,728)

(678,253)

Adjusted operating expenses-excluding aircraft fuel

$

376,909

$

346,751

$

1,473,636

$

1,391,494

Available Seat Miles

4,391,792

4,269,031

17,726,322

17,073,630

CASM-GAAP

10.59

¢

11.65

¢

10.67

¢

12.12

¢

Less: aircraft fuel

(2.01)

(3.53)

(2.36)

(3.97)

CASM-excluding aircraft fuel

8.58

¢

8.12

¢

8.31

¢

8.15

¢

Pre-tax margin

The Company excludes unrealized gains from fuel derivative contracts and losses on extinguishment of debt from pre-tax margin for the same reasons as described above.

Three months ended December 31,

Twelve months ended December 31,

2015

2014

2015

2014

Pre-Tax Margin, as reported

10.7

%

3.2

%

12.7

%

4.9

%

Add: changes in fair value of derivative contracts

2.3

%

3.7

%

-

%

1.8

%

Add: loss on extinguishment of debt

0.8

%

0.7

%

0.5

%

0.2

%

Adjusted Pre-Tax Margin

13.8

%

7.6

%

13.2

%

6.9

%

Leverage ratio

The Company uses adjusted total debt, including aircraft rent, in addition to long-term adjusted debt and capital leases, to represent long-term financial obligations. The Company excludes unrealized (gains) losses from fuel derivative contracts, the interest rate derivative contract and losses on extinguishment of debt from earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and rent (EBITDAR) for the reasons as described above. Management believes this metric is helpful to investor in assessing the Company's overall debt.

Twelve months ended

December 31, 2015

Debt and capital lease obligations

$

772,144

Plus: Aircraft leases capitalized at 7x last twelve months' aircraft rent

809,571

Adjusted debt and capital lease obligations

$

1,581,715

EBITDAR:

Income Before Income Taxes

$

295,688

Add back:

Interest and amortization of debt expense

55,678

Depreciation and amortization

105,581

Aircraft rent

115,653

EBITDAR

$

572,600

Adjustments:

Add: changes in fair value of derivative contracts

(1,015)

Add: Loss on extinguishment of debt

12,058

Adjusted EBITDAR

$

583,643

Leverage Ratio

2.7

x

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