ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Risk Factors Relating to Our Business
We have a limited operating history, which makes it difficult to forecast our revenue and evaluate our business and future prospects.
GlobalX has been in the build-out stage of the airline and as a result, investors are unable to review and consider any significant operational history to evaluate future viability or profitability. GlobalX will be subject to the risks, difficulties and uncertainties associated with a start-up airline. The likelihood of GlobalX’s success must be considered in light of the problems, expenses, difficulties, complications and delays frequently encountered in connection with the expansion of a business operation in a competitive industry and the development of a customer base. GlobalX could also sustain material losses in the future. GlobalX’s future performance will depend upon a number of factors, including its ability to:
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maintain the safety and security of operations;
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capitalize on its business strategy;
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implement its growth strategy;
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provide the intended services at the prices anticipated;
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maintain adequate control of expenses;
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attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel;
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react to customer and market demands; and
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generate operating revenue.
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We have a history of net losses, we anticipate increasing operating expenses in the future, and we may not be able to achieve and, if achieved, maintain profitability.
GlobalX is generating operating revenue and has negative cash flow from operating activities. It is anticipated that GlobalX will continue to have negative cash flow in the foreseeable future. If our revenue does not increase to offset the expected increases in our operating expenses, we will not be profitable in future periods. Continued losses may have the following consequences:
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increasing GlobalX’s vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions;
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limiting GlobalX’s ability to obtain additional financing to fund future working capital, capital expenditures, operating costs and other general corporate requirements; and
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limiting GlobalX’s flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in its business.
Our ability to lease aircraft on favorable terms will have a significant impact on our operating performance, need for capital and profitability.
To operate in accordance with its business plan, GlobalX will need to acquire or lease additional aircraft. At present, GlobalX has not acquired any aircraft. However, GlobalX has entered into lease agreements and taken delivery, as lessee, one Airbus A319 family of aircraft, eight Airbus A320 family of Aircraft and five Airbus A321 family of aircraft. While GlobalX does not anticipate any difficulties in entering into satisfactory leasing arrangements for additional aircraft, there is no guarantee that we will be able to enter into leases for additional aircraft on terms satisfactory to it, or at all.
The terms of GlobalX’s leasing arrangements will impact the potential profitability of GlobalX’s business. If we are unable to acquire or lease additional aircraft on satisfactory terms, we will be unable to operate in accordance with its business plan. GlobalX’s ability to pay any fixed costs associated with aircraft lease or purchase contractual obligations will depend on GlobalX’s operating performance, cash flow, its ability to secure adequate financing, whether fuel prices continue at current price levels and/or further increase or decrease, further weakening or improvement in the United States economy, as well as general economic and political conditions and other factors that are, to a large extent, beyond GlobalX’s control.
Our business has grown rapidly, and we may fail to manage our growth effectively.
GlobalX may be subject to growth-related risks including capacity constraints and pressure on its internal systems and controls. The ability of GlobalX to manage growth effectively will require it to continue to implement and improve its operations and financial systems and to expand, train, and manage its employee base. The inability of GlobalX to deal with potential growth could result in a material adverse effect.
Any expansion of operations GlobalX may undertake will entail risks; such actions may involve specific operational activities, which may negatively impact the profitability of GlobalX. Consequently, shareholders must assume the risk that: (i) such expansion may ultimately involve expenditures of funds beyond the resources available to GlobalX at that time; and (ii) management of such expanded operations may divert management’s attention and resources away from any other operations, all of which factors may result in a material adverse effect.
If we fail to implement our business strategy successfully, our business, results of operations and financial condition will be materially adversely affected.
The viability of GlobalX’s business model and its ability to implement this model is dependent on a number of inputs and assumptions, including:
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the timing and receipt of all regulatory approvals required or desirable for operations by GlobalX and their impact upon expectations as to future operations of GlobalX;
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the expected operations and performance of GlobalX’s business as compared to existing charter operators;
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the anticipated competitive response from existing charter operators as well as potential new market entrants which may compete with GlobalX;
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impact of existing or new governmental regulation on GlobalX;
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future development and growth prospects;
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expected operating costs, general administrative costs, costs of services and other costs and expenses;
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the anticipated increase in the size of the airline passenger market in North America;
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ability to meet current and future obligations;
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treatment under governmental regulatory regimes;
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projections of market prices and costs;
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ability to obtain equipment, services and supplies in a timely manner, including the ability to lease or purchase aircraft; and
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ability to obtain financing or leasing arrangements on acceptable terms, or at all.
Should one or more of these inputs and assumptions not be correct or fail to occur as anticipated, there is a risk that GlobalX’s business model may not be implemented as anticipated and GlobalX may suffer a material adverse effect.
In addition, in order to successfully implement our growth strategy, we will require access to an additional number of airport gates and other services at airports we currently serve or may seek to serve. We believe there are currently significant restraints on gates and related ground facilities at many of the most heavily utilized airports in the United States. As a result, if we are unable to obtain access to a sufficient number of slots, gates or related ground facilities at desirable airports to accommodate our growing fleet, we may be unable to compete in those markets, our aircraft utilization rate could decrease, and we could suffer a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Our Airport Use Agreement with Miami International Airport does not guarantee availability of boarding gates or landing slots at that airport.
Our reputation and business could be adversely affected in the event of an emergency, accident or similar public incident involving our aircraft or personnel.
A major safety incident involving GlobalX’s aircraft during operations would likely incur substantial repair or replacement costs to the damaged aircraft and a disruption in service. GlobalX could also incur potentially significant claims relating to injured passengers and parties, along with a significant negative impact on GlobalX’s reputation for safety, adversely affecting GlobalX’s ability to attract and retain passengers.
We may face unanticipated obstacles to the execution of GlobalX’s business plan.
GlobalX’s business plans may change significantly. The execution of GlobalX’s business plan is capital intensive and may become subject to statutory or regulatory requirements. GlobalX may need to make significant modifications to any of GlobalX’s stated strategies depending on future events.
We may require additional capital, which may not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all.
The ability of GlobalX to execute its build-out and growth strategy and achieve operations will depend on acquiring substantial additional financing through debt financing, equity financing or other means. Failure to obtain such financing may result in the delay or indefinite postponement of such growth strategy or even impact the ability of GlobalX to continue as a going concern.
There can be no assurance that additional capital or other types of financing will be available if needed or that, if available, the terms of such financing will be favorable to GlobalX. If additional financing is raised by GlobalX through the issuance of its securities, shareholders may suffer significant dilution. If additional financing is not available, or if available, not available on satisfactory terms, this could result in a material adverse effect or could require GlobalX to reduce, delay, scale back or eliminate portions of its actual or proposed operations or could prevent GlobalX from continuing as a going concern.
GlobalX may also need to raise capital by incurring long-term or short-term indebtedness in order to fund its business objectives. This could result in increased interest expense and decreased net income. Investors are cautioned that there can be no assurance as to the terms of such financing and whether such financing will be available. The level of GlobalX’s indebtedness could impair its ability to obtain additional financing in the future on a timely basis to take advantage of business opportunities that may arise.
We rely on third-party specialists and other commercial partners to perform functions integral to our operations.
GlobalX is expected to secure goods and services from a number of third party suppliers. Any significant interruption in the provision of goods and services from any such key suppliers, some of which would be beyond GlobalX’s control, or any significant increase in price of such goods and services, could have a material adverse effect. GlobalX will be reliant upon providers of aircraft, such as Airbus and other third party leasing companies, which will make GlobalX susceptible to any problems connected with aircraft or engines or components, including defective materials, mechanical problems or negative perceptions in the traveling community. The delay or inability of any provider of aircraft to deliver aircraft or engines or components as GlobalX requires could negatively impact GlobalX’s growth strategy and could result in a material adverse effect.
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Our limited fleet size could prevent us from replacing aircraft that face unscheduled maintenance.
Given the limited number of aircraft GlobalX currently operates, if one or more aircraft becomes unavailable due to unscheduled maintenance, repairs or other reasons, GlobalX could suffer material adverse financial and reputational impacts.
Our business has been and in the future may be materially adversely affected by the price and availability of aircraft fuel. Unexpected increases in the price of aircraft fuel or a shortage or disruption in the supply of aircraft fuel could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
GlobalX will be dependent on fuel to operate its business, and therefore, will be exposed to the risk of volatile fuel prices. Fuel prices are impacted by a host of global events outside of GlobalX’s control, such as significant weather events, market speculation, geopolitical tensions, refinery capacity, government taxes and levies, and GlobalX demand and supply. GlobalX’s fuel costs are expected to make up one of the largest anticipated expenses of GlobalX. A significant change in the price of fuel would materially affect GlobalX’s projected operating results and growth strategy. A fuel supply shortage or significantly higher fuel prices could result in a curtailment of GlobalX’s planned scheduled service. There can be no assurance that increases in the price of fuel can be offset by fuel surcharges or any potential hedging transactions.
We operate a limited number of aircraft types.
Critical to GlobalX’s business model is a supply of modern and cost-effective aircraft that can service the various sectors required to fly GlobalX’s planned route network. Should the A319, A320 or A321 family of aircraft not be available in accordance with GlobalX growth strategy or should the aircraft lease or maintenance costs increase drastically there could be a material impact on GlobalX’s growth strategy, cost structure and potential profitability. In addition, a switch to a different family of aircraft could have a material adverse effect on our cost structure.
A critical cost-saving element of our business strategy is to operate a limited number of aircraft types; however, our dependence on the A319, A320 and A321 family of aircraft for all of our aircraft makes us vulnerable to any design defects or mechanical problems associated with this aircraft type or these engines. In the event of any actual or suspected design defects or mechanical problems with this family of aircraft, whether involving our aircraft or that of another airline, we may choose or be required to suspend or restrict the use of our aircraft. Our business could also be materially adversely affected if the public avoids flying on our aircraft due to an adverse perception of our plane type or engine type, whether because of safety concerns or other problems, real or perceived, or in the event of an accident involving such aircraft or engine. Our intellectual property rights, particularly our branding rights, are vulnerable, and any inability to protect them may adversely affect our business and financial results.
We consider our intellectual property rights, particularly our branding rights such as our trademark applicable to our airline, to be a significant and valuable aspect of our business. We aim to protect our intellectual property rights through a combination of trademark, copyright and other forms of legal protection, contractual agreements and policing of third-party misuses of our intellectual property, but cannot guarantee that such efforts will be successful. Our failure to obtain or adequately protect our intellectual property or any change in the law that lessens or removes the current legal protections of our intellectual property may diminish our competitiveness and adversely affect our business and financial results. Any litigation or disputes regarding intellectual property may be costly and time-consuming and may divert the attention of our management and key personnel form our business operations, either of which may adversely affect our business and financial results.
Our quarterly results of operations fluctuate due to a number of factors, including seasonality.
The charter airline industry is seasonal. The demand for and the pricing of charter services does fluctuate throughout the year, as it does with most air travel industries. Historically, demand for air travel is higher in the second and third quarters, driving higher revenues, than in the first and fourth quarters, which are periods of lower travel demand. In so much as GlobalX has fixed costs relating to air crews, insurance, leases, rent and other payments, lower periods of demand, combined with lower prices, could lead to negative cash flow and earnings for a given period.
Threatened or actual terrorist attacks or security concerns involving airlines could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and subsequent terrorist activity have caused uncertainty in the minds of the traveling public. The occurrence of a major terrorist attack or attempted terrorist attack (whether domestic or international and whether involving GlobalX or another carrier or no carrier at all) and additional restrictive security measures that are implemented in response could have a material adverse effect on passenger demand for air travel and on the number of passengers traveling on GlobalX’s flights. It could also lead to
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a substantial increase in insurance, airport security and other costs. Any resulting reduction in passenger revenues and/or increases in insurance, security or other costs could result in a material adverse effect.
The rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus and its variants has had and may continue to have an adverse impact on our business, operating results, financial condition and liquidity. A new outbreak of COVID-19 or another disease or similar public health threat in the future could also have an adverse effect on our business, operating results, financial condition and liquidity.
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic causing a massive market disruption to the aviation industry. Measures such as travel restrictions, including testing regimes, “stay at home” and quarantine orders, limitations on public gatherings, cancellation of public events and many others have resulted in a decline in demand for air travel.
While most restrictions have been removed in the United States, and a recovery is underway in the domestic airline industry, additional governmental and other restrictions and regulations may be implemented or reinstated in the future in response to further outbreaks of COVID-19 or another disease, including travel restrictions (including on domestic air travel within the United States), quarantines of populations (including our personnel), limitations on aircraft capacity, testing requirements and restrictions on our ability to access our facilities or aircraft or requirements to collect additional passenger data. In addition, governments, non-governmental organizations and entities in the private sector may issue non-binding advisories or recommendations regarding air travel or other physical distancing measures, including limitations on the number of persons that should be present at public gatherings, which may significantly reduce demand. These and other restrictions and regulations, as well as the general concern about the virus among travelers, have had, and could continue to have, a material adverse impact on our business, operating results, financial condition and liquidity.
Future outbreaks of COVID-19 or another disease could have a material negative impact on demand. Reduced demand would have an adverse impact on our revenues and lower levels of flying can lead to higher unit costs. Actual or perceived risk of infection from COVID-19 or another disease could have a material adverse effect on the public’s demand for and willingness to use air travel, which could harm our reputation and business. Our operations may be further impacted in the event of additional instances of actual or perceived risk of infection of COVID-19 or another disease among our employees, suppliers or business partners, and this impact may have a material adverse effect if we are unable to maintain a suitably skilled and sized workforce and address related employee matters. In addition, supply chain disruptions may impede our cargo customers’ ability to deliver freight to the airports we serve, which could reduce their need for our services and thus have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The industry may also be subject to enhanced health and hygiene requirements in attempts to counteract future outbreaks of COVID-19 or another disease, which requirements may be costly and take a significant amount of time to implement, or drive additional staffing during a time when staffing shortages are common place.
We may take additional actions in response to COVID-19 or another disease to improve our financial position, including measures to improve liquidity, such as the issuance of unsecured and secured debt securities, equity securities and equity-linked securities, the sale of assets and/or the entry into additional bilateral and syndicated secured and/or unsecured credit facilities. There can be no assurance as to the timing of any such issuance, or that any such additional financing will be completed on favorable terms, or at all. Any such actions may be material in nature and could result in significant additional borrowing. Our reduction in expenditures, measures to improve liquidity or other strategic actions that we may take in the future in response to COVID-19 or another disease may not be effective in offsetting decreased demand, which could result in a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, liquidity and financial condition.
Even as enhanced screenings, quarantine and other requirements, and travel restrictions have eased, we may continue to experience similar adverse effects to our business, operating results, financial condition and liquidity resulting from a recessionary or depressed economic environment that may persist, including increases in unemployment, and our business and operating results may not return to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels on a timely basis or at all. The impact of future outbreaks of COVID-19 or another disease on our businesses, operating results, financial condition and liquidity could exacerbate the other risks identified in this prospectus.
General economic conditions may reduce the demand for our services.
The financial success of GlobalX may be sensitive to adverse changes in general economic conditions in the United States such as war, terrorist attacks, recession, inflation, labor disputes, demographic changes, pandemics, weather or climate changes, unemployment and interest rates. Such changing conditions could reduce demand in the marketplace for GlobalX’s services.
We may become involved in litigation that may materially adversely affect us.
GlobalX may be subject to litigation arising out of its operations. Damages claimed under such litigation may be material or may be indeterminate, and the outcome of such litigation may materially impact GlobalX’s business, results of operations, or financial condition.
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While GlobalX will assess the merits of any lawsuit and defend itself accordingly, it may be required to incur significant expense or devote significant financial resources to defending itself against such litigation. In addition, the adverse publicity surrounding such claims may result in a material adverse effect.
Increased labor costs, union disputes, employee strikes and other labor-related disruption, may adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
GlobalX intends to have a non-unionized workforce. In the event that unionization activities occur with its workforce, GlobalX will incur increased labor costs. Increased labor costs will negatively impact upon GlobalX’s cost structure and will adversely affect GlobalX’s ability to operate an airline.
Many factors could affect our ability to control our costs and to maintain a low cost structure.
Our business plan calls for our operations to be based at MIA, which is our primary hub, with the vast majority of our projected flights consisting of daily round trips departing from and returning to MIA. If we are unable to continue to secure operating capacity at MIA for our operations or planned expansion our business will be substantially harmed. And, assuming that we do obtain operating capacity at MIA, there is no guarantee that the fees and other costs related to operating out of MIA will not increase. Our operating performance and results of operations could be harmed by any such increase in fees or costs charged by the airport. We have reached an agreement with Sheltair Aviation (2) for the financing and construction of a new aircraft maintenance facility at the Fort Lauderdale- Hollywood International Airport (KFLL). We expect to break ground on this new facility in Q2 2024, occupy the facility in Q2 2025, and to cost approximately $25 million to construct. KFLL will become the new base of operations at such point. However, there is no guarantee that the facility at KFLL will be completed on time or on budget and as a result any delays or cost increases could have a material adverse impact on the airline.
We will rely heavily on technology and automated systems to operate our business and any failure of these technologies or systems or failure by their operators could harm our business.
We will need to put in place a significant amount of information technology and automated systems to operate our business. The functionality and implementation of these systems will be one of the keys to achieving low operating costs. These systems are expected to include a computerized airline reservation system, flight operations system, financial planning, management and accounting systems, telecommunications systems, website, maintenance systems and check-in kiosks. An inability to implement these systems in a timely fashion could result in delays in the start of our operations. In addition, in order for our operations to work efficiently, our website and reservation system will need to be able to accommodate a high volume of traffic, maintain secure information and deliver flight information. Substantially all of our tickets are expected to be issued to passengers as electronic tickets. We intend for our reservation system to be hosted and maintained under a long term contract by a third-party service provider and we plan to rely on this reservation system to issue, track and accept electronic tickets. If we are unable to contract with the third party service provider or otherwise are unable to implement our reservation system or our reservation system fails or experiences interruptions, and we are unable to book seats for any period of time, we could lose a significant amount of revenue as customers book seats on competing airlines.
Unauthorized breach of our information technology infrastructure could compromise the personally identifiable information of our passengers, prospective passengers or personnel and expose us to liability, damage our reputation and have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our anticipated processing, storage, use and disclosure of personal data could give rise to liabilities as a result of government regulation or a significant data breach may adversely affect the Company’s business. In our regular business operations, we collect, transmit, process and store sensitive data, including personal and financial information of our customers and employees such as payment processing information and information of our business partners. GlobalX depends on the ability to use information we collect to provide our services and operate our business.
GlobalX must manage increasing legislative, regulatory and consumer focus on privacy issues and data security. For example, in May 2018, the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation became effective, which imposes significant privacy and data security requirements, as well as potential for substantial penalties for non-compliance. Recent penalties imposed by regulators have resulted in substantial adverse financial consequences to those companies. Also, some of GlobalX’s commercial partners, such as credit card companies, have imposed data security standards that GlobalX must meet. These standards continue to evolve. GlobalX will continue its efforts to meet its privacy and data security obligations; however, it is possible that certain new obligations or customer expectations may be difficult to meet and could increase GlobalX’s costs.
Additionally, GlobalX must manage evolving cybersecurity risks. Our network systems and storage applications, and those systems and storage and other business applications maintained by our third-party providers, may be subject to attempts to gain unauthorized access,
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breach, malfeasance or other system disruptions. In some cases, it is difficult to anticipate or to detect immediately such incidents and the damage caused thereby. In addition, as attacks by cybercriminals become more sophisticated, frequent and intense, the costs of proactive defense measures may increase. While we continually work to safeguard our internal network systems, including through risk assessments, system monitoring, information security policies and employee awareness and training, and review and validate our third-party security standards, there is no assurance that such actions will be sufficient to prevent cyber-attacks or data breaches.
The loss, disclosure, misappropriation of or access to customers’, employees’ or business partners’ information or GlobalX’s failure to meet its obligations could result in legal claims or proceedings, penalties and remediation costs. A significant data breach or GlobalX’s failure to meet its obligations may adversely affect GlobalX’s reputation, relationships with our business partners, business, operating results and financial condition.
Failure to comply with applicable environmental regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We expect to be subject to increasingly stringent federal, state, local and foreign laws, regulations and ordinances relating to the protection of the environment, including those relating to emissions to the air, discharges to surface and subsurface waters, safe drinking water, and the management of hazardous substances, oils and waste materials. Compliance with all environmental laws and regulations can require significant expenditures and any future regulatory developments in the U.S. and abroad could adversely affect operations and increase operating costs in the airline industry. For example, climate change legislation was previously introduced in Congress and such legislation could be re-introduced in the future by Congress and state legislatures, and could contain provisions affecting the aviation industry, compliance with which could result in the creation of substantial additional costs to us. Similarly, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a rule that regulates larger emitters of greenhouse gases. Future operations and financial results may vary as a result of such regulations. Compliance with these regulations and new or existing regulations that may be applicable to us in the future could increase our cost base and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Governmental authorities in several U.S. and foreign cities are also considering or have already implemented aircraft noise reduction programs, including the imposition of nighttime curfews and limitations on daytime take-offs and landings, which could adversely affect our operations going forward, particularly if locally-imposed regulations become more restrictive or widespread.
Non-compliance with the growing Regulations and Guidelines for Minimizing Aircraft Emissions and its Impact on Climate Change.
Concerns about climate change may prompt governments to introduce regulatory changes affecting the aviation industry, potentially resulting in increased costs. These changes could involve emission reduction requirements, capital investments in specific equipment or technologies, or other additional expenses linked to emissions. Indirectly, these regulatory activities may raise operating costs, including fuel expenses.
Assets securing loans, such as aircraft, spare parts, and airport slots, may depreciate if there is a shift in customer demand towards low-carbon alternatives. Operational impacts, such as increased flight cancellations, may result in revenue loss. We may incur significant expenses to enhance the climate resilience of our infrastructure in response to the physical effects of climate change, although the materiality of such costs remains uncertain.
Growing public awareness of climate change threats might lead customers to reduce air travel frequency or opt for airlines perceived as more environmentally sustainable. Business customers may explore alternatives like virtual meetings and workspaces. The advancement of high-speed rail in markets served by short-haul flights may offer passengers lower-carbon travel options, affecting the demand for our services.
In addition, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) endorsed the implementation of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). CORSIA aims to achieve carbon-neutral growth in the global aviation sector from 2021 to 2035. It mandates airlines to offset the increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, relative to an ICAO-defined baseline, for a significant majority of international flights. This offsetting is accomplished through the acquisition of carbon offsets or the utilization of low-carbon fuels.
The future costs associated with CORSIA compliance are uncertain, influenced by variables like the availability and pricing of carbon offset credits and low-carbon aircraft fuels. We acknowledge the potential impact on our business due to the uncertain landscape of compliance costs.
Notably, we lack direct control over CORSIA compliance costs until 2032, as they are contingent on global aviation sector emissions growth. Beginning in 2033, such requirements incorporate a factor for individual airline operator emissions growth. Due to the competitive and unpredictable nature of the airline industry, we cannot assure the ability to offset CORSIA-related costs through fare adjustments, surcharges, revenue increases, or other operating cost reductions.
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We have a significant amount of aircraft-related fixed obligations that could impair our liquidity and thereby harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We expect to lease all of our aircraft. Our ability to pay the fixed costs associated with our contractual obligations under these leases will depend on our operating performance and cash flow, which will in turn depend on, among other things, the success of our current business strategy, whether fuel prices continue at current price levels and/or further increase or decrease, further weakening or improving in the U.S. economy, as well as general economic and political conditions and other factors that are, to some extent, beyond our control. The amount of our aircraft related fixed obligations could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Rising maintenance and repair costs could adversely affect cash flow and results of operation.
As we anticipate ordering all aircraft fresh from maintenance, our initial maintenance costs will in all likelihood be lower at the beginning of the aircraft lease. Our fleet will require more maintenance as it ages and our maintenance and repair expenses for each of our aircraft will likely be incurred at approximately the same intervals. Moreover, because we anticipate that our current fleet will be acquired over a relatively short period, significant maintenance that is scheduled on each of these planes will likely occur at roughly the same time, meaning we will likely incur our most expensive scheduled maintenance obligations, known as heavy maintenance, across our present fleet around the same time. These more significant maintenance activities could result in out-of-service periods during which our aircraft are dedicated to maintenance activities and unavailable to generate revenue. In addition, we anticipate that the terms of our lease agreements will require us to pay supplemental rent, also known as maintenance reserves, to be paid to the lessor in advance of the performance of major maintenance, resulting in our recording significant prepaid deposits on our balance sheet. We expect scheduled and unscheduled aircraft maintenance expenses to increase as a percentage of our revenue over the next several years. Any significant increase in maintenance and repair expenses would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We may face difficulties in recruiting and hiring our workforce.
From time to time, the airline industry has experienced a shortage of personnel licensed by the FAA, especially pilots and mechanics. We expect to compete against the major U.S. and foreign flag airlines for labor in these highly-skilled positions. Major U.S. airlines may offer wage and benefit packages that exceed our wage and benefit packages. If we are unable to hire, train and retain qualified employees at its anticipated costs, we may be unable to successfully execute our business plan. Moreover, in the future, we may have to increase wages and benefits in order to attract and retain qualified personnel or risk considerable employee turnover.
The airline industry is particularly sensitive to changes in economic conditions.
Negative economic conditions or a reoccurrence of such conditions would negatively impact our business, results of operations and financial condition. Our business and the airline industry in general are affected by many changing economic conditions beyond our control, including, among others:
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changes and volatility in general economic conditions, including the severity and duration of any downturn in the U.S. or Global economy and financial markets;
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changes in consumer preferences, perceptions, spending patterns or demographic trends, including any increased preference for higher-fare carriers offering higher amenity levels, and reduced preferences for low-fare carriers offering more basic transportation, during better economic times;
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higher levels of unemployment and varying levels of disposable or discretionary income;
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depressed housing and stock market prices; and
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lower levels of actual or perceived consumer confidence.
These factors can adversely affect the results of our operations, our ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms, and our liquidity generally. Unfavorable general economic conditions, such as higher unemployment rates, a constrained credit market, housing-related pressures and increased focus on reducing business operating costs can reduce spending for leisure, visiting friends and relatives, and business travel. For many travelers, in particular the leisure and visiting friends and relatives travelers we serve, air transportation is a discretionary purchase that they can eliminate from their spending in difficult economic times. Unfavorable economic conditions could also affect our ability to raise prices to counteract increased fuel, labor or other costs, resulting in a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
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Risks associated with our presence in international emerging markets, including political or economic instability, and failure to adequately comply with existing legal requirements, may materially adversely affect us.
Some of our target growth markets include countries with less developed economies, legal systems, financial markets and business and political environments are vulnerable to economic and political disruptions, such as significant fluctuations in gross domestic product, interest and currency exchange rates, civil disturbances, government instability, nationalization and expropriation of private assets, trafficking and the imposition of taxes or other charges by governments. The occurrence of any of these events in markets served by us now or in the future and the resulting instability may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We will emphasize compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and will implement and refresh policies, procedures and certain ongoing training of our employees, third-party specialists and partners with regard to business ethics and key legal requirements; however, we cannot assure you that our employees, third-party specialists or partners will adhere to our code of ethics, other policies or other legal requirements. If we fail to enforce our policies and procedures properly or maintain adequate recordkeeping and internal accounting practices to record our transactions accurately, we may be subject to sanctions. In the event we believe or have reason to believe our employees, third-party specialists or partners have or may have violated applicable laws or regulations, we may incur investigation costs, potential penalties and other related costs which in turn may have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business, results of operations and financial condition.
We face limits on foreign ownership and control.
To comply with restrictions imposed by federal law on foreign ownership of U.S. airlines, we will restrict voting of shares of capital stock by non-U.S. citizens. The restrictions imposed by federal law currently require that no more than 25% of our stock be voted or controlled, directly or indirectly, by persons who are not U.S. citizens and that our president and at least two-thirds of the members of our board of directors be U.S. citizens.
To be considered a U.S. citizen, you must be: (1) individual who is a citizen of the U.S.; (2) a partnership each of whose partners is an individual who is a citizen of the U.S.; or (3) a corporation or association organized under the laws of the U.S. or a state, the District of Columbia, or a territory or possession of the U.S., of which the president and at least two-thirds of the board of directors and other managing officers are citizens of the U.S., which is under the actual control of citizens of the U.S., and in which at least 75 percent of the voting interest is owned and controlled by persons that are citizens of the U.S.
No shares of stock may be voted by or at the direction of non-U.S. citizens unless such shares are registered on a separate stock record, which is referred to as the foreign stock record. Further, no shares of its capital stock will be registered on the foreign stock record if the amount so registered would exceed the foreign ownership restrictions imposed by federal law.
We are subject to extensive regulation by the FAA, the DOT, the TSA, CBP and other U.S. and foreign governmental agencies, compliance with which could cause us to incur increased costs and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Airlines are subject to extensive regulatory and legal compliance requirements, both domestically and internationally, that involve significant costs. In the last several years, Congress has passed laws, and the DOT, FAA and TSA have issued regulations, relating to the operation of airlines that have required significant expenditures. We expect to continue to incur expenses in connection with complying with government regulations. Additional laws, regulations, taxes and airport rates and charges have been proposed from time to time that could significantly increase the cost of airline operations or reduce the demand for air travel. If adopted, these measures could have the effect of raising charter prices, reducing revenue and increasing costs.
We cannot assure you that these and other laws or regulations enacted in the future will not harm our business. Our ability to operate as an airline is dependent on our maintaining certifications issued to us by the DOT and the FAA. The FAA has the authority to issue mandatory orders relating to, among other things, the grounding of aircraft, inspection of aircraft, installation of new safety-related items and removal and replacement of aircraft parts that have failed or may fail in the future. A decision by the FAA to ground, or require time consuming inspections of or maintenance on, our aircraft, for any reason, could negatively affect our business and financial results. Federal law requires that air carriers operating large aircraft be continuously “fit, willing and able” to provide the services for which they are licensed. Our “fitness” is monitored by the DOT, which considers factors such as unfair or deceptive competition, advertising, baggage liability and disabled passenger transportation. While the DOT has seldom revoked a carrier’s certification for lack of fitness, such an occurrence would render it impossible for us to continue operating as an airline. The DOT may also institute investigations or administrative proceedings against airlines for violations of regulations.
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International routes are regulated by treaties and related agreements between the United States and foreign governments. Our ability to operate international routes is subject to change because the applicable arrangements between the United States and foreign governments may be amended from time to time. Our access to new international markets may be limited by our ability to obtain the necessary certificates to fly the international routes. In addition, our operations in foreign countries are subject to regulation by foreign governments and our business may be affected by changes in law and future actions taken by such governments, including granting or withdrawal of government approvals and restrictions on competitive practices. We are subject to numerous foreign regulations based on the large number of countries outside the United States where we currently provide service. If we are not able to comply with this complex regulatory regime, our business could be significantly harmed.
Risk Factors Relating Ownership of Our Common Stock
We do not know whether an active, liquid and orderly market will develop for our common stock or what the market price of our common stock will be, and, as a result, it may be difficult for you to sell your shares of our common stock.
Our common stock currently trades on the OTCQB and NEO and our Class B Non-Voting Common Stock trades on the NEO, each with very limited daily trading volume. The market price of our common stock and our Class B Non-Voting Common Stock may fluctuate significantly in response to numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control, including:
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limited daily trading volume resulting in the lack of a liquid market;
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our success in purchasing aircraft, obtaining regulatory approval and other authorizations for our business;
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general market, political and economic conditions;
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changes in fuel prices;
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changes in earnings estimates and recommendations by financial analysts;
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our failure to meet financial analysts’ performance expectations;
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changes in market valuations of our competitors; and
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the expiration of the lock-up periods on shares of our common stock that were outstanding.
Until our common stock is listed on a qualified national securities exchange or our common stock price exceeds $5 per share, our common stock will be considered a “penny stock” and will not qualify for exemption from the “penny stock” restrictions, which may make it more difficult for you to sell your shares.
Our common stock has traded on the OTCQB at a price of less than $5.00 per share and, as a result, is considered a “penny stock” by the SEC and subject to rules adopted by the SEC regulating broker- dealer practices in connection with transactions in “penny stocks.” The SEC has adopted regulations which generally define a “penny stock” to be any equity security that is not listed on a qualified national securities exchange and that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share, or with an exercise price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions. For any transaction involving a penny stock, unless exempt, these rules require delivery, prior to any transaction in a penny stock, of a disclosure schedule relating to the penny stock market. Disclosure is also required to be made about current quotations for the securities and commissions payable to both the broker-dealer and the registered representative. Finally, broker-dealers must send monthly statements to purchasers of penny stocks disclosing recent price information for the penny stock held in the account and information on the limited market in penny stocks. As a result of our common stock being subject to the rules on penny stocks, the liquidity of our common stock may be adversely affected.
We will require additional capital in the future and raising additional capital may cause dilution to our existing stockholders, restrict our operations or require us to relinquish rights to our business assets.
We will require additional capital in the future and we may seek additional capital through a combination of public and private equity offerings, debt financings, working capital lines of credit and potential licenses and collaboration agreements. We, and indirectly, our stockholders, will bear the cost of issuing and servicing such securities. Because our decision to issue debt or equity securities in any future offering will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of any future offerings. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or debt securities, your ownership interest will be diluted, and the terms may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect your rights as a stockholder. The incurrence of indebtedness would result in increased fixed payment obligations and could involve restrictive covenants, such as limitations on our ability to incur additional debt, limitations on our ability to acquire additional aircraft and other operating restrictions that could adversely impact our ability to conduct our business. Additionally, any future collaborations we enter into with third parties may provide capital in the near term but limit our potential cash flow and revenue in the future.
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If securities analysts do not publish research or reports about our business or if they publish negative evaluations of our stock, the price of our stock could decline.
The trading market for our common stock and our Class B Non-Voting Stock will rely in part on the research and reports that industry or financial analysts publish about us or our business. We do not currently have and may never obtain research coverage by industry or financial analysts. If no or few analysts commence coverage of us, the trading price of our stock could decrease. Even if we do obtain analyst coverage, if one or more of the analysts covering our business downgrade their evaluations of our stock, the price of our stock could decline. If one or more of these analysts cease to cover our stock, we could lose visibility in the market for our stock, which in turn could cause our stock price to decline.
Insiders will continue to have substantial influence over us, which could limit your ability to affect the outcome of key transactions, including a change of control.
Our directors, executive officers, holders of more than 5% of our outstanding stock and their respective affiliates will beneficially own shares representing approximately 40% of our outstanding common stock . As a result, these stockholders, if they act together, will be able to influence our management and affairs and all matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions. This concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of our company and might affect the market price of our common stock and our Class B Non-Voting Common Stock.
Our corporate charter and Bylaws include provisions limiting voting and ownership by non-U.S. citizens.
To comply with restrictions imposed by federal law on foreign ownership of U.S. airlines, our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws restrict voting of shares of our common stock by non-U.S. citizens. The restrictions imposed by federal law currently require that no more than 24.9% of our stock be voted, directly or indirectly, by persons who are not U.S. citizens, that no more than 49.9% of our outstanding stock be owned (beneficially or of record) by persons who are not U.S. citizens and that our president and at least two-thirds of the members of our board of directors and senior management be U.S. citizens. Our Bylaws provide that the failure of non-U.S. citizens to register their shares on a separate stock record, which we refer to as the “foreign stock record,” would result in a suspension of their voting rights in the event that the aggregate foreign ownership of the outstanding common stock exceeds the foreign ownership restrictions imposed by federal law. Our Bylaws also provide that any transfer or issuance of our stock that would cause the amount of our stock owned by persons who are not U.S. citizens to exceed foreign ownership restrictions imposed by federal law will be void and of no effect.
Our Bylaws further provide that no shares of our common stock will be registered on the foreign stock record if the amount so registered would exceed the foreign ownership restrictions imposed by federal law. If it is determined that the amount registered in the foreign stock record exceeds the foreign ownership restrictions imposed by federal law, shares will be removed from the foreign stock record in reverse chronological order based on the date of registration therein, until the number of shares registered therein does not exceed the foreign ownership restrictions imposed by federal law. We are currently in compliance with these ownership restrictions.
We are an “emerging growth company” and a “smaller reporting company” and the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies may make our common stock less attractive to investors.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act. For so long as we remain an emerging growth company, we are permitted and plan to rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies. These exemptions include, but are not limited to: (i) exemption from compliance with the auditor attestation requirements pursuant to SOX; (ii) exemption from compliance with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements; (iii) reduced disclosure about our executive compensation arrangements; and (iv) exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
We incur increased costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management will be required to devote substantial time to new compliance initiatives and corporate governance practices.
As a public company, and particularly after we are no longer an emerging growth company, we will incur significant legal, accounting, and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. SOX, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the listing requirements of Nasdaq, and other applicable securities rules and regulations impose various requirements on public companies, including establishment and maintenance of effective disclosure and financial controls and corporate governance practices.
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We expect that we will need to hire additional accounting, finance, and other personnel as we continue to grow to comply with public company reporting requirements, as a public company, and our management and other personnel will need to devote a substantial amount of time towards maintaining compliance with these requirements. These requirements will increase our legal and financial compliance costs and will make some activities more time- consuming and costly. For example, the rules and regulations applicable to us as a public company may make it more difficult and more expensive for us to maintain director and officer liability insurance, which could make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified members of our board of directors. We are currently evaluating these rules and regulations and cannot predict or estimate the amount of additional costs we may incur or the timing of such costs. These rules and regulations are often subject to varying interpretations, in many cases due to their lack of specificity, and, as a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies. This could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices.
Pursuant to Section 404 of SOX, we are required to furnish a report by our management on our internal control over financial reporting beginning with our second filing of an Annual Report on Form 10-K with the SEC after we became a public company. However, while we remain an emerging growth company or smaller reporting company, we are not required to include an attestation report on internal control over financial reporting issued by our independent registered public accounting firm. To achieve compliance with Section 404 of SOX within the prescribed period, we are engaged in a process to document and evaluate our internal control over financial reporting, which is both costly and challenging. In this regard, we need to continue to dedicate internal resources, potentially engage outside consultants, adopt a detailed work plan to assess and document the adequacy of internal control over financial reporting, continue steps to improve control processes as appropriate, validate through testing that controls are functioning as documented, and implement a continuous reporting and improvement process for internal control over financial reporting. Despite our efforts, there is a risk that we are not able to conclude, within the prescribed timeframe or at all, that our internal control over financial reporting is effective as required by Section 404 of SOX. If we identify one or more material weaknesses, it could result in an adverse reaction in the financial markets due to a loss of confidence in the reliability of our financial statements.
Delaware law and provisions in our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws might discourage, delay, or prevent a change in control of our company or changes in our management and, therefore, depress the trading price of our common stock.
Provisions in our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws may discourage, delay, or prevent a merger, acquisition, or other change in control that stockholders may consider favorable, including transactions in which you might otherwise receive a premium for your shares of our common stock. These provisions may also prevent or frustrate attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our management. Therefore, these provisions could adversely affect the price of our common stock.
In addition, Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or DGCL, prohibits a publicly-held Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination with an interested stockholder, generally a person which together with its affiliates owns, or within the last three years has owned, 15% of our voting stock, for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner.
Any provision of our Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, or Delaware law that has the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control could limit the opportunity for our stockholders to receive a premium for their shares of our capital stock and could also affect the price that some investors are willing to pay for our common stock.
Our disclosure controls and procedures may not prevent or detect all errors or acts of fraud.
As a public company, we are subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to reasonably assure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act are accumulated and communicated to management, and recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC. We believe that any disclosure controls and procedures or internal controls and procedures, no matter how well-conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met.
These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people or by an unauthorized override of the controls. Accordingly, because of the inherent limitations in our control system, misstatements or insufficient disclosures due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None
ITEM 1C. CYBERSECURITY
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GlobalX's Audit Committee, comprising board members and senior management from various departments including IT, operations, legal, risk management, and others, diligently engage in regular cybersecurity risk assessments. These comprehensive assessments are designed to proactively identify potential threats, vulnerabilities, and risks that could impact the integrity and security of the company's airline systems, data infrastructure, and operational continuity. Evaluations span critical areas such as safeguarding flight systems, protecting passenger data, and mitigating operational disruptions.
Moreover, the GlobalX Audit Committee remains committed to providing timely updates and detailed reports, offering insights into the airline's cybersecurity posture, ongoing initiatives, prevalent incident trends, and active remediation efforts. These reports are meticulously crafted, incorporating key metrics, performance indicators, and actionable recommendations aimed at continual enhancement.
The committee vested with cybersecurity oversight consistently conducts periodic reviews of GlobalX's cybersecurity policies, procedures, and controls. These reviews are pivotal in ensuring the ongoing effectiveness of the company's cybersecurity framework and its alignment with emerging threats and evolving industry best practices. Regular updates are meticulously implemented to fortify the company's cybersecurity resilience in response to emerging risks and evolving regulatory requirements.
As of December 31, 2022, and 2023, GlobalX remains proud to report that it has not encountered any cybersecurity incidents that have materially impacted, or are reasonably likely to materially impact, the Company.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Not applicable.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
On October 1, 2021, GEM Global Yield LLC SCS ("GEM"), has filed initial pleadings in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, claiming the Company breached the share subscription agreement between the parties by failing to pay a $500,000 fee due on May 4, 2021. GEM is requesting repayment in full of the CAD $2,000,000 promissory note issued by the Company to GEM plus accrued interest and costs and expenses related to collection. As of December 31, 2022, the note payable to GEM is recorded in current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet and the Company expensed the full outstanding amount capitalized as deferred financing costs of $2,809,031.
On January 18, 2023, the Court granted summary judgment in favor of GEM. GEM subsequently filed a motion seeking $2,000,000 CAD, plus interest totaling $218,493.87, with an additional $506.02 accruing each day after January 30, 2023 until entry of Judgment. GEM also seeks $112,584.50 in attorney's fees and $4,884.86 in costs. In 2022, interest and attorney's fees were recorded in current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet and other expenses non-operating on the consolidated statement of operation.
On March 29, 2023 Global Crossing Airlines and GEM entered into a final settlement which included a payment plan for the $2,000,000 CAD over nine months plus the extension of the agreement for 12 months. Consequently, GlobalX has adjusted the current liabilities to reverse the previously accrued interest and attorney’s fees no longer due. Upon final payment GEM agrees to file a satisfaction of judgment in County of New York, effectively settling this issue. GlobalX made payments due per final settlement and the Company had no outstanding balance as of December 31, 2023.
On August 11, 2023 Global Crossing Airlines in combination with Top Flight Charters and its minority interest member filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court Southern District of Florida against Shorts Travel Management, Inc (Shorts) and STM Charters, Inc seeking to have an old non-solicit agreement signed by Top Flight' minority interest member to be declared invalid, that Shorts alleged trade secrets do not exist and sought damages arising from the Shorts defamation per se based on numerous false statements made by Shorts in the marketplace. On October 4, 2023, Shorts responded in court by denying the claims made and countersued all parties for breach of contract and theft of trade secrets. This case is currently in the discovery phase.
There have been no material changes in our risk factors from those disclosed above in “Part I. Item 1A. Risk Factors”.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
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PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Our shares of common stock are traded on the OTCQB Marketplace (“OTCQB”) under the symbol “JETMF” and on the NEO Exchange (“NEO”) under the symbol “JET.” Our shares of Class B Non-Voting Common Stock are traded on the NEO under the symbol “JET.B”
The Company has not paid any cash dividends.
The equity compensation plan information called for by Item 201(d) of Regulation S-K is set forth in Item 12 “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters” of Part III of this report under the heading “Equity Compensation Plan Information”.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
We did not purchase any of our registered equity securities during the period covered by this Annual Report.
ITEM 6. [Reserved]
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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Subsidiaries Name Place of incorporation Interest% Principal activity
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this report. This Item 7 contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially are discussed throughout this report and include, but are not limited to, those set forth at the end of this Item 7 under the heading "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements." Additional factors are under the heading “Risk Factors”.
Background
Certain Terms - Glossary
The following represents terms and statistics specific to our business and industry. They are used by management to evaluate and measure operations, results, productivity, and efficiency.
Utilization The average number of Block Hours operated per day per aircraft.
Business Overview
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GlobalX operates a US Part 121 domestic flag and supplemental airline using the Airbus A320 family of aircraft. GlobalX’s business model is to (1) provide services on an ACMI using wet lease contracts to airlines and non-airlines, and (2) on a Charter basis whereby we provide passenger aircraft charter services to customers by charging an “all-in” fee that includes fuel, insurance, landing fees, navigation fees and most other operational fees and costs. GlobalX operates within the United States, Europe, Canada, Central and South America. GlobalX began operating the Airbus A321 freighter (“A321F”) during the first quarter of 2023 after completing all FAA certification requirements with the A321F.
Focused on becoming a market leader with differentiated, value-creating solutions
GlobalX intends to become the best-in-class U.S. narrow-body, ACMI charter airline, operating both passenger and cargo charter aircraft while recruiting and maintaining a dynamic team of customer-centric flight crews, ground and maintenance teams and management staff.
GlobalX operates its A320 family aircraft for airlines, tour operators, college and professional sports teams, incentive groups, resorts and casino groups and government agencies. It is our goal to deliver best in class on time performance and dispatch reliability, expand existing relationships and develop additional relationships with leading charter/tour operators to provide aircraft during their peak seasons; and provide ad-hoc and track charter programs for non-airline customers, including hotels, casinos, cruise ship companies, tour operators.
Business Developments
The twelve months period ended December 31, 2023 for GlobalX was characterized by the achievement of significant regulatory milestones in addition to considerable investment in crew, staff, maintenance, and systems to build out our platform, bolster our infrastructure to prepare GlobalX to continue its rapid expansion through the delivery of additional aircraft in 2024. GlobalX is comprised of three key assets which allows us to generate income – our certifications, our aircraft, and our crew.
From a regulatory perspective GlobalX in the twelve months period ended December 31, 2023 has achieved the following:
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Received our EASA TCO allowing us to operate in Europe
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Received our UK TCO allowing us to operate in the UK
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Received our Cargo Certification from the FAA allowing us to launch Cargo operations
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Successfully passed our DOD Audit – allowing us to register and start operating flights for the Department of Defense
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Successfully passed our IOSA Audit – allowing us to operate for other airlines without an extensive audit process
From an aircraft perspective GlobalX in the twelve months period ended December 31, 2023 has achieved the following:
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Taken delivery of three A321F to launch Cargo operations
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Taken delivery of two A320 passenger aircraft and one A319 passenger aircraft
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Completed five heavy maintenance events and one non-heavy maintenance event
From a crew perspective GlobalX in the twelve months period ended December 31, 2023 has achieved the following:
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Hired and trained the required number of people in dispatch, crew scheduling, operation control center and maintenance to allow for 24 hours, 7 day a week operation on a global basis
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Increased our pilot headcount from 70 to 138
In short, the twelve months period ended December 31, 2023 was a time when GlobalX invested in its people, prepared for its growth, and established a robust infrastructure for its future.
Launch cargo charter flights with A321P2F (Passenger to Freighter)
GlobalX added the A321F (passenger to freighter) aircraft to its operating certificate and into the fleet commencing Q1 2023 and expects cargo to be an integral part of the GlobalX business. GlobalX operates the majority of its A321Fs under ACMI charter operations with major package operators and major freight and logistics companies. Under these types of arrangements, customarily, these operators will take the commercial risk associated with the selling of the cargo and provide all ground handling and cargo-specific operations,
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with GlobalX assuming the operational risk of providing a functional aircraft, trained crew, in a safe and on time manner as the ACMI operator.
Reducing Operational Costs
To control costs and maintain a competitive cost per Block Hour flown, GlobalX:
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Flies only one aircraft family (A320).
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Maintains focus on continuous financial discipline and strict departmental budgeting.
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Has implemented and utilizes highly digital operating methods for both flight and maintenance operations, using best in class aviation software operating systems from leading suppliers including dispatch (Navblue), maintenance (Trax) and training software (Mint). By capitalizing on the latest software, GlobalX can effectively eliminate most manual processes and operate effectively with fewer people than a comparably-sized airline using older software systems.
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Promotes organizational culture of efficiency and high productivity.
Marketing Plan
GlobalX plans to achieve its revenue goals by flying charter operations for a variety of client groups:
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Scheduled airlines that have short-term or long-term capacity needs to supplement their existing routes or fleets.
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Major tour operators, resorts, cruise lines and casinos that require airlift above and beyond scheduled service to meet their occupancy needs.
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Professional and collegiate sports teams
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Charter brokers representing a variety of interests, including the entertainment industry, dignitary travel, political campaigns, and government programs.
GlobalX Aircraft Fleet
Critical to GlobalX’s business model is a fleet of modern and cost-effective aircraft. To achieve this objective, GlobalX has selected what it believes is the best overall single-aisle aircraft family to operate. This approach differs from traditional airlines, which purchase a variety of aircraft, often from different manufacturers, to achieve their operational flight sectors, resulting in increased training, operating and spare part costs. GlobalX conducted research to determine the best aircraft to fly in competition with other narrow-body charter airlines in the single-aisle seat market and GlobalX selected the A320 aircraft family.
The following factors support GlobalX’s choice to operate the Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft versus the Boeing family of aircraft:
Cost and Operating factors: lower fuel burn, and better aircraft and cockpit crew pool availability.
Operational Capability: the A320 has a range advantage over the 737-800 and can fly non-stop from Miami to selected airports in North America, South America, the Caribbean, and between most major destinations in Europe. The A320 has excellent maintenance dispatch reliability and strong availability of spare parts and components, making the A320, in management’s estimation, the most popular aircraft among low-cost airlines.
Passenger comfort: better seat width, cargo bin volume for carry-on baggage and cargo hold volume.
Aircraft Maintenance
Heavy maintenance checks are expected to be outsourced to FAA-approved service providers. The 6Y and 12Y checks will be primarily paid for using funds from the accrued maintenance reserves paid to lessors under operating leases.
Strategy to Address Competitive Response
We expect the existing charter operators based in the U.S. to respond to GlobalX’s entry into the market by lowering their pricing to customers. The expected competitive response typically includes lowered ACMI rates for key contracts. We believe GlobalX’s existing relationships with potential customers and the underserved demand in the U.S., coupled with our newer planes allowing for a more cost-efficient operation, will allow us to address any competitive pressure and grow as anticipated.
GlobalX Charter Service
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GlobalX is a charter provider that currently focuses exclusively on providing customized, non-scheduled passenger air transportservices with narrow-body Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft. We expect our primary line of business and focus to be commercial charter services throughout North and South America and the Caribbean, with established several key customer including the US Government, scheduled airlines, US colleges and indirect air carriers.
We provide our services through two contract structures: (1) ACMI and (2) Charter.
We believe operating charter flights will largely insulate our expected profitability from fluctuations in jet fuel prices, which are typically the largest and most volatile expense for an air carrier. Under the vast majority of our commercial passenger charter arrangements, our customers bear 100% of the cost of jet fuel. In addition, consistent with industry practice, we plan for those customers to pay us our contract price approximately two weeks in advance of their flights.
Because our ACMI customers are responsible for fuel costs, our expected commercial ACMI revenues would not be affected directly by fuel price changes. However, a significant increase in fuel prices would likely have an adverse effect on demand for the use of our aircraft, which could have a material adverse effect on our profitability and financial position.
Experienced management team
Our management team has extensive operating and leadership experience in the airfreight, airline, and aircraft leasing, maintenance, and management industries at companies such as Republic Airways, Eastern Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Virgin America, Hawaiian Airlines, American Airlines, US Airways, Atlas Air, Breeze Airways, Emirates, North American Airlines, Miami Air, Spirit Airlines, Continental Airlines, Pan Am, Atlantic Coast Airlines, and Flair Airlines, as well as the United States Army, and Air Force. In addition, our management team has a diversity of experience from other industries at companies such as KBR, Teladoc, Halliburton, Lehman Brothers, and the Burger King Corporation.
Business Strategy
GlobalX seeks to become the best-in-class U.S. narrow-body, ACMI and full services contract charter airline, operating both passenger and cargo charter aircraft while recruiting and maintaining a dynamic team of customer-centric flight crews, ground teams and management staff.
In launching a US 121 Domestic Flag and Supplemental charter airline in the United States, GlobalX has done the following:
Launch passenger charter flights with A320/A321 all passenger aircraft
GlobalX operates its A320 family aircraft under ACMI/Full Contract charter operations for major airlines, tour operators, college and professional sports teams, incentive groups, major resorts and casino groups.
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Deliver best in class on time performance and dispatch reliability;
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Expand existing relationships and develop additional relationships with leading European charter/ our operators to provide aircraft during their peak seasons; and
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Provide ad-hoc and track charter programs for non-airline customers, including hotels, casinos, cruise ship companies, tour operators.
Results of Operations
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our Financial Statements and other financial information appearing and referred to elsewhere in this report.
Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
Operating Revenue & Statistics
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our Financial Statements and other financial information appearing and referred to elsewhere in this report.
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The analysis of GlobalX results for the twelve months period ended on December 31, 2023 and 2022 requires an understanding of how the Company fundamentally evolved during that time period. 2022 was our first year of full operations and was a period where the company was focused on securing new customers, entering new markets and flying to new locations; primarily in the domestic and Caribbean markets. As a young company, we were learning how to operate effectively and efficiently.
By contrast in 2023, GlobalX expanded existing relationships, entered the Cargo market, expandedoperations in the European ACMI market and increased focus on operating for existing airlines once we completed our IOSA certification. Our key metric is block hours flown and block hours flown per available aircraft, which is the measure by which we track commercial activity. While other airlines discuss available seat miles and revenue per available seat mile (“rasm”), cost per available seat mile (“casm”), these metrics are not germane to our business model as an ACMI and Charter operator. GlobalX charters the entire aircraft, does not take fuel risk, and does not take third party risk therefore all results are evaluated on a block hour basis.
The following table compares our Operating Fleet (average aircraft equivalents during the period) and total Block Hours operated:
Operating Fleet 2023 2022 Inc/(Dec) Inc/(Dec)
Total Operating Average Aircraft Equivalents 10.6 6.6 4.0 60.6 %
The following table describes the degree to which variations in revenues can be attributed to fluctuations in prices and nature of GlobalX services.
Operating Revenue 2023 2022 Inc/(Dec) % Change
Revenue per Block Hour 2023 2022 Inc/(Dec) % Change
Charter revenue for the period increased $40.8 million or 55.7%, from $73.3 million in 2022 to $114.1 million in 2023. $33.5 million of the increased revenue is attributable to flying more block hours as the number of block hours operated increased 41.6% from 6,253 in 2022 to 8,852 block hours in 2023, driven by the increased number of aircraft available to operate.In addition, the net rate for Charter flying increased 10.0% from $11,726 per block hour to $12,893 per block hour. There are two factors impacting the net Charter rate; first is the rate that we charged customers for the ACMI portion of the contract and second was the cost of fuel. Average fuel cost was lower in 2023 so that reduced the rate by $1,027 per block hour. This was offset by an increase of $2,194 per block hour in the average rate charged to customers. The net effect was an increase of $1,167 per block hour. This increase contributed $7.3 million of the total charter revenue improvement.
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ACMI revenue for the period increased by $27.1 million or 202.6% from $13.4 million in 2022 to $40.5 million in 2023. This variance can largely be explained by a 65% increase in the number of available aircraft which resulted in an increase from 2,328 block hours in 2022 to 9,157 block hours in 2023, an increase of 293.3% or 6,829 block hours. The average revenue per block hour dropped from $5,744 in 2022 to $4,420 in 2023 due to several factors. Generally, when a customer commits to a greater minimum number of block hours in a month, there is a reduction on the revenue per block hour charged. In 2023, not only was GlobalX flying more hours, GlobalX flew more hours per month per aircraft, primarily servicing key customers in Europe. There were also several contracts in 2022 that flew under the minimum guaranteed rate, which increased the revenue per block hour flown that did not occur in 2023.Those two factors combined to reduce the average revenue per block hour by 23.1% or $1,324 per block hour.
Other revenue for the period decreased by $4.9 million from $10.4 million in 2022 to $5.5 million in 2023, due a specific contract in 2022 that GlobalX was not able to operate due to the Company's lack of regulatory approval. This contract had a guaranteed minimum amount of block hours that were paid even though GlobalX was unable to operate the flights. The associated revenue earned under the contract was booked as other revenue with no operational block hours.
Operating Expenses
The following table compares our Operating Expenses (in dollars):
Operating Expenses 2023 2022 Inc/(Dec) % Change
Salaries, wages, and benefits increased to $54.1 million up from $30.6 million, a $23.4 million, or 76.5% increase, primarily due to the hiring and training of pilots and other airline personnel necessitated by the growing fleet and operations. The total employees grew 59.0% from 393 to 625 and pilots increased from 70 to 138, or 97.1%.
Aircraft fuel is directly correlated to the number of Charter block hours which increased 2,599 or 41.6%, the average spot price of jet fuel which decreased by 20.2% from $3.37 per gallon in 2022 to $2.69 per gallon in 2023 and the type of aircraft being flown with A321’s burning more fuel than an A320. The consequence of all three factors was that fuel increased 28.0% from $23.0 million to $29.5 million.
Maintenance, materials, and repairs increased by $4.2 million, from $4.4 million to $8.6 million, or 96.5%, primarily due to the increase in both the number of aircraft to 14 and the number of block hours flown which increased 108.5%. These volume drivers were partially offset by rate improvement from $505 per block hour to $476 per block hour, a 5.6% decrease. This decrease in rate per block hour was achieved through increased efficiencies and the benefits of a larger scaled operation.
Depreciation and amortization increased $1.7 million, or 276.2%, from $0.6 million to $2.3 million, driven by assets acquired to support our airport operations. These assets include, but are not limited to, fuel trucks, tractors, computers, software, and rotable inventory.
Contracted ground and aviation services increased by $4.9 million, or 31.4%, from $15.6 million to $20.5 million, These costs are directly correlated to the number of Charter hours operated in a specific period. Year-over-year Charter block hours increased 41.6%. This was offset by a reduction in station specific cost such as navigation expense, aircraft security expense, and ground handling due to favorable pricing and station mix.
Travel increased $3.3 million or 65.9%, from $5.0 million to $ 8.3 million, primarily due to the increase in Block Hours and a significant increase in the number of pilots in training who require hotel accommodations during the trips.
Insurance increased $1.4 million, or 39.9%, from $3.6 million to $5.0 million, primarily related to the increase in the number of aircraft.
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Aircraft rent increased $18.0 million, or 115.4%, from $15.6 million to $33.6 million, primarily due to the increase in the number of aircraft from eight to fourteen aircraft in the fleet.
Operating loss increased by $4.7 million, from an operating loss of $11.2 million to $15.9 million, however operating loss as a percentage improved from (11.5%) to (9.8%), a 15% improvement. This was a direct result of GlobalX’s ability to grow its revenue faster than its cost structure as the airline works towards achieving scale and profitability. Specifically, the Salaries, wages, and benefits rate improved by 15.4% dropping from $3,534 to $2,991 per block hour as planners and schedulers are able to achieve optimization. Maintenance, material, and repairs saw a 5.8% improvement as the rate dropped $505 per block hour to $476 per block hour. Travel rates improved 20.5% from $580 per block hour to $461 per block hour. Insurance improved from $413 per block hour to $277 per block hour or 33%. These improvements are a function achieving economies of scale through organic growth as the company is better able to negotiate favorable terms and deliver optimal operational performance.
Non-operating Expenses (Income)
The following table compares our Non-operating Expenses (Income) :
Non-Operating Expenses (Income) 2023 2022 Inc/(Dec) % Change
Unrealized Loss (Gain) on Financial Instruments $ - $ (96,415 ) $ 96,415 N/A
Other non-operating expenses decreased by $3.0 million due to the write-off of deferred costs in 2022 incurred in connection with GEM line of credit, as discussed in note 9 of the consolidated financial statements.
Interest expense, net increased $3.3 million driven mainly by the interest payable on the debentures issued in 2023.
Net Loss
Net Loss increased by $5.2 million to a net loss of $21.0 million from $15.8 million in 2022 however net loss as a percentage improved from (16.25%) to (12.9%), a 20% improvement. This was a direct result of GlobalX’s ability to grow its revenue faster than its cost structure as the airline works towards achieving scale and profitability. This is despite financing cost increasing 220% from $1.6 million to $5.2 million. It is important to consider that as GlobalX increases aircraft count and block hours flown the company is able to achieve operational efficiencies, evident in the expense rates per total block hours. The Salaries, wages, and benefits rate improved by 15.4% dropping from $3,534 to $2,991 per block hour as planners and schedulers are able to achieve optimization. Maintenance, material, and repairs saw a 5.8% improvement as the rate dropped $505 per block hour to $476 per block hour. Travel rates improved 20.5% from $580 per block hour to $461 per block hour. Insurance improved from $413 per block hour to $277 per block hour or 33%. These improvements are a function achieving economies of scale through organic growth as the company is better able to negotiate favorable terms and deliver optimal operational performance.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The most significant liquidity events during 2023 were as follows:
Operating Activities. For 2023, Net Cash used in operating activities decreased from $3.6 million to $1.3 million consisting primarily of $19.5 million increase in accrued liabilities and other liabilities and accounts payables, $7.7 million of increase in accounts receivable, $7.9 million of increase in operating leases obligations and $11.4 million increase noncash adjustments for depreciation and amortization of fixed assets, operating lease right of use assets and debt issue costs, $2.5 million increase of share-based payments. These were partially offset by $5.0 million of increase in net loss. For 2022, net cash used in operating activities decreased from $10.8 million to $3.6 million, consisting primarily of $15.8 million of net loss, $1.9 million of increase in accounts receivable, $1.3 million of increase in Prepaid Expenses and other current assets, and $3.5 million of increase in operating lease obligations. These were partially offset by noncash adjustments of $0.6 million for depreciation and amortization of fixed assets, operating lease right of use assets and debt issue costs, $1.4 million for share-based payments, $9.3 million of accounts payable and accrued and other liabilities, and $0.2 million of bad debt expense.
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As of December 31, 2023, the Company had approximately $11.6 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and approximately $6.1 million in restricted cash, an increase of approximately $9.7 million and $2.5 million from December 31, 2022, respectively primarily due to the Secured Notes entered on August 2, 2023 and increase in operations. Management is confident that the augmented cash and cash equivalents, coupled with the anticipated rise in sales linked to the Company’s strategies to attract more funds, will adequately address the Company’s liquidity requirements for the next twelve months. Management is actively assessing various options to procure additional funds, including exploring opportunities for additional equity or debt financing.
The Company has significant fixed and noncancelable lease commitments of aircraft, equipment and related maintenance checks. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had total of $14.2 million due in the next 12 months of future minimum lease payments under finance and operating leases. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had total of $65.8 million due after 12 months from the balance sheet date of future minimum lease payments under finance and operating leases, respectively, and approximately $29 million in notes payable included in the non-current liabilities presented in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. The Company finished 2023 with eleven passenger aircraft and three cargo aircraft and expects the fleet to increase to 15 passenger aircraft and five cargo aircraft by the end of 2024. To achieve the number of aircraft deliveries in 2024, the Company currently has sevenaircrafts under lease with partial or total deposits paid and four aircraft under binding agreements that are subject to execution of definitive lease documentation and fulfillment of certain closing conditions.
Investing Activities. For 2023, net cash used for investing activities increased from $5.2 million to $13.2 million, consisting of an increase of $9.1 million of deposit, deferred costs and other assets and $4.0 million of purchases of property and equipment. For 2022, net cash used for investing activities increased from $652.7 thousand to $1.9 million, consisting of $1.9 million of purchases of property and equipment.
Financing Activities. For 2023, net cash provided by financing activities increased from $6.2 million to $26.7 million, consisting primarily of net proceeds of approximately $24.9 million from note payable, and $1.9 million from proceeds from issuance of shares. For 2022, net cash provided by financing activities decreased from $18.9 million to $6.2 million, consisting primarily of $5.9 million of note payable, and $0.8 million in proceeds from issuance of shares, partially offset by $0.5 million in principal payments of finance leases.
The Company continuously seeks to identify external sources of capital from time to time depending on our cash requirements, assessment of current and anticipated market conditions, and the after-tax cost of capital. Our access to capital markets can be adversely impacted by prevailing economic conditions and by financial, business and other factors, some of which are beyond our control. Additionally, the Company’s borrowing costs are affected by market conditions and may be adversely impacted by a tightening in credit markets.
The Company regularly assesses our anticipated working capital needs, debt and leverage levels, debt maturities, capital expenditure requirements and future investments or acquisitions to maximize shareholder return, efficiently finance our ongoing operations and maintain flexibility for future strategic transactions. The Company also regularly evaluates its liquidity and capital structure to ensure financial risks, adequate liquidity access and lower cost of capital are efficiently managed.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had no off-balance sheet arrangements.
Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of the financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts and related disclosures in the financial statements. Management considers an accounting estimate to be critical if:
•
requires assumptions to be made that were uncertain at the time the estimate was made, and
•
changes in the estimate or different estimates that could have been selected could have a material impact on our results of operations or financial condition
We base our estimates and judgments on our experience, our current knowledge, our beliefs of what could occur in the future, our observation of trends in the industry, information provided by our customers and information available from other resources. Actual results may differ from the estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We have identified the following policies and estimates as those that we believe are most critical to our financial condition and results of operations and that require management's most subjective and complex judgments in estimating the effect of inherent uncertainties: allowance for credit losses, fair value measurements
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for stock-based compensation and deferred tax valuation allowance. See footnote 2 of the Company's consolidated financial statements for significant accounting policies.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The update requires the use of an “expected loss” model on certain types of financial instruments and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to calculate credit loss estimates. For trade receivables, loans and held-to-maturity debt securities, entities will be required to estimate lifetime expected credit losses. For available-for-sale debt securities, entities will be required to recognize an allowance for credit losses rather than a reduction to the carrying value of the asset. ASU 2016-13 was initially effective for non- public companies for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2021, with early adoption permitted. In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-10, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and Leases (Topic 842): Effective Dates, which delayed the effective date for certain entities, such as the Company, to apply ASU 2016-13 until fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2022. The adoption of this pronouncement had no material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.
Not Applicable.
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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Page
Global Crossing Airlines Group Inc. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB No. 89) 28
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 30
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 34
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Global Crossing Airlines Group Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Global Crossing Airlines Group, Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Substantial Doubt about the Company’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has limited operating history, has recurring net losses and negative cash flows from operations since inception, and has a working capital deficit as of December 31, 2023, these factors raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management's plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ Rosenberg Rich Baker Berman P.A.
Somerset, New Jersey
March 7, 2024
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2020.
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GLOBAL CROSSING AIRLINES GROUP INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
Current Assets
Current liabilities
Current portion of notes payable - 1,810,468
Other liabilities
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 7)
Equity (Deficit)
Noncontrolling interest 224,680 -
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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GLOBAL CROSSING AIRLINES GROUP INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Operating Expenses
Non-Operating Expenses
Foreign Exchange (gain) or loss - (96,415 )
Other non-operating expenses - 3,058,938
Income tax expense 2,450 -
Net Income attributable to Noncontrolling Interest 224,680 -
Loss per share:
-
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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GLOBAL CROSSING AIRLINES GROUP INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For The Twelve Months Ended December 31,
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Loss on sale of property 135,772 —
Foreign exchange loss (gain) — (96,415 )
Gain on disposal of flight equipment (455,700 ) —
Amortization of operating lease right of use assets 8,172,685 4,797,056
Changes in assets and liabilities:
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Repayment of note payable (9,901,626 ) —
Non-cash transactions
Discount on proceeds from note payable due to professional fees $ 35,900 $ -
Acquisition of Intangible Asset $ 428,400 $ -
Airframe Parts acquired through financing $ - $ 1,065,180
Cash paid for
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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GLOBAL CROSSING AIRLINES GROUP INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Global Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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GLOBAL CROSSING AIRLINES GROUP INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEARS ENDED December 31, 2023 and 2022
1. NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND GOING CONCERN
Global Crossing Airlines Inc. (the “Company” or “GlobalX”) was incorporated under the laws of British Columbia and continued as a Federal corporation pursuant to the Canada Business Corporations Act effective February 28, 2017. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company completed a business acquisition pursuant to which it acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of Global Crossing Airlines, Inc. (“Global USA”), a Delaware corporation. For financial reporting purposes, the Company is considered a continuation of Global USA, the legal subsidiary, except with regard to authorized and issued common stock which is that of the Company, the legal parent. On December 22, 2020, the Company changed its jurisdiction of incorporation from the province of British Columbia, Canada to the State of Delaware. The U.S. Domestication was required for the Company to complete its charter licensing process and will also reflect the Company’s U.S.-business and operations. The Company’s principal business activity is providing passenger aircraft to customers through aircraft operating service agreements including, crew, maintenance, insurance (“ACMI”) and charter services “Charter” serving the US, Caribbean and Latin American markets. The Company’s shares trade on the NEO Exchange (the “Exchange” or “NEO”) under the symbol “JET” and the OTCQB under the symbol “JETMF.”
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP), on a going concern basis which assumes that the Company will be able to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business for the foreseeable future. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company had a working capital deficits of $22,435,074 and $16,141,322, respectively, and retained deficits of $59,093,845 and $38,083,304, respectively. The Company began flight operations in August 2021. Without ongoing income generation or additional financing, the Company will be unable to fund general and administrative expenses and working capital requirements for the next 12 months. These material uncertainties raise substantial doubt as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Company is evaluating financing its future requirements through a combination of debt, equity and/or other facilities. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain such financing or obtain them on favorable terms. The consolidated financial statements do not reflect the adjustments to the carrying values of assets and liabilities and the reported expenses and statement of financial position classifications that would be necessary were the going concern assumption deemed to be inappropriate. These adjustments could be material.
2. BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, and the following subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated on consolidation. Certain reclassification and format changes have been made to prior year amounts to conform to the 2023 presentation.
Subsidiaries Name Place of incorporation Interest% Principal activity
Investment in Top Flight:
On September 18, 2023, the Company acquired 80% of Charter Air Solutions, LLC ("Top Flight"). Top Flight was established on February 8, 2023 and had no significant transactions from the date of formation to the acquisition date. The balance sheet and operating activity of Top Flight are included in the Company's consolidated financial statements and we adjust the net income in our consolidated statement of operations to exclude the noncontrolling interests' proportionate share of results. We present the proportionate share of
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equity attributable to noncontrolling interests as equity within our consolidated balance sheet. As of December 31, 2023, Top Flight figures did not materially impact the consolidated financial statements of the Company.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company maintains cash balances at several financial institutions; at times, such balances may be in excess of insurance limits. The Company has not experienced any losses on these balances.
Restricted Cash
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, restricted cash of $6,079,531 and $3,585,261, respectively, were being held by a financial institution as security for future flights. As of December 31, 2023, the Company also had $360,000 deposits held for an Airport Security Bond which is required by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Department of Transportation.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts Receivable are recorded at the amount due from customers and do not bear interest. The Company determines its allowances for credit losses by considering a number of factors, including the length of time accounts receivable are past due, the Company’s previous loss history, the customer’s current ability to pay its obligation to the Company, and the condition of the general economy and the industry as a whole. During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company recorded $5,915 and $219,759, respectively, of provision for allowance for credit losses. In addition, as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company presented $94,755 and $104,406, respectively, as allowance for credit losses net in Accounts Receivable on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Assets held for sale
Assets held for sale consist of the purchased airframe parts from used Airbus 320 bearing manufacturer's serial number 2090 as completed on sales agreement entered on March 2, 2022. Assets held for sale are valued at the lower of the carrying amount or the net realizable value estimated at December 31, 2023. They were recorded at average cost and are expensed when sold, used or consumed. An allowance for obsolescence on aircraft airframe parts is recorded when impaired to reduce the carrying costs to lower of cost or net realizable value. The Company monitors resale values for its assets held for sale on a recurrent basis using various qualitative and quantitative matters including analysis of current sales, estimates obtained from outside vendors, physical counts, internal discussions, among others. As of December 31, 2023, the Company did not identify items that were obsolete and recorded a $0 allowance for obsolete items on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
Intangible Assets
The Company entered in an agreement on September 21, 2023 to invest $453,600 in the purchase 54,000 carbon offsets from Karbon-X to be paid monthly over 36 months from October 1, 2023 to September 1, 2026. Carbon offsetting involves compensating for carbon emissions by investing in projects that reduce or remove an equivalent amount of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. This initiative aligns with the Company's goal to balance its carbon footprint and contribute to environmental sustainability through supporting various projects such as renewable energy initiatives and afforestation programs.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company recorded $453,600 of intangible asset cost and accumulated amortization of $37,800, which is reflected in the “Deposits and Other Assets” of the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. The expected annual amortization for the carbon offsets intangibles is $151,200 for 2024 and 2025 and $113,400 in 2026.
The carbon offsets intangibles was initially measured at cost and will be carried at cost less any accumulated amortization. In the events or changes suggesting unrecoverable carrying values, the Company will assess Carbon-Offsets carrying amount value using the impairment model in accordance with ASC 360. The impairment test involves a comparison of the carrying amount of the asset to its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset's fair value less costs to sell and its value in use. If the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its recoverable amount, the asset is considered impaired, and an impairment loss needs to be recognized. In
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addition, Carbon offsets will be derecognized upon sale, transfer, or retirement. In the instance where carbon offsets are utilized to offset the company's emissions, they will be retired accordingly.
Lessor Maintenance Deposits
GlobalX’s aircraft lease agreements provide that GlobalX pay maintenance reserves monthly to aircraft lessors to be held as collateral in advance of major maintenance activities required to be performed by Global. Maintenance reserve payments are either fixed, or variable based on actual flight hours or cycles. These lease agreements provide that maintenance reserves are reimbursable to GlobalX upon completion of the maintenance event in an amount equal to the lesser of (1) the amount of the maintenance reserve held by the lessor associated with the specific maintenance event or (2) the qualifying costs related to the specific maintenance event.
Maintenance reserve payments that are expected to be recoverable via reimbursable expenses will be reflected as Lessor Maintenance Deposits on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, Lessor Maintenance Deposits totaled $908,358 and $889,919, respectively, and are included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets and Deferred Costs and other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Heavy Maintenance
The Company accounts for heavy maintenance costs for airframes and engines using the deferral method. Under this method, expense recognition of scheduled heavy maintenance events is deferred and amortized over the estimated period until the next scheduled heavy maintenance event is required. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company incurred amortization expense of $789,494 with respect to heavy maintenance costs and had $1,740,537 in deferred maintenance costs as of December 31, 2023. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company incurred amortization expense of $218,688 with respect to heavy maintenance costs and had $1,022,492 in deferred maintenance costs as of December 31, 2022.
Property & Equipment
Property and equipment are recorded at cost at the Acquisition Date and depreciated on a straight-line basis to an estimated residual value over their estimated useful lives or lease term, whichever is shorter, as follows:
Office and Ground Equipment 5 years
Computer Hardware and Software 3-5 years
Modifications that enhance the operating performance or extend the useful lives of leased airframes are considered leasehold improvements and are capitalized and depreciated over the economic life of the asset or the term of the lease, whichever is shorter.
The components of property and equipment, net are as follows:
December 31,
During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, depreciation of property and equipment was $935,970 and $283,325, respectively.
Equity Investments
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Investments in partnerships and less-than-majority owned subsidiaries in which the Company does not have control but has the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies, are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. The equity method investments are included in the accompanying Balance Sheets with Deferred Costs and Other Assets. The Company’s share of earnings or losses from these investments is shown in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations in Other Expense. Equity method investments are initially recognized at cost. The carrying amount of the equity investment is adjusted at each reporting period by the percentage of any change in its equity corresponding to the Company’s percentage interest in these equity affiliates. The carrying costs of these investments are also increased or decreased to reflect additional contributions or withdrawals of capital. Any difference in the book equity and the Company’s pro-rata share of the net assets of the investment will be reported as gain or loss at the time of the liquidation of the investment. It is the Company’s policy to record losses in excess of the investment if the Company is committed to provide financial support to the investee.
Evaluation of Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets are evaluated whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable or the useful life has changed. Such indicators include significant technological changes, adverse changes in market conditions and/or poor operating results. The carrying value of a long-lived asset group is considered impaired when the projected undiscounted future cash flows are less than its carrying value. The amount of impairment loss recognized is the difference between the estimated fair value and the carrying value of the asset or asset group. Fair value is determined using various valuation techniques including discounted cash flow models, quoted market values and third- party independent appraisals, as considered necessary. No impairment losses were recognized during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC Topic 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation” (“ASC 718”) which establishes financial accounting and reporting standards for stock-based employee compensation. It defines a fair value-based method of accounting for an employee stock option or similar equity instrument.
The Company recognizes all forms of share-based payments, including stock option grants, warrants and restricted stock grants, at their fair value on the grant date, which are based on the estimated number of awards that are ultimately expected to vest.
Estimating fair value for granted stock options and compensatory warrants requires determining the most appropriate valuation model which is dependent on the terms and conditions of the grant. This estimate also requires determining the most appropriate inputs to the valuation model including the expected life of the option or warrant, volatility, dividend yield, and rate of forfeitures and making assumptions about them.
Estimating fair value for granted restricted share units requires estimating the number of awards likely to vest on grant and at each reporting date up to the vesting date. The estimated forfeiture rate is adjusted for actual forfeitures in the period.
Grants of share-based payment awards issued to non-employees for services rendered have been recorded at the fair value of the share-based payment. The grants are amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods, which is generally the vesting period. If an award is granted, but vesting does not occur, any previously recognized compensation cost is reversed in the period related to the termination of service. Stock-based compensation expenses are included in the consolidated statement of operations.
Income taxes
The estimation of income taxes includes evaluating the recoverability of deferred tax assets and liabilities based on an assessment of the Company’s ability to utilize the underlying future tax deductions against future taxable income prior to expiry of those deductions. Management assesses whether it is probable that some or all of the deferred income tax assets and liabilities will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets and liabilities is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income. To the extent that management’s assessment of the Company’s ability to utilize future tax deductions changes, the Company would be required to recognize more or fewer deferred tax assets or liabilities, and deferred income tax provisions or recoveries could be affected.
Leases
Lease classification is evaluated by the Company at lease commencement and when significant amendments are executed. The Company's leases generally do not provide a readily determinable implicit rate; therefore, the Company estimates the incremental borrowing rate to discount lease payments based on information available at lease commencement. The lease term consists of the
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noncancellable period of the lease and periods covered by options to extend the lease if the Company is reasonably certain to exercise the option. For leases of 12 months or less, the Company expenses lease payments on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Operating Lease Right-of-Use Asset and Liabilities
For all operating leases with a term greater than 12 months, the Company recognizes a right-of-use asset and a lease liability at the lease commencement date based on the estimated present value of future minimum lease payments, which includes certain lease and non-lease components, over the lease term. Operating Lease Right-of-use Assets and Operating Lease Obligations have their own lines on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Finance Leases
Finance leases are initially recorded at the net present value of future minimum lease payments, which includes certain lease and non-lease components. Finance leases generally have one of these five attributes: 1) ownership of the underlying asset transfers to the Company at the end of the lease term, 2) the lease agreement contains a purchase option that the Company is reasonably certain to exercise, 3) the lease term represents the major part of the asset’s economic life, 4) the present value of lease payments over the lease term equals or exceeds substantially all of the fair value of the asset, and 5) the underlying asset is so specialized in nature that it provides no alternative use to the lessor after the lease term. Finance Lease Assets are presented separately on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company depreciates Finance Lease Assets consistent with its useful life policy presented in the table above.
Leased Aircraft Return Costs
The Company's aircraft lease agreements often contain provisions that require the Company to return aircraft airframes, engines, and other aircraft components to the lessor in a certain condition or pay an amount to the lessor based on the airframe and engine's actual return condition. Lease return costs are recognized beginning when it is probable that such costs will be incurred, and they can be estimated. The Company assesses the need to accrue lease return costs periodically throughout the year or whenever facts and circumstances warrant an assessment. When costs become both probable and estimable, lease return costs are expensed as a component of Aircraft Rent expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
In addition, the Company leases office space under a month-to-month agreement. For leases with terms greater than 12 months, including renewal options when appropriate, we record the related right-of-use asset and lease liability as the present value of fixed lease payments over the lease term.
Customer Deposits
Customer Deposits represent money we receive from our customers as a security deposit for their contract. The money will either be returned to the customer at the end of the contract or used for payment of any unpaid invoices/debts the customer has during the contract term.
Deferred Revenue
Deferred Revenue represents revenue prepayments. Customers pay in advance of their flights and the funds are held as Deferred Revenue until the flight takes place. Charter customers typically pay a 10% deposit upon signing a contract and the remainder 30 days before the flight. If the contract is signed less than 30 days from the date of the flight, the entire amount is collected upon signing. ACMI customers typically pay 2 weeks in advance.
Revenue Recognition
The Company generates operating revenues by providing passenger aircraft outsourcing services to customers on a Charter and ACMI basis, in exchange for guaranteed minimum revenues at predetermined levels of operation for defined periods of time. The Company also generates other operating revenue from chargebacks related to charter costs including but not limited to fuel, airport fees, navigation fees, and ground handling. Furthermore, the Company also earns other operating revenue from cancellation of flights from customers.
Our performance obligations under Charter contracts involve the provision of passenger aircraft charter services to customers, including various US Government agencies, brokers, freight forwarders, direct shippers, airlines, college sports teams and fans, and private charter customers. Our obligations are for one or more flights based on a specific origin and destination. The Company typically bears all direct operating costs for charters, which include fuel, insurance, landing and navigation fees, and most other operational fees and costs. The time interval between when an aircraft departs the terminal until it arrives at the destination terminal is measured in hours and called “Block Hours.” Revenue from Charter contracts is typically recognized over time as the services are performed based on Block Hours
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operated on behalf of a customer. Payment terms and conditions vary by charter contract, although the vast majority of contracts require payment in advance of the services being provided. Since advance payments are typically made shortly before the services are performed, such payments are not considered significant financing components.
Our performance obligations under ACMI contracts involve outsourced passenger aircraft operating services, including the provision of an aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance. ACMI contracts generally provide for the transfer of the benefits from these performance obligations on a combined basis through the operation of the aircraft over time. Customers assume fuel, demand and price risk. Generally, customers are also responsible for landing, navigation and most other operational fees and costs. When we act as an agent for costs reimbursed by customers, such reimbursed amounts are recorded as Operating Revenue, net of the related costs, when the costs are incurred. When we are responsible for any of these costs, such reimbursed amounts are recorded as Operating Revenue and the costs are recorded as Operating Expenses as incurred.
Revenue from ACMI contracts is typically recognized over time as the services are performed based on Block Hours operated on behalf of a customer during a given month.
Other operating revenue is typically recognized over time as the services aforementioned are provided to customers. Related to the cancellation fees, these are earned from customers and recognized in the period for which the operations were scheduled.
3. EQUITY INVESTMENTS
Investment in Canada Jetlines Operations Ltd.:
On June 28, 2021, the Company completed the spin-out pursuant to the Arrangement under which the Company transferred 75% of shares of Jetlines to GlobalX shareholders. At that time, GlobalX retained 25% of the shares issued and outstanding of Jetlines and accounts for the investment in accordance with the equity method. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company holds approximately 10% and 13% ownership in Jetlines, respectively.
4. DEFERRED FINANCING FEES AND DEBT ISSUANCE COSTS
In relation to the Company’s Subscription Agreement pursuant to which the Company sold $6.0 million of its note (Note 12) the Company capitalized $2,205,113 of debt issuance costs. These costs are initially capitalized on the consolidated balance sheet as debt issuance costs and amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method. In addition, the Company paid the $6.0 million of Note Payable plus accrued interest due for Subscription Agreement. As a result, the Company expensed the full outstanding amount capitalized as debt issuance costs of $945,217 during the year ended December 31, 2023.
On the new $35.0 million Subscription Agreement, the Company also capitalized $6,755,770 of debt issuance costs. These costs are also initially capitalized on the consolidated balance sheet as debt issuance costs and amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method. The Company amortized $246,563 of the related debt issuance costs during the year ended December 31, 2023.
In connection with the GEM Global Yield LLC agreement (Note 8) the Company issued a note for $2,000,000 CAD ($1,418,880 USD) and issued 2,106,290 warrants exercisable at a price of CAD $0.50 per share until May 4, 2023. The initial fair value of the warrants was recorded as a prepaid financing fee in the amount of $1,390,151. These costs are initially capitalized on the consolidated balance sheet as deferred finance costs and will be subsequently reclassified to common stock and additional paid-in capital upon on a pro-rata basis as the Company draws down on the facility. On June 28, 2021, adjustments were made to the warrants issued resulting in a change in warrants issued and their exercise price. During 2022, the Company expensed the full outstanding amount capitalized as deferred financing costs of $2,809,031.
5. ASSET ACQUISITION
On March 22, 2021, the Company executed an agreement to purchase certain assets from Kizoto, LLC. Under the agreement, Global’s newly formed subsidiary, GlobalX Travel Technologies, Inc. (“GlobalX Travel”) would purchase all of the assets used in or relating to the business operation described as “Flugy” and GlobalX committed to finance Travel to facilitate the transaction. The assets acquired include all of Kizoto's right, title and interest in Flugy including, but not limited to, all software source code for the Flugy platform, website and mobile applications and related intellectual and intangible property. In assessing the assets transferred under the agreement, the Company determined that the Flugy assets do not constitute a business as defined in Subtopic 805-10. Accordingly, the transaction was accounted for as an asset purchase.
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Consideration for the Flugy asset purchase included $50,000 paid to Kizoto, LLC and 20% of the shares issued and outstanding of GlobalX Travel. The Company recorded the Flugy platform and the related intangible assets acquired as other noncurrent assets at the total acquisition cost of $50,000. After the closing date, each party shall be entitled to receive a distribution of the net profits according to their respective percentage of ownership.
In connection with the agreement, GlobalX Travel shall pay Kizoto an initial monthly fee of $5,000 to cover ongoing management and development services. This rate increased to $10,000 once the first flight was flown. The monthly management fees will be expensed as incurred as these payments are composed of mostly management and administrative fees. Services provided by Kizoto which further develop and improve the software will be capitalized and amortized over the estimated useful life. Once the Flugy platform is placed in service, GlobalX Travel shall pay Kizoto a fee for each passenger seat sold by GlobalX Travel or sold by a third party which uses the Flugy platform or technology. The per-seat fees are considered transaction costs incurred in the generation of revenue from passenger seat reservations. The costs will be recorded as a reduction of the related revenues generated.
6. LEASES
As of December 31, 2023, and 2022, the Company operated 14 and 8 leased aircraft, respectively, which are accounted for under operating lease agreements with ranging terms of 10 months to 10 years.Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less will be recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations on a straight-line basis over the lease term. These leases primarily relate to the Company’s lease agreements for the month-to-month agreement for office space and leases for office equipment.
For operating leases with terms greater than 12 months, including renewal options when appropriate, we record the related right-of-use asset and lease liability as the present value of fixed lease payments over the lease term.
In addition, the aircraft lease requires the Company to make maintenance reserve payments to cover the cost of major scheduled maintenance for the aircraft. These payments are generally variable as they are based on utilization of the aircraft, including the number of flight hours flown and/or flight departures, and are not included as minimal rental obligations.
On October 14, 2021, the Company signed a lease for one Airbus A321 converted freighter. The term of the lease is 10 years commenced upon aircraft delivery in January 2023 and runs through December 2032. In addition to basic rent due, the Company will pay the lessors supplemental rent for maintenance of the aircraft and equipment.
On June 21, 2022, the Company entered into a lease agreement for one A321F cargo aircraft. The eight-year lease term commenced on June 1, 2023. Under the agreement, the Company will pay the lessor a fixed monthly rent for 96 months, plus supplemental rent for maintenance of the aircraft.
On July 29, 2022, the Company signed a lease agreement for one A321F cargo aircraft and paid commitment fees to the lessor. The lease will commence upon aircraft delivery which is expected to be in 2024 and will run through 72 months from delivery date. In addition to basic rent due, the Company will pay the lessor supplemental rent for maintenance of the aircraft.
On December 14, 2022, the Company entered into a lease agreement for one A319 passenger aircraft. The two-year lease term commenced on August 18, 2023. Under the agreement, the Company will pay the lessor a fixed monthly rent for 24 months, plus supplemental rent for maintenance of the aircraft.
On January 27, 2023, the Company entered into a lease agreement for one A320 passenger aircraft. The six-year lease term commenced on April 21, 2023. Under the agreement, the Company will pay the lessor a fixed monthly rent for 72 months, plus supplemental rent for maintenance of the aircraft.
On May 22, 2023, the Company entered into a lease agreement for a commercial property warehouse. The five-year lease term commenced on June 1, 2023. Under the agreement, the Company will pay the lessor variable monthly rents increasing once every year for 62 months, plus estimated expenses for insurance, utilities, taxes, management fees and other operating expenses.
On June 16, 2023, the Company entered into a lease agreement for one A320 passenger aircraft. The four-year lease term commenced on November 13, 2023. Under the agreement, the Company will pay the lessor a fixed monthly rent for 48 months, plus supplemental rent for maintenance of the aircraft.
On September 8, 2023, the Company entered into a lease agreement for one A321F cargo aircraft. The eight-year lease term commenced on October 6, 2023. Under the agreement, the Company will pay the lessor a fixed monthly rent for 72 months, plus supplemental rent for maintenance of the aircraft.
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On November 17, 2023, the Company signed a lease agreement for one A321 passenger aircraft and paid commitment fees to the lessor. The lease will commence upon aircraft delivery which is expected to be in 2025 and will run through 24 months from delivery date. In addition to basic rent due, the Company will pay the lessor supplemental rent for maintenance of the aircraft.
On November 20, 2023, the Company signed a lease agreement for one A320 passenger aircraft and paid commitment fees to the lessor. The lease will commence upon aircraft delivery which is expected to be in 2024 and will run through 88 months from delivery date. In addition to basic rent due, the Company will pay the lessor supplemental rent for maintenance of the aircraft.
On December 22, 2023, the Company signed a lease agreement for one A321F cargo aircraft and paid commitment fees to the lessor. The lease will commence upon aircraft delivery which is expected to be in 2024 and will run through 120 months from delivery date. In addition to basic rent due, the Company will pay the lessor supplemental rent for maintenance of the aircraft.
The Company reviewed the operating leases for extension options that may be reasonably certain to be exercised and then would become part of the right-of-use assets and lease liabilities. On December 21, 2022, and October 10, 2023, the Company signed extensions for two aircraft extending their lease terms for an additional 60 and 15 months from original ending date of June 1, 2023, and October 1, 2023, to May 31, 2028, and December 31, 2024, respectively. Terms of extensions were agreed solely to grant the Company the right to use the asset for the related additional time including no changes in payment rent. As such, extension was accounted as a modification of lease in accordance with ASC 842 rather than as a new contract and the Company remeasured at modification date the following: Right-of-use asset, lease liability, discount rate, lease term and classification. In addition, as of December 31, 2023, the Company signed a lease agreement to convert one of its lease passenger aircraft with lease term ending on November 1, 2024, into an Aircraft Freighter at lessor's expense. The new lease is contingent on a successful conversion from induction date of November 1, 2024, and can take up to a year. Among terms agreed includes commitment fees paid to lessor and also no basic and supplemental rent shall be payable while the Aircraft undergoes conversion during the period commencing on the conversion induction date and ending on the conversion redelivery date. The Company expects to record a new lease on the acceptance of redelivery date, which is the date the lessee will have access to the leased asset.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, we had 37 aircraft support equipment capitalized within our Consolidated Balance Sheet with useful lives between 5 and 30 years. All aircraft support equipment were financed through finance leases with terms between 5 and 7 years. Related right-of-use assets and lease liabilities are recorded at the present value of fixed lease payments over the lease term. Amortization of the equipment under finance leases is on a straight-line basis over the lease term and is included in Depreciation and amortization in our Consolidated Statement of Operations. Residual values for equipment are estimated to be from 0% to 77%.
Some of our finance leases include optional renewal periods. Generally, we do not consider any additional renewal periods to be reasonably certain of being exercised, as the initial lease term of the related lease is for all or most of the useful life of the equipment and thus renewal periods are not included in the lease term, nor any related payments are reflected in the finance lease assets and finance lease liabilities.
The following table presents lease costs related to the Company’s finance and operating leases:
For The Year Ended December 31,
Finance lease cost
Operating lease cost
(1) Expenses are classified within Aircraft Rent on the Company's consolidated statements of operations.
The Company uses the rate stated in the lease to discount lease payments to present value. In the event the leases do not provide a readily determinable implicit or stated rate, the Company estimates the incremental borrowing rate to discount lease payments based on information available initially at adoption and at lease commencement going forward, taking into consideration recent debt issuance as well as publicly available data for instruments with similar characteristics. The table below presents lease terms and discount rates related to the Company's finance and operating leases:
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Weighted-average remaining lease term
Operating leases 6.14 years 4.52 years
Finance leases 5.22 years 5.72 years
Weighted-average discount rate
The table below presents cash and non-cash activities associated with our leases:
For The Year Ended December 31,
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Future minimum lease payments under finance and operating lease liabilities with initial terms in excess of one year are as follows:
Finance Leases Operating Leases
We also lease office space and office equipment for our headquarters, airport facilities, and certain airport gate facilities and maintenance facilities on a month-to-month basis. Amounts for leases that are on a month-to-month basis are not included as an obligation in the table above.
7. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
The Company has contractual obligations and commitments primarily with regard to management and development services, lease arrangements, and financing arrangements.
On January 13, 2023, the Company entered into a premium finance agreement with a financial institution to finance a 12-month hull insurance policy for its aircraft. The Company financed $3,636,783 of the total premium amount of $4,064,691 at a rate of 5.45% interest. The down payment of $430,358 was paid at time of signing.
On January 6, 2022, the Company entered into a premium finance agreement with a financial institution to finance a 12-month hull insurance policy for its aircraft. The Company financed $2,465,110 of the total premium amount of $3,103,325 at a rate of 2.38% interest. The down payment of $640,665 and the first monthly installment was paid at time of signing.
On August 11, 2023 Global Crossing Airlines in combination with Top Flight Charters and its minority interest member filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court Southern District of Florida against Shorts Travel Management, Inc (Shorts) and STM Charters, Inc seeking to have an old non-solicit agreement signed by Top Flight' minority interest member to be declared invalid, that Shorts alleged trade secrets do not exist and sought damages arising from the Shorts defamation per se based on numerous false statements made by Shorts in the marketplace. On October 4, 2023, Shorts responded in court by denying the claims made and countersued all parties for breach of contract and theft of trade secrets. This case is currently in the discovery phase
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The Company is subject to various legal proceedings in the normal course of business and records legal costs as incurred. Management believes these proceedings will not have a materially adverse effect on the Company.
8. CAPITAL COMMITMENTS
GEM Global Yield LLC SCS
The Company entered into an agreement with GEM Global Yield LLC SCS ("GEM"), the private alternative investment group to provide the Company with up to CND $100 million over a 36-month term following the closing of the Transaction (the “Facility”). The initial CAD $100 Million is in the form of a capital commitment that allows the Company to draw down funds during the 36-month term by issuing shares to GEM (or such persons as it may direct) and subject to share lending arrangement(s) being in place. The purchase price of the shares to be sold is set at (i) 90% of the recent average daily closing price of the Company’s common stock on the TSX Venture Exchange or (ii) the floor price set by the company for each drawn down. The Company is not permitted to make a draw-down request in an amount that exceeds (i)1000% of the average daily trading volume of the Company’s stock for the 15 trading days preceding the draw-down date or (ii) 90% of the closing price on the trading day immediately prior to the issue or the relevant draw down notice and then added to the aggregate purchase price of all the common shares subscribed for pursuant to all prior closings would not exceed the total facility. GEM may accept or reject such drawn down notice based on various conditions described in the agreement. On July 8, 2020 the TSX Venture Exchange provided approval for the Facility.
The Company entered into a promissory note to pay GEM Yield Bahamas Limited a fee equal to two percent (2%) of the aggregate purchase price, being $2,000,000 CAD ($1,418,880 USD). The fee is payable, whether or not any draw down notices have been delivered, as follows: the first 25% of the fee shall be paid within 12 months from the date of the agreement; an additional 25% of the fee shall be paid within 18 months from the date of the agreement and the rest of 50% of the fee shall be paid within 24 months from the date of this agreement. The note bears interest at 5 percent above the base rate of Barclays Bank PLC as per the promissory note. The note was recorded as a deferred finance cost on the consolidated balance sheet.
In addition, on July 10, 2020, pursuant to the terms of the Facility, the Company issued 2,106,290 warrants to GEM exercisable at a price of CAD $0.50 per share until May 4, 2023. The initial fair value of the warrants was recorded as prepaid financing fee in the amount of $1,390,151. The warrants’ fair value was calculated using the Monte Carlo pricing model, assuming an expected life of 2.82 years, a risk-free interest rate of 0.18%, an expected dividend rate of 0.00%, stock price of $0.94 and an expected annual volatility coefficient of 70%.
On June 28, 2021, GEM and the Company agreed to adjust the terms of the warrants. Under the adjustment agreement, the exercise price of the warrants was changed from CAD $0.50 per share to USD $0.39 per share. In addition, the number warrants granted was adjusted due to the Arrangement Agreement (Note 1) under which the Company transferred 75% of the shares of Jetlines to shareholders of the Company. Accordingly, the number of warrants was adjusted from 2,106,290 to 2,182,553. The warrants were remeasured at the adjustment date using the Monte Carlo pricing model, assuming an expected life of 1.85 years, a risk-free interest rate of 0.22%, an expected dividend rate of 0.00%, stock price of $2.03 and an expected annual volatility coefficient of 74.7%. The revaluation of the warrants resulted in a fair value at June 28, 2021 of $3,475,379, producing a gain of $2,650,772. The warrants were initially classified as derivative liabilities due to denomination of the exercise price in a foreign currency (CAD). As described in Note 12, the change in currency denomination to USD resulted in reclassification of the warrants to equity. The warrants fair value of the warrant liability was eliminated on the adjustment date and included in additional paid in capital on the consolidated statement of changes in shareholders’ equity.
On October 1, 2021, GEM has filed initial pleadings in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, claiming the Company breached the share subscription agreement between the parties by failing to pay a $500,000 fee due on May 4, 2021 GEM is requesting repayment in full of the CAD $2,000,000 promissory note issued by the Company to GEM plus accrued interest and costs and expenses related to collection. As of December 31, 2022, the note payable to GEM is recorded in current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet and the Company expensed the full outstanding amount capitalized as deferred financing costs of $2,809,031.
On January 18, 2023 the Court granted summary judgment in favor of GEM. GEM subsequently filed a motion seeking $2,000,000 CAD, plus interest totaling $218,493.87, with an additional $506.02 accruing each day after January 30, 2023 until entry of Judgment. GEM also seeks $112,584.50 in attorney's fees and $4,884.86 in costs. In 2022, interest and attorney's fees were recorded in current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet and other expenses non-operating on the consolidated statement of operation.
On March 29, 2023 Global Crossing Airlines and GEM entered into a final settlement which included a payment plan for the $2,000,000 CAD over nine months plus the extension of the agreement for 12 months. Consequently, GlobalX has adjusted the current liabilities to reverse the previously accrued interest and attorney’s fees no longer due. Upon final payment GEM agrees to file a satisfaction of
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