EX-99.1 2 p74455exv99w1.htm EX-99.1 exv99w1
 

(US AIRWAYS & NEWS RELEASE LOGO)
Contact:     Phil Gee
                    480/693-5729
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
US AIRWAYS GROUP, INC. REPORTS SEPTEMBER TRAFFIC
     TEMPE, Ariz., Oct. 4, 2007 — US Airways Group, Inc. (NYSE: LCC) today reported September, third quarter, and year-to-date traffic results for 2007. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs) for the month were 4.7 billion, up 2.3 percent from September 2006. Capacity was 6.0 billion available seat miles (ASMs), down 4.8 percent from September 2006. Passenger load factor for the month of September was 78.1 percent versus 72.7 percent in September 2006.
     “For the second consecutive month, our consolidated (mainline and Express) passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) was up over five percent on a year-over-year basis. The fourth quarter is showing continued signs of strong bookings on a robust fare base and we have not seen any indication of diminished demand. In addition, we continue to make significant progress in our operation and have seen sequential improvement over the past several months, with September on-time performance over 80 percent, our best month since May 2006,“ said US Airways President Scott Kirby.
     The following summarizes US Airways Group’s traffic results for the month, quarter and nine months ended September 2007 and 2006, consisting of America West and US Airways mainline operated flights as well as US Airways Express operated flights consisting of wholly owned subsidiaries PSA Airlines and Piedmont Airlines.

 


 

US Airways Mainline (US Airways and America West combined)
SEPTEMBER
                                 
    2007   2006   % Change        
Mainline Revenue Passenger Miles (000)
                               
Domestic
    3,614,490       3,671,026       (1.5 )        
Atlantic
    891,911       736,576       21.1          
Latin
    179,765       173,598       3.6          
 
                               
Total Mainline Revenue Passenger Miles
    4,686,166       4,581,200       2.3          
 
                               
Mainline Available Seat Miles (000)
                               
Domestic
    4,614,235       5,068,868       (9.0 )        
Atlantic
    1,139,404       941,208       21.1          
Latin
    245,737       289,026       (15.0 )        
 
                               
Total Mainline Available Seat Miles
    5,999,376       6,299,102       (4.8 )        
 
                               
Mainline Load Factor (%)
                               
Domestic
    78.3       72.4       5.9     pts
Atlantic
    78.3       78.3       0.0     pts
Latin
    73.2       60.1       13.1     pts
 
                               
Total Mainline Load Factor
    78.1       72.7       5.4     pts
 
                               
Mainline Enplanements
                               
Domestic
    3,939,203       3,868,386       1.8          
Atlantic
    225,803       191,055       18.2          
Latin
    148,378       141,794       4.6          
 
                               
Total Mainline Enplanements
    4,313,384       4,201,235       2.7          
 
                               
QUARTER TO DATE
                               
 
                               
Mainline Revenue Passenger Miles (000)
                               
Domestic
    12,628,242       12,681,716       (0.4 )        
Atlantic
    2,885,356       2,369,080       21.8          
Latin
    880,311       899,118       (2.1 )        
 
                               
Total Mainline Revenue Passenger Miles
    16,393,909       15,949,914       2.8          
 
                               
Mainline Available Seat Miles (000)
                               
Domestic
    15,027,038       15,993,808       (6.0 )        
Atlantic
    3,544,289       2,911,916       21.7          
Latin
    1,095,490       1,250,120       (12.4 )        
 
                               
Total Mainline Available Seat Miles
    19,666,817       20,155,844       (2.4 )        
 
Mainline Load Factor (%)
                               
Domestic
    84.0       79.3       4.7     pts
Atlantic
    81.4       81.4       0.0     pts
Latin
    80.4       71.9       8.5     pts
 
                               
Total Mainline Load Factor
    83.4       79.1       4.3     pts
 
                               
Mainline Enplanements
                               
Domestic
    13,489,249       13,061,863       3.3          
Atlantic
    738,834       616,389       19.9          
Latin
    733,784       746,341       (1.7 )        
 
                               
Total Mainline Enplanements
    14,961,867       14,424,593       3.7          
YEAR TO DATE
                                 
    2007   2006   % Change        
Mainline Revenue Passenger Miles (000)
                               
Domestic
    37,762,151       37,394,822       1.0          
Atlantic
    6,273,047       5,483,101       14.4          
Latin
    3,070,505       3,180,506       (3.5 )        
 
                               
Total Mainline Revenue Passenger Miles
    47,105,703       46,058,429       2.3          
 
                               
Mainline Available Seat Miles (000)
                               
Domestic
    45,794,924       46,780,752       (2.1 )        
Atlantic
    8,016,826       6,923,025       15.8          
Latin
    3,934,192       4,316,484       (8.9 )        
 
                               
Total Mainline Available Seat Miles
    57,745,942       58,020,261       (0.5 )        
 
                               
Mainline Load Factor (%)
                               
Domestic
    82.5       79.9       2.6     pts
Atlantic
    78.2       79.2       (1.0 )   pts
Latin
    78.0       73.7       4.3     pts
 
                               
Total Mainline Load Factor
    81.6       79.4       2.2     pts
 
                               
Mainline Enplanements
                               
Domestic
    40,216,227       39,162,818       2.7          
Atlantic
    1,605,124       1,417,641       13.2          
Latin
    2,495,782       2,608,775       (4.3 )        
 
                               
Total Mainline Enplanements
    44,317,133       43,189,234       2.6          
 
Notes:
 
1)   Canada, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands are included in the domestic results.
 
2)   Latin numbers include the Caribbean.

 


 

US Airways Express (Piedmont Airlines, PSA Airlines, US Airways MidAtlantic Division)
SEPTEMBER
                                 
    2007   2006   % Change        
Express Revenue Passenger Miles (000)
                               
Domestic
    174,205       183,665       (5.2 )        
 
                               
Express Available Seat Miles (000)
                               
Domestic
    264,209       296,574       (10.9 )        
 
                               
Express Load Factor (%)
                               
Domestic
    65.9       61.9       4.0     pts
 
                               
Express Enplanements
                               
Domestic
    644,441       632,070       2.0          
 
                               
QUARTER TO DATE
                                 
    2007   2006   % Change        
Express Revenue Passenger Miles (000)
                               
Domestic
    554,810       621,942       (10.8 )        
 
                               
Express Available Seat Miles (000)
                               
Domestic
    795,133       916,087       (13.2 )        
 
                               
Express Load Factor (%)
                               
Domestic
    69.8       67.9       1.9     pts
 
                               
Express Enplanements
                               
Domestic
    2,053,538       2,134,119       (3.8 )        
YEAR TO DATE
                                 
    2007   2006   % Change        
Express Revenue Passenger Miles (000)
                               
Domestic
    1,765,889       2,087,929       (15.4 )        
 
                               
Express Available Seat Miles (000)
                               
Domestic
    2,511,485       3,040,702       (17.4 )        
 
                               
Express Load Factor (%)
                               
Domestic
    70.3       68.7       1.6     pts
 
                               
Express Enplanements
                               
Domestic
    6,280,847       6,715,961       (6.5 )        
 
Notes:
 
1)   US Airways Express includes data for US Airways’ MidAtlantic division through May 27, 2006.
 
2)   Canada is included in domestic results.

 


 

Consolidated US Airways Group, Inc.
SEPTEMBER
                                 
    2007   2006   % Change        
Consolidated Revenue Passenger Miles (000)
                               
Domestic
    3,788,695       3,854,691       (1.7 )        
Atlantic
    891,911       736,576       21.1          
Latin
    179,765       173,598       3.6          
 
                               
Total Consolidated Revenue Passenger Miles
    4,860,371       4,764,865       2.0          
 
                               
Consolidated Available Seat Miles (000)
                               
Domestic
    4,878,444       5,365,442       (9.1 )        
Atlantic
    1,139,404       941,208       21.1          
Latin
    245,737       289,026       (15.0 )        
 
                               
Total Consolidated Available Seat Miles
    6,263,585       6,595,676       (5.0 )        
 
                               
Consolidated Load Factor (%)
                               
Domestic
    77.7       71.8       5.9     pts
Atlantic
    78.3       78.3           pts
Latin
    73.2       60.1       13.1     pts
 
                               
Total Consolidated Load Factor
    77.6       72.2       5.4     pts
 
                               
Consolidated Enplanements
                               
Domestic
    4,583,644       4,500,456       1.8          
Atlantic
    225,803       191,055       18.2          
Latin
    148,378       141,794       4.6          
 
                               
Total Consolidated Enplanements
    4,957,825       4,833,305       2.6          
QUARTER TO DATE
                                 
    2007   2006   % Change        
Consolidated Revenue Passenger Miles (000)
                               
Domestic
    13,183,052       13,303,658       (0.9 )        
Atlantic
    2,885,356       2,369,080       21.8          
Latin
    880,311       899,118       (2.1 )        
 
                               
Total Consolidated Revenue Passenger Miles
    16,948,719       16,571,856       2.3          
 
                               
Consolidated Available Seat Miles (000)
                               
Domestic
    15,822,171       16,909,895       (6.4 )        
Atlantic
    3,544,289       2,911,916       21.7          
Latin
    1,095,490       1,250,120       (12.4 )        
 
                               
Total Consolidated Available Seat Miles
    20,461,950       21,071,931       (2.9 )        
 
                               
Consolidated Load Factor (%)
                               
Domestic
    83.3       78.7       4.6     pts
Atlantic
    81.4       81.4           pts
Latin
    80.4       71.9       8.5     pts
 
                               
Total Consolidated Load Factor
    82.8       78.6       4.2     pts
 
                               
Consolidated Enplanements
                               
Domestic
    15,542,787       15,195,982       2.3          
Atlantic
    738,834       616,389       19.9          
Latin
    733,784       746,341       (1.7 )        
 
                               
Total Consolidated Enplanements
    17,015,405       16,558,712       2.8          
YEAR TO DATE
                                 
    2007   2006   % Change        
Consolidated Revenue Passenger Miles (000)
                               
Domestic
    39,528,040       39,482,751       0.1          
Atlantic
    6,273,047       5,483,101       14.4          
Latin
    3,070,505       3,180,506       (3.5 )        
 
                               
Total Consolidated Revenue Passenger Miles
    48,871,592       48,146,358       1.5          
 
                               
Consolidated Available Seat Miles (000)
                               
Domestic
    48,306,409       49,821,454       (3.0 )        
Atlantic
    8,016,826       6,923,025       15.8          
Latin
    3,934,192       4,316,484       (8.9 )        
 
                               
Total Consolidated Available Seat Miles
    60,257,427       61,060,963       (1.3 )        
 
                               
Consolidated Load Factor (%)
                               
Domestic
    81.8       79.2       2.6     pts
Atlantic
    78.2       79.2       (1.0 )   pts
Latin
    78.0       73.7       4.3     pts
 
                               
Total Consolidated Load Factor
    81.1       78.8       2.3     pts
 
                               
Consolidated Enplanements
                               
Domestic
    46,497,074       45,878,779       1.3          
Atlantic
    1,605,124       1,417,641       13.2          
Latin
    2,495,782       2,608,775       (4.3 )        
 
                               
Total Consolidated Enplanements
    50,597,980       49,905,195       1.4          
 
Notes:
 
1)   Canada, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands are included in the domestic results.
 
2)   Latin numbers include the Caribbean.

 


 

     America West and US Airways report combined operational performance to the Department of Transportation.  For the month of September 2007, the combined domestic on-time performance was 80.2 percent with a completion factor of 99.2 percent.
Other Notable Accomplishments
     US Airways is also providing a brief update on notable company accomplishments during the month of September:
    Marked a significant milestone by obtaining a single operating certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The single certificate allows the airline to operate as one US Airways with one set of policies, procedures, computer systems, maintenance and flight control systems.
 
    Awarded the right to fly the first ever route between Philadelphia and the Chinese capital city of Beijing by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The daily service to China will begin in 2009 with wide-body Airbus A340 aircraft configured to seat 269 (42 Envoy and 227 economy). The flight will originate at the airline’s hub in Charlotte, N.C.
 
    Broke ground for airline’s new, 72,000-square foot state-of-the-art operations control center near Pittsburgh International Airport. The new facility will accommodate 600 employees, with completion slated for early 2009.
 
    Celebrated the debut of two newly painted NFL themed airplanes with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Carolina Panthers.
     US Airways is the fifth largest domestic airline employing more than 36,000 aviation professionals worldwide. US Airways, US Airways Shuttle and US Airways Express operate approximately 3,700 flights per day and serve more than 230 communities in the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America. The new US Airways — the product of a merger between America West and US Airways in September 2005 — is a member of the Star Alliance network, which offers our customers 16,000 daily flights to 855 destinations in 155 countries worldwide. This press release and additional information on US Airways can be found at www.usairways.com. (LCCT)
Forward Looking Statements
Certain of the statements contained herein should be considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “indicate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “plan,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “could,” “should,” “continue” and similar terms used in connection with statements regarding the outlook of US Airways Group, Inc. (the “Company”). Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about expected fuel costs, the revenue and pricing environment, the Company’s expected financial performance and operations, future financing plans and needs, overall economic conditions and the benefits of the business combination transaction involving America West Holdings Corporation and US Airways Group, including future financial and operating results and the combined companies’ plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. Other forward-looking statements that do not relate solely to historical facts include, without limitation, statements that discuss the possible future effects of current known trends or uncertainties or which indicate that the future effects of known trends or uncertainties cannot be predicted, guaranteed or assured. Such

 


 

statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the Company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company’s actual results and financial position to differ materially from the Company’s expectations. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: the impact of high fuel costs, significant disruptions in the supply of aircraft fuel and further significant increases to fuel prices; our high level of fixed obligations and our ability to obtain and maintain financing for operations and other purposes; our ability to achieve the synergies anticipated as a result of the merger and to achieve those synergies in a timely manner; our ability to integrate the management, operations and labor groups of US Airways Group and America West Holdings; labor costs and relations with unionized employees generally and the impact and outcome of labor negotiations; the impact of global instability, including the current instability in the Middle East, the continuing impact of the military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and the potential impact of future hostilities, terrorist attacks, infectious disease outbreaks or other global events that affect travel behavior; reliance on automated systems and the impact of any failure or disruption of these systems; the impact of future significant operating losses; changes in prevailing interest rates; our ability to obtain and maintain commercially reasonable terms with vendors and service providers and our reliance on those vendors and service providers; security-related and insurance costs; changes in government legislation and regulation; our ability to use pre-merger NOLs and certain other tax attributes; competitive practices in the industry, including significant fare restructuring activities, capacity reductions and in court or out of court restructuring by major airlines; continued existence of prepetition liabilities; interruptions or disruptions in service at one or more of our hub airports; weather conditions; our ability to obtain and maintain any necessary financing for operations and other purposes; our ability to maintain adequate liquidity; our ability to maintain contracts that are critical to our operations; our ability to operate pursuant to the terms of our financing facilities (particularly the financial covenants); our ability to attract and retain customers; the cyclical nature of the airline industry; our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; economic conditions; and other risks and uncertainties listed from time to time in our reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission. There may be other factors not identified above of which the Company is not currently aware that may affect matters discussed in the forward-looking statements, and may also cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed. All forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting such estimates. Additional factors that may affect the future results of the Company are set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2007, which is available at www.usairways.com.
-LCC-