Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2021
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic	(2) Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic COVID-19, which was declared a global health pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020, has had a significant, negative impact on the Company’s business and financial results beginning in March 2020 and has materially and adversely affected the Company’s revenues, particularly under its prorate agreements. The Company operated 137,493 flights during the third quarter of 2020, which increased to 210,251 flights, or 52.9%, during the third quarter of 2021. However, the Company operated 219,272 flights during the third quarter of 2019 and the Company has not returned to pre-COVID flight levels as of September 30, 2021. The rate of recovery from the impact of COVID-19 and whether such recovery will be sustained are uncertain as factors outside of the Company’s control, including the distribution and efficacy of vaccines, government-imposed vaccine mandates, new variants of the virus, and continued or new government travel restrictions, cannot be estimated. Liquidity. At September 30, 2021, the Company had $953.5 million in total available liquidity, consisting of $912.5 million in cash and marketable securities, and $41.0 million available under SkyWest Airlines’ line of credit with a bank. 2021 Appropriations Act. In January 2021, SkyWest Airlines entered into a Payroll Support Program Extension Agreement (the “PSP Extension Agreement”) with the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“U.S. Treasury”) with respect to a payroll grant program under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (“2021 Appropriations Act”). Pursuant to the PSP Extension Agreement, SkyWest Airlines received $268.1 million from U.S. Treasury during the nine months ended September 30, 2021. In connection with the receipt of financial assistance under the PSP Extension Agreement, SkyWest Airlines is required to comply with the relevant provisions of the 2021 Appropriations Act, many of which are substantially similar to the requirements placed on SkyWest Airlines by the Payroll Support Program under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) that the Company entered into with U.S. Treasury in April 2020. The PSP Extension Agreement payments received included $217.7 million in the form of a payroll grant and $50.4 million in the form of an unsecured 10-year loan. The loan bears interest at an annual rate of 1.00% for the first five years (through January 2026) and the Secured Overnight Financing Rate plus 2.00% in the final five years. In return, the Company issued to U.S. Treasury warrants to purchase up to 124,773 shares of the Company’s common stock. These warrants have an exercise price of $40.41 per share and a five-year term from the date of issuance. The relative fair value of the warrants is recorded within stockholder's equity and as a discount reducing the carrying value of the loan, which will be amortized as interest expense in the Company’s income statement over the term of the loan. The proceeds of the grant were recorded in cash and cash equivalents when received and were recognized as a reduction in expense in payroll support grant in the Company’s income statement over the periods that the funds were intended to compensate. The Company recorded $217.7 million of the PSP Extension Agreement payroll grant as an offset to operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. On April 23, 2021, SkyWest Airlines entered into a Payroll Support Program 3 Agreement (the “PSP 3 Agreement”) with U.S. Treasury with respect to a payroll grant program under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“American Rescue Plan Act”). Pursuant to the PSP 3 Agreement, SkyWest Airlines received from U.S. Treasury approximately $250.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2021. In connection with the receipt of financial assistance under the PSP 3 Agreement, SkyWest Airlines is required to comply with the relevant provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act, many of which are substantially similar to the requirements placed on SkyWest Airlines by the Payroll Support Program Agreement under the CARES Act and the PSP Extension Agreement under the 2021 Appropriations Act. The relevant provisions include the requirement that the funding be used exclusively for the continuation of payment of employee wages, salaries and benefits. Similar to the previous Payroll Support Programs, SkyWest Airlines and, in some cases, the Company is also subject to certain restrictions, including, but not limited to, limitations on involuntary terminations, pay rate reductions and furloughs through September 30, 2021, restrictions on the payment of dividends and the repurchase of shares through September 30, 2022, and certain limitations on executive compensation through April 1, 2023. The PSP 3 Agreement payments received through September 30, 2021, included $205.0 million in the form of a payroll grant and $45.0 million in the form of an unsecured 10-year loan. The loan bears interest at an annual rate of 1.00% for the first five years (through April 2026) and the Secured Overnight Financing Rate plus 2.00% in the final five years. In return, the Company issued to U.S. Treasury warrants to purchase up to 78,317 shares of the Company’s common stock. These warrants have an exercise price of $57.47 per share and a five-year term from the date of issuance. The relative fair value of the warrants is recorded within stockholder's equity and as a discount reducing the carrying value of the loan, which will be amortized as interest expense in the Company’s income statement over the term of the loan. The proceeds of the grant were recorded in cash and cash equivalents when received and were recognized as a reduction in expense in payroll support grant in the Company’s income statement over the periods that the funds are intended to compensate. The Company recorded $205.0 million of the PSP 3 Agreement payroll grant as an offset to operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. As of September 30, 2021, the Company has recognized all of the payroll grants received from U.S. Treasury as an offset to operating expenses. Treasury Secured Loan. In January 2021, the Company amended the secured loan agreement with U.S. Treasury to extend the deadline pursuant to which SkyWest Airlines could, at its discretion, borrow additional amounts under the facility from March 26, 2021, to May 28, 2021. The other terms of the secured loan agreement were not affected. On May 10, 2021, the Company repaid all amounts outstanding under the secured loan, and in connection with such repayment, terminated the secured loan agreement. The total repayment amount was $61.2 million, which included all outstanding principal and accrued interest under the secured loan. As a result of the repayment, the collateral securing the obligations of SkyWest Airlines under the loan agreement, consisting of aircraft engines and aircraft parts, was released.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

(2) Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19, which was declared a global health pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020, has had a significant, negative impact on the Company’s business and financial results beginning in March 2020 and has materially and adversely affected the Company’s revenues, particularly under its prorate agreements. The Company operated 137,493 flights during the third quarter of 2020, which increased to 210,251 flights, or 52.9%, during the third quarter of 2021. However, the Company operated 219,272 flights during the third quarter of 2019 and the Company has not returned to pre-COVID flight levels as of September 30, 2021. The rate of recovery from the impact of COVID-19 and whether such recovery will be sustained are uncertain as factors outside of the Company’s control, including the distribution and efficacy of vaccines, government-imposed vaccine mandates, new variants of the virus, and continued or new government travel restrictions, cannot be estimated.

Liquidity. At September 30, 2021, the Company had $953.5 million in total available liquidity, consisting of $912.5 million in cash and marketable securities, and $41.0 million available under SkyWest Airlines’ line of credit with a bank.

2021 Appropriations Act. In January 2021, SkyWest Airlines entered into a Payroll Support Program Extension Agreement (the “PSP Extension Agreement”) with the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“U.S. Treasury”) with respect to a payroll grant program under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (“2021 Appropriations Act”). Pursuant to the PSP Extension Agreement, SkyWest Airlines received $268.1 million from U.S. Treasury during the nine months ended September 30, 2021.

In connection with the receipt of financial assistance under the PSP Extension Agreement, SkyWest Airlines is required to comply with the relevant provisions of the 2021 Appropriations Act, many of which are substantially similar to the requirements placed on SkyWest Airlines by the Payroll Support Program under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) that the Company entered into with U.S. Treasury in April 2020.

The PSP Extension Agreement payments received included $217.7 million in the form of a payroll grant and $50.4 million in the form of an unsecured 10-year loan. The loan bears interest at an annual rate of 1.00% for the first five years (through January 2026) and the Secured Overnight Financing Rate plus 2.00% in the final five years. In return, the Company issued to U.S. Treasury warrants to purchase up to 124,773 shares of the Company’s common stock. These warrants have an exercise price of $40.41 per share and a five-year term from the date of issuance.

The relative fair value of the warrants is recorded within stockholder's equity and as a discount reducing the carrying value of the loan, which will be amortized as interest expense in the Company’s income statement over the term of the loan. The proceeds of the grant were recorded in cash and cash equivalents when received and were recognized as a reduction in expense in payroll support grant in the Company’s income statement over the periods that the funds were intended to compensate. The Company recorded $217.7 million of the PSP Extension Agreement payroll grant as an offset to operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2021.

American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. On April 23, 2021, SkyWest Airlines entered into a Payroll Support Program 3 Agreement (the “PSP 3 Agreement”) with U.S. Treasury with respect to a payroll grant program under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“American Rescue Plan Act”). Pursuant to the PSP 3 Agreement, SkyWest Airlines received from U.S. Treasury approximately $250.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2021.

In connection with the receipt of financial assistance under the PSP 3 Agreement, SkyWest Airlines is required to comply with the relevant provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act, many of which are substantially similar to the requirements placed on SkyWest Airlines by the Payroll Support Program Agreement under the CARES Act and the PSP Extension Agreement under the 2021 Appropriations Act. The relevant provisions include the requirement that the funding be used exclusively for the continuation of payment of employee wages, salaries and benefits. Similar to the previous Payroll Support Programs, SkyWest Airlines and, in some cases, the Company is also subject to certain restrictions, including, but not limited to, limitations on involuntary terminations, pay rate reductions and furloughs through September 30, 2021, restrictions on the payment of dividends and the repurchase of shares through September 30, 2022, and certain limitations on executive compensation through April 1, 2023.

The PSP 3 Agreement payments received through September 30, 2021, included $205.0 million in the form of a payroll grant and $45.0 million in the form of an unsecured 10-year loan. The loan bears interest at an annual rate of 1.00% for the first five years (through April 2026) and the Secured Overnight Financing Rate plus 2.00% in the final five years. In return, the Company issued to U.S. Treasury warrants to purchase up to 78,317 shares of the Company’s common stock. These warrants have an exercise price of $57.47 per share and a five-year term from the date of issuance.

The relative fair value of the warrants is recorded within stockholder's equity and as a discount reducing the carrying value of the loan, which will be amortized as interest expense in the Company’s income statement over the term of the loan. The proceeds of the grant were recorded in cash and cash equivalents when received and were recognized as a reduction in expense in payroll support grant in the Company’s income statement over the periods that the funds are intended to compensate. The Company recorded $205.0 million of the PSP 3 Agreement payroll grant as an offset to operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2021.

As of September 30, 2021, the Company has recognized all of the payroll grants received from U.S. Treasury as an offset to operating expenses.

Treasury Secured Loan. In January 2021, the Company amended the secured loan agreement with U.S. Treasury to extend the deadline pursuant to which SkyWest Airlines could, at its discretion, borrow additional amounts under the facility from March 26, 2021, to May 28, 2021. The other terms of the secured loan agreement were not affected. On May 10, 2021, the Company repaid all amounts outstanding under the secured loan, and in connection with such repayment, terminated the secured loan agreement. The total repayment amount was $61.2 million, which included all outstanding principal and accrued interest under the secured loan. As a result of the repayment, the collateral securing the obligations of SkyWest Airlines under the loan agreement, consisting of aircraft engines and aircraft parts, was released.