ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis presents factors that had a material effect on our results of operations during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021. Also discussed is our financial condition as of December 31, 2022 and 2021. You should read this discussion in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto, appearing elsewhere in this Report or incorporated herein by reference. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements. Please refer to the sections of this Report entitled “Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements” and “Item 1A. Risk Factors” for discussion of some of the uncertainties, risks and assumptions associated with these statements.
This section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K generally discusses 2022 and 2021 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2022 and 2021. Discussions of 2020 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2021 and 2020 that are not included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K can be found in the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Overview
We have the largest regional airline operation in the United States. As of December 31, 2022, we offered scheduled passenger and air freight service with approximately 1,620 total daily departures to destinations in the United
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States, Canada, and Mexico. As of December 31, 2022, we had 625 total aircraft in our fleet, including 517 aircraft in scheduled service or under contract under our code-share agreements, summarized as follows:
Alaska 42 — — — 42
Aircraft in scheduled service or under contract 236 41 104 136 517
Leased to third parties — 5 35 — 40
*As of December 31, 2022, other aircraft included: supplemental spare aircraft supporting our code-share agreements that may be used in future code-share or leasing arrangements, aircraft transitioning between code-share agreements with our major airline partners, aircraft held for sale, or aircraft that are scheduled to be disassembled for use as spare parts.
Our business model is based on providing scheduled regional airline service under code-share agreements (commercial agreements between airlines that, among other things, allow one airline to use another airline’s flight designator codes on its flights) with our major airline partners. Our success is principally centered on our ability to meet the needs of our major airline partners through providing a reliable and safe operation at attractive economics.
During the 2022 calendar year, we made changes to our fleet count under our flying agreements, including the addition of 25 new E175 aircraft. Additionally, during the 2022 calendar year, we increased the number of CRJ700 aircraft we leased to third parties from 34 to 35 aircraft.
We anticipate our fleet will continue to evolve, as we are scheduled to add a total of three new E175 aircraft with Delta in 2023 and 2024 and one new E175 aircraft with Alaska in 2025. Timing of these anticipated deliveries may be subject to change as we are coordinating with our major airline partners in response to the COVID-19 recovery, labor availability or other factors. Our primary objective in the fleet changes is to improve our profitability by adding new E175 aircraft and used CRJ aircraft to capacity purchase agreements, and potentially removing older aircraft from service that typically require higher maintenance costs.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, approximately 42.6% of our aircraft in scheduled service or under contract were operated for United, approximately 30.0% were operated for Delta, approximately 19.3% were operated for American and approximately 8.1% were operated for Alaska.
Historically, multiple contractual relationships with major airlines have enabled us to reduce our reliance on any single major airline code and to enhance and stabilize operating results through a mix of capacity purchase arrangements and our prorate flying arrangements. For the year ended December 31, 2022, contract flying revenue and prorate revenue represented approximately 88.0% and 12.0%, respectively, of our total flying agreements revenue. On contract routes, the major airline partner controls scheduling, ticketing, pricing and seat inventories and we are compensated by the major airline partner at contracted rates based on completed block hours (measured from takeoff to landing, including taxi time), flight departures, the number of aircraft under contract and other operating measures. On prorate routes, we have more control over scheduling, pricing and seat inventories, we share passenger fares with our major airline partners according to prorate formulas and we are responsible for the operating costs of the prorate flights, including fuel and airport costs.
Financial Highlights
We had total operating revenues of $3.0 billion for the year ended December 31, 2022, a 10.7% increase compared to total operating revenues of $2.7 billion for the year ended December 31, 2021. We had net income of $73.0 million, or $1.44 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to net income of $111.9 million, or $2.20 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2021. The significant items affecting our revenue and operating expenses during the year ended December 31, 2022, are outlined below:
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Revenue
The number of aircraft we have in scheduled service and the number of block hours we incur on our flights are primary drivers to our flying agreements revenue under our capacity purchase agreements. The number of flights we operate and the corresponding number of passengers we carry are the primary drivers to our revenue under our prorate flying agreements. The number of aircraft we have in scheduled service or under contract under code-share agreements increased from 509 as of December 31, 2021, to 517 as of December 31, 2022; the number of block hours decreased from 1.32 million in 2010 to 1.25 million in 2022, or by 4.9%.
Our capacity purchase revenue increased $345.1 million, or 15.6%, from 2021 to 2022. The change was primarily as a result of additional aircraft operating under our capacity purchase agreements in 2022 compared to 2021 and the temporary rate reductions we provided our major airline partners under our capacity purchase agreements during the year ended December 31, 2021 for COVID-19 relief, as further described in the section of this report entitled “Results of Operations.” As a result of decreased flight schedules and passengers carried on our prorate routes, our prorate revenue decreased $60.3 million, or 14.7% in 2022, as compared to 2021.
Operating Expenses
Our total operating expenses increased $386.1 million, or 15.8% for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. This increase was primarily due to $422.7 million in payroll support grants received from Treasury that was recorded an offset to our operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2021. We did not have a comparable payroll support grant for the year ended December 31, 2022. Additional details regarding the increase in our operating expenses are described in the section of this Report entitled “Results of Operations.”
Fleet Activity
The following table summarizes our fleet activity for 2022:
During 2022, we took delivery of 25 new E175 aircraft and placed the aircraft into service or under contract under capacity purchase agreements. We removed 10 CRJ700 aircraft, three CRJ900 aircraft and four CRJ200 aircraft from service during 2022. We are evaluating alternative uses for the aircraft removed from service.
Results of Operations
2022 Compared to 2021
Operational Statistics
The following table sets forth our major operational statistics and the associated percentages of change for the periods identified below. The decrease in block hours and departures during the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021, was primarily due to labor constraints, including the number of available captains in 2022.
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For the year ended December 31,
Block hours by aircraft type: 2022 2021 % Change
Passenger load factor 83.4 % 74.6 % 8.8 pts
Average passenger trip length (miles) 493 532 (7.3) %
Operating Revenues
The following table summarizes our operating revenue for the periods indicated (dollar amounts in thousands):
For the year ended December 31,
Flying agreements revenue primarily consists of revenue earned on flights we operate under our capacity purchase agreements and prorate agreements with our major airline partners. Lease, airport services and other revenues consist of revenue earned from leasing aircraft and spare engines to third parties separate from our capacity purchase agreements and providing airport counter, gate and ramp services.
We disaggregate our flying agreements revenue into the following categories (dollar amounts in thousands):
For the year ended December 31,
The increase in “Capacity purchase agreements flight operations revenue” of $350.1 million was primarily due to an increase in the number of E175 aircraft we operated under our contracts with our major airline partners during the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021, and rate increases since December 31, 2021. From December 31, 2021 to December 31, 2022, we added 25 E175 aircraft under capacity purchase agreements. Our E175 aircraft completed block hours increased 3.5% for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. Additionally, in response to the COVID-19 demand reduction experienced by our major airline partners in 2021, we provided temporary rate reductions to our major airline partners under our capacity purchase agreements during the year ended December 31, 2021. We did not provide our major airline partners temporary rate reductions during the year ended December 31, 2022.
The decrease in “Capacity purchase agreements aircraft lease revenue” of $5.0 million was primarily due to revenue deferred during the year ended December 31, 2022, offset by lease revenue from the 25 additional E175 aircraft placed under contract during the year ended December 31, 2022. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we amended our capacity purchase agreements with certain major airline partners that reduced certain future contractual fixed monthly payments and increased future contractual variable payments. As a result of these amendments, we deferred recognizing lease revenue on $22.1 million of the allocated fixed monthly lease payments received during the year ended December 31, 2022, under the straight-line method.
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The decrease in prorate agreements revenue of $60.3 million was primarily due to the decrease in the number of prorate passengers and passenger revenue we received on routes we operated under our prorate agreements during 2022, compared to 2021. Due to labor constraints, including the number of available captains, we operated fewer aircraft under our prorate agreements during the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021.
The increase in lease, airport services and other revenues of $6.7 million was primarily due an increase in the number of flights operated at locations where we were contracted to provide airport customer service during 2022 compared to 2021. We also leased 35 CRJ700 aircraft to third parties during 2022, compared to 34 CRJ700 aircraft leased to a third parties during 2021.
Operating Expenses
Individual expense components attributable to our operations are set forth in the following table (dollar amounts in thousands).
For the year ended December 31,
Salaries, wages and benefits. The $224.9 million, or 22.8%, increase in salaries, wages and benefits was due to increased costs to attract and retain aviation professionals, particularly pilots. In 2022, we increased the pay rates to various workgroups, including our pilots, that resulted in an increase to our salaries, wages and benefits for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021.
Aircraft maintenance, materials and repairs.The $173.6 million, or 21.2%, decrease in aircraft maintenance expense was primarily due to reliability improvement costs incurred on a portion of SkyWest Airlines’ CRJ700 and CRJ200 fleets, such as engine maintenance expense, during the year ended December 31, 2021. As a result of the maintenance work completed in 2021, our maintenance events were lower for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021.
Depreciation and amortization. The $45.6 million, or 10.4%, decrease in depreciation and amortization expense was primarily due to certain CRJ200 aircraft that became fully depreciated after December 31, 2021. This reduction in depreciation on our CRJ200 fleet was partially offset by an increase in depreciation expense due to the acquisition of 25 new E175 aircraft and spare engines in 2022.
Aircraft fuel.The $1.4 million, or 1.3%, increase in fuel cost was primarily due to an increase in our average fuel cost per gallon from $2.49 in 2021 to $4.14 in 2022, offset by a decrease in the number of flights we operated under our prorate arrangements and the corresponding decrease in gallons of fuel we purchased. We purchase and incur expense for all fuel on flights operated under our prorate agreements. All fuel costs incurred under our capacity purchase contracts are either purchased directly by our major airline partner, or if purchased by us, we record the direct reimbursement as a reduction to our fuel expense. The following table summarizes the gallons of fuel we purchased under our prorate agreements, for the periods indicated:
For the year ended December 31,
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Aircraft rentals. The $12.0 million, or 18.9%, increase in aircraft rentals was primarily related to a shortened expected useful life on 21 leased CRJ aircraft that are in the process of being stored prior to the lease expiration in early 2024, which resulted in an acceleration of lease expenses on those aircraft.
Airport-related expenses.Airport-related expenses include airport-related customer service costs such as outsourced airport gate and ramp agent services, airport security fees, passenger interruption costs, deicing, landing fees and station rents. For clarity, our employee airport customer service labor costs are reflected in salaries, wages and benefits and customer service labor costs we outsource to third parties are included in airport-related expenses. The $33.1 million, or 31.7%, decrease in airport-related expenses for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021, was primarily due to a decrease in subcontracted airport services, landing fees and deicing events as a result of a decrease in the number of flights we operated under our prorate arrangements.
Special items. Special items for 2021 consisted of a non-cash impairment charge on SkyWest Airlines’ CRJ900 fleet of $84.6 million.
Payroll support grant. During 2021, we entered into two Payroll Support Program Agreements with U.S. Treasury that provided certain payroll support relief payments that were recognized as a reduction in labor expense over the periods the grants intended to compensate. We recognized $422.7 million in payroll support grant proceeds we received as a reduction to our operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2021. We did not have a comparable payroll support grant during the year ended December 31, 2022.
Other operating expenses.Other operating expenses primarily consist of property taxes, hull and liability insurance, simulator costs, crew per diem, crew hotel costs and credit loss reserves. The $62.2 million, or 24.3%, increase in other operating expenses was primarily related to an asset held for sale write-down of $51.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2022, and an increase in training expenses and simulator costs related to an increase in pilot hiring during 2022.
Summary of interest expense, interest income, other income (expense) and provision for income taxes:
Interest Expense.The $4.0 million increase in interest expense was primarily related an increase in long-term debt subsequent to December 31, 2021, as well as a higher average effective interest rate in 2022 as compared to 2021. Our average effective interest rate for 2022 and 2021 was 4.0% and 3.8%, respectively.
Interest income. Interest income increased $16.5 million, from $1.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2021, to $17.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase in interest income was primarily related to an increase in marketable securities from $602.0 million at December 31, 2021 to $944.2 million at December 31, 2022, as well as an increase in the average interest rates attributed to our marketable securities from 2021 to 2022.
Other income (expense), net. Other income (expense), net increased $24.1 million, compared to 2021. Other income (expense), net primarily consists of the unrealized gains on our investments in other companies, income related to our investment in a joint venture with a third party and gains or losses on the sale of assets. During 2022, we recorded gains from our investments in other companies of $11.4 million and gains, net of losses, of $7.9 million on the sale of assets.
Summary of provision for income taxes:
Provision for income taxes. For the years ended December 31, 2022, and December 31, 2021, our income tax provision rates were 21.2% and 25.7%, respectively, which include the statutory federal income tax rate of 21% and other reconciling income tax items, including state income taxes and the impact of non-deductible expenses. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the decrease in our effective tax rate primarily related to the lapse of a previously recorded uncertain tax position liability of $7.3 million that was recognized as a benefit in 2022, partially offset by a $1.7 million valuation allowance on state net operating losses anticipated to expire prior to utilization recorded in 2022. Our income tax provision rate may fluctuate each reporting period based on various factors including, but not limited to, the amount of our non-deductible operating expenses, relative to our income before income taxes.
Net Income. Primarily due to the factors described above, we generated net income of $73.0 million, or $1.44 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to net income of $111.9 million, or $2.20 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2021.
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Our Business Segments 2022 compared to 2021:
For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, our reporting segments included SkyWest Airlines and SkyWest Leasing.
Our chief operating decision maker analyzes the profitability of operating aircraft under our code-share agreements separately from the profitability of our financing new aircraft acquired through debt and cash placed under our capacity purchase agreements, currently consisting of our E175 fleet, and our return on such aircraft financing. More specifically, the SkyWest Leasing segment includes an allocation of revenue from our capacity purchase agreements attributed to our financing of new aircraft through debt and cash covered under such agreements, and the respective depreciation and interest expense of such financed aircraft. The SkyWest Leasing segment also includes the activity of acquiring and leasing used regional jet aircraft and regional aircraft engines to other entities. The SkyWest Leasing segment’s total assets and capital expenditures include new E175 aircraft acquired through the issuance of debt and our aircraft and engines leased to other entities. Additionally, aircraft removed from SkyWest Airlines operations and held for sale are included in the SkyWest Leasing segment.
The SkyWest Airlines segment includes all other revenue and operating expenses attributed to operating aircraft under our capacity purchase agreements and all revenue and operating expenses attributed to our prorate agreements and airport service agreements.
Corporate overhead expenses, primarily consisting of administrative labor costs, were allocated to the operating expenses of SkyWest Airlines and SkyWest Leasing. Overhead expenses allocated to SkyWest Leasing reflect our estimated labor expense incurred to support SkyWest Leasing activities.
The following table sets forth our segment data for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 (in thousands):
For the year ended December 31,
(dollar amounts in thousands)
Operating Revenues:
Operating Expenses and Interest Expense:
Segment profit (loss):
SkyWest Airlines Segment Profit (Loss). SkyWest Airlines segment profit decreased $47.1 million during 2022, compared to 2021, from $1.5 million segment profit for the year ended December 31, 2021 to $45.6 million segment loss for the year ended December 31, 2022. Significant items contributing to the SkyWest Airlines segment profit (loss) are set forth below.
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SkyWest Airlines operating revenues increased $299.9 million, or 13.7%, from 2021 to 2022, due to the additional E175 aircraft operating under our capacity purchase agreements. Additionally, during 2021, SkyWest Airlines provided temporary rate reductions to our major airline partners under our capacity purchase agreements during the year ended December 31, 2021, in response to the COVID-19 demand reduction experienced by our major airline partners in 2021. We did not provide temporary rate reductions to our major airline partners in 2022. SkyWest Airlines’ block hour production decreased to 1,254,392, or 4.9%, for 2022 from 1,319,628 for 2021, primarily due to reduced flight schedules as a result of labor constraints, including the number of available captains.
SkyWest Airlines’ operating expenses and interest expense increased $347.0 million, or 15.8%, from 2021 to 2022 due to the following primary factors:
SkyWest Leasing Segment Profit. SkyWest Leasing profit decreased $51.6 million, or 34.1%, during 2022, compared to 2021. SkyWest Leasing revenue decreased $8.5 million, or 1.6%, primarily due to deferring lease revenue, offset by lease revenue from the 25 additional E175 aircraft placed under contract during the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to December 31, 2021. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we amended our capacity purchase agreements with certain major airline partners that reduced certain future contractual fixed monthly payments and increased future contractual variable payments. As a result of these amendments, we deferred recognizing lease revenue on $22.1 million of the allocated fixed monthly lease payments received during the year ended December 31, 2022, under the straight-line method.
SkyWest Leasing operating expenses and interest expense increased $43.1 million, or 11.7%, from 2021 to 2022 primarily due to a non-cash impairment charge of $51.4 million related to 14 CRJ700 aircraft that were held for sale in 2022. During 2022, the Company committed to a formal plan to sell 14 CRJ700 aircraft. The aircraft are expected to be disposed of via sale within the next 12 months and met the criteria to be classified as assets held for sale. The Company presented the assets held for sale at the lower of their current carrying value or their fair market value less costs to sell, resulting in a non-cash impairment charge.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2022, we had $1.0 billion in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities and $70.1 million available for borrowings under our line of credit. Given our available liquidity as of December 31, 2022, we
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believe the working capital currently available to us will be sufficient to meet our present financial requirements, including planned capital expenditures, scheduled lease payments and debt service obligations for at least the next 12 months.
Our total of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities increased from $860.4 million as of December 31, 2021, to $1.0 billion as of December 31, 2022, or by $186.8 million. Our total long-term debt, including current maturities increased from $3,109.2 million as of December 31, 2021, to $3,380.3 million as of December 31, 2022, or by $271.1 million, primarily due to debt issued to finance 25 new E175 aircraft and spare engines, partially offset by scheduled debt payments for the 2022 year. At December 31, 2022, our total capital mix was 44.4% equity and 55.6% long-term debt, compared to 45.5% equity and 54.5% long-term debt at December 31, 2021.
As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, we had $59.2 million and $61.4 million, respectively, in letters of credit and surety bonds outstanding with various banks and surety institutions. We had no restricted cash as of December 31, 2022 and 2021.
Sources and Uses of Cash
Cash Position and Liquidity. The following table provides a summary of the net cash provided by (used in) our operating, investing and financing activities for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, and our total cash and marketable securities position as of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 (in thousands).
For the year ended December 31,
December 31, December 31,
Cash Flows provided by Operating Activities
Our cash flows provided by operating activities was $480.4 million in 2022, compared to $831.8 million in 2021. Our operating cash flows are typically impacted by various factors including our net income, adjusted for non-cash expenses and gains such as depreciation expense, asset impairment charges, stock-based compensation expense, and gains or losses on the disposal of assets; and timing of cash payments and cash receipts attributed to our various current asset and liability accounts, such as accounts receivable, inventory, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, deferred revenue and unbilled revenue.
The decrease in our cash flow from operations in 2022 compared to 2021, was primarily due to timing of payments associated with our accounts payable and other current liabilities at the end of 2021 compared to the end of 2022, which reduced our cash flow from operations to $273.2 million in 2022. Additionally, depreciation and amortization, a non-cash adjustment to reconcile to net income, decreased to $394.6 million during 2022 from $440.2 million during 2021.
Cash Flows used in Investing Activities
Our cash flows used in investing activities was $904.9 million in 2022, compared to $698.5 million in 2021. Our investing cash flows are typically impacted by various factors including our capital expenditures, such as the acquisition of aircraft and spare engines; deposit payments and refunds of previously made deposits on new aircraft; purchase and sales of marketable securities; proceeds from the sale of assets; and timing of cash payments and cash receipts attributed to our various long-term asset and long-term liability accounts.
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The increase in our cash flow used in investing activities in 2022 compared 2021, was primarily due to an increase in cash used for purchases of marketable securities, net of sales of marketable securities, of $354.2 million, resulting from the transfer of cash into marketable securities accounts. Cash used in purchases of marketable securities, net of sales of marketable securities was $346.0 million in 2022, compared to cash provided by sales of marketable securities, net of purchases of marketable securities of $8.2 million in 2021. Additionally, cash used on new aircraft deposits, net of previously made deposits applied towards acquired aircraft, provided $101.3 million of cash during 2022 compared to using $92.7 million of cash during 2021, based on the timing of new aircraft orders and aircraft deliveries.
Cash Flows provided by (used in) Financing Activities
Our cash flows provided by financing activities was $269.1 million in 2022, compared to cash used in financing activities of $90.6 million in 2021. Our financing cash flows are typically impacted by various factors including proceeds from issuance of debt, principal payments on debt obligations, repurchases our common stock and payment of cash dividends.
The $359.7 million increase in cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021, was primarily due to an increase of $234.5 million in proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt primarily related to the acquisition of 25 E175 aircraft and an increase in debt secured by engines during 2022. Additionally, cash used for principal payments on long-term debt decreased $125.5 million from the year ended December 31, 2021, to the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily due to paying off a portion of our long-term debt during 2021.
Significant Commitments and Obligations
General
The following table summarizes our commitments and obligations as noted for each of the next five years and thereafter (in thousands):
Purchase Commitments and Options
We are coordinating with our major airline partners and aircraft manufacturers on the timing of upcoming fleet deliveries under previously announced deals. The anticipated future aircraft delivery dates are subject to change. As of December 31, 2022, we had a firm purchase commitment for four E175 aircraft from Embraer with scheduled delivery dates anticipated through 2025.
At the time of each aircraft acquisition, we evaluate the financing alternatives available to us, and select one or more of these methods to fund the acquisition. In recent years, we have issued long-term debt to finance our new aircraft. At present, we intend to fund our aircraft purchase commitments through cash on hand and debt financing. Based on current market conditions and discussions with prospective leasing organizations and financial institutions, we currently believe that we will be able to obtain financing for our committed acquisitions, as well as additional aircraft. We intend to finance the firm purchase commitment for four E175 aircraft with approximately 80-85% debt and the remaining balance with cash.
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Aircraft Lease and Facility Obligations
We also have significant long-term lease obligations, primarily relating to our aircraft fleet. Excluding aircraft financed by our major airline partners that we operate for them under contract, we had 43 aircraft under lease with remaining terms ranging from one year to eight years as of December 31, 2022. Future minimum lease payments due under all long-term operating leases were approximately $202.9 million at December 31, 2022. Assuming a 6.1% discount rate, which is the average incremental borrowing rate we anticipate we would have incurred on debt obtained over a similar term to acquire these assets, the present value of these lease obligations would have been equal to approximately $160.3 million at December 31, 2022.
Long-term Debt Obligations
As of December 31, 2022, we had $3.05 billion of long-term debt obligations related to the acquisition of aircraft. The average effective interest rate on those long-term debt obligations was approximately 4.0% at December 31, 2022. We also had $200.6 million of long-term debt obligations under the Payroll Support Program Agreements and $155.1 million of long-term debt secured by spare engines.
Under our capacity purchase arrangements, our major airline partners compensate us for our costs of owning or leasing the aircraft on a monthly basis. The aircraft compensation structure varies by agreement but is intended to cover either our aircraft principal and interest debt service costs, our aircraft depreciation and interest expense or our aircraft lease expense costs while the aircraft is under contract.
Guarantees
We have guaranteed the obligations of SkyWest Airlines under the Delta Connection Agreement and the United Express Agreement for the E175 aircraft. In addition, we have guaranteed certain other obligations under aircraft financing and leasing agreements.
We have guaranteed $19.8 million in promissory notes of a third party in event the third party defaults on its payments. The third party’s loans are secured by aircraft and engines.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our significant accounting policies are summarized in Note 1 to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Report. Critical accounting policies are those policies that are most important to the preparation of our consolidated financial statements and require management’s subjective and complex judgments due to the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. Our critical accounting policies relate to revenue recognition, long-lived assets and income tax as discussed below. The application of these accounting policies involves the exercise of judgment and the use of assumptions as to future uncertainties and, as a result, actual results will likely differ, and could differ materially, from such estimates.
Revenue Recognition
Flying agreements and airport customer service and other revenues are recognized when service is provided. Under our capacity purchase and prorate flying agreements with our major airline partners, our performance obligation is determined on a per completed flight basis. Under our capacity purchase agreements, the performance obligation of each completed flight is measured using block hours incurred for each completed flight, which factors the duration of each flight. Under our airport customer service agreements, our performance obligation is measured on per departure basis for each flight we provide customer service.
A portion of our compensation under our capacity purchase agreements is designed to reimburse us for the use of the aircraft we provide under such agreements. This compensation is deemed to be lease revenue, because the agreements identify the “right of use” or a specific type and number of aircraft over the agreement term. We allocate the total consideration received under our capacity purchase agreements between the lease and non-lease components based on stand-alone selling prices. A portion of the consideration received for the use of the aircraft is a fixed monthly payment per aircraft. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we amended our capacity purchase agreements with certain major airline partners that reduced certain future contractual fixed monthly payments and increased future contractual variable payments. Accordingly, we re-evaluated the allocation of the total consideration between the lease
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and non-lease components for the affected amended agreements, including the allocation of the consideration to the fixed and variable lease components. As a result of these amendments, we deferred recognizing lease revenue on $22.1 million of the allocated fixed monthly lease payments received during the year ended December 31, 2022, under the straight-line method.
Additionally, a portion of our compensation under our capacity purchase agreements relates to operating the aircraft, identified as the non-lease component of the capacity purchase agreement. We recognize revenue attributed to the non-lease component received as fixed monthly payments per aircraft proportionate to the number of block hours completed during each reporting period, relative to the estimated number of block hours we anticipate completing over the remaining contract term. In 2022, we deferred $18.7 million of fixed monthly payments and recognized $11.5 million of unbilled revenue. The amount of deferred revenue and unbilled revenue from fixed monthly payments we recognize will increase or decrease in future reporting periods depending on the number of block hours we complete during such reporting period and our then-current forecast of block hours we anticipate completing over the remaining contract term based on information available to us as that time.
Our revenues could be impacted by several factors, such as our flight schedules, passenger fares we receive under our prorate agreements, terminations, extensions or other amendments to our code-share agreements, our estimates used to determine the amount of revenue we defer under our capacity purchase agreements, and our ability to earn incentive payments contemplated under applicable agreements. In the event contracted rates are not finalized at a quarterly or annual financial statement date, we record that period’s revenues based on the lower of the prior period’s approved rates or our estimate of rates that will be implemented upon completion of negotiations. Also, in the event we have a reimbursement dispute with a major airline partner at a quarterly or annual financial statement date, we evaluate the dispute under established revenue recognition criteria and, provided the revenue recognition criteria have been met, we recognize revenue for that period based on our estimate of the resolution of the dispute. Our rates were finalized under our code-share agreements as of December 31, 2022.
Long-Lived Assets
As of December 31, 2022, we had approximately $5.5 billion of property and equipment and related assets net of accumulated depreciation. In accounting for these long-lived assets, we make estimates about the expected useful lives of the assets, the expected residual values of certain of these assets, and the potential for impairment based on the fair value of the assets and the cash flows they generate. Factors indicating potential impairment include, but are not limited to, significant decreases in the market value of the long-lived assets, a significant change in the condition of the long-lived assets and operating cash flow losses associated with the use of the long-lived assets. When considering whether or not impairment of long-lived assets exists, we group similar assets together at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities and compare the undiscounted cash flows for each asset group to the net carrying amount of the assets supporting the asset group. Asset groupings are done at the fleet type or contract level.
During 2022, we committed to a formal plan to sell 14 CRJ700 aircraft. The aircraft are expected to be disposed of via sale within the next 12 months. Accordingly, the Company determined the aircraft met the criteria to be classified as assets held for sale. The Company presented the $56.7 million of assets held for sale at the lower of their current carrying value or their fair market value less costs to sell and included the amount in “Other current assets” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. The fair values are based upon observable and unobservable inputs, including market trends and conditions. The assumptions used to determine the fair value of the assets held for sale are subject to inherent uncertainty and could produce a wide range of outcomes which the Company will continue to monitor in future periods as new information becomes available. Prior to the ultimate sale of the assets, subsequent changes in the estimate of the fair value of the assets held for sale will be recorded as a gain or loss with a corresponding adjustment to the assets’ carrying value. In connection with the classification of these assets as held for sale, the Company recorded an impairment loss of $51.4 million, which is included in “Other operating expenses” on the Company’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income and in the SkyWest Leasing segment for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Factors that may impact our estimates used for depreciation include anticipated useful lives of each aircraft type and estimated residual values of each aircraft. As we operate our aircraft under code-share agreements with our major airline partners, changes in anticipated demand by our major airline partners for regional aircraft may impact our estimated useful lives and residual values for our aircraft, spare engines and other long-lived assets.
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Income Tax
Deferred income taxes are determined based on the temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Estimating our tax liabilities involves judgments related to uncertainties in the application of complex tax regulations. We make certain estimates and judgments to determine tax expense for financial statement purposes as we evaluate the effect of tax credits, tax benefits and deductions, some of which result from differences in the timing of recognition of revenue or expense for tax and financial statement purposes. Changes to these estimates may result in significant changes to our tax provision in future periods. Each fiscal quarter we re-evaluate our tax provision and reconsider our estimates and assumptions related to specific tax assets and liabilities, making adjustments as circumstances change.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Aircraft Fuel
In the past, we have not experienced sustained material difficulties with fuel availability, and we currently expect to be able to obtain fuel at prevailing prices in quantities sufficient to meet our future needs. Pursuant to our contract flying arrangements, United, Delta, American and Alaska have agreed to bear the economic risk of fuel price fluctuations on our contracted flights. We bear the economic risk of fuel price fluctuations on our prorate operations. For each of the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, approximately 12%, 16% and 13% of our total flying agreements revenue was derived from prorate arrangements. For the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, the average price per gallon of aircraft fuel was $4.14, $2.49 and $1.89, respectively. For illustrative purposes only, we have estimated the impact of the market risk of fuel fluctuations on our prorate operations using a hypothetical increase of 25% in the price per gallon we purchase. Based on this hypothetical assumption, we would have incurred an additional $27.1 million, $26.8 million and $15.4 million in fuel expense for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Interest Rates
As of December 31, 2022, our long-term debt had fixed interest rates. We currently intend to finance the acquisition of aircraft through manufacturer financing or long-term borrowings. Changes in interest rates may impact the actual cost to us to acquire future aircraft. To the extent we place new aircraft in service under our capacity purchase agreements with United, Delta, American, Alaska or other carriers, our capacity purchase agreements currently provide that reimbursement rates will be adjusted to reflect the interest rates effective at the closing of the respective aircraft financing. A hypothetical 50 basis point change in market interest rates would not have a material effect on our financial results.
Labor and Inflation Risk
The global economy has experienced, and continues to experience high rates of inflation. We cannot predict how long these inflationary pressures will continue, or how they may change over time, but we expect to see continued impacts on the global economy and our Company.
As a result, our costs have become, and we expect they will continue to be, subject to significant inflationary pressures, and we may not be able to fully offset such higher costs through price increases under our capacity purchase agreements. Salaries, wages and benefits expense represented 42.9% of our total operating expense for year ended December 31, 2022. For illustrative purposes, a hypothetical increase of 25% in our salaries, wages and benefits during the year ended December 31, 2022, would have increased our operating expenses by approximately $302.9 million.
In September 2022, we amended our collective bargaining agreement with our pilots, which was in effect for only a portion of the year ended December 31, 2022. The amended collective bargaining agreement is anticipated to result in an increase to our pilot costs. For illustrative purposes, under SkyWest Airlines’ amended collective bargaining agreement, the first-year pay rate for first officers increased from approximately $46/flight hour to $90/flight hour and the first-year CRJ and E175 captain pay rate increased from approximately $76/flight hour and $81/flight hour, respectively, to $140/flight hour for both CRJ and E175 captains. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we
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amended our capacity purchase agreements with certain major airline partners that resulted in higher compensation for our increased pilot pay rates.
Our inability or failure to offset a material increase in costs due to inflation and/or labor costs could harm our business, financial condition and operating results. Additionally, in the event we are unable to hire and retain qualified pilots or other operational personnel, including flight attendants and maintenance technicians, we may be unable to operate requested flight schedules under our capacity purchase agreements, which could result in a reduction in revenue and operating inefficiencies, such as incremental new-hire training costs, and could harm our business, financial condition and operating results.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The information set forth below should be read together with the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” appearing elsewhere herein.
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of SkyWest, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of SkyWest, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss), stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2022, and the related notes and the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a)2 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2022 and 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2022, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated February 16, 2023 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the 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 audits 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. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures include examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the 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.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Valuation of fixed overhead deferred revenue
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/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2003.
Salt Lake City, Utah
February 16, 2023
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SKYWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in thousands)
ASSETS
December 31, December 31,
CURRENT ASSETS:
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:
Less-accumulated depreciation and amortization (2,884,084) (2,731,060)
OTHER ASSETS:
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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SKYWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands)
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
December 31, December 31,
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Current maturities of operating lease liabilities 71,726 78,886
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 7)
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Preferred stock, 5,000,000 shares authorized; none issued — —
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,802) —
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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SKYWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Year Ended December 31,
OPERATING REVENUES:
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Special items — 84,592 —
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
BASIC EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE $ 1.44 $ 2.22 $ (0.17)
DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE $ 1.44 $ 2.20 $ (0.17)
Weighted average common shares:
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS):
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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SKYWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(In thousands)
Accumulated
Other
Common Stock Retained Treasury Stock Comprehensive
Shares Amount Earnings Shares Amount Income (Loss) Total
Net income (loss) — — (8,515) — — — (8,515)
Stock based compensation expense — 6,802 — — — — 6,802
Treasury stock purchases — — — (386) (20,000) — (20,000)
Cash dividends declared ($0.14 per share) — — (7,019) — — — (7,019)
Warrants issued to U.S. Treasury — 8,248 — — — — 8,248
Stock based compensation expense — 8,685 — — — — 8,685
Warrants issued to U.S. Treasury — 5,804 — — — — 5,804
Stock based compensation expense — 9,159 — — — — 9,159
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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SKYWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Write-off of maintenance assets — — 3,255
Increase (decrease) in credit loss reserves (4,591) (4,249) 17,087
Loss (gain) on disposal of fixed assets (7,948) (4,586) 445
Gain on investments in other companies (11,380) — —
Impairment on assets held for sale 51,384 — —
Special items — 84,592 —
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Decrease (increase) in income tax receivable 7,815 (5,570) 7,225
Decrease (increase) in other current assets (2,871) (1,936) 8,233
Decrease in operating lease liabilities (76,812) (51,326) (65,557)
Increase (decrease) in deferred revenue 40,812 (6,832) 110,728
Increase in unbilled revenue (11,491) (8,404) —
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment:
Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment 16,983 7,117 3,239
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Payment of debt issuance cost (2,178) (1,665) (4,130)
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock 2,957 3,146 2,819
Purchase of treasury stock — — (20,000)
Payment of cash dividends — — (13,059)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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SKYWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)
(In thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION: 2022 2021 2020
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Warrants issued to U.S. Treasury $ — $ 5,804 $ 8,248
Cash paid during the period for:
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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SKYWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2022
(1) Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
SkyWest, Inc. (the “Company”), through its subsidiary, SkyWest Airlines, Inc. (“SkyWest Airlines”) operates the largest regional airline in the United States. As of December 31, 2022, SkyWest Airlines offered scheduled passenger service under code-share agreements with United Airlines, Inc. (“United”), Delta Air Lines, Inc. (“Delta”), American Airlines, Inc. (“American”) and Alaska Airlines, Inc. (“Alaska”) with approximately 1,620 total daily departures to destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Additionally, the Company provides airport customer service and ground handling services for other airlines throughout its system. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had 625 total aircraft in its fleet, including 517 aircraft in scheduled service or under contract under its code-share agreements, summarized as follows:
Alaska 42 — — — 42
Aircraft in scheduled service or under contract 236 41 104 136 517
Leased to third parties — 5 35 — 40
*As of December 31, 2022, other aircraft included: supplemental spare aircraft supporting the Company’s code-share agreements that may be used in future code-share or leasing arrangements, aircraft transitioning between code-share agreements with the Company’s major airline partners, aircraft held for sale or aircraft that are scheduled to be disassembled for use as spare parts.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, approximately 42.6% of the Company’s aircraft in scheduled service was operated for United, approximately 30.0% was operated for Delta, approximately 19.3% was operated for American and approximately 8.1% was operated for Alaska.
SkyWest Airlines has been a code-share partner with Delta since 1987, United since 1997, Alaska since 2011 and American since 2012. As of December 31, 2022, SkyWest Airlines operated as a Delta Connection carrier primarily in Salt Lake City, Detroit and Minneapolis, a United Express carrier primarily in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Houston, Chicago and the Pacific Northwest, an American carrier primarily in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and Phoenix and an Alaska carrier primarily in the Pacific Northwest.
SkyWest Airlines operates the following aircraft manufactured by Bombardier: CRJ900s, CRJ700s and CRJ200s, and E175s manufactured by Embraer. The CRJ700, CRJ900 and E175 aircraft have a dual-class seat configuration typically configured with 65 to 76 seats. The CRJ200 is a single-class 50-seat aircraft.
Basis of Presentation
The Company’s consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and the SkyWest Airlines and SkyWest Leasing segments, with all inter-company transactions and balances having been eliminated.
In preparing the accompanying consolidated financial statements, the Company has reviewed, as determined necessary by the Company’s management, events that have occurred after December 31, 2022, through the filing date of the Company’s annual report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
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Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates and assumptions.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company had no restricted cash as of December 31, 2022 and 2021.
Marketable Securities
The Company’s investments in debt securities are classified as available-for-sale and are reported at fair market value with the net unrealized depreciation reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity. At the time of sale, any realized appreciation or depreciation, calculated by the specific identification method, is recognized in other income and expense. The Company’s position in marketable securities as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 was as follows (in thousands):
Gross unrealized Gross unrealized
Marketable securities:
Gross unrealized Gross unrealized
Marketable securities:
Bond and bond funds $ 54,673 $ — $ — $ 54,673
Total marketable securities $ 601,989 $ — $ — $ 601,989
As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company had classified $944.2 million and $602.0 million of marketable securities, respectively, as short-term because it had the intent to maintain a liquid portfolio and the ability to redeem the securities within one year.
Inventories
Inventories include expendable parts, fuel and supplies and are valued at cost (FIFO basis) less an allowance for obsolescence based on historical results, excess parts and management’s expectations of future operations. Expendable inventory parts are charged to expense as used. An obsolescence allowance for flight equipment expendable parts is accrued based on estimated lives of the corresponding fleet types and salvage values. The inventory allowance as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, was $24.2 million and $23.0 million, respectively.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated over their useful lives to their estimated residual values using the straight-line method as follows:
Assets Depreciable Life Current Residual Value
Aircraft, rotable spares, and spare engines up to 22 years up to 20 %
Ground equipment up to 10 years 0 %
Office equipment up to 7 years 0 %
Leasehold improvements Shorter of 15 years or lease term 0 %
Buildings 20 - 39.5 years 0 %
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Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
As of December 31, 2022, the Company had approximately $5.5 billion of property and equipment, net. In accounting for these long-lived assets, the Company makes estimates about the expected useful lives of the assets, the expected residual values of certain of these assets, and the potential for impairment based on the fair value of the assets and the cash flows they generate. Factors indicating potential impairment include, but are not limited to, significant decreases in the market value of the long-lived assets, a significant change in the condition of the long-lived assets and operating cash flow losses associated with the use of the long-lived assets. On a periodic basis, the Company evaluates whether impairment indicators are present. When considering whether or not impairment of long-lived assets exists, the Company groups similar assets together at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities and compare the undiscounted cash flows for each asset group to the net carrying amount of the assets supporting the asset group. Asset groupings are done at the aircraft type level.
During 2022, the Company committed to a plan to sell 14 CRJ700 aircraft, resulting in an impairment on the assets held for sale of $51.4 million. See Note 9, “Assets Held for Sale” for more information on the assets held for sale.
During 2021, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $84.6 million to write-down certain CRJ900 aircraft to their estimated fair value. See Note 10, “Special Items” for more information on the CRJ900 impairment.
Capitalized Interest
Interest is capitalized on aircraft purchase deposits as a portion of the cost of the asset and is depreciated over the estimated useful life of the asset. During the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company capitalized interest costs of approximately $1.9 million, and during the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company capitalized interest costs of approximately $1.7 million.
Maintenance
The Company operates under a U.S. Federal Aviation Administration approved continuous inspection and maintenance program. The Company uses the direct expense method of accounting for its regional jet engine overhauls. The Company has engine services agreements with third-party vendors to provide long-term engine services covering the scheduled and unscheduled repairs for most of its aircraft. Under the terms of the agreements, the Company pays a fixed dollar amount per engine hour flown on a monthly basis and the third-party vendors will assume the responsibility to repair the engines at no additional cost to the Company, subject to certain specified exclusions. Maintenance costs under these contracts are recognized when the engine hour is flown pursuant to the terms of each contract.
The costs of maintenance for airframe and avionics components, landing gear and other recurring maintenance are expensed as incurred. In 2020, the Company wrote-off $3.7 million of long-lived maintenance assets at maintenance locations the Company vacated during the year as a maintenance expense. There was not a similar expense in 2022 and 2021.
Flying Agreements and Airport Customer Service and Other Revenues
The Company recognizes revenue under its flying agreements and under its lease, airport services and other service agreements when the service is provided under the applicable agreement. Under the Company’s capacity purchase agreements with United, Delta, American and Alaska (each, a “major airline partner”), the major airline partner generally pays the Company a fixed-fee for each departure, flight hour (measured from takeoff to landing, excluding taxi time) or block hour (measured from takeoff to landing, including taxi time) incurred, and an amount per aircraft in service each month with additional incentives based on flight completion and on-time performance. The major airline partner also directly pays for or reimburses the Company for certain direct expenses incurred under the capacity purchase agreement, such as fuel, airport landing fees and airport rents. Under the capacity purchase agreements, the Company’s performance obligation is met when each flight is completed, measured in completed block hours, and is reflected in flying agreements revenue. The transaction price for the capacity purchase agreements is determined from the fixed-fee consideration, incentive consideration and directly reimbursed expenses earned as flights are completed over the agreement term. For the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, capacity purchase arrangements represented approximately 88.0%, 84.3% and 87.0% of the Company’s flying agreements revenue, respectively.
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Under the Company’s prorate arrangements (also referred to as a “prorate” or “revenue-sharing” agreement), the major airline partner and the Company negotiate a passenger fare proration formula, pursuant to which the Company receives a percentage of the ticket revenues for those passengers traveling for one portion of their trip on a Company airline and the other portion of their trip on the major airline partner. Under the Company’s prorate flying agreements, the performance obligation is met and revenue is recognized when each flight is completed based upon the portion of the prorate passenger fare the Company determines that it will receive for each completed flight. The transaction price for the prorate agreements is determined from the proration formula derived from each passenger ticket amount on each completed flight over the agreement term. For the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, prorate flying agreements represented approximately 12.0%, 15.7%, and 13.0% of the Company’s flying agreements revenue, respectively.
The following table represents the Company’s flying agreements revenue by type for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):
For the year ended December 31,
The Company allocates the total consideration received under its capacity purchase agreements between the lease and non-lease components based on stand-alone selling prices. A portion of the Company’s compensation under its capacity purchase agreements is designed to reimburse the Company for certain aircraft ownership costs. The consideration for aircraft ownership costs varies by agreement but is intended to cover either the Company’s aircraft principal and interest debt service costs, its aircraft depreciation and interest expense or its aircraft lease expense costs while the aircraft is under contract. The consideration received for the use of the aircraft under the Company’s capacity purchase agreements is accounted for as lease revenue, inasmuch as the agreements identify the “right of use” of a specific type and number of aircraft over a stated period of time. The lease revenue associated with the Company’s capacity purchase agreements is accounted for as an operating lease and is reflected as flying agreements revenue on the Company’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company amended its capacity purchase agreements with certain major airline partners that reduced certain contractual fixed monthly payments and increased certain contractual variable payments. Accordingly, the Company re-evaluated the allocation of the total consideration between the lease and non-lease components for the amended agreements, including the allocation of the consideration to the fixed and variable lease components. As a result of these amendments, the Company deferred recognizing lease revenue on $22.1 million of the allocated fixed monthly lease payments received during the year ended December 31, 2022, under the straight-line method. The Company has not separately stated aircraft rental income and aircraft rental expense in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income (loss) because the use of the aircraft is not a separate activity of the total service provided under the capacity purchase agreements.
A portion of the Company’s compensation under its capacity purchase agreements relates to operating the aircraft, identified as the non-lease component of the capacity purchase agreement. The Company recognizes revenue attributed to the non-lease component received as fixed-fees for each departure, flight hour or block hour on an as-completed basis for each reporting period. The Company recognizes revenue attributed to the non-lease component received as fixed monthly payments per aircraft proportionate to the number of block hours completed during each reporting period, relative to the estimated number of block hours the Company anticipates completing over the remaining contract term. Due to the lower number of block hours completed during 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to historical levels, the amount of cash collected for the fixed amount per aircraft for operating the aircraft did not align with revenue recognized based on block hours completed. Accordingly, the Company deferred recognizing revenue on fixed monthly payments the Company received for operating the aircraft under its capacity purchase
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agreements beginning in 2020. In 2022, the Company deferred $18.7 million of fixed monthly payments under certain agreements and recognized $11.5 million of unbilled revenue under certain other agreements, compared to recognizing previously deferred revenue of $6.8 million and $8.4 million of unbilled revenue in 2021.The Company’s deferred revenue and unbilled revenue balance is measured on a contract-by-contract basis and will be recognized based on the number of block hours completed during each period relative to the estimated number of block hours the Company anticipates completing over the remaining respective contract terms.
The Company’s total deferred revenue balance, as of December 31, 2022, was $144.7 million, including $5.2 million in other current liabilities and $139.5 million in other long-term liabilities. The Company’s unbilled revenue balance as of December 31, 2022, was $19.9 million, including $9.9 million in other current assets and $10.0 million in other long-term assets. The Company’s deferred revenue balance as of December 31, 2021, was $103.9 million, including $24.5 million in other current liabilities and $79.4 million in other long-term liabilities. The Company’s unbilled revenue balance as of December 31, 2021, of $8.4 million was included in other long-term assets.
The Company’s capacity purchase and prorate agreements include weekly provisional cash payments from the respective major airline partner based on a projected level of flying each month. The Company and each major airline partner subsequently reconcile these payments to the actual completed flight activity on a monthly or quarterly basis.
In the event a flying agreement includes a mid-term rate reset to adjust rates prospectively and the contractual rates under the Company’s flying agreements have not been finalized at quarterly or annual financial statement dates, the Company applies the variable constraint guidance under Topic 606, where the Company records revenue to the extent it believes that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved.
In several of the Company’s agreements, the Company is eligible to receive incentive compensation upon the achievement of certain performance criteria. The incentives are defined in the agreements and are measured and determined on a monthly, quarterly or semi-annual basis. At the end of each period during the term of an agreement, the Company calculates the incentives achieved during that period and recognizes revenue attributable to that agreement accordingly, subject to the variable constraint guidance under Topic 606.
The following summarizes the significant provisions of each code-share agreement the Company has with each major airline partner through SkyWest Airlines:
United Express Agreements
Agreement Aircraft type Number ofAircraft Term / Termination Dates
Total under United Express Agreements 220
Delta Connection Agreements
Agreement Aircraft type Number ofAircraft Term / Termination Dates
Total under Delta Connection Agreements 155
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American Capacity Purchase Agreement
Agreement Aircraft type Number ofAircraft Term / Termination Dates
Total under American Agreement 100
Alaska Capacity Purchase Agreement
Agreement Aircraft type Number ofAircraft Term / Termination Dates
* The Company’s prorate agreements are based on specific routes, not a specific aircraft count. The number of aircraft listed above for each prorate agreement approximates the number of aircraft the Company uses to serve the prorate routes.
In addition to the contractual arrangements described above, as of December 31, 2022, SkyWest Airlines has a capacity purchase agreement with Delta to place a total of three additional E175 aircraft into service, with delivery dates currently scheduled in 2023 and 2024. SkyWest Airlines has a capacity purchase agreement with Alaska to place one additional E175 aircraft into service with a delivery date currently scheduled for 2025. Final delivery and in-service dates for aircraft to be placed under contract may be adjusted based on various factors.
When an aircraft is scheduled to be removed from a capacity purchase arrangement, the Company may, as practical under the circumstances, negotiate an extension with the respective major airline partner, negotiate the placement of the aircraft with another major airline partner, return the aircraft to the lessor if the aircraft is leased and the lease is expiring, place owned aircraft for sale, or pursue other uses for the aircraft. Other uses for the aircraft may include placing the aircraft in a prorate agreement, leasing the aircraft to a third party or parting out the aircraft to use the engines and parts as spare inventory or to lease the engines to a third party.
Lease, airport services and other revenues primarily consists of revenue generated from aircraft and spare engines leased to third parties and airport customer services, such as gate and ramp agent services at applicable airports where the Company has agreements with third parties. The following table represents the Company’s lease, airport services and other revenues for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):
For the year ended December 31,
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The following table summarizes future minimum rental income under operating leases primarily related to leased aircraft and engines that had remaining non-cancelable lease terms as of December 31, 2022 (in thousands):
Of the Company’s $5.5 billion of property and equipment, net as of December 31, 2022, $221.0 million of regional jet aircraft and spare engines were leased to third parties under operating leases. The Company’s mitigation strategy for the residual asset risks of these assets includes leasing aircraft and engine types that can be operated by the Company in the event of a default. Additionally, the operating leases typically have specified lease return condition requirements paid by the lessee to the Company and the Company typically maintains inspection rights under the leases.
The transaction price for airport customer service agreements is determined from an agreed-upon rate by location applied to the applicable number of flights handled by the Company over the agreement term.
The Company’s operating revenues could be impacted by several factors, including changes to the Company’s code-share agreements with its major airline partners, changes in flight schedules, contract modifications resulting from contract renegotiations, the Company’s ability to earn incentive payments contemplated under the Company’s code-share agreements and settlement of reimbursement disputes with the Company’s major airline partners.
Other ancillary revenues commonly associated with airlines, such as baggage fee revenue, ticket change fee revenue and the marketing component of the sale of mileage credits, are retained by the Company’s major airline partners on flights that the Company operates under its code-share agreements.
As of December 31, 2022, the Company had $100.5 million in accounts receivable of which $73.7 million related to flying agreements. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had $65.3 million in accounts receivable of which $50.8 million related to flying agreements.
Allowance for Credit Losses
The Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326), Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” (“Topic 326”) on January 1, 2020. At adoption, the Company’s primary financial assets included trade receivables from its flying agreements, a note receivable from the sale of the Company’s subsidiary, ExpressJet Airlines, Inc., in 2019, and receivables from aircraft manufacturers and other third parties in the airline industry. The Company recorded a credit loss of $11.6 million net of income tax in conjunction with the adoption of Topic 326. The Company recorded this credit loss as a January 1, 2020, beginning balance sheet entry to retained earnings (net of income tax).
The Company monitors publicly available credit ratings for entities for which the Company has a significant receivable balance. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had gross receivables of $122.5 million in current assets and gross receivables of $210.5 million in other long-term assets. The Company has established credit loss reserves based on publicly available historic default rates issued by a third party for companies with similar credit ratings, factoring in the term of the respective accounts receivable or note receivable. During the year ended December 31, 2022, there were no significant changes in the outstanding accounts receivable or notes receivable or the credit ratings of the entities.
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The following table summarizes the changes in allowance for credit losses:
Allowance for Credit Losses
Adjustments to credit loss reserves 30,837
Write-offs charged against allowance —
Adjustments to credit loss reserves (4,249)
Write-offs charged against allowance —
Adjustments to credit loss reserves (4,591)
Write-offs charged against allowance —
Income Taxes
The Company recognizes a net liability or asset for the deferred tax consequences of all temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements that are expected to result in taxable or deductible amounts in future years when the reported amounts of the assets and liabilities are recovered or settled.
Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share
Basic net income (loss) per common share (“Basic EPS”) excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per common share (“Diluted EPS”) reflects the potential dilution that could occur if stock options or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock. The computation of Diluted EPS does not assume exercise or conversion of securities that would have an anti-dilutive effect on net income (loss) per common share. Securities that could potentially dilute Basic EPS in the future, and which were excluded from the calculation of Diluted EPS because inclusion of such share would be anti-dilutive, are as follows (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
PSP1 and Treasury Loan Warrants (1) 437 — 582
PSP2 Warrants (2) 125 — —
PSP3 Warrants (3) 78 78 —
Employee Stock Awards 219 — 314
Total antidilutive securities 859 78 896
Additionally, for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, 146,000, 140,000 and 178,000 performance share units (at target performance) were excluded from the computation of Diluted EPS since the Company had not achieved the minimum target thresholds as of December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
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The calculation of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for Basic EPS and Diluted EPS are as follows for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
Numerator:
Denominator:
Dilution due to employee equity awards and warrants 96 405 —
Diluted earnings per share weighted average shares 50,644 50,753 50,195
Basic earnings (loss) per share $ 1.44 $ 2.22 $ (0.17)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share $ 1.44 $ 2.20 $ (0.17)
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Comprehensive income (loss) includes charges and credits to stockholders’ equity that are not the result of transactions with the Company’s shareholders, including changes in unrealized appreciation (or depreciation) on marketable debt securities.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for receivables and accounts payable approximate fair values because of the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments. Marketable securities are reported at fair value based on market quoted prices in the consolidated balance sheets. If quoted prices in active markets are no longer available, the Company has estimated the fair values of these securities utilizing a discounted cash flow analysis. These analyses consider, among other items, the collateralization underlying the security investments, the creditworthiness of the counterparty, the timing of expected future cash flows, and the expectation of the next time the security is expected to have a successful auction. Certain investments in other companies are reported at fair value based on market quoted prices or using the Black Scholes Option Pricing model in the consolidated balance sheets. The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt is estimated based on current rates offered to the Company for similar debt.
Segment Reporting
GAAP requires disclosures related to components of a company for which separate financial information is available to, and regularly evaluated by, the Company’s chief operating decision maker when deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company has two reportable segments: SkyWest Airlines and SkyWest Leasing. Information pertaining to the Company’s reportable segments is presented in Note 3, Segment Reporting.
(2) Recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic and Labor Impact
COVID-19 had a significant, negative impact on the Company’s business and financial results in 2020 with moderate improvement in 2021. During 2022, passenger demand recovered; however, indirect factors of COVID-19, such as employee attrition, particularly captain attrition, and workforce shortages negatively impacted the Company’s operations in 2022.
Payroll Support Programs. In 2020 and 2021, the Company entered into three Payroll Support Program Agreements with Treasury that provided certain payroll support relief payments, including the PSP1 under the CARES Act, the PSP2 under the 2021 Appropriations Act and the PSP3 under the American Rescue Plan Act. The relief payments were conditioned on the Company’s agreement to, among other things, refrain from conducting involuntary employee layoffs or furloughs through September 30, 2021. Other conditions included restrictions on share repurchases and dividends through September 30, 2022, continuing essential air service as directed by the U.S. Department of Transportation and certain limitations on executive compensation. The payments received under the payroll support
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programs included an amount in the form of a payroll grant and an amount in the form of an unsecured 10-year loan. In return, the Company issued to Treasury warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock. The Company recorded the payroll grant proceeds as an offset to operating expenses in the period the funds were intended to compensate. The PSP1 grant was recognized during 2020 and grants received from PSP2 and PSP3 were recognized during 2021. No grants were received or recognized during 2022.
In 2020, in connection with the CARES Act, the Company entered into the Treasury Loan Agreement with Treasury (“Secured Loan”) and borrowed $60.0 million under the agreement and in conjunction therewith, issued warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock. During 2021, the Company repaid all amounts outstanding under the secured loan with Treasury, and in connection with such repayment, terminated the Secured Loan.
The following table summarizes the amounts received and warrants issued under the payroll support programs and secured loan facility (in thousands except warrant amounts):
Total Grant Loan Number of Warrants
See Note 11, “Capital Transactions” for further discussion on the warrants issued to acquire the Company’s shares issued to Treasury.
(3) Segment Reporting
GAAP requires disclosures related to components of a company for which separate financial information is available to, and regularly evaluated by, the Company’s chief operating decision maker when deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance.
The Company’s two reportable segments consist of the operations of SkyWest Airlines and SkyWest Leasing activities.
The Company’s chief operating decision maker analyzes the profitability of operating new aircraft financed through the issuance of debt, including the Company’s E175 fleet, separately from the profitability of the Company’s capital deployed for ownership and financing of such aircraft. The SkyWest Airlines segment includes revenue earned under the applicable capacity purchase agreements attributed to operating such aircraft and the respective operating costs. The SkyWest Leasing segment includes applicable revenue earned under the applicable capacity purchase agreements attributed to the ownership of new aircraft acquired through the issuance of debt and the respective depreciation and interest expense of such aircraft. The SkyWest Leasing segment also includes the activity of leasing regional jet aircraft and spare engines to third parties and other activities. The SkyWest Leasing segment’s total assets and capital expenditures include new aircraft acquired through the issuance of debt and assets leased to third parties. Additionally, aircraft removed from SkyWest Airlines operations and held for sale are included in the SkyWest Leasing segment.
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The following represents the Company’s segment data for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020 (in thousands).
Year ended December 31, 2022
SkyWest SkyWest
Airlines Leasing Consolidated
Year ended December 31, 2021
SkyWest SkyWest
Airlines Leasing Consolidated
Special items - impairment charges 84,592 — 84,592
Year ended December 31, 2020
SkyWest SkyWest
Airlines Leasing Consolidated
(2) Segment profit (loss) is equal to operating income less interest expense.
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(4) Long-term Debt
Long-term debt consisted of the following as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 (in thousands):
December 31, December 31,
During 2022, the Company took delivery of 25 new E175 aircraft that the Company financed through $516.6 million of long-term debt. The debt associated with the 25 E175 aircraft has 5- to 12-year terms, is due in monthly or quarterly installments, and is secured by the E175 aircraft.
During 2022, the Company executed promissory notes for $167.9 million. The promissory notes have three- to four-year terms, are due in monthly installments with fixed annual interest rates of 3.6% to 4.7% and are secured by spare engines.
As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company had $3.05 billion and $2.94 billion, respectively, of long-term debt obligations primarily related to the acquisition of aircraft and certain spare engines. The average effective interest rate on the debt related to those long-term debt obligations at December 31, 2022 and 2021, was approximately 4.0% and 3.8%, respectively.
The aggregate amounts of principal maturities of long-term debt as of December 31, 2022 were as follows (in thousands):
As of December 31, 2022, SkyWest Airlines had a $100 million line of credit. As of December 31, 2021, SkyWest Airlines had a $75 million line of credit. The line of credit includes minimum liquidity and profitability covenants and is secured by certain assets. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, SkyWest Airlines had no amounts outstanding under the line of credit facility. However, at December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company had $29.9 million and $31.4 million, respectively, in letters of credit issued under the facility which reduced the amount available under the facility to $70.1 million and $43.6 million, respectively. The line of credit expires March 25, 2025 and has a variable interest rate of 3.5% plus the one month SOFR rate.
As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company had $59.2 million and $61.4 million, respectively, in letters of credit and surety bonds outstanding with various banks and surety institutions.
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The Company’s debt agreements are not traded on an active market and are recorded at carrying value on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt is estimated based on current rates offered to the Company for similar debt. Debt is primarily classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. The carrying value and fair value of the Company’s long-term debt as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, were as follows (in thousands):
(5) Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes includes the following components (in thousands):
Year ended December 31,
Current tax provision (benefit):
Deferred tax provision (benefit):
The following is a reconciliation between a federal income tax rate of 21% and the effective tax rate which is derived by dividing the provision for income taxes by the income (loss) before the provision for income taxes (in thousands):
Year ended December 31,
Increase (decrease) in income taxes resulting from:
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation 534 (92) (1,434)
For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company recorded a $1.7 million valuation allowance against certain deferred tax assets associated with state net operating losses with a limited carry forward period. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company released $0.9 million of valuation allowance against certain deferred tax assets primarily associated with state net operating losses with a limited carry forward period. The increase in the valuation allowance for 2022 was primarily based on changes in the Company's income tax projections by jurisdiction which increased the amount of deferred tax assets that are anticipated to expire before the deferred tax assets may be utilized.
The Company recorded a $0.5 million expense, $0.1 million benefit and $1.4 million benefit from share-based compensation in 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively, relating to ASU 2016-09 which, requires excess tax benefits and
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deficiencies to be recognized in the income tax provision during the period stock options are exercised and when stock awards vest.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company recorded a $7.3 million tax benefit for the release of uncertain tax position under ASC Topic 740 which is recorded in “Other, net” above.
The significant components of the Company’s net deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, are as follows (in thousands):
As of December 31,
Deferred tax assets:
Operating lease liabilities 39,209 57,991
Interest deduction limitation 26,469 —
Valuation allowance (1,716) —
Deferred tax liabilities:
Operating lease right-of-use assets (35,474) (56,521)
The Company’s deferred tax liabilities were primarily generated through accelerated depreciation, combined with shorter depreciable tax lives, allowed under the IRS tax code for purchased aircraft and support equipment compared to the Company’s depreciation policy under GAAP for such assets using the straight-line method (see Note 1, “Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”).
AtDecember 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company had federal net operating losses of approximately $817.4 million and $745.8 million and state net operating losses of approximately $380.6 million and $554.7 million, respectively. The estimated effective tax rate applicable to the federal and state net operating losses at December 31, 2022, was 21.0% and 3.45%, respectively. The Company anticipates that the federal and state net operating losses will start to expire in 2037 and 2023, respectively. The Company has no ongoing federal examinations. The Company has one ongoing state examination for tax year 2020. Federal tax years 2019, 2020 and 2021 are open to examination.
Under Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) Topic 740, the accounting guidance related to uncertainty in tax positions requires that the impact of a tax position be recognized in the financial statements if that position is more likely than not of being sustained on audit, based on the technical merits of the position. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits for the year ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020 is as follows (in thousands):
Year ended December 31,
Unrecognized tax benefits at the beginning of year $ 15,529 $ 14,980 $ 14,620
Gross increases - current year tax positions — — —
Gross increases - prior year tax positions 343 549 360
Gross decreases - prior year tax positions (7,662) — —
Unrecognized tax benefits at end of year $ 8,210 $ 15,529 $ 14,980
Interest and penalties in year-end balance $ 607 $ 976 $ 427
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For the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, the Company recorded $343,000, $549,000, and $360,000, respectively, of interest expense related to uncertain tax positions not offset by the Company's tax attributes. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company released $7.7 million of the prior year uncertain tax position, including interest, as the tax year statutes impacted by these positions have closed.
(6) Commitments and Contingencies
Self-Insurance
The Company self-insures a portion of its potential losses from claims related to workers’ compensation, environmental issues, property damage, medical insurance for employees and general liability. Losses are accrued based on an estimate of the ultimate aggregate liability for claims incurred, using standard industry practices and the Company’s actual experience. The Company uses judgment and estimates in determining the ultimate aggregate liabilities for claims incurred in its workers’ compensation liability. The Company also used assumptions in determining the workers compensation liability such as an estimation of loss payment and loss reporting development patterns. At December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company’s accrued workers’ compensation liability totaled $21.6 million and $17.5 million, respectively, of which $8.0 million and $7.1 million, respectively, was short-term and included in other current liabilities. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
Legal Matters
The Company is subject to certain legal actions which it considers routine to its business activities. As of December 31, 2022, management believed, after consultation with legal counsel, that the ultimate outcome of such legal matters was not likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, liquidity or results of operations.
Concentration Risk and Significant Customers
The Company requires no collateral from its major airline partners or customers, but monitors the financial condition of its major airline partners. Under the majority of the Company’s code-share agreements, the Company receives weekly payments from its major code-share partners that approximate a significant percentage of the compensation earned for such period. Additionally, the Company provides certain customer service functions at multiple airports for various airlines and the Company maintains a credit loss reserve based upon expected collectability of all accounts receivable. For the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, the Company’s contractual relationships with Delta and United combined accounted for approximately 72.5%, 73.5% and 76.4%, respectively of the Company’s total revenues.
Employees Under Collective Bargaining Agreements
As of December 31, 2022, the Company had approximately 13,582 employees. Although no SkyWest Airlines employees are represented by a national union, the majority of SkyWest Airline employees are covered under by a written, stable and binding collective bargaining agreement under the RLA, entered into between SkyWest Airlines and a long-established labor association, such as the SkyWest Airlines Pilot Association (“SAPA”).