PHOENIX, February, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mesa Air Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: MESA) today announced it signed a letter of intent to lease an additional Boeing 737-400F cargo aircraft currently planned to be available in May 2021. The company currently operates two 737-400F aircraft for DHL.
“This 737-400F will be a great addition to the cargo fleet. The investment in a third 737 aircraft demonstrates our focus on cargo operations and our commitment to DHL,” said Brad Rich, Chief Operating Officer. “This aircraft will provide Mesa pilots with additional career advancement opportunities and provide flexibility to better meet the demands of the current cargo environment.”
Mexico City, February 22, 2020. – Grupo Viva Aerobus today reported operating and financial results for 4Q20 and full year 2020, reflecting a recovery trend, amid the challenges of the pandemic, which began in the third quarter. This performance is the result of an adequate financial management, a strict expense control protecting the company’s liquidity and a responsible operational recovery which prioritizes health and safety for all passengers and staff.
During the 4Q, Viva Aerobus led the industry’s recovery, being the first airline in the Americas to resume 100% of its operational capacity, in November. Furthermore, Viva also consolidated as the first Mexican airline to grow its service at the end of the year by increasing its offer (available seats per kilometer) an 11% during December 2020 vs December 2019. In addition, the airline closed the year with 131 routes (103 domestic and 28 international), 12 more routes than the ones recorded at the end of 2019.
As a result of this recovery, added to an enhanced flexibility by permanently getting rid of charges for flight changes, Viva registered higher demand, closing 4Q20 with more than 2.9 million passengers, a 59% increase compared to 3Q2020. Moreover, the airline closed December with over one million of passengers registered, a similar figure reported in December 2019, before the pandemic.
This operational and passengers increase boosted the operating revenue to reach 3,237 million pesos in 4Q20, representing a 76.8% growth compared to 3Q20. Total operating revenue was composed 49% by fare revenue (1,589 million pesos) and 51% of ancillary revenue (1,647 million pesos). This revenue scheme represents the possibility that Viva Aerobus gives passengers to personalize their flights. Therefore, Viva takes care of their economy by offering low prices and giving the opportunity to pay only for what they need.
Due to this sequential increase in revenues, a positive EBITDAR was obtained for the second consecutive quarter, totaling 531 million pesos; this represented a sequential increase of 95% compared to 3Q20. Additionally, liquidity preservation stands out as attested in the cash and cash equivalents balance, recording 2,967 million pesos, a similar figure to the one reported in 3Q20. This reflects an assertive use of cash, taking advantage of an agile operational resumption, the support of the airline’s suppliers and the decisions to eliminate non-essential expenses.
These quarterly results softened the effects of the pandemic in the full year, considering that it was in the first half of 2020 when demand was most affected by the health emergency. Viva Aerobus registered more than 8.1 million annual passengers, a decrease of 32.4% compared to 2019. Consequently, total operating revenues reached 8,221 million pesos and EBITDAR totaled 946 million pesos, a 36.1% and 75.6% decrease, respectively.
To consult the full earnings report, please visit Viva Aerobus investor relations site: https://ri.vivaaerobus.com/en
Financial Indicators (MXN Million)
4Q20
4Q19
Ch. %
2020
2019
Ch. %
Total Revenue
3,237
3,728
(13.2%)
8,221
12,874
(36.1%)
EBITDAR*
531
1,122
(52.7%)
946
3,875
(75.6%)
EBITDAR Margin*
16.4%
30.1%
(13.7 p.p.)
11.5%
30.1%
(18.6 p.p.)
Operation (loss) income [EBIT]*
(427)
315
(>100.0%)
(2,619)
935
(>100.0%)
EBIT Margin*
(13.2%)
8.4%
(21.6 p.p.)
(31.9%)
7.3%
(39.1 p.p.)
Earnings Before Taxes (EBT)*
(791)
658
(>100.0%)
(3,881)
579
(>100.0%)
EBT Margin*
(24.4%)
17.7%
(42.1 p.p.)
(47.2%)
4.5%
(51.7 p.p.)
Net (loss) income*
(558)
420
(>100.0%)
(2,727)
469
(>100.0%)
Net Margin*
(17.2%)
11.3%
(28.5 p.p.)
(33.2%)
3.6%
(36.8 p.p.)
*Items not comparable with 2019 due to change in the functional currency conducted in 2020.
Mexico City, February 19, 2021- Aeromexico has signed agreements with four medical laboratories, in addition to the two it already formalized to offer discounts and other benefits on Covid-19 tests for customers with a valid reservation with the airline or partner Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL).
Operating in Monterrey and metropolitan area:
Laboratorios Dr. Moreira with 28 Covid-19 branches.
Swisslab Laboratorio de Analisis Clínicos with 19 Covid-19 branches. Operating in Mexico City and metropolitan area:
Olive Diagnosticos Medicos with 22 Covid-19 branches.
Biomedica with 13 Covid-19 locations.
In addition to special discounts for PCR and Rapid tests for Antigen Detection, customers will have access to other benefits: an exclusive helpline for Aeromexico and Delta Air Lines clients, bilingual advisors, delivery of results in Spanish or English, and at-home service. Club Premier members will also have an exclusive phone line and at-home service at no additional cost.
The results will be delivered 24 hours for PCR tests and 30 minutes for Rapid tests for Antigen Detection.
Laboratorio Medico del Chopo and LAPI Laboratorio Medico continue to offer their services with specific benefits for Aeromexico and Delta passengers.
Aeromexico recommends customers with an international flight to check the destinations’ requirements at the following link: Country Requirements
To consult the details of laboratories’ agreements, click on Laboratory Alliances
Rolls-Royce (OTC: RYCEY) has signed a TotalCare® agreement with new customer Uganda Airlines for their two new Airbus A330neo aircraft powered exclusively by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines. Uganda Airlines received the first A330neo in December 2020 and the second in January 2021.
TotalCare® offers more than just an engine maintenance plan; it is a service concept based upon predictability and reliability. This agreement will give Uganda Airlines a secured cost of operating and maintaining their Trent 7000 engines, through a dollar-per-flying-hour payment mechanism, as well as enhanced aircraft availability as a result of our in-depth engine knowledge that only we can provide, drawing on advanced engine health monitoring and the inclusion of product durability and reliability improvements.
The exclusive engine for the A330neo, the Trent 7000 is the seventh and latest member in the Trent family of engines, which recently celebrated its 25th birthday and has accumulated more than 150 million engine flying hours. The Trent 7000, which first entered service in November 2018, draws on more than 50 million flying hours of experience from the Trent 700, the engine of choice for the original version of the A330. The 68-72,000lb thrust Trent 7000 helps the A330neo reduce environmental impact with a 25% improvement in fuel burn per seat (compared to previous generation competitor aircraft) and a significant noise reduction.
Cornwell Muleya, CEO of Uganda Airlines, said: “We are proud to include our new Rolls-Royce powered Airbus A330neos into our fleet and this agreement will ensure that our Trent 7000 engines will be maintained to world-leading levels of service.”
John Kelly, Senior Vice President Customers, Rolls-Royce, said: “Our TotalCare agreement will ensure Uganda Airlines, the latest member of the family of Trent operators, receives our flagship standard of service, maximising aircraft availability and the ability to plan forward financially.”
Toulouse, 8 February, 2021 – Russia’s KrasAvia started operating its first two ATR 72-500, the first ATR aircraft ever registered in Russia. Owned by the government of Krasnoyarsk Krai, KrasAvia is an airline based in Krasnoyarsk, the third largest city in Siberia, with a population of approximately 1.1 million people. KrasAvia operates scheduled and charter flights with helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft on regional routes to Russia’s Far North from its Krasnoyarsk hub. The two ATR 72-500 have been purchased second-hand from Swedish lessor Erik Thun and the deal was arranged by Bertrand Lattes Aviation Capital (BLAC).
Air services are crucial to serve the remote regions of Siberia, and their challenging environment requires versatile and reliable aircraft able to take-off and land in extreme cold conditions. The route from Krasnoyarsk to Khatanga, near the Arctic Ocean, is one of the longest scheduled ATR routes (984NM / 1822km) – a four hour flight.
Andrey Egorov, General Director of KrasAvia, declared: “The acquisition of these two ATR 72-500 shows that we are ever more committed to improving our fleet and offering our passengers a smoother flying experience. They will replace our smaller Antonov An-24 and An-26 turboprop, which have reached over 40 years of service. Thanks to the ATR 72-500 versatility and modern and spacious cabin, we will continue to support the connectivity needs of the Siberian communities, with increased seat capacity and higher standards of comfort.”
Stefano Bortoli, Chief Executive Officer of ATR, said: “All regions deserve the same opportunity to be part of a connected world, and ATR aircraft show unrivalled performance in connecting people and businesses responsibly. The entry into service of these aircraft is highly significant, as KrasAvia is the first public airline in Russia to purchase and operate ATR. We are truly glad to see our aircraft continuing to support regional connectivity in the country.”
KrasAvia is the third largest ATR operator in Russia, after UTair and NordStar, which respectively operate a fleet of 15 ATR 72-500 and five ATR 42-500. The total ATR fleet in Russia now totals 22 aircraft, with their operational versatility and reliability being strong assets for their operators, to the benefit of the communities they serve.
The newer ATR-72-500’s are quite the upgrade from the old Antonov AN-24 aircraft!
Embraer (NYSE: ERJ) carried out its first aircraft non-payment insurance (ANPI) transaction financing the delivery of four Embraer E175 jets to SkyWest, Inc. (NASDAQ: SKYW). The transaction, completed in December 2020, was supported by the Aircraft Finance Insurance Consortium (AFIC), designed by Marsh and was underwritten by AXIS Insurance and Sompo International. The lender for the transaction is the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES).
This transaction is a major achievement for the aircraft finance industry being the first AFIC-supported transaction for regional jets, the first AFIC-supported financing for an airline based in the United States, and the first AFIC-supported financing for commercial aircraft funded by an export credit agency (ECA).
AFIC´s insurance product provides additional flexibility in financing Embraer aircraft and could be used with ECA, bank, and capital markets funding, enhancing the possible financing structures available for Embraer customers. The AFIC product improves the credit quality of aircraft finance transactions through the use of a robust non-payment insurance policy underwritten by investment grade-rated insurance companies. It further reduces overall costs of financing while offering many other benefits to Embraer customers such as flexibility of terms and faster implementation.
Embraer’s relationship with SkyWest dates back to 1986, when SkyWest began operating the EMB 120 Brasilia turboprop. Since 2013, SkyWest has purchased more than 180 E175 jets.
Embraer is the world’s leading manufacturer of commercial jets with up to 150 seats. The Company has 100 customers from all over the world operating the ERJ and E-Jet families of aircraft. For the E-Jets program alone, Embraer has logged almost 1,800 orders and 1,600 deliveries, redefining the traditional concept of regional aircraft.
Boeing [NYSE: BA] and BBAM Limited Partnership today announced the lessor is expanding its 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter fleet with six firm orders and six options. The agreement brings BBAM’s 737-800BCF orders and commitments to 15 and highlights the continued strength of the e-commerce and express cargo market.
“As we look ahead to expanding our cargo fleet, the 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter provides the performance and efficiency our customers need,” said Steve Zissis, CEO of BBAM. “Adding these highly capable freighters to 276 Boeing airplanes in our managed fleet helps to further strengthen our leadership position in the marketplace.”
Based on the popular Next-Generation 737, the 737-800BCF is meeting customer demand for a newer-generation freighter that offers higher reliability and lower fuel consumption and operating costs per trip compared to other standard body freighters. Primarily used to carry express cargo on domestic or short-haul routes, the airplane is capable of carrying up to 23.9 tonnes (52,800 pounds) and flying up to 2,025 nautical miles (3,750 kilometers). Since entering service in 2018, the 737-800BCF has won more than 150 orders and commitments.
“BBAM is one of the industry’s leading full-service leasing companies and has built their reputation on smart investments. We are honored that BBAM has selected more 737-800BCFs, based on the success of our standard body freighters in their portfolio,” said Ihssane Mounir, Boeing’s senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing. “The continued strong demand for the 737-800BCF demonstrates the critical role these converted freighters play in the growing express and e-commerce market.”
BBAM is the world’s largest dedicated manager of investments in leased commercial jet aircraft, providing over 200 airline customers in more than 50 countries with fleet and financing solutions over the last three decades. BBAM is the only manager in the aircraft leasing industry focused exclusively on generating investment returns for third-party investors. BBAM currently has more than $28 billion of assets under management and employs over 150 professionals at its headquarters in San Francisco and in additional offices in Tokyo, Singapore, Zurich, Dublin and Santiago. For more information about BBAM, please visit its website at www.bbam.com.
Boeing is the world’s largest aerospace company and leading provider of commercial airplanes, defense, space and security systems, and global services. As a top U.S. exporter, the company supports commercial and government customers in more than 150 countries and leverages the talents of a global supplier base. Building on a legacy of aerospace leadership, Boeing continues to lead in technology and innovation, deliver for its customers and invest in its people and future growth.
Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) will release fourth quarter 2020 financial and operating results on Thursday, January 21, 2021, at 8:00 a.m. ET. The company’s management team will host a conference call and live webcast at 8:45 a.m. ET.
Parties interested in participating via teleconference may dial 877-407-8293. International callers may dial 201-689-8349. A live webcast of the presentation and materials will be available in the investor relations section of Union Pacific’s website at www.up.com/investor. A replay of the audio webcast will be available shortly thereafter.
