Management believes that the Company’s current cash position, along with its anticipated margin from aircraft sales and proceeds from future debt and/or equity financings, when combined with prudent cash and expense management, will allow the Company to continue as a going concern and to fund its operations for at least one year from the date of these financial statements. There are no assurances, however, that management will be able to raise capital or debt on terms acceptable to the Company. If the Company is unable to obtain sufficient additional capital, the Company may be required to reduce the near-term scope of its planned development and operations, which could delay implementation of the Company’s business plan and harm its business, financial condition, and operating results. The balance sheet does not include any adjustments that might result from these uncertainties.

On June 18, 2024, the Company received a notice (the “notice”) from the NYSE American LLC (the “NYSE American”) advising the Company that it is not in compliance with the NYSE American continued listing standards, requiring a company to have stockholders equity of at least $2.0 million if it has reported losses from continuing operations and/or net losses in two of its three most recent fiscal years and Section 1003(a)(ii) of the Company Guide requiring a company to have stockholders’ equity of at least $4.0 million if it has reported losses from continuing operations and/or net losses in three of its four most recent fiscal years. The Company submitted a plan (the “plan”) to the NYSE American LLC on July 18, 2024 outlining actions the Company will take to regain compliance by December 18, 2025. On September 5, 2024, the Company received notice from the NYSE American that it had accepted the Company's plan and granted a plan period through December 18, 2025. During the plan period the Company will be subject to quarterly review to determine if it is making progress consistent with the plan. If the Company does not regain compliance with the NYSE American listing standards by December 18, 2025, or if the Company does not make sufficient progress consistent with its plan, then the NYSE American may initiate delisting proceedings. The notice does not affect the Company's ongoing business operations or its reporting requirements with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

One of the components of the Company’s business model included the sale of aircraft and ownership program. The aircraft ownership program is a model whereby the Company sold each floating fleet aircraft to a limited liability company, (each a “Plane Co”). Each Plane Co, which are owned by third-party owners, leased the aircraft back to the Company for management and charter operations on behalf of the Plane Co under a 14 C.F.R. Part 135 certificate. In September 2024, we announced an agreement with flyExclusive to transition our fleet operations to flyExclusive.

Fly Dreams LLC, (“Fly Dreams”) held the Federal Aviation Agency (“FAA”) certificate and conducts air carrier operations through an aircraft charter Management and Dry Lease Agreement with each Plane Co. On March 3, 2023, Legacy Volato transferred its Fly Dreams operation to its wholly-owned subsidiary Gulf Coast Aviation (“GCA”) and sold all of its membership interest in Fly Dreams, including Fly Dreams’ FAA part 135 certificate. Legacy Volato now conducts its operations under GCA’s FAA Part 135 certificate. The selling price was $550 thousand, which resulted in the recognition of $387 thousand in gain, which is presented in other income (expense) in the consolidated statement of operations for the nine months ended September 2023.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. 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. Accordingly, actual results could differ from those estimates. Such estimates include:

Cash consists primarily of cash on hand and bank deposits. The Company maintains cash deposits with financial institutions that may exceed federally insured limits at times. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. At September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had no cash equivalents besides what was in the cash balance as of this date. The Company has $1.8 million and $2.2 million of restricted cash at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, which serves as collateral for the credit facility with SAC Leasing G280 LLC (“SAC Leasing G280”).

The Company accounts for its equity method investment at cost, adjusted for the Company’s share of the investee’s earnings or losses, which is reported under other income (expense) in the consolidated statement of operations. The Company periodically reviews its investment for other than temporary declines in fair value below cost and more frequently when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable.

Accounts receivables are reported on the consolidated balance sheets at the outstanding principal amount adjusted for any allowance for credit losses and any charge offs. The Company provides an allowance for credit losses to reduce trade receivables to their estimated net realizable value equal to the amount that is expected to be collected. This allowance is estimated based on historical collection experience, the aging of receivables, specific current and expected future macro-economic and market conditions, and assessments of the current creditworthiness and economic status of customers. The Company considers a receivable delinquent if it is unpaid after the term of the related invoice has expired. Balances that are still outstanding after management has used reasonable collection efforts are written off. The Company reviews its allowance for credit losses on a quarterly basis.

The capitalized computer software development costs are reported under the section fixed assets, net in the consolidated balance sheet and are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the software, generally three years from when the asset is placed in service. The Company capitalized zero and $241 thousand of internal software development costs during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and twelve months ended December 31, 2023, respectively. The Company also expenses internal costs related to minor upgrades and enhancements, as it is impractical to separate these costs from normal maintenance activities.

The costs incurred for activities during the website application and infrastructure development stage are capitalized in accordance with the guidance on internal-use software in ASC 350-40. The Company capitalized $142 thousand and $323 thousand of website development costs during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and twelve months ended December 31, 2023, respectively. The Company recognized $26 thousand and $44 thousand of amortization expense for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The Company recognized $77 thousand and $86 thousand of amortization expense during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (“FASB ASC”) 360, property, plant, and equipment, and long-lived assets are analyzed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the related carrying amounts may not be recoverable. The Company evaluates at each balance sheet date whether events and circumstances have occurred that indicate possible impairment. If there are indications of impairment, the Company uses future undiscounted cash flows of the related asset or asset grouping over the remaining life in measuring whether the assets are recoverable. In the event such cash flows are not expected to be sufficient to recover the recorded asset values, the assets are written down to their estimated fair value. No impairment was recognized during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023.

The Company measures fair value under a framework that utilizes a hierarchy prioritizing the inputs to relevant valuation techniques. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of inputs used in measuring fair value are:

The fair value of the Company’s recorded Forward Purchase Agreement (as defined in Note 7) is determined based on unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data, which require a Level 3 classification. A Monte Carlo simulation model was used to determine the fair value as of December 31, 2023. The Company records the Forward Purchase Agreement at fair value on the consolidated balance sheets with changes in fair value recorded in the consolidated statements of operation. On July 23, 2024, the Company received notice of termination of the Forward Purchase Agreement and recognized an impairment in the value of the Forward Purchase Agreement in the second quarter of 2024 due to receipt of the termination notice.

The carrying amount of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities, such as cash, accounts receivable, prepaid and other assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses, deposits, and members’ deposit approximate their fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments. The Company’s credit facility and other loans approximate the fair value of such liabilities based upon management’s best estimate of interest rates that would be available to the Company for similar financial arrangements and due to the short-term maturity of these instruments at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

The Company accounts for warrants as either equity-classified or liability-classified instruments based on an assessment of the warrant’s specific terms and applicable authoritative guidance in ASC 480 Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (“ASC 480”) and ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”). The assessment considers whether the warrants are freestanding financial instruments pursuant to ASC 480, meet the definition of a liability pursuant to ASC 480, and whether the warrants meet all of the requirements for equity classification under ASC 815, including whether the warrants are indexed to the Company’s own Common Stock, among other conditions for equity classification. This assessment, which requires the use of professional judgment, is conducted at the time of warrant issuance and as of each subsequent reporting period end date while the warrants are outstanding. All of the Company’s warrants have met the criteria for equity treatment.

Revenues are recognized on a gross basis and presented on the consolidated statements of operations net of rebates, discounts, and taxes collected concurrent with revenue-producing activities. The transaction price in the Company’s contracts with its customers is fixed at the time control of goods and services are transferred to the customer. Therefore, the Company does not estimate variable consideration or perform a constraint analysis for our contracts.

The Company generates revenue primarily through: (i) the sale of aircraft, and (ii) aircraft management services. Revenue is recognized when control of the promised service is transferred to a customer, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those services. At contract inception, the Company assesses the goods and services promised in its contracts with customers and identifies, as a performance obligation, each promise to transfer a good or service to a customer that is distinct. To identify its performance obligations, the Company considers all of the goods and services promised in the contract regardless of whether they are explicitly stated or are implied by customary business practices.

For each revenue stream, we evaluate whether our obligation is to provide the good or service itself, as the principal, or to arrange for the good or service to be provided by the other party, as the agent, using the control model. For certain services provided to the customer, primarily in our aircraft management services revenue stream, the Company directs third-party providers to assist in our fulfillment of the performance obligation in contracts with our customers. Any cost reimbursements and third-party costs are recognized in revenue on a gross basis as Volato has pre-negotiated these costs and takes a certain amount of risk that it will not fully recover the costs incurred. In such circumstances, the Company is primarily responsible for satisfying the overall performance obligation with the customer and is considered the principal in the relationship because the Company has the ability to direct the third parties to provide services to our customers.

In accordance with ASC 606, contract assets are to be recognized when an entity has the right to receive consideration in exchange for goods or services that have been transferred to a customer. Also, in accordance with ASC 606, contract liabilities are to be recognized when an entity is obligated to transfer goods or services for which consideration has already been received.

The Company follows Section 740-10-30 of the FASB ASC, which requires recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are based on the differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the fiscal year in which the temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance to the extent management concludes it is more likely than not that the assets will not be realized. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

The Company follows the guidance of 740-10-25 of the FASB ASC (“Section 740-10-25”) with regards to uncertainty in income taxes. Section 740-10-25 addresses the determination of whether tax benefits claimed or expected to be claimed on a tax return should be recorded in the financial statements. Under Section 740-10-25, the Company may recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position should be measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent (50%) likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. Section 740-10-25 also provides guidance on recognition, classification, interest and penalties on income taxes, accounting in interim periods and requires increased disclosures. The Company had no material adjustments to its assets and/or liabilities for unrecognized income tax benefits according to the provisions of Section 740-10-25.

The Company accounts for equity-based compensation using the fair value method as set forth in the ASC 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense for all stock-based payment awards based on estimated fair values. This method requires companies to estimate the fair value of stock-based compensation on the date of grant using an option pricing model. The Company estimates the fair value of each equity-based payment award with service based vesting on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes pricing model. The Company estimates the fair value of equity-based payment awards subject to performance-based market conditions on the date of grant using a Monte-Carlo valuation simulation.

The Black-Scholes model determines the fair value of equity-based payment awards based on the fair value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant and requires the use of estimates and assumptions, including the fair value of the Company’s common stock, exercise price of the stock option, expected volatility, expected life, risk-free interest rate and dividend rate. The Company estimates the expected volatility of its stock options by taking the average historical volatility of a group of comparable publicly traded companies over a period equal to the expected life of the options; it is not practical for the Company to estimate its own volatility due to the lack of historical prices. The expected term of the options is determined in accordance with existing equity agreements as the underlying options are assumed to be exercised upon the passage of time. The risk-free interest rate is the estimated average interest rate based on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon notes with terms consistent with the expected life of the awards. The expected dividend yield is zero as the Company does not anticipate paying any recurring cash dividends in the foreseeable future. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur.

The grant date fair value of options with performance-based market conditions is determined using a Monte-Carlo valuation simulation. For awards that vest based on service conditions and market conditions, we use the straight-line method to recognize compensation expense over the respective service period. For awards that contain performance conditions, we determine the appropriate amount to expense based on the anticipated achievement of performance targets, which requires judgment, including forecasting the achievement of future specified targets. At the date performance conditions are determined to be probable of achievement, we record a cumulative expense catch-up, with remaining expense amortized over the remaining service period. Throughout the performance period, we re-assess the estimated performance and update the number of performance-based awards that we believe will ultimately vest.

The Company computes basic and diluted earnings per share amounts pursuant to section 260-10-45 of the FASB ASC. Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net loss available to common shareholders, by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period, excluding the effects of any potentially dilutive securities. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net loss available to common shareholders by the diluted weighted average number of shares of common stock during the period. The diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding is the basic weighted number of shares adjusted as of the first day of the year for any potentially dilutive debt or equity. In periods in which a net loss has been incurred, all potentially dilutive common shares are considered anti-dilutive and thus are excluded from the calculation. Securities that are excluded from the calculation of weighted average dilutive common shares because their inclusion would have been antidilutive for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, include stock options and restricted stock units.

Intangible assets other than goodwill consists of acquired finite-lived customer relationships and an acquired indefinite-lived Part 135 air carrier certificate. At initial recognition, intangible assets acquired in a business combination are recognized at their fair value as of the date of acquisition. Following initial recognition, finite-lived intangible assets are carried at cost less accumulated amortization and impairment losses, if any, and are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the asset, which was determined based on management’s estimate of the period over which the asset will contribute to our future cash flows.

The Company reviews the intangible assets for impairment on an annual basis or if events or changes in circumstances indicate it is more likely than not that they are impaired. These events could include a significant change in the business climate, legal factors, a decline in operating performance, competition, sale, or disposition of a significant portion of the business, or other factors. If the review indicates the impairment, an impairment loss would be recorded for the difference of the value recorded and the new value. There was no impairment loss recognized for the intangible assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Goodwill represents the excess of the aggregate purchase price paid over the fair value of the net assets acquired in our business combinations. Goodwill is not amortized and is tested for impairment at least annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Events or changes in circumstances that could trigger an impairment review include a significant adverse change in business climate, an adverse action or assessment by a regulator, unanticipated competition, a loss of key personnel, significant changes in the manner of our use of the acquired assets or the strategy for our overall business, significant negative industry or economic trends, or significant underperformance relative to expected historical or projected future results of operations. The Company has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, including goodwill.

If, after assessing the totality of events or circumstances, the Company determines that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, additional impairment testing is not required. The Company tests for goodwill impairment annually during its fourth quarter on October 1. There was no impairment of goodwill for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

The Company identifies operating segments as components of the Company for which discrete financial information is available and is regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker, or decision-making group, in making decisions regarding resource allocation and performance assessment. The chief operating decision maker is the Company’s chief executive officer. We determined that the Company operates in a single operating and reportable segment, private aviation services, as the chief operating decision maker reviews financial information presented on a consolidated basis, accompanied by disaggregated information about revenue and cost of revenue for purposes of making operating decisions, allocating resources, and assessing performance. Substantially all of our long-lived assets are located in the U.S. and revenue from private aviation services is substantially earned from flights throughout the U.S.

Cost of revenue includes costs that are directly related to the related revenue streams – aircraft management and aircraft sales. Cost of revenue includes expenses incurred to provide flight services and facilitate operations, including aircraft lease costs, fuel, crew travel, maintenance, compensation expenses and related benefits for employees that directly facilitate flight operations including crew and pilots and certain aircraft operating costs such as landing fees and parking. Cost of revenue for aircraft sales revenue includes cost of the aircraft.

The Company evaluates its ownership, contractual relationships, and other interests in entities to determine the nature and extent of the interests, whether such interests are variable interests and whether the entities are VIEs in accordance with ASC 810, Consolidations. These evaluations can be complex and involve judgment of the Company’s management as well as the use of estimates and assumptions based on available historical information, among other factors. Based on these evaluations, if the Company determines that it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE, this VIE entity is consolidated into the consolidated financial statements.

ASC Topic 842, “Leases” (“ASC 842”) requires lessees to recognize most leases on the balance sheet with a corresponding right-of-use asset (“ROU asset”). ROU asset represents the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liability represents the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. The ROU asset and lease liability are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the estimated present value of fixed lease payments over the lease term. ROU asset is evaluated for impairment using the long-lived asset impairment guidance. Leases will be classified as financing or operating, which will drive the expense recognition pattern. The Company elects to exclude short-term leases when recording a ROU asset and lease liability if and when the Company has them.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The amendments included in ASU 2016-13 require the measurement of all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Although the new standard, known as the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model, has a greater impact on financial institutions, most other organizations with financial instruments or other assets (trade receivables, contract assets, lease receivables, financial guarantees, loans and loan commitments, and held-to-maturity (HTM) debt securities) are subject to the CECL model and will need to use forward-looking information to better evaluate their credit loss estimates. Many of the loss estimation techniques applied today will still be permitted, although the inputs to those techniques will change to reflect the full amount of expected credit losses. In addition, the ASU amends the accounting for credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities and purchased financial assets with credit deterioration. ASU 2016-13 was originally effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. In November of 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-10, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and Leases (Topic 842): Effective Dates, which delayed the implementation of ASU 2016-13 to fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years for smaller reporting companies. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In November 2023, the Financial Account Standard Board “FASB” issued Accounting Standards Update “ASU” 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which modifies the disclosure and presentation requirements of reportable segments. The amendments in the update require the disclosure of significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker “CODM” and included within each reported measure of segment profit and loss. The amendments also require disclosure of all other segment items by reportable segment and a description of its composition. Additionally, the amendments require disclosure of the title and position of the CODM and an explanation of how the CODM uses the reported measure(s) of segment profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources. This update is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that this guidance will have on the presentation of its consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which expands disclosures in an entity’s income tax rate reconciliation table and disclosures regarding cash taxes paid both in the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions. The update will be effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2025. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that this guidance will have on the presentation of its consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes.