Mesa Air Group Inc (MESA) SEC Filing 10-K Annual Report for the fiscal year ending Friday, September 30, 2022

Exhibit 99.1

Mesa Air Group Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2022 Results

August 8, 2022

PHOENIX, August 8, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – Mesa Air Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: MESA) today reported third quarter fiscal 2022 financial and operating results.

Fiscal Third Quarter Highlights:

Jonathan Ornstein, Chairman and CEO, said, “While demand remained resilient for the quarter, our financial results continue to be impacted by industry-wide, elevated pilot attrition and the significant reduction in the commercial pilot pipeline, exacerbated by the 1,500-hour rule. Looking forward, we intend to take dramatic action to address the pilot shortage through increased recruiting, additional simulator capacity, and expansion of our pilot pipeline. We are also pleased that United Airlines has expanded the Aviate program to include all of our pilots.”

Fiscal Third Quarter Details

Total operating revenues in Q3 2022 were $134.4 million, an increase of $9.2 million, or 7.4%, from $125.2 million for Q3 2021. Contract revenue increased $9.2 million, or 8.4%. This was due to the return to normal rates from our partners, which were temporarily reduced last year related to the PSP program. These were partially offset by a reduction in block hours. Mesa’s Q3 2022 results include, per GAAP, the recognition of $6.8 million of previously deferred revenue, versus the deferral of $1.9 million of revenue in Q3 2021. The remaining deferred revenue balance of $22.7 million will be recognized as flights are completed over the remaining terms of the contracts.

Mesa’s Adjusted EBITDA¹ for Q3 2022 was $20.1 million, compared to $35.3 million in Q3 2021, and Adjusted EBITDAR¹ was $29.4 million for Q3 2022, compared to $44.9 million in Q3 2021.

Mesa’s Q3 FY22 results reflect a net loss of $10.0 million, or $(0.28) per diluted share, compared to net income of $4.3 million, or $0.11 per diluted share for Q3 FY21. Mesa’s Q3 FY22 adjusted pre-tax loss¹ was $8.7 million versus an adjusted pre-tax income¹ of $5.8 million in Q3 FY21. The year over year decrease in adjusted pre-tax income of $14.5 million was primarily due to lower block hours, the net impact of the PSP program, and the change in deferred revenue.

Operationally, the Company ran a controllable completion factor of 98.8% for American and 99.8% for United during Q3 2022. This is compared to a controllable completion factor of 99.4% for American and 99.9% for United during Q3 2021. This excludes cancellations due to weather and air traffic control.

With respect to a total completion factor that includes all cancellations, Mesa reported a total completion factor of 97.7% for American and 98.8% for United during Q3 2022. This is compared to a total completion factor of 97.6% for American and 99.2% for United during Q3 2021.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Mesa ended the quarter at $54.4 million in unrestricted cash and equivalents. As of June 30, 2022, the Company had $653.4 million in total debt secured primarily with aircraft and engines.

¹See Reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures