Volaris Reports First Quarter 2014 Results: Improving Operational Efficiency in a Challenging Revenue Environment

MEXICO CITY, April 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Volaris* (NYSE: VLRS and BMV: VOLAR), the ultra-low-cost airline serving Mexico and the US, today announced its financial results for the first quarter 2014.

First Quarter 2014 Highlights
The following financial information, unless otherwise indicated, is presented in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Unless otherwise stated, all comparisons with prior periods refer to the first quarter of 2013.

Total operating revenues were Ps.2,775 million for the first quarter, a decrease of 9%, reflecting a challenging macroeconomic and pricing environment, as well as a seasonal impact. Holy week, one of the most active travel weeks in Mexico, happened in April of 2014, as opposed to March of 2013.

Non-ticket revenues increased 9%, reaching Ps.514 million. Non-ticket revenues excluding cargo per passenger increased 10%, reaching Ps.208 (US$16), in line with our ancillary revenue generation strategy.

Total operating revenue per available seat mile (TRASM) decreased to Ps.101.2 cents (US$7.7 cents), an 18% decrease year over year.

Operating expenses per available seat mile (CASM) decreased to Ps.119.0 cents (US$9.1 cents), a 3% decrease year over year. CASM excluding fuel decreased 2%, reaching Ps.72.1 cents (US$5.5 cents), reflecting firm cost control.

Adjusted EBITDAR was Ps.162 million with a net loss of Ps.370 million (Ps.0.37 cents per share / US$0.28 cents per ADS).

We continued to build our markets, as we booked 10% more passengers in the quarter compared to the first quarter of 2013, operated at an 81% load factor, and advanced our product unbundling strategy of growing non-ticket revenues. Aircraft utilization increased to 12.4 block hours per day.

Volaris CEO Enrique Beltranena commented: "In the first quarter of 2014, market conditions were very difficult. While I am disappointed in the quarter’s financial results, we responded well to the challenges. We managed capacity and pricing in a responsible way, reaffirmed our cost control discipline and grew non-ticket revenues. The entire team remains sharply focused on driving significant long term value growth and financial success, by firmly executing our Volaris ULCC model.

Sluggish Mexican economic growth resulted in a very competitive pricing environment. We have responded and will continue to do so by incisively managing capacity, pricing and load factor while maintaining market share.

Consistent with our point-to-point, core “Visiting Friends and Relatives” (VFR) traffic and bus switching strategy, we will maintain our effort to manage the fare environment, affected by macroeconomic conditions and competitive pricing, without jeopardizing the healthy market demand, in particular driven by travelers that already have and can continue to switch from buses to air travel.

The Volaris ULCC model’s strength was demonstrated in a challenging quarter by substantial growth of non-ticket revenues, by expanding our ancillary product offering and increasing customer acceptance.

We continued to reduce unit costs further and maintain our leadership as the lowest unit cost operator in the Americas. Our leading CASM positions us well in both the domestic Mexico market and cross border into the US."

A Challenging Macroeconomic Environment in the First Quarter …

Slower Mexican economic growth and weak demand:
GDP growth estimates for the full year have been revised downward again to 3.1%, according to the Mexican Central Bank survey.

Consumer confidence decreased 11% year over year in the first quarter of 2014.

The Mexican General Economic Activity Indicator (IGAE) increase was only 1.0% and 1.7% in January and February of 2014, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2013.

Same store sales from the Mexican National Association of Supermarkets and Department Stores (ANTAD) decreased 1.7%, 0.2% and 2.4% in January, February and March, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2013.

Exchange rate volatility: The Mexican peso depreciated 4.6% year over year against the US dollar, as the exchange rate devalued from an average of Ps.12.66 pesos per US dollar in the first quarter of 2013 to Ps.13.23 pesos per US dollar during the first quarter of 2014.

Fuel costs decrease: The average economic fuel cost per gallon decreased 0.7% year over year in the first quarter of 2014.

… but the Volaris ULCC Model Further Strengthened
Air traffic volume increases: Among Mexican carriers, Volaris generated 26% of the passenger volume growth in January and February 2014 and increased market share to 23% in both domestic and international markets, remaining the second largest operator among Mexican carriers, according to the Mexican DGAC (Direccion General de Aeronautica Civil). The DGAC reported an overall passenger increase for Mexican carriers of 12% for the same period.

New routes and operations: During the first quarter, Volaris launched 8 new point-to-point routes from Monterrey, focusing on our VFR customer base. Total departures increased 7% year over year.

Non-ticket revenues expansion: After the launch of our new ancillary revenue platform in the fourth quarter 2013, our non-ticket revenue strategy continued to develop during the first quarter 2014, as the new baggage policy and the retail on-board program has been rolled-out and the entire ancillary suite has expanded and gained greater customer acceptance. Non-ticket revenues excluding cargo per passenger increased 10% year over year.

Bus switching offerings and initiatives designed to attract bus passengers to Volaris, were further developed and implemented.

Disciplined capacity management was implemented network-wide, in particular in the domestic market (Tijuana and Guadalajara bases).

First Quarter Operating Revenues: Slower Mexican Economy, Tough Year Over Year Comps
Volaris booked 2.2 million passengers in the first quarter 2014. This equates to a 10% growth rate in the first quarter 2014 as compared to the first quarter in 2013, even though Holy week occurred in April this year.

Volaris traffic (measured in terms of revenue passenger miles or RPMs) increased 11% in the first quarter 2014 year over year.

While the increase in passenger volume and improving RPMs highlight our growth in the market, the weak Mexican economy and competitive pricing environment resulted in a weak fare environment. In response to these market conditions, we elected to modulate our ASM growth in the period to 11% year over year, and even reducing by 7% versus the fourth quarter 2013.

For the first quarter 2014, Volaris’ total operating revenues were Ps.2,775 million, a decrease of 9.3% year over year. Average fare decreased 20.7% in the first quarter 2014 year over year.

During the first quarter 2014, our non-ticket revenues and non-ticket revenues per passenger reached Ps.514 million and Ps.238, respectively. Non-ticket revenue excluding cargo per passenger increased 10% in the first quarter year over year.

Passenger revenue per available seat mile (RASM) was 21% lower compared to the first quarter 2013, and total operating revenue per available seat mile (TRASM) was 18% lower, resulting from a weak fare environment.

Continued Cost Discipline Strengthens “Lowest Cost Operator in the Americas” Position
CASM for the first quarter 2014 was Ps.119.0 cents (US$9.1 cents), a 2.6% reduction compared to the first quarter of 2013, primarily driven by efficiency benefits and sustained cost control discipline. CASM excluding fuel also decreased 2.3% year over year to Ps.72.1 cents (US$5.5 cents) in the first quarter 2014 and we remain the lowest CASM operator in the Americas.

Reflecting our strategy to further reduce unit costs, Volaris has continued to take deliveries of larger sharklet-equipped A320 aircraft, bringing our seat mix of A320/A319 to a 59/41 percent split.

We further reduced sales, marketing and distribution expenses to 5.7% as percent of total operating revenues, mainly due to our reservations system change.
Strong Balance Sheet and Liquidity Supports Strategy and Plans for 2014 and Beyond

As of March 31, 2014, Volaris had Ps.2,240 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents. The Company recorded negative net debt (or a positive net cash position) of Ps.1,573 million and total equity was Ps.3,593 million.

During the first quarter 2014, Volaris incurred capital expenditures of Ps.228 million, which included pre-delivery payments for future deliveries of aircraft net of refunds of Ps.83 million and acquisitions of rotable spare parts, furniture and equipment of Ps.145 million.

Young and Fuel Efficient Fleet Underpins Long Term Growth/Increasing Cost Efficiency
As of March 31, 2014, the Company´s fleet was comprised of 46 aircraft (27 A320s and 19 A319s), with an average age of 4.0 years. During the first quarter of 2014 Volaris received three new sharklet-equipped A320s and returned one vintage A319.