US Airways Group, Inc. Reports September Traffic
TEMPE, Ariz., Oct. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — US Airways Group, Inc. today reported September, third quarter, and year-to-date traffic results for 2007. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs) for the month were 4.7 billion, up 2.3 percent from September 2006. Capacity was 6.0 billion available seat miles (ASMs), down 4.8 percent from September 2006. Passenger load factor for the month of September was 78.1 percent versus 72.7 percent in September 2006.
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“For the second consecutive month, our consolidated (mainline and Express) passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) was up over five percent on a year-over-year basis. The fourth quarter is showing continued signs of strong bookings on a robust fare base and we have not seen any indication of diminished demand. In addition, we continue to make significant progress in our operation and have seen sequential improvement over the past several months, with September on-time performance over 80 percent, our best month since May 2006,” said US Airways President Scott Kirby.
The following summarizes US Airways Group’s traffic results for the month, quarter and nine months ended September 2007 and 2006, consisting of America West and US Airways mainline operated flights as well as US Airways Express operated flights consisting of wholly owned subsidiaries PSA Airlines and Piedmont Airlines.
US Airways Mainline (US Airways and America West combined) SEPTEMBER 2007 2006 % Change Mainline Revenue Passenger Miles (000) Domestic 3,614,490 3,671,026 (1.5) Atlantic 891,911 736,576 21.1 Latin 179,765 173,598 3.6 Total Mainline Revenue Passenger Miles 4,686,166 4,581,200 2.3 Mainline Available Seat Miles (000) Domestic 4,614,235 5,068,868 (9.0) Atlantic 1,139,404 941,208 21.1 Latin 245,737 289,026 (15.0) Total Mainline Available Seat Miles 5,999,376 6,299,102 (4.8) Mainline Load Factor (%) Domestic 78.3 72.4 5.9 pts Atlantic 78.3 78.3 0.0 pts Latin 73.2 60.1 13.1 pts Total Mainline Load Factor 78.1 72.7 5.4 pts Mainline Enplanements Domestic 3,939,203 3,868,386 1.8 Atlantic 225,803 191,055 18.2 Latin 148,378 141,794 4.6 Total Mainline Enplanements 4,313,384 4,201,235 2.7 QUARTER TO DATE Mainline Revenue Passenger Miles (000) Domestic 12,628,242 12,681,716 (0.4) Atlantic 2,885,356 2,369,080 21.8 Latin 880,311 899,118 (2.1) Total Mainline Revenue Passenger Miles 16,393,909 15,949,914 2.8 Mainline Available Seat Miles (000) Domestic 15,027,038 15,993,808 (6.0) Atlantic 3,544,289 2,911,916 21.7 Latin 1,095,490 1,250,120 (12.4) Total Mainline Available Seat Miles 19,666,817 20,155,844 (2.4) Mainline Load Factor (%) Domestic 84.0 79.3 4.7 pts Atlantic 81.4 81.4 0.0 pts Latin 80.4 71.9 8.5 pts Total Mainline Load Factor 83.4 79.1 4.3 pts Mainline Enplanements Domestic 13,489,249 13,061,863 3.3 Atlantic 738,834 616,389 19.9 Latin 733,784 746,341 (1.7) Total Mainline Enplanements 14,961,867 14,424,593 3.7 YEAR TO DATE 2007 2006 % Change Mainline Revenue Passenger Miles (000) Domestic 37,762,151 37,394,822 1.0 Atlantic 6,273,047 5,483,101 14.4 Latin 3,070,505 3,180,506 (3.5) Total Mainline Revenue Passenger Miles 47,105,703 46,058,429 2.3 Mainline Available Seat Miles (000) Domestic 45,794,924 46,780,752 (2.1) Atlantic 8,016,826 6,923,025 15.8 Latin 3,934,192 4,316,484 (8.9) Total Mainline Available Seat Miles 57,745,942 58,020,261 (0.5) Mainline Load Factor (%) Domestic 82.5 79.9 2.6 pts Atlantic 78.2 79.2 (1.0) pts Latin 78.0 73.7 4.3 pts Total Mainline Load Factor 81.6 79.4 2.2 pts Mainline Enplanements Domestic 40,216,227 39,162,818 2.7 Atlantic 1,605,124 1,417,641 13.2 Latin 2,495,782 2,608,775 (4.3) Total Mainline Enplanements 44,317,133 43,189,234 2.6 Notes: 1) Canada, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands are included in the domestic results. 2) Latin numbers include the Caribbean. US Airways Express (Piedmont Airlines, PSA Airlines, US Airways MidAtlantic Division) SEPTEMBER 2007 2006 % Change Express Revenue Passenger Miles (000) Domestic 174,205 183,665 (5.2) Express Available Seat Miles (000) Domestic 264,209 296,574 (10.9) Express Load Factor (%) Domestic 65.9 61.9 4.0 pts Express Enplanements Domestic 644,441 632,070 2.0 QUARTER TO DATE 2007 2006 % Change Express Revenue Passenger Miles (000) Domestic 554,810 621,942 (10.8) Express Available Seat Miles (000) Domestic 795,133 916,087 (13.2) Express Load Factor (%) Domestic 69.8 67.9 1.9 pts Express Enplanements Domestic 2,053,538 2,134,119 (3.8) YEAR TO DATE 2007 2006 % Change Express Revenue Passenger Miles (000) Domestic 1,765,889 2,087,929 (15.4) Express Available Seat Miles (000) Domestic 2,511,485 3,040,702 (17.4) Express Load Factor (%) Domestic 70.3 68.7 1.6 pts Express Enplanements Domestic 6,280,847 6,715,961 (6.5) Notes: 1) US Airways Express includes data for US Airways’ MidAtlantic division through May 27, 2006. 2) Canada is included in domestic results. Consolidated US Airways Group, Inc. SEPTEMBER 2007 2006 % Change Consolidated Revenue Passenger Miles (000) Domestic 3,788,695 3,854,691 (1.7) Atlantic 891,911 736,576 21.1 Latin 179,765 173,598 3.6 Total Consolidated Revenue Passenger Miles 4,860,371 4,764,865 2.0 Consolidated Available Seat Miles (000) Domestic 4,878,444 5,365,442 (9.1) Atlantic 1,139,404 941,208 21.1 Latin 245,737 289,026 (15.0) Total Consolidated Available Seat Miles 6,263,585 6,595,676 (5.0) Consolidated Load Factor (%) Domestic 77.7 71.8 5.9 pts Atlantic 78.3 78.3 – pts Latin 73.2 60.1 13.1 pts Total Consolidated Load Factor 77.6 72.2 5.4 pts Consolidated Enplanements Domestic 4,583,644 4,500,456 1.8 Atlantic 225,803 191,055 18.2 Latin 148,378 141,794 4.6 Total Consolidated Enplanements 4,957,825 4,833,305 2.6 QUARTER TO DATE 2007 2006 % Change Consolidated Revenue Passenger Miles (000) Domestic 13,183,052 13,303,658 (0.9) Atlantic 2,885,356 2,369,080 21.8 Latin 880,311 899,118 (2.1) Total Consolidated Revenue Passenger Miles 16,948,719 16,571,856 2.3 Consolidated Available Seat Miles (000) Domestic 15,822,171 16,909,895 (6.4) Atlantic 3,544,289 2,911,916 21.7 Latin 1,095,490 1,250,120 (12.4) Total Consolidated Available Seat Miles 20,461,950 21,071,931 (2.9) Consolidated Load Factor (%) Domestic 83.3 78.7 4.6 pts Atlantic 81.4 81.4 – pts Latin 80.4 71.9 8.5 pts Total Consolidated Load Factor 82.8 78.6 4.2 pts Consolidated Enplanements Domestic 15,542,787 15,195,982 2.3 Atlantic 738,834 616,389 19.9 Latin 733,784 746,341 (1.7) Total Consolidated Enplanements 17,015,405 16,558,712 2.8 YEAR TO DATE 2007 2006 % Change Consolidated Revenue Passenger Miles (000) Domestic 39,528,040 39,482,751 0.1 Atlantic 6,273,047 5,483,101 14.4 Latin 3,070,505 3,180,506 (3.5) Total Consolidated Revenue Passenger Miles 48,871,592 48,146,358 1.5 Consolidated Available Seat Miles (000) Domestic 48,306,409 49,821,454 (3.0) Atlantic 8,016,826 6,923,025 15.8 Latin 3,934,192 4,316,484 (8.9) Total Consolidated Available Seat Miles 60,257,427 61,060,963 (1.3) Consolidated Load Factor (%) Domestic 81.8 79.2 2.6 pts Atlantic 78.2 79.2 (1.0) pts Latin 78.0 73.7 4.3 pts Total Consolidated Load Factor 81.1 78.8 2.3 pts Consolidated Enplanements Domestic 46,497,074 45,878,779 1.3 Atlantic 1,605,124 1,417,641 13.2 Latin 2,495,782 2,608,775 (4.3) Total Consolidated Enplanements 50,597,980 49,905,195 1.4 Notes: 1) Canada, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands are included in the domestic results. 2) Latin numbers include the Caribbean.
America West and US Airways report combined operational performance to the Department of Transportation. For the month of September 2007, the combined domestic on-time performance was 80.2 percent with a completion factor of 99.2 percent.
Other Notable Accomplishments
US Airways is also providing a brief update on notable company accomplishments during the month of September:
— Marked a significant milestone by obtaining a single operating certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The single certificate allows the airline to operate as one US Airways with one set of policies, procedures, computer systems, maintenance and flight control systems. — Awarded the right to fly the first ever route between Philadelphia and the Chinese capital city of Beijing by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The daily service to China will begin in 2009 with wide-body Airbus A340 aircraft configured to seat 269 (42 Envoy and 227 economy). The flight will originate at the airline’s hub in Charlotte, N.C. — Broke ground for airline’s new, 72,000-square foot state-of-the-art operations control center near Pittsburgh International Airport. The new facility will accommodate 600 employees, with completion slated for early 2009. — Celebrated the debut of two newly painted NFL themed airplanes with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Carolina Panthers.
US Airways is the fifth largest domestic airline employing more than 36,000 aviation professionals worldwide. US Airways, US Airways Shuttle and US Airways Express operate approximately 3,700 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 network, which offers our customers 16,000 daily flights to 855 destinations in 155 countries worldwide. This press release and additional information on US Airways can be found at http://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 June 30, 2007, which is available at http://www.usairways.com/.
-LCC-
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US Airways Group, Inc.
CONTACT: Phil Gee of US Airways Group, Inc., +1-480-693-5729
Web site: http://www.usairways.com/