Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. today announced third-quarter 2022 net income of $60.1 million, or $1.79 per diluted share, compared with net income of $119.5 million, or $3.91 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2021.
On an adjusted basis, EBITDA totaled $194.0 million in the third quarter this year compared with $280.5 million in the third quarter of 2021. Adjusted net income in the third quarter of 2022 totaled $78.8 million, or $2.69 per diluted share, compared with $145.4 million, or $4.88 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2021.
“We continued to see strong demand for our services during the third quarter,” said Atlas Air Worldwide President and Chief Executive Officer John W. Dietrich.
“We were also pleased to announce a long-term ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance) agreement under which all four of our new and incoming 777-200 freighters are placed with MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company SA.”
Mr. Dietrich continued: “Notwithstanding this strong demand, our third-quarter performance was impacted by operational disruptions related to an increase in COVID-19 cases, particularly in July and August, as well as the effects of Hurricane Ian at the end of the quarter.
“I would like to thank our Atlas team for working together through these challenges on behalf of our customers.”
Transaction Update
As previously announced, on August 4, 2022, Atlas Air Worldwide entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by an investor group led by funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, Inc., together with investment affiliates of J.F. Lehman & Company, LLC and Hill City Capital LP. In light of this pending acquisition, Atlas Air Worldwide will not hold an earnings conference call or provide forward-looking guidance. In connection with the proposed transaction, the Company filed a definitive proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission and will hold a related special meeting of shareholders on November 29, 2022.
The Company continues to expect to complete this transaction in the fourth quarter 2022 or the first quarter 2023.
Third-Quarter Results
Revenue grew to $1.1 billion in the third quarter of 2022 compared with $1.0 billion in the prior-year quarter. Volumes in the third quarter of 2022 totaled 79,274 block hours compared with 90,363 in the third quarter of 2021.
Higher Airline Operations revenue primarily reflected an increase in the average rate per block hour, partially offset by a reduction in block hours flown. The higher average rate per block hour was primarily due to higher fuel prices and higher yields (net of fuel), including the impact of new and extended long-term contracts and increased cargo flying for the AMC.
Block hours decreased primarily due to operational disruptions related to an increase in COVID-19 cases (which were significantly higher in July and August), our operation of fewer passenger flights and the effects of Hurricane Ian.
The increase in cases and effects of the hurricane adversely impacted our crew availability and our ability to position them due to the widespread and well-publicized cancellations of commercial passenger flights.
Airline Operations segment contribution decreased during the quarter primarily due to increased pilot costs related to our new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), higher overtime pay related to an increase in COVID-19 cases (which were significantly higher in July and August), as well as higher premium pay for pilots operating in certain areas significantly impacted by COVID-19.
Segment contribution was also adversely impacted by lower aircraft utilization and higher crew travel costs related to the operational disruptions described in the segment revenue discussion above, as well as higher commercial passenger airfares.
In addition, segment contribution was negatively impacted by higher heavy maintenance expense and a decrease in AMC passenger flying.
These items were partially offset by higher yields (net of fuel), primarily driven by increased cargo flying for the AMC and the impact of new and extended long-term contracts.
In Dry Leasing, segment revenue in the third quarter of 2022 was relatively unchanged compared with the prior-year period.
Higher segment contribution was primarily due to lower interest expense related to the scheduled repayment of debt.
Unallocated income and expenses, net, decreased during the quarter primarily due to a $15.2 million adjustment to paid time-off benefits recorded in 2021 related to our new CBA, lower interest expense related to our adoption of the amended accounting guidance for convertible notes and lower professional fees.
Reported earnings in the third quarter of 2022 included an effective income tax rate of 23.2%. On an adjusted basis, our results reflected an effective income tax rate of 22.6%.
