Share-Based Compensation and Stock Repurchases	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Share-Based Compensation and Stock Repurchases
Share-Based Compensation and Stock Repurchases	Note 4 — Share-Based Compensation and Stock Repurchases During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company granted 82,505 restricted stock units and 69,132 performance shares to certain employees of the Company and its subsidiaries under the SkyWest, Inc. 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan. Both the restricted stock units and performance shares have a three-year vesting period, during which the recipient must remain employed with the Company or one of the Company’s subsidiaries. The number of performance shares awardable from the 2020 grants can range from 0% to 200% of the original amount granted depending on the Company’s performance over the three-year vesting period against the pre-established targets. Upon vesting, each restricted stock unit and performance share will be replaced with one share of common stock. The fair value of these restricted stock units and performance shares on their date of grant was $61.45 per share. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company did not grant any options to purchase shares of common stock. Additionally, during the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company granted 14,643 fully vested shares of common stock to the Company’s directors at a grant date fair value of $61.45. The Company accounts for forfeitures of stock options, restricted stock units and performance share grants when forfeitures occur. The estimated fair value of the stock options, restricted stock units and performance shares is amortized over the applicable vesting periods. During the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company recorded pre-tax share-based compensation expense of $1.7 million and $3.9 million, respectively. Additionally, the Company incurred $7.9 million of employee severance related costs associated with the sale of ExpressJet, partially offset by a forfeiture credit of $4.5 million, primarily resulting from stock-based compensation awards that terminated upon the sale of ExpressJet during the three months ended March 31, 2019. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company repurchased 385,606 shares of its common stock for $20.0 million and paid $6.2 million for the income tax obligation on vested employee equity awards and issued the net, after-tax shares to employees. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company repurchased 476,277 shares of its common stock for $25.0 million and paid $9.3 million for the income tax obligation on vested employee equity awards and issued the net, after-tax shares to employees. In connection with the Company’s receipt of financial support under the Payroll Support Program, the Company agreed not to repurchase shares of or make dividend payments in respect of its common stock through September 30, 2021.

Share-Based Compensation and Stock Repurchases

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Share-Based Compensation and Stock Repurchases

Share-Based Compensation and Stock Repurchases

Note 4 — Share-Based Compensation and Stock Repurchases

During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company granted 82,505 restricted stock units and 69,132 performance shares to certain employees of the Company and its subsidiaries under the SkyWest, Inc. 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan. Both the restricted stock units and performance shares have a three-year vesting period, during which the recipient must remain employed with the Company or one of the Company’s subsidiaries. The number of performance shares awardable from the 2020 grants can range from 0% to 200% of the original amount granted depending on the Company’s performance over the three-year vesting period against the pre-established targets. Upon vesting, each restricted stock unit and performance share will be replaced with one share of common stock. The fair value of these restricted stock units and performance shares on their date of grant was $61.45 per share. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company did not grant any options to purchase shares of common stock. Additionally, during the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company granted 14,643 fully vested shares of common stock to the Company’s directors at a grant date fair value of $61.45.

The Company accounts for forfeitures of stock options, restricted stock units and performance share grants when forfeitures occur. The estimated fair value of the stock options, restricted stock units and performance shares is amortized over the applicable vesting periods. During the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company recorded pre-tax share-based compensation expense of $1.7 million and $3.9 million, respectively. Additionally, the Company incurred $7.9 million of employee severance related costs associated with the sale of ExpressJet, partially offset by a forfeiture credit of $4.5 million, primarily resulting from stock-based compensation awards that terminated upon the sale of ExpressJet during the three months ended March 31, 2019.

During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company repurchased 385,606 shares of its common stock for $20.0 million and paid $6.2 million for the income tax obligation on vested employee equity awards and issued the net, after-tax shares to employees. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company repurchased 476,277 shares of its common stock for $25.0 million and paid $9.3 million for the income tax obligation on vested employee equity awards and issued the net, after-tax shares to employees.

In connection with the Company’s receipt of financial support under the Payroll Support Program, the Company agreed not to repurchase shares of or make dividend payments in respect of its common stock through September 30, 2021.