AAL American Airlines Group Inc

FORT WORTH, Texas, Jan. 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ: AAL) today reported its fourth quarter and full year 2014 results.

• Reported record fourth quarter 2014 net profit excluding net special charges of $1.1 billion, up 153 percent versus the fourth quarter 2013. For the year, the Company's 2014 net profit excluding net special charges was a record $4.2 billion, up 115 percent  versus 2013
• Completed the Company's previously announced $1 billion share repurchase program more than one year before its expiration. Announced authorization of an additional $2 billion share repurchase program to be completed by the end of 2016
• Declared a dividend of $0.10 per share to be paid on February 23, 2015, to shareholders of record as of February 9, 2015

For the fourth quarter 2014, American Airlines Group reported a record GAAP net profit of $597 million. This compares to a GAAP net loss of $2.0 billion in the fourth quarter 2013, which includes the results for US Airways only for the period from the completion of the merger on December 9, 2013, through December 31, 2013.

For full year 2014, GAAP net profit was $2.9 billion, compared to a full year 2013 GAAP net loss of $1.8 billion for AMR Corporation, which includes the results for US Airways only for the period from the completion of the merger on December 9, 2013, through December 31, of 2013.

The Company believes it is more meaningful to compare year-over-year results for American Airlines and US Airways excluding special charges and on a combined basis, which is a non-GAAP formulation that combines the results for AMR Corporation and US Airways Group. On this basis, the Company's fourth quarter 2014 net profit excluding net special charges was a record $1.1 billion, or $1.52 per diluted share. This represents a 153 percent improvement over the combined non-GAAP net profit of $436 million excluding net special charges for the same period in 2013. The Company's fourth quarter 2014 pretax margin excluding net special charges was a record 10.6 percent.

Excluding net special charges, the Company's 2014 net profit was a record $4.2 billion, or $5.70 per diluted share. This represents a 115 percent improvement over the Company's combined 2013 non-GAAP net profit excluding net special charges of $1.9 billion.

See the accompanying notes in the Financial Tables section of this press release for further explanation of this presentation, including a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial information.

"Our record 2014 results close out a fantastic first year for our merger. These results would not have been possible without the efforts of our more than 100,000 team members," said Doug Parker, American Airlines Group Chairman and CEO. "They have done a great job of working together to take care of our customers and restore American as the greatest airline in the world.

"We have much to do in the year ahead as we continue to integrate two large carriers. The results we have achieved thus far, combined with our economic outlook, give us confidence that 2015 will be another outstanding year for American Airlines."

Revenue and Cost Comparisons

Total revenue in the fourth quarter was a record $10.2 billion, an increase of 2.1 percent versus the fourth quarter 2013 on a combined basis and excluding special items, on a 1.7 percent increase in total available seat miles (ASMs). Consolidated passenger revenue per ASM (PRASM) was 13.50 cents, down 1.0 percent versus the fourth quarter 2013 on a combined basis. Consolidated passenger yield was a record 16.84 cents, up 0.9 percent year-over-year.

Strong demand throughout the year led to 2014 total revenue of $42.7 billion, up 5.6 percent versus 2013 on a combined basis and excluding special items. Full year consolidated PRASM was 13.97 cents, up 2.2 percent versus 2013 on a combined basis.

Total operating expenses in the fourth quarter were $9.3 billion, a decrease of 4.1 percent compared to combined fourth quarter 2013 due primarily to a 17.3 percent decrease in consolidated fuel expense. Fourth quarter mainline cost per available seat mile (CASM) was 13.32 cents, down 6.1 percent on a 1.5 percent increase in mainline ASMs versus combined fourth quarter 2013. Excluding special charges and fuel, mainline CASM was 8.67 cents, up 1.1 percent compared to the combined fourth quarter 2013. Regional CASM excluding special charges and fuel was 15.87 cents, up 0.9 percent on a 3.8 percent increase in regional ASMs versus combined fourth quarter 2013. 

For the full year 2014, total operating expenses were $38.4 billion, up 1.5 percent versus combined 2013. Excluding special charges and fuel, mainline CASM increased 2.0 percent to 8.63 cents versus combined 2013. Regional CASM excluding special items and fuel increased 3.6 percent to 15.94 cents versus combined 2013.

Liquidity

At December 31, 2014, American had approximately $8.1 billion in total cash and short-term investments, of which $774 million was restricted. The Company also had an undrawn revolving credit facility of $1.8 billion.

Also in the fourth quarter, the Company returned $959 million to its shareholders through the payment of $72 million in quarterly dividends and the repurchase of $887 million of common stock, or 20.5 million shares. When combined with the $113 million of shares repurchased in the third quarter 2014, the Company repurchased a total of 23.4 million shares at an average price of $42.72 per share in 2014.The Company's $1 billion share repurchase program announced in July 2014 is now complete – more than one year ahead of its scheduled expiration. The Company also purchased approximately 52,000 shares from its Disputed Claims Reserve at the prevailing market price to satisfy certain tax obligations resulting from the November 4, 2014, distribution.

As of December 31, 2014, approximately $656 million of the Company's unrestricted cash and short-term investment balance was held in Venezuelan bolivars. This balance includes approximately $621 million valued at 6.3 bolivars and approximately $35 million valued at 12.0 bolivars, with the rate depending on the date the Company submitted its repatriation request to the Venezuelan government. These rates are materially more favorable than the exchange rates currently prevailing for other transactions conducted outside of the Venezuelan government's currency exchange system. The Company's cash balance held in Venezuelan bolivars decreased $65 million from the September 30, 2014 balance of $721 million. In the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company incurred an $11 million foreign currency loss related to the receipt of $23 million at a rate of 6.3 bolivars to the dollar for one of its 2012 repatriation requests originally valued at a rate of 4.3 bolivars to the dollar. Accordingly, the Company revalued its remaining pending 2012 repatriation requests from 4.3 to 6.3 bolivars to the dollar resulting in additional foreign currency losses of $19 million. In total, the Company recognized a $30 million special charge for these foreign currency losses in the fourth quarter of 2014. 

The Company has significantly reduced capacity in this market. The Company is continuing to work with Venezuelan authorities regarding the timing and exchange rate applicable to the repatriation of funds held in local currency. The Company is monitoring this situation closely and continues to evaluate its holdings of Venezuelan bolivars for additional foreign currency losses, which could be material.

The Company also announced that its Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.10 per share for shareholders of record as of February 9, 2015. The dividend will be paid on February 23, 2015. In addition, the Company announced that its Board also authorized an additional $2 billion share repurchase program to be completed by the end of 2016.

Shares repurchased under the program announced above may be made through a variety of methods, which may include open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, block trades or accelerated share repurchase transactions. Any such repurchases will be made from time to time subject to market and economic conditions, applicable legal requirements and other relevant factors. The program does not obligate the Company to repurchase any specific number of shares or continue a dividend for any fixed period, and may be suspended at any time at management's discretion.

Notable Accomplishments

Merger Related Accomplishments

• Combined operations at 23 airports during the quarter, bringing the total to 106
• Announced details of a combined frequent flyer program for American Airlines AAdvantage^® and US Airways Dividend Miles^® members that will combine mileage balances and align elite levels and qualification criteria
• Integrated the Company's cargo division under a single cargo air waybill, giving customers worldwide access to seamless cargo shipping across the merged airline
• Reached a new five-year joint collective bargaining agreement (JCBA) with the Association of Professional Flight Attendants for the airline's combined 24,000 flight attendants
• Reached a tentative five-year JCBA with the Allied Pilots Association representing the carrier's 14,000 pilots; ratification results will be known later this month
• Reached a new 10-year agreement with the Air Line Pilots Association representing pilots at the Company's wholly owned subsidiary Envoy Air that provides significant flow-through opportunities from the regional unit to the mainline carrier

Marketing, Network and Fleet Accomplishments

• Announced $2 billion in planned customer improvements, including new seats from nose to tail on several aircraft types and fully lie-flat seats on the Company's long-haul international fleet; satellite-based Internet access, providing connectivity for international flights; a refreshed and modern design for Admirals Club lounges worldwide; onboard power on new aircraft; and improved and updated kiosks to expedite airport check-in
• As part of the Company's fleet renewal program, took delivery of 20 new mainline aircraft in the fourth quarter, including 11 Airbus A320 family aircraft, seven Boeing 737-800 aircraft and two Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. On January 23, the Company received its first Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, the first of 12 that it expects to receive in 2015
• Celebrated the 25th anniversary of our Miami Hub, the premier gateway in the United States for Latin America and the Caribbean
• Began service to Cap Haitien, the Company's second destination in Haiti and 32nd destination in the Caribbean, as well as Campinas (Viracopos), Brazil, the Company's 10th destination in Brazil
• Announced new service from Birmingham, England to New York John F. Kennedy International Airport, as well as second daily services to both Los Angeles International and Philadelphia from London Heathrow Airport
• Formed a partnership with Cadillac to offer ramp transfers at Los Angeles International Airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, New York's LaGuardia Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport for the Company's premium customers
• Announced a codeshare relationship with Jetstar that will add the American Airlines code to several destinations in Japan. Also announced a codeshare agreement with Mexico City-based airline Interjet, adding new service to key destinations in Mexico for American's customers

Community Relations Accomplishments

• Recognized as one of the "2014 Best Companies for Diversity" by Hispanic Business Inc. and honored as the only airline to earn a perfect score in the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index
• Held the Company's first combined Be Pink month, raising more than $750,000 from employees, vendors and customers for Susan G. Komen^®. In addition, nearly 500 employees participated in Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks and the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Series
• Hosted Sky Ball, an annual gala event at one of the Company's hangars at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport honoring U.S. military members, veterans, and their families. This event raised more than $1.9 million for the Airpower Foundation, and more than 1,000 American Airlines employees volunteered their time
• Held the Company's annual Snowball Express, with ten American Airlines charter flights bringing nearly 1,800 children and spouses of fallen military men and women to the Dallas-Fort Worth area for four days of activities such as sporting events, dances, and visits to amusement parks

Special Items

In the fourth quarter, the Company recognized $507 million in net special charges, including:

• $280 million in merger integration related expenses
• $116 million in net charges for bankruptcy related items, principally consisting of fair value adjustments for bankruptcy settlement obligations
• $70 million in charges related primarily to certain asset impairments
• $31 million in non-operating special items primarily relating to a $30 million special charge for foreign currency losses relating to the Company's cash balance held in Venezuelan bolivars
• $16 million in net regional operating special items including a $24 million charge relating to a new pilot contract, partially offset by an $8 million gain on the sale of certain spare parts
• $6 million in non-cash deferred income tax benefits relating to certain indefinite lived intangible assets

Conference Call / Webcast Details

The Company will conduct a live audio webcast of its earnings call today at 7:30 a.m. CT, which will be available to the public on a listen-only basis at aa.com/investorrelations. An archive of the webcast will be available on the website through February 27.

Investor Guidance

For financial forecasting detail, please refer to the Company's investor relations update also filed this morning with the Securities Exchange Commission on Form 8-K. This filing is available aa.com/investorrelations.

About American Airlines Group

American Airlines Group (NASDAQ: AAL) is the holding company for American Airlines and US Airways. Together with wholly owned and third-party regional carriers operating as American Eagle and US Airways Express, the airlines operate an average of nearly 6,700 flights per day to 339 destinations in 54 countries from its hubs in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. The American Airlines AAdvantage and US Airways Dividend Miles programs allow members to earn miles for travel, vacation packages, car rentals, hotel stays and everyday purchases. Members of both programs can redeem miles for tickets as well as upgrades to First Class and Business Class. In addition, AAdvantage members can redeem miles for vacation packages, car rentals, hotel stays and retail products. American is a founding member of the oneworld alliance, whose members and members-elect serve nearly 1,000 destinations with 14,250 daily flights to 150 countries. Connect with American on Twitter @AmericanAir and at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines and follow US Airways on Twitter @USAirways.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Information

This document includes 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," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "plan," "project," "could," "should," "would," "continue," "seek," "target," "guidance," "outlook," "if current trends continue," "optimistic," "forecast" and other similar words. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about future financial and operating results, our plans, objectives, estimates, expectations and intentions, and other statements that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements are based on the current objectives, beliefs and expectations of the Company, and they are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results and financial position and timing of certain events to differ materially from the information in the forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results and financial position and timing of certain events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: significant operating losses in the future; downturns in economic conditions that adversely affect the Company's business; the impact of continued periods of high volatility in fuel costs, increased fuel prices and significant disruptions in the supply of aircraft fuel; competitive practices in the industry, including the impact of low cost carriers, airline alliances and industry consolidation; the challenges and costs of integrating operations and realizing anticipated synergies and other benefits of the merger transaction with US Airways Group, Inc.; the Company's substantial indebtedness and other obligations and the effect they could have on the Company's business and liquidity; an inability to obtain sufficient financing or other capital to operate successfully and in accordance with the Company's current business plan; increased costs of financing, a reduction in the availability of financing and fluctuations in interest rates; the effect the Company's high level of fixed obligations may have on its ability to fund general corporate requirements, obtain additional financing and respond to competitive developments and adverse economic and industry conditions; the Company's significant pension and other post-employment benefit funding obligations; the impact of any failure to comply with the covenants contained in financing arrangements; provisions in credit card processing and other commercial agreements that may materially reduce the Company's liquidity; the limitations of the Company's historical consolidated financial information, which is not directly comparable to its financial information for prior or future periods; the impact of union disputes, employee strikes and other labor-related disruptions; any inability to maintain labor costs at competitive levels; interruptions or disruptions in service at one or more of the Company's hub airports; any inability to obtain and maintain adequate facilities, infrastructure and slots to operate the Company's flight schedule and expand or change its route network; the Company's reliance on third-party regional operators or third-party service providers that have the ability to affect the Company's revenue and the public's perception about its services; any inability to effectively manage the costs, rights and functionality of third-party distribution channels on which the Company relies; extensive government regulation, which may result in increases in the Company's costs, disruptions to the Company's operations, limits on the Company's operating flexibility, reductions in the demand for air travel, and competitive disadvantages; the impact of the heavy taxation to which the airline industry is subject; changes to the Company's business model that may not successfully increase revenues and may cause operational difficulties or decreased demand; the loss of key personnel or inability to attract and retain additional qualified personnel; the impact of conflicts overseas, terrorist attacks and ongoing security concerns; the global scope of the Company's business and any associated economic and political instability or adverse effects of events, circumstances or government actions beyond its control, including the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations and limitations on the repatriation of cash held in foreign countries; the impact of environmental regulation; the Company's reliance on technology and automated systems and the impact of any failure of these technologies or systems; challenges in integrating the Company's computer, communications and other technology systems; costs of ongoing data security compliance requirements and the impact of any significant data security breach; losses and adverse publicity stemming from any accident involving any of the Company's aircraft or the aircraft of its regional or codeshare operators; delays in scheduled aircraft deliveries, or other loss of anticipated fleet capacity, and failure of new aircraft to perform as expected; the Company's dependence on a limited number of suppliers for aircraft, aircraft engines and parts; the impact of changing economic and other conditions beyond the Company's control, including global events that affect travel behavior such as an outbreak of a contagious disease, and volatility and fluctuations in the Company's results of operations due to seasonality; the effect of a higher than normal number of pilot retirements and a potential shortage of pilots; the impact of possible future increases in insurance costs or reductions in available insurance coverage; the effect of several lawsuits that were filed in connection with the merger transaction with US Airways Group, Inc. and remain pending; an inability to use NOL carryforwards; any impairment in the amount of goodwill the Company recorded as a result of the application of the acquisition method of accounting and an inability to realize the full value of the Company's and American Airlines' respective intangible or long-lived assets and any material impairment charges that would be recorded as a result; price volatility of the Company's common stock; delay or prevention of stockholders' ability to change the composition of the Company's board of directors and the effect this may have on takeover attempts that some of the Company's stockholders might consider beneficial; the effect of provisions of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws that limit ownership and voting of its equity interests, including its common stock; the effect of limitations in the Company's Certificate of Incorporation on acquisitions and dispositions of its common stock designed to protect its NOL carryforwards and certain other tax attributes, which may limit the liquidity of its common stock; and other economic, business, competitive, and/or regulatory factors affecting the Company's business, including those set forth in the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ending September 30, 2014 (especially in the "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections) and other risks and uncertainties listed from time to time in our filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof or as of the dates indicated in the statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to publicly update or supplement any forward-looking statement to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting these forward-looking statements except as required by law.