Release Date: October 31, 2024
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
Q: On the 40 airplanes going to United, are the 11 CRJ550s coming from another United Carrier or are they new? And what about the remaining 29 CRJ700s? A: The 11 CRJ550s were parked and not operating for another United Express operator for several years. Of the 29 CRJ700s, 19 are currently flying for United and will transition to CRJ550s, while the remaining 10 are a mix of stored and operating aircraft. - Wade Steel, Chief Commercial Officer
Q: How many CRJ700s will remain grounded after converting 10 into CRJ550s? A: We currently have 30 dual-class CRJ aircraft grounded, and this number will decrease by about 10, leaving some opportunities to bring more back into service. - Wade Steel, Chief Commercial Officer
Q: Can you clarify the increased maintenance expense? A: We expect maintenance expenses to be around $700 million this year, increasing to about $800 million next year, which translates to approximately $200 million per quarter. - Robert Simmons, Chief Financial Officer
Q: How many cities could SkyWest return to in 2025, considering pilot availability? A: We are actively looking at all markets we left, which is about 30% down from where we were. We aim to bring these back up, potentially taking until 2025 or 2026. - Wade Steel, Chief Commercial Officer
Q: Are the cities you plan to return to related to pro rate or capacity purchase agreements? A: It's a mix of both, but heavily weighted towards pro rate. - Russell Childs, President and CEO
Q: Does the conversion of CRJ550s run through CapEx, and is this why CapEx is increasing? A: Yes, the conversion goes through CapEx, and we are also purchasing 11 CRJ550s from United, contributing to the CapEx increase. - Wade Steel, Chief Commercial Officer
Q: Can you provide an update on pilot levels and how they affect CRJ flying? A: We are approaching 5,000 pilots and expect to be back to pre-pandemic levels by the first quarter. We aim to have more pilots than ever by mid-2025 to meet demand. - Russell Childs, President and CEO
Q: Is there any update on the charter front as you head into next year? A: We are optimistic about the charter operation, with bookings significantly higher than last year. We see strong opportunities in small communities and remain committed to pursuing them. - Russell Childs, President and CEO
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
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