Sun Country Airlines Reports Third Quarter 2023 Results

Nov 07, 2023

Sun Country Q3 2023 Earnings Release 270.1 KB

Revenue of $249 million, highest third quarter on record⁽¹⁾
GAAP diluted EPS of $0.13 and operating income of $19 million
Adj. diluted EPS⁽²⁾ of $0.14 and adjusted operating income⁽²⁾ of $20 million_,

MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sun Country Airlines Holdings, Inc. (“Sun Country Airlines,” “Sun Country,” the “Company”) (NASDAQ: SNCY) today reported financial results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2023.

“Sun Country’s diversified business model continued to deliver strong results in the third quarter, as evidenced by our strong GAAP operating results and our third consecutive quarter of year over year improvement in adjusted operating margin, adjusted pre-tax margin and adjusted earnings per share,” said Jude Bricker, Chief Executive Officer of Sun Country. “Total revenue was up by 12.3% versus the third quarter 2022 and we produced GAAP operating income of $19 million, operating margin of 7.6%, and adjusted operating margin⁽²⁾ of 8.1% for the quarter. The revenue environment continues to stay healthy as demonstrated by scheduled service TRASM⁽³⁾ declining only 5.0%, while scheduled service ASMs grew 15.1%. This helped to drive GAAP diluted EPS of $0.13 and Adjusted diluted EPS⁽²⁾ of $0.14 in the third quarter. In addition to our excellent performance, our board of directors has authorized an additional $25 million for repurchases of Sun Country shares.”

Overview of Third Quarter

	Three Months Ended September 30,
(unaudited) (in millions, except per share amounts)		2023		2022	% Change
Total Operating Revenue	$	248.9	$	221.7	12.3
Operating Income		19.0		15.4	23.5
Income Before Income Tax		10.1		12.9	(22.1	)
Net Income		7.6		10.7	(28.9	)
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.13	$	0.18	(27.8	)

	Three Months Ended September 30,
(unaudited) (in millions, except per share amounts)		2023		2022	% Change
Adjusted Operating Income ⁽²⁾	$	20.0	$	15.9	26.2
Adjusted Income Before Income Tax ⁽²⁾		11.1		9.7	14.8
Adjusted Net Income ⁽²⁾		8.4		7.4	13.9
Adjusted diluted earnings per share ⁽²⁾	$	0.14	$	0.12	16.7

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
(unaudited) (in millions, except per share amounts)		2023		2022	% Change
Total Operating Revenue	$	804.1	$	667.3	20.5
Operating Income		110.4		40.6	171.9
Income Before Income Tax		86.5		14.5	496.3
Net Income		66.5		10.4	540.3
Diluted earnings per share	$	1.12	$	0.17	558.8

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
(unaudited) (in millions, except per share amounts)		2023		2022	% Change
Adjusted Operating Income ⁽²⁾	$	118.5	$	42.6	178.4
Adjusted Income Before Income Tax ⁽²⁾		94.9		22.7	317.7
Adjusted Net Income ⁽²⁾		72.9		17.9	308.1
Adjusted diluted earnings per share ⁽²⁾	$	1.23	$	0.29	322.5

For the quarter ended September 30, 2023, Sun Country reported net income of $8 million and income before income tax of $10 million, on $249 million of revenue. Adjusted income before income tax⁽²⁾ for the quarter was $11 million. GAAP operating income during the quarter was $19 million, while adjusted operating income⁽²⁾ was $20 million, operating margin was 7.6% and adjusted operating margin⁽²⁾ was 8.1%_.

“For the fourth consecutive quarter, we have seen year-over-year revenue growth across our scheduled service, charter and cargo businesses,” said Dave Davis, President and Chief Financial Officer. “Year-to-date, we have continued to see unit revenue strength with scheduled service TRASM⁽³⁾ up 13.6% versus the same time period last year, and we do not see demand abating through the rest of 2023. Sun Country continues to generate strong margins and our outlook for 2024 capital expenditures falls sharply from 2023 levels driving an expected, significant increase in free cash flow next year⁽⁴⁾. As such, our board of directors has authorized another $25 million to repurchase Sun Country shares. This is on top of the $80 million that has already been used to repurchase shares. Since November 2022, we have repurchased 4.7 million shares of Sun Country common stock.”

Notable Highlights

Announced the extension of our schedule through September 10, 2024 including eight new domestic seasonal nonstop routes from Minneapolis and new flying to Montreal and Toronto Canada (pending final approval from the Canadian airports).
The Company repurchased 2.1 million shares at an average price of $15.30 during the third quarter. The board of directors approved an additional $25 million of buyback authority which brings the current repurchase authorization to $25 million.

Capacity

System block hours flown during the third quarter of 2023 grew by 14.4% year-over-year. Cargo block hours grew in the third quarter by 6.3% year-over-year as Amazon flying was constrained last year due to scheduled maintenance events. Scheduled service block hours and charter block hours increased by 17.6% and 14.1%, respectively year-over-year on a 14.1% increase in average passenger aircraft.

Charter block hours under long-term contracts comprised 82.2% of the total charter flying performed in the third quarter of 2023. As the Company continues to normalize its aircraft utilization, it intends to pursue more ad-hoc charter flying.

Revenue

For the third quarter of 2023, the Company reported total revenue of $249 million, which was 12.3% more than the third quarter of 2022. The Company’s scheduled service TRASM⁽³⁾ of 11.72 cents in the third quarter of 2023 decreased 5.0% year-over-year, while scheduled service ASMs increased 15.1%. The third quarter 2023 total fare per scheduled passenger of $153 was lower than third quarter 2022 by 8.7% as scheduled service revenue passengers grew 19.9%. As a component of total fare, ancillary revenue per passenger continues to show strength at $65, a growth rate of 16.9% versus the same time period last year. In the third quarter of 2023, the Company’s charter service revenue was $47 million, an increase of 10.6% year-over-year. On a rate basis, third quarter 2023 charter revenue per block hour was 3.1% lower than the rate in the third quarter of 2022 as lower fuel prices reduced the fuel reimbursement amount that we received from our charter customers.

In the third quarter of 2023, cargo revenue was $26 million, a 10.0% increase versus the third quarter of 2022. The variance was primarily driven by a 6.3% increase in block hours and the annual rate escalation which went into effect in mid-December 2022.

Cost

For the third quarter of 2023, total GAAP operating expenses increased 11.4% year-over-year, primarily due to a 23.7% increase in salaries, wages, and benefits and a 39.1% increase in maintenance expense. Fuel expense decreased by 5.7% compared to third quarter 2022. This combination drove adjusted CASM⁽⁵⁾ in the third quarter to increase 2.6% versus the third quarter 2022.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

Total liquidity⁽⁶⁾ was $198 million on September 30, 2023, while the Company’s net debt⁽⁷⁾ was $544 million.

(in millions - amounts may not recalculate due to rounding)	September 30, 2023		December 31, 2022
	(Unaudited)
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$	27.0	$	92.1
Available-for-Sale Securities		146.5		172.6
Amount Available Under Revolving Credit Facility		24.7		24.7
Total Liquidity	$	198.1	$	289.4

(in millions - amounts may not recalculate due to rounding)	September 30, 2023		December 31, 2022
	(Unaudited)
Total Debt, net	$	435.1	$	352.2
Finance Lease Obligations		263.3		251.3
Operating Lease Obligations		19.4		26.1
Total Debt, net, and Lease Obligations		717.8		629.6
Cash and Cash Equivalents		27.0		92.1
Available-for-Sale Securities		146.5		172.6
Net Debt	$	544.3	$	364.9

Fleet

As of September 30, 2023, the Company had 42 aircraft in its passenger service fleet, operated 12 freighter aircraft in its cargo operation, and had five aircraft held for operating lease.

Guidance for Fourth Quarter 2023

	Q4 2023	H/(L) vs Q4 2022
Total revenue - millions	$242 to $252	7% to 11%
Economic fuel cost per gallon	$3.20	(11%)
Operating income margin - percentage	3% to 5%	(4pp) to (2pp)
Effective tax rate	23%
Total system block hours - thousands	36 to 37	11% to 15%

Conference Call & Webcast Details

Sun Country Airlines will host a conference call to discuss its third quarter 2023 results at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. A live broadcast of the conference call will be available via the investor relations section of Sun Country Airlines’ website at https://ir.suncountry.com/news-events/events-and-presentations. The online replay will be available on the same website approximately one hour after the call.

About Sun Country Airlines

Sun Country Airlines is a new breed of hybrid low-cost air carrier that dynamically deploys shared resources across our synergistic scheduled service, charter and cargo businesses. Based in Minnesota, we focus on serving leisure and visiting friends and relatives ("VFR") passengers and charter customers and providing cargo services, with flights throughout the United States and to destinations in Mexico, Central America, Canada, and the Caribbean.

End Notes

1 -	Records begin in January 2017
2 -	See additional details, including reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP measures, in the section titled “Non-GAAP financial measures”
3 -	Scheduled Service TRASM includes Schedule Service revenue, Ancillary revenue, and ASM generating revenue classified within Other Revenue on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations / Scheduled Service ASMs. Other Revenue includes rental revenue of approximately $6 million and $12 million associated with five aircraft held for operating lease in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, which is not included
4 -	There can be no assurance that projections or estimates of future performance will be realized
5 -	Adjusted CASM is a non-GAAP measure derived from CASM by excluding fuel costs, non-cash management stock compensation expense, costs arising from its cargo operations, depreciation recognized on our aircraft and flight equipment held for operating lease, certain commissions, and other costs of selling its vacations product from this measure. See table titled “Reconciliation of CASM to Adjusted CASM”
6 -	Total liquidity = cash and cash equivalents + available-for-sale securities + amount available under revolver
7 -	Net debt = current portion of long-term debt + long-term debt + finance lease obligations + operating lease obligations – cash and cash equivalents - available-for-sale securities

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and, in each case, their negative or other various or comparable terminology. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenue, projected costs, prospects, plans, objectives of management, and expected market growth are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are relating to:

• our strategy, outlook and growth prospects;

• our operational and financial targets and dividend policy;

• general economic trends and trends in the industry and markets;

• potential repurchases of our common stock; and

• the competitive environment in which we operate.

These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements reflect our views with respect to future events as of the date of this press release and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this press release and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or review publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date of this press release. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our views to change. You should read this press release completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures, or investments we may undertake. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements. Additional information concerning certain factors is contained in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to the Company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We sometimes use information that is derived from the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, but that is not presented in accordance with GAAP. We believe these non-GAAP measures provide a meaningful comparison of our results to others in the airline industry and our prior year results. Investors should consider these non-GAAP financial measures in addition to, and not as a substitute for, our financial performance measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Further, our non-GAAP information may be different from the non-GAAP information provided by other companies. We believe certain charges included in our operating expenses on a GAAP basis make it difficult to compare our current period results to prior periods as well as future periods and guidance. The tables below show a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures used in this document to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended September 30,
		2023			2022		% Change
Operating Revenues:
Scheduled Service	$	96,483		$	102,200		(5.6	)
Charter Service		47,437			42,899		10.6
Ancillary		70,435			50,261		40.1
Passenger		214,355			195,360		9.7
Cargo		26,059			23,687		10.0
Other		8,462			2,653		219.0
Total Operating Revenue		248,876			221,700		12.3

Operating Expenses:
Aircraft Fuel		61,179			64,843		(5.7	)
Salaries, Wages, and Benefits		72,541			58,661		23.7
Aircraft Rent		22			1,949		(98.9	)
Maintenance		15,330			11,018		39.1
Sales and Marketing		7,569			6,827		10.9
Depreciation and Amortization		22,762			17,181		32.5
Ground Handling		9,382			8,669		8.2
Landing Fees and Airport Rent		13,958			12,926		8.0
Other Operating, net		27,127			24,235		11.9
Total Operating Expenses		229,870			206,309		11.4
Operating Income		19,006			15,391		23.5

Non-operating Income (Expense):
Interest Income		2,480			1,610		54.0
Interest Expense		(11,403	)		(7,493	)	52.2
Other, net		(15	)		3,422		(100.4	)
Total Non-operating Expense, net		(8,938	)		(2,461	)	263.2

Income before Income Tax		10,068			12,930		(22.1	)
Income Tax Expense		2,477			2,253		9.9
Net Income	$	7,591		$	10,677		(28.9	)

Net Income per share to common stockholders:
Basic	$	0.14		$	0.18		(22.2	)
Diluted	$	0.13		$	0.18		(27.8	)
Shares used for computation:
Basic		55,435,386			58,146,606		(4.7	)
Diluted		58,595,646			60,793,516		(3.6	)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2023			2022		% Change
Operating Revenues:
Scheduled Service	$	360,607		$	334,679		7.7
Charter Service		143,250			118,526		20.9
Ancillary		205,633			139,548		47.4
Passenger		709,490			592,753		19.7
Cargo		74,437			65,930		12.9
Other		20,150			8,607		134.1
Total Operating Revenue		804,077			667,290		20.5

Operating Expenses:
Aircraft Fuel		185,829			206,334		(9.9	)
Salaries, Wages, and Benefits		223,890			178,576		25.4
Aircraft Rent		2,281			7,347		(69.0	)
Maintenance		44,311			35,794		23.8
Sales and Marketing		26,005			23,336		11.4
Depreciation and Amortization		64,577			49,364		30.8
Ground Handling		28,299			24,838		13.9
Landing Fees and Airport Rent		36,847			32,708		12.7
Other Operating, net		81,663			68,401		19.4
Total Operating Expenses		693,702			626,698		10.7
Operating Income		110,375			40,592		171.9

Non-operating Income (Expense):
Interest Income		7,766			2,166		258.5
Interest Expense		(31,272	)		(23,097	)	35.4
Other, net		(370	)		(5,156	)	(92.8	)
Total Non-operating Expense, net		(23,876	)		(26,087	)	(8.5	)

Income before Income Tax		86,499			14,505		496.3
Income Tax Expense		19,963			4,113		385.4
Net Income	$	66,536		$	10,392		540.3

Net Income per share to common stockholders:
Basic	$	1.19		$	0.18		561.1
Diluted	$	1.12		$	0.17		558.8
Shares used for computation:
Basic		56,051,173			58,039,201		(3.4	)
Diluted		59,281,819			61,372,735		(3.4	)

KEY OPERATING STATISTICS

The following tables presents key operating statistics and metrics for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022.

	Three Months Ended September 30,
		2023			2022		% Change
Scheduled Service Statistics:
Revenue passenger miles (RPMs) – thousands		1,252,583			1,101,011		13.8
Available seat miles (ASMs) – thousands		1,446,462			1,256,755		15.1
Load factor		86.6	%		87.6	%	(1.0	)
Revenue passengers carried		1,090,172			908,967		19.9
Departures		6,878			5,611		22.6
Block hours		19,935			16,947		17.6
Scheduled service TRASM⁽¹⁾ - cents		11.72			12.34		(5.0	)
Average base fare per passenger	$	88.50		$	112.44		(21.3	)
Ancillary revenue per passenger	$	64.61		$	55.29		16.9
Total fare per passenger	$	153.11		$	167.73		(8.7	)
Fuel gallons - thousands		15,536			13,352		16.4

Charter Statistics:
Departures		2,688			2,359		13.9
Block hours		5,274			4,623		14.1
Available seats miles (ASMs) - thousands		322,722			286,189		12.8
Fuel gallons - thousands		3,513			3,056		15.0

Cargo Statistics:
Departures		3,432			3,043		12.8
Block hours		9,287			8,739		6.3

Total System Statistics:
Average passenger aircraft		42.0			36.8		14.1
Passenger aircraft – end of period		42			42		—
Cargo aircraft – end of period		12			12		—
Aircraft held for operating lease – end of period		5			—		NM
Available seat miles (ASMs) – thousands		1,791,485			1,553,483		15.3
Departures		13,128			11,072		18.6
Block hours		34,874			30,492		14.4
Daily utilization – hours		6.6			6.4		3.1
Average stage length – miles		1,005			1,055		(4.7	)
Total revenue per ASM (TRASM) - cents		12.11			12.75		(5.0	)
Cost per ASM (CASM) - cents		12.83			13.28		(3.4	)
Adjusted CASM⁽²⁾ - cents		7.75			7.55		2.6
Fuel gallons - thousands		19,262			16,509		16.7
Fuel cost per gallon	$	3.19		$	3.93		(18.8	)
Employees at end of period		2,692			2,354		14.4

1 – See note 3 in end notes

2 – See note 4 in end notes

“NM” stands for not meaningful

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2023			2022		% Change
Scheduled Service Statistics:
Revenue passenger miles (RPMs) – thousands		3,900,975			3,565,501		9.4
Available seat miles (ASMs) – thousands		4,489,968			4,284,403		4.8
Load factor		86.9	%		83.2	%	3.7
Revenue passengers carried		3,093,536			2,715,707		13.9
Departures		19,456			17,512		11.1
Block hours		61,438			57,585		6.7
Scheduled service TRASM⁽¹⁾ - cents		12.80			11.27		13.6
Average base fare per passenger	$	116.57		$	123.24		(5.4	)
Ancillary revenue per passenger	$	66.47		$	51.39		29.3
Total fare per passenger	$	183.04		$	174.63		4.8
Fuel gallons - thousands		48,046			44,940		6.9

Charter Statistics:
Departures		7,816			6,214		25.8
Block hours		15,994			13,000		23.0
Available seats miles (ASMs) - thousands		961,953			800,698		20.1
Fuel gallons - thousands		11,063			9,085		21.8

Cargo Statistics:
Departures		9,643			8,310		16.0
Block hours		25,633			23,891		7.3

Total System Statistics:
Average passenger aircraft		41.8			35.2		18.8
Passenger aircraft – end of period		42			42		—
Cargo aircraft – end of period		12			12		—
Aircraft held for operating lease – end of period		5			—		NM
Available seat miles (ASMs) – thousands		5,516,826			5,114,134		7.9
Departures		37,295			32,246		15.7
Block hours		104,188			95,052		9.6
Daily utilization – hours		6.9			7.4		(6.8	)
Average stage length – miles		1,088			1,169		(6.9	)
Total revenue per ASM (TRASM) - cents		13.01			11.76		10.6
Cost per ASM (CASM) - cents		12.57			12.25		2.6
Adjusted CASM⁽²⁾ - cents		7.56			6.91		9.4
Fuel gallons - thousands		59,734			54,322		10.0
Fuel cost per gallon	$	3.12		$	3.81		(18.1	)
Employees at end of period		2,692			2,354		14.4

1 – See note 3 in end notes

2 – See note 4 in end notes

“NM” stands for not meaningful

SUMMARY BALANCE SHEET
(Dollars in millions)
(amounts may not recalculate due to rounding)

	September 30, 2023		December 31, 2022		% Change
	(Unaudited)
Cash & Cash Equivalents	$	27.0	$	92.1	(70.7	)
Other Current Assets		233.3		253.4	(7.9	)
Total Current Assets		260.3		345.5	(24.7	)
Total Property & Equipment, net		956.7		785.7	21.8
Other		384.0		393.3	(2.3	)
Total Assets		1,601.1		1,524.4	5.0

Air Traffic Liabilities		130.5		158.0	(17.4	)
Current Finance Lease Obligations		32.1		18.0	78.4
Current Operating Lease Obligations		2.3		6.3	(63.7	)
Current Maturities of Long-Term Debt, net		83.3		57.5	44.8
Income Tax Receivable Agreement Liability		1.5		2.3	(33.1	)
Other Current Liabilities		121.2		135.0	(10.3	)
Total Current Liabilities		370.9		377.1	(1.7	)
Finance Lease Obligations		231.2		233.3	(0.9	)
Operating Lease Obligations		17.1		19.8	(13.8	)
Long-Term Debt, net		351.8		294.7	19.4
Income Tax Receivable Agreement Liability		99.5		101.5	(2.0	)
Other		11.3		5.2	116.5
Total Liabilities		1,081.7		1,031.7	4.8

Total Stockholders’ Equity	$	519.4	$	492.7	5.4

SUMMARY CASH FLOW
(Dollars in millions)

(Unaudited - amounts may not recalculate due to rounding)

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2023			2022		% Change
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	$	102.7		$	71.7		43.2

Purchases of Property & Equipment		(210.6	)		(177.7	)	18.6
Other, net		32.4			(120.0	)	(127.0	)
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities		(178.3	)		(297.6	)	(40.1	)

Common Stock Repurchases		(55.1	)		—		NM
Proceeds from Borrowing		119.2			188.3		(36.7	)
Repayment of Finance Lease Obligations		(16.4	)		(37.8	)	(56.7	)
Repayment of Borrowings		(35.5	)		(95.3	)	(62.8	)
Other, net		(1.7	)		(0.9	)	90.5
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities		10.6			54.2		(80.4	)

Net Decrease in Cash		(65.0	)		(171.7	)	(62.1	)
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash – Beginning of the Period		102.9			317.8		(67.6	)
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash – End of the Period	$	37.9		$	146.1		(74.0	)

“NM” stands for not meaningful

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Operating Income Margin, Adjusted Income Before Income Tax, Adjusted Pre-tax Margin, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Net Income per Share, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin

Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Operating Income Margin, Adjusted Income Before Income Tax, Adjusted Pre-tax Margin, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Net Income per share, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin are non-GAAP measures included as supplemental disclosure because we believe they are useful indicators of our operating performance. Derivations of Operating Income and Net Income are well recognized performance measurements in the airline industry that are frequently used by our management, as well as by investors, securities analysts and other interested parties in comparing the operating performance of companies in our industry.

The measures described above have limitations as analytical tools. Some of the limitations applicable to these measures include: they do not reflect the impact of certain cash and non-cash charges resulting from matters we consider not to be indicative of our ongoing operations; and other companies in our industry may calculate these non-GAAP measures differently than we do, limiting each measure’s usefulness as a comparative measure. Because of these limitations, the following non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for performance measures calculated in accordance with GAAP and may not be the same as or comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies due to the possible differences in the method of calculation and in the items being adjusted.

For the aforementioned reasons, Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Operating Income Margin, Adjusted Income Before Income Tax, Adjusted Pre-tax Margin, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Net Income per Share, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin have significant limitations which affect their use as indicators of our profitability. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this information.

Reconciliation of GAAP Operating Income to Adjusted Operating Income

Dollars in millions – Unaudited - amounts may not recalculate due to rounding

The following table presents the reconciliation of GAAP operating income to adjusted operating income.

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2023			2022			2023			2022
Operating Revenue	$	248.9		$	221.7		$	804.1		$	667.3
Operating Income		19.0			15.4			110.4			40.6
Stock Compensation Expense		1.0			0.5			8.1			2.0
Adjusted Operating Income	$	20.0		$	15.9		$	118.5		$	42.6

Operating Income Margin		7.6	%		6.9	%		13.7	%		6.1	%
Adjusted Operating Income Margin		8.1	%		7.2	%		14.7	%		6.4	%

Reconciliation of GAAP Income Before Income Tax to Adjusted Income Before Income Tax

Dollars in millions – Unaudited - amounts may not recalculate due to rounding

The following table presents the reconciliation of GAAP income before income tax to adjusted income before income tax.

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2023			2022			2023			2022
Net Income	$	7.6		$	10.7		$	66.5		$	10.4
Add: Provision for Income Tax Expense		2.5			2.3			20.0			4.1
Income Before Income Tax, as reported		10.1			12.9			86.5			14.5
Pre-tax margin		4.0	%		5.8	%		10.8	%		2.2	%

Stock Compensation Expense		1.0			0.5			8.1			2.0
Tax Receivable Agreement adjustment ⁽¹⁾		—			(3.5	)		(0.4	)		5.0
Gain on asset transactions, net ⁽²⁾		—			(0.2	)		—			(0.3	)
Loss on refinancing credit facility		—			—			—			1.6
Secondary offering costs		—			—			0.6			—
Adjusted Income Before Income Tax	$	11.1		$	9.7		$	94.9		$	22.7

Adjusted Pre-tax margin		4.5	%		4.4	%		11.8	%		3.4	%

(1)		This represents the adjustment to the TRA for the period, which is recorded in Non-Operating Income (Expense)
(2)		Due to changes in the Company’s operations, Management determined that, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2022, certain asset transactions will no longer be included as adjustments to Adjusted Net Income because these transactions are part of our recurring operations. This change was made prospectively beginning in the fourth quarter of 2022, and no prior period amounts have been adjusted

Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income and Earnings per Share to Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Earnings per Share

Dollars and shares in millions, except for per share – Unaudited - amounts may not recalculate due to rounding

The following table presents the reconciliation of GAAP net income and earnings per share to adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share.

	Three Months Ended September 30,
		2023					2022
	Dollars			Per Share - diluted		Dollars			Per Share - diluted
Net Income	$	7.6		$	0.13	$	10.7		$	0.18
Stock Compensation Expense		1.0			0.02		0.5			0.01
Tax Receivable Agreement adjustment ⁽¹⁾		—			—		(3.5	)		(0.06	)
Gain on asset transactions, net ⁽²⁾		—			—		(0.2	)		—
Income tax effect of adjusting items, net ⁽³⁾		(0.2	)		—		(0.1	)		—
Adjusted Net Income	$	8.4		$	0.14	$	7.4		$	0.12

Diluted share count		58.6					60.8

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2023						2022
	Dollars			Per Share - diluted			Dollars			Per Share - diluted
Net Income	$	66.5		$	1.12		$	10.4		$	0.17
Stock Compensation Expense		8.1			0.14			2.0			0.03
Tax Receivable Agreement adjustment ⁽¹⁾		(0.4	)		(0.01	)		5.0			0.08
Gain on asset transactions, net ⁽²⁾		—			—			(0.3	)		(0.01	)
Loss on refinancing credit facility		—			—			1.6			0.03
Secondary offering costs		0.6			0.01			—			—
Income tax effect of adjusting items, net ⁽³⁾		(2.0	)		(0.03	)		(0.7	)		(0.01	)
Adjusted Net Income	$	72.9		$	1.23		$	17.9		$	0.29

Diluted share count		59.3						61.4

(1)		This represents the adjustment to the TRA for the period, which is recorded in Non-Operating Income (Expense)
(2)		Due to changes in the Company’s operations, Management determined that, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2022, certain asset transactions will no longer be included as adjustments to Adjusted Net Income because these transactions are part of our recurring operations. This change was made prospectively beginning in the fourth quarter of 2022, and no prior period amounts have been adjusted
(3)		The tax effect of adjusting items, net is calculated at the Company’s statutory rate for the application period

Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA

Dollars in millions – Unaudited - amounts may not recalculate due to rounding

The following tables present the reconciliation of net income to adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented below.

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2023			2022			2023			2022
Net Income	$	7.6		$	10.7		$	66.5		$	10.4
Interest Income		(2.5	)		(1.6	)		(7.8	)		(2.2	)
Interest Expense		11.4			7.5			31.3			23.1
Stock Compensation Expense		1.0			0.5			8.1			2.0
Tax Receivable Agreement adjustment ⁽¹⁾		—			(3.5	)		(0.4	)		5.0
Secondary offering costs		—			—			0.6			—
Gain on asset transactions, net ⁽²⁾		—			(0.2	)		—			(0.3	)
Provision for Income Taxes		2.5			2.3			20.0			4.1
Depreciation and Amortization		22.8			17.2			64.6			49.4
Adjusted EBITDA	$	42.8		$	32.7		$	183.0		$	91.5

Adjusted EBITDA margin		17.2	%		14.8	%		22.8	%		13.7	%

(1)		This represents the adjustment to the TRA for the period, which is recorded in Non-Operating Income (Expense)
(2)		Due to changes in the Company’s operations, Management determined that, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2022, certain asset transactions will no longer be included as adjustments to Adjusted Net Income because these transactions are part of our recurring operations. This change was made prospectively beginning in the fourth quarter of 2022, and no prior period amounts have been adjusted.

Adjusted CASM

Adjusted CASM is a non-GAAP measure derived from CASM by excluding fuel costs, costs related to our cargo operations, stock based compensation, depreciation recognized on our aircraft and flight equipment held for operating lease, certain commissions and other costs of selling our vacations product from this measure as these costs are unrelated to our airline operations and improve comparability to our peers. Adjusted CASM is an important measure used by management and by our board of directors in assessing quarterly and annual cost performance. Adjusted CASM is also a measure commonly used by industry analysts and we believe it is an important metric by which they compare our airline to others in the industry, although other airlines may exclude certain other costs in their calculation of Adjusted CASM. The measure is also the subject of frequent questions from investors.

Adjusted CASM excludes fuel costs. By excluding volatile fuel costs that are outside of our control from our unit metrics, we believe that we have better visibility into the results of operations and our non-fuel cost initiatives. Our industry is highly competitive and is characterized by high fixed costs, so even a small reduction in non-fuel operating costs can lead to a significant improvement in operating results. In addition, we believe that all domestic carriers are similarly impacted by changes in jet fuel costs over the long run, so it is important for management and investors to understand the impact and trends in company-specific cost drivers, such as labor rates, aircraft and maintenance costs, and productivity, which are more controllable by management.

We have excluded costs related to the cargo operations and depreciation recognized on our aircraft and flight equipment held for operating lease as these operations do not create ASMs. During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company acquired five 737-900ERs that are currently on lease to an unaffiliated airline. Depreciation expense on these aircraft materially began during the three months ended June 30, 2023. Adjusted CASM further excludes other adjustments, as defined in the relevant reporting period, that are not representative of the ongoing costs necessary to our airline operations and may improve comparability between periods. We also exclude stock compensation expense when computing Adjusted CASM. The Company’s compensation strategy includes the use of stock-based compensation to attract and retain employees and executives and is principally aimed at aligning their interests with those of our stockholders and at long-term employee retention, rather than to motivate or reward operational performance for any particular period. Thus, stock-based compensation expense varies for reasons that are generally unrelated to operational decisions and performance in any period.

As derivations of Adjusted CASM are not determined in accordance with GAAP, such measures are susceptible to varying calculations and not all companies calculate the measures in the same manner. As a result, derivations of Adjusted CASM as presented may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. Adjusted CASM should not be considered in isolation or as a replacement for CASM. For the aforementioned reasons, Adjusted CASM has significant limitations which affect its use as an indicator of our profitability. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this information.

Reconciliation of CASM to Adjusted CASM

Amounts may not recalculate due to rounding, dollar amounts in millions

The following table presents the reconciliation of CASM to Adjusted CASM.

	Three Months Ended September 30,
	2023			2022
	Operating Expenses - mm		Per ASM (cents)	Operating Expenses - mm		Per ASM (cents)
CASM	$	229.9	12.83	$	206.3	13.28
Less:
Aircraft Fuel		61.2	3.41		64.8	4.17
Stock Compensation Expense		1.0	0.06		0.5	0.03
Cargo expenses, not already adjusted above		26.4	1.48		23.6	1.52
Sun Country Vacations		0.2	0.01		0.2	0.01
Aircraft and Flight Equipment Held for Operating Lease, Depreciation Expense		2.2	0.12		—	—
Adjusted CASM	$	138.8	7.75	$	117.2	7.55

Available seat miles (ASMs) - mm		1,791.5			1,553.5

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2023			2022
	Operating Expenses - mm		Per ASM (cents)	Operating Expenses - mm		Per ASM (cents)
CASM	$	693.7	12.57	$	626.7	12.25
Less:
Aircraft Fuel		185.8	3.37		206.3	4.03
Stock Compensation Expense		8.1	0.14		2.0	0.04
Cargo expenses, not already adjusted above		77.2	1.40		64.0	1.25
Sun Country Vacations		0.9	0.02		0.8	0.02
Aircraft and Flight Equipment Held for Operating Lease, Depreciation Expense		4.5	0.08		—	—
Adjusted CASM	$	417.2	7.56	$	353.6	6.91

Available seat miles (ASMs) - mm		5,516.8			5,114.1

Contacts Investor Relations IR@suncountry.com Media mediarelations@suncountry.com