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WestJet Airlines Ltd
Symbol	WJA
Shares Issued	121,905,186
Close 2013-05-06	C$ 24.72
Market Cap	C$ 3,013,496,198
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ORIGINAL: WestJet reports record net earnings of $91 million, up 33 per cent

2013-05-07 06:49 ET - News Release

Airline announces it has entered into agreements to modernize its Boeing 737 fleet

CALGARY, May 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - WestJet (TSX: WJA) today announced its first quarter results for 2013. The airline reported record net earnings of $91.1 million, or $0.68 per diluted share, up from the net earnings of $68.3 million, or $0.49 per diluted share reported in the first quarter of 2012. These results mark WestJet's 32^nd consecutive quarter of profitability. Based on the trailing twelve months, the airline achieved a return on invested capital of 14.3 per cent, up from the 13.7 per cent reported in the previous quarter.

"We are very pleased to report our best ever quarterly earnings and for the third consecutive quarter we exceeded our 12 per cent ROIC target by achieving 14.3 per cent," said WestJet President and CEO Gregg Saretsky. "The excitement is building as we move closer to the launch of WestJet Encore. I want to thank WestJetters for their dedication and tremendous efforts in providing our guests a caring and friendly experience each and every day."

Operating highlights (stated in Canadian dollars)
	Q1 2013	Q1 2012	Change
Net earnings (millions)	$91.1	$68.3	33.3%
Diluted earnings per share	$0.68	$0.49	38.8%
Total revenues (millions)	$967.2	$891.0	8.6%
Operating margin	13.7%	11.9%	1.8 pts
ASMs (available seat miles) (billions)	6.032	5.690	6.0%
RPMs (revenue passenger miles) (billions)	5.088	4.721	7.8%
Load factor	84.3%	83.0%	1.3 pts
Segment guests	4,493,324	4,230,415	6.2%
Yield (revenue per revenue passenger mile) (cents)	19.01	18.87	0.7%
RASM (revenue per available seat mile) (cents)	16.03	15.66	2.4%
CASM (cost per available seat mile) (cents)	13.84	13.80	0.3%
CASM, excluding fuel and employee profit share (cents)*	8.94	8.95	(0.1%)

*Refer to reconciliations in the accompanying tables for further information regarding calculations.

WestJet announced in February the first two new communities WestJet Encore will be servicing. Beginning on June 24, 2013, WestJet Encore will begin daily service from Calgary and Vancouver to Fort St. John, British Columbia, and from Calgary to Nanaimo, British Columbia.

In January 2013, WestJet launched a three-year company-wide business transformation initiative with a goal to reduce annual costs by $100 million by the end of 2015 and to undertake a longer term initiative to ensure WestJet's unit costs are competitive with low cost North American airlines. This initiative will focus on aircraft and asset utilization, distribution, productivity, and all non-operational expenses.

For the second quarter of 2013, WestJet expects strong traffic growth and earnings among its best ever for a second quarter, notwithstanding an expected moderate decline in its second quarter RASM which will be impacted by the timing of Easter and Passover, the elimination of Thomas Cook capacity purchase commitments, the loss of the one-time benefit from Air Canada's labour uncertainty in the second quarter of 2012, and accelerating capacity growth fueled by higher utilization and the launch of WestJet Encore.

For the second quarter of 2013, WestJet expects CASM, excluding fuel and employee profit share, to be flat to up one per cent year-over-year. The airline expects fuel costs to range between $0.84 and $0.86 cents per litre for the second quarter of 2013, representing a year-over-year decrease of six to nine per cent.

For the full year 2013, the airline now expects CASM, excluding fuel and employee profit share, to be flat to up one per cent year-over-year primarily as a result of cost reductions achieved and anticipated through its business transformation initiative, but excluding any benefit from the exemption it received yesterday from Transport Canada, to the requirement for one flight attendant for every forty passengers on board.

WestJet announced today it has entered into an agreement with a third party under which WestJet will sell 10 of its oldest Boeing Next-Generation 737-700 aircraft to that party in 2014 and 2015, and concurrently entered an agreement with Boeing to purchase 10 Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 aircraft in 2014 and 2015, effectively reducing the average age of WestJet's fleet by approximately one year. WestJet has deferred the delivery of five Boeing Next-Generation 737-700 aircraft from 2014 and 2015 to 2016 and 2017. "These agreements are part of our strategy to optimize and modernize our fleet mix, which will improve CASM, while maintaining fleet flexibility going forward," added Gregg Saretsky.

Dividend declaration

On May 6, 2013, WestJet's Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.10 per common voting share and variable voting share for the second quarter of 2013, to be paid on June 28, 2013, to shareholders of record on June 12, 2013. All dividends paid by WestJet are, pursuant to subsection 89(14) of the Income Tax Act, designated as eligible dividends, unless indicated otherwise. An eligible dividend paid to a Canadian resident is entitled to the enhanced dividend tax credit.

Caution regarding forward-looking information

Certain information set forth in this news release, including, without limitation, information regarding the launch of WestJet Encore and the communities it will serve, WestJet's company-wide business transformation initiative, traffic and earnings for the second quarter of 2013, second quarter RASM, fuel costs in the second quarter of 2013, CASM, excluding fuel and employee profit share for the second quarter of 2013 and full-year 2013, and the aircraft agreements with a third party and with Boeing is forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. By its nature, forward-looking information is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond WestJet's control. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on WestJet's current forecasts and strategy, the expected demand environment, our fleet plan, forward-curve jet fuel prices, and the expected exchange rate of the Canadian dollar to the U.S. dollar, along with available implementation plans, agreements and bookings, but may vary due to factors including, but not limited to, changes in guest demand, changes in fuel prices, delays in aircraft delivery, general economic conditions, competitive environment, ability to effectively implement and maintain critical systems and other factors and risks described in WestJet's public reports and filings which are available under WestJet's profile at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information as actual results may vary materially from the forward-looking information. WestJet does not undertake to update, correct or revise any forward-looking information as a result of any new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law.

Non-GAAP measures

This news release contains disclosure respecting non-GAAP performance measures including, without limitation, CASM, excluding fuel and employee profit share and return on invested capital. These measures are included to enhance the overall understanding of WestJet's current financial performance and to provide an alternative method for assessing WestJet's operating results in a manner that is focused on the performance of WestJet's ongoing operations, and to provide a more consistent basis for comparison between reporting periods. These measures are not calculated in accordance with, or an alternative to, GAAP and do not have standardized meanings. Therefore, they may not be comparable to similar measures provided by other entities. Readers are urged to review the section entitled "Reconciliation of non-GAAP and additional GAAP measures" in WestJet's management's discussion and analysis of financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2013, which is available under WestJet's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, for a further discussion of such non-GAAP measures and a reconciliation of such measures to GAAP. The financial information accompanying this news release was prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards unless otherwise noted.

Management's discussion and analysis of financial results and condensed consolidated financial statements and notes for the three months ended March 31, 2013, are available through the Internet in the Media and Investor Relations section of www.westjet.com or under WestJet's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.

Analyst conference call

WestJet will hold its quarterly analysts' conference call today, May 7, 2013, at 8 a.m. MDT (10 a.m. EDT). President and CEO Gregg Saretsky and Executive Vice-President of Finance and CFO Vito Culmone will discuss WestJet's first quarter 2013 results and answer questions from financial analysts and members of the media. The conference call will be available in Toronto by calling 416-915-3239, in Vancouver by calling 604-638-5340 and across Canada and the United States through the toll-free telephone number 1-800-319-4610. The call can also be heard live through an Internet webcast accessible via the Media and Investor Relations section of www.westjet.com.

Annual general meeting (AGM)

WestJet will hold its AGM today, May 7, 2013, at 2 p.m. MDT (4 p.m. EDT) at WestJet's Calgary Campus at 22 Aerial Place NE. The AGM webcast will be available live in the Media and Investor Relations section of www.westjet.com.

About WestJet

WestJet is Canada's most preferred airline, offering scheduled service to 85 destinations in North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Powered by an award-winning culture of care, WestJet pioneered low-cost flying in Canada. Recognized nationally as a top employer, WestJet now has more than 9,000 WestJetters across Canada. Operating a fleet of more than 100 Boeing Next-Generation 737 and Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft, WestJet strives to be one of the five most successful international airlines in the world.

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Condensed Consolidated Statement of Earnings
(Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)


		Three months ended March 31
		2013	2012

Revenue:
	Guest	879,394	802,286
	Other	87,848	88,664
		967,242	890,950
Expenses:
	Aircraft fuel	271,048	262,072
	Airport operations	115,091	105,181
	Flight operations and navigational charges	102,059	94,377
	Sales and distribution	91,310	93,127
	Marketing, general and administration	49,515	46,914
	Depreciation and amortization	48,019	45,144
	Aircraft leasing	47,509	46,327
	Inflight	46,319	40,289
	Maintenance	39,697	37,727
	Employee profit share	24,311	14,134
		834,878	785,292
Earnings from operations		132,364	105,658

Non-operating income (expense):
	Finance income	4,744	4,340
	Finance costs	(10,698)	(12,737)
	Gain on foreign exchange	79	1,286
	Gain (loss) on disposal of property and equipment	(1,018)	19
	Loss on fuel derivatives	-	(3,450)
		(6,893)	(10,542)
Earnings before income tax		125,471	95,116

Income tax expense (recovery):
	Current	46,653	28,999
	Deferred	(12,255)	(2,204)
		34,398	26,795
Net earnings		91,073	68,321

Earnings per share:
	Basic	0.69	0.50
	Diluted	0.68	0.49

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
(Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars)
(Unaudited)


		March 31 2013	December 31 2012
Assets
Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	1,364,800	1,408,199
	Restricted cash	50,124	51,623
	Accounts receivable	40,060	37,576
	Prepaid expenses, deposits and other	96,891	101,802
	Inventory	27,927	35,595
		1,579,802	1,634,795
Non-current assets:
	Property and equipment	2,082,783	1,985,599
	Intangible assets	51,573	50,808
	Other assets	75,572	75,413
Total assets		3,789,730	3,746,615

Liabilities and shareholders' equity
Current liabilities:
	Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	485,634	460,003
	Advance ticket sales	462,134	480,947
	Non-refundable guest credits	47,511	47,859
	Current portion of maintenance provisions	40,203	34,135
	Current portion of long-term debt	165,091	164,909
		1,200,573	1,187,853
Non-current liabilities:
	Maintenance provisions	152,168	145,656
	Long-term debt	532,760	574,139
	Other liabilities	9,650	9,914
	Deferred income tax	345,151	356,748
Total liabilities		2,240,302	2,274,310

Shareholders' equity:
	Share capital	616,924	614,899
	Equity reserves	69,125	69,856
	Hedge reserves	(3,514)	(5,746)
Retained earnings		866,893	793,296
Total shareholders' equity		1,549,428	1,472,305

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity		3,789,730	3,746,615

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
(Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars)
(Unaudited)


		Three months ended March 31
		2013	2012

Operating activities:
Net earnings		91,073	68,321
Items not involving cash:
	Depreciation and amortization	48,019	45,144
	Change in maintenance provisions	9,082	8,064
	Change in other liabilities	(207)	(199)
	Amortization of hedge settlements	350	350
	Loss on fuel derivatives	-	3,450
	(Gain) loss on disposal of property and equipment	1,018	(19)
	Share-based payment expense	3,575	2,691
	Deferred income tax recovery	(12,255)	(2,204)
	Unrealized foreign exchange gain	(1,125)	(505)
Change in non-cash working capital		105,480	129,552
Change in restricted cash		1,499	1,041
Change in other assets		(1,939)	(1,541)
Cash taxes paid		(77,183)	(407)
Cash interest received		5,353	4,591
Purchase of shares pursuant to compensation plans		(1,486)	-
		171,254	258,329

Investing activities:
Aircraft additions		(125,481)	(43,764)
Other property and equipment and intangible additions		(22,990)	(12,480)
		(148,471)	(56,244)

Financing activities:
Increase in long-term debt		-	35,303
Repayment of long-term debt		(41,240)	(39,631)
Decrease in obligations under finance leases		-	(19)
Shares repurchased		(4,064)	(18,821)
Dividends paid		(13,231)	(8,226)
Issuance of shares pursuant to compensation plans		33	-
Cash interest paid		(9,568)	(11,271)
Change in non-cash working capital		(455)	(1,628)
		(68,525)	(44,293)

Cash flow from operating, investing and financing activities		(45,742)	157,792
Effect of foreign exchange on cash and cash equivalents		2,343	(585)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents		(43,399)	157,207

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		1,408,199	1,243,605

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		1,364,800	1,400,812

CASM, excluding fuel and employee profit share
(Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars, except percentage, mile and per unit data)
(Unaudited)

WestJet excludes the effects of aircraft fuel expense and employee profit share expense to assess the operating performance of the business. Fuel expense is excluded from operating results due to the fact that fuel prices are impacted by a host of factors outside WestJet's control, such as significant weather events, geopolitical tensions, refinery capacity and global demand and supply. Excluding this expense allows WestJet to analyze its operating results on a comparable basis. Employee profit share expense is excluded from operating results due to its variable nature and excluding this expense allows greater comparability.


	Three months ended March 31
	2013	2012	Change
CASM, excluding fuel and employee profit share
Operating expenses	834,878	785,292	49,586
Aircraft fuel expense	(271,048)	(262,072)	(8,976)
Employee profit share expense	(24,311)	(14,134)	(10,177)
Operating expenses, adjusted	539,519	509,086	30,433
ASMs	6,032,096,070	5,689,651,965	6.0%
CASM, excluding above items (cents)	8.94	8.95	(0.1%)

Return on invested capital (ROIC)
(Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars, except percentages)
(Unaudited)

ROIC is a measure commonly used to assess the efficiency with which a company allocates its capital to generate returns. Return is calculated based on earnings before tax, excluding special items, finance costs and implied interest on off-balance-sheet aircraft leases. Invested capital includes average long-term debt, average finance lease obligations, average shareholders' equity and off-balance-sheet aircraft operating leases.


		March 31 2013	December 31 2012	Change
Return on invested capital
Earnings before income taxes		370,583	340,229	30,354
Add:
	Finance costs	46,861	48,900	(2,039)
	Implicit interest in operating leases⁽ⁱ⁾	91,662	91,041	621
		509,106	480,170	28,936
Invested capital:
	Average long-term debt⁽ⁱⁱ⁾	761,118	783,880	(22,762)
	Average obligations under finance leases⁽ⁱⁱⁱ⁾	1,616	1,625	(9)
	Average shareholders' equity	1,481,111	1,421,261	59,850
	Off-balance-sheet aircraft leases^(iv)	1,309,455	1,300,590	8,865
		3,553,300	3,507,356	45,944
Return on invested capital		14.3%	13.7%	0.6 pts

(i)	Interest implicit in operating leases is equal to 7.0 per cent of 7.5 times the trailing 12 months of aircraft lease expense. 7.0 per cent is a proxy and does not necessarily represent actual for any given period.
(ii)	Average long-term debt includes the current portion and long-term portion.
(iii)	Average obligations under finance leases include the current portion and long-term portion.
(iv)	Off-balance-sheet aircraft leases are calculated by multiplying the trailing 12 months of aircraft leasing expense by 7.5. At March 31, 2013, the trailing 12 months of aircraft leasing costs totaled $174,594 (December 31, 2012 - $173,412).

SOURCE WestJet