Allegiant Reports August 2024 Traffic

Rhea-AI Summary

Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ: ALGT) reported its August 2024 traffic results, noting a strong demand environment. The company expects third-quarter unit revenues to be down approximately 5.5% year-over-year, an improvement from the previously anticipated 7.5% decline. Non-fuel unit costs are projected to increase by about 4.5% in Q3, which is 2.5 points better than expected. Fuel costs are estimated at $2.70 per gallon for Q3, down from the prior $2.80 forecast.

August 2024 saw a 1.3% increase in passengers for scheduled service compared to August 2023. The total system experienced a 1.8% rise in passengers and a 3.0% increase in available seat miles. However, the load factor decreased by 1.5 percentage points to 84.5%. Allegiant has updated its Q3 guidance, projecting an airline-only operating margin between -0.5% and -1.5%, and consolidated earnings per share between -$1.75 and -$2.25, excluding special charges.

Positive

• Strong demand environment observed in Q3
• Improved Q3 unit revenue forecast: -5.5% YoY vs previous -7.5% YoY
• Non-fuel unit costs expected to be 2.5 points better than anticipated
• Fuel costs projected at $2.70 per gallon for Q3, down from $2.80
• 1.3% increase in scheduled service passengers for August 2024 YoY
• 1.8% increase in total system passengers for August 2024 YoY
• 3.0% increase in total system available seat miles for August 2024 YoY

Negative

• Q3 unit revenues still expected to decline by 5.5% YoY
• Non-fuel unit costs projected to increase by 4.5% in Q3 YoY
• Load factor decreased by 1.5 percentage points to 84.5% in August 2024 YoY
• Airline-only operating margin projected between -0.5% and -1.5% for Q3
• Consolidated earnings per share forecast between -$1.75 and -$2.25 for Q3

LAS VEGAS, Sept. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ: ALGT) today reported preliminary passenger traffic results for August 2024.

"As we have progressed through the third quarter, we have continued to observe a strong demand environment," noted Drew Wells, Chief Commercial Officer of Allegiant Travel Company. "While we expected the year-over-year unit revenue cadence to improve through the end of the quarter, the environment has certainly outperformed our initial expectations. Although the full month of September will likely be TRASM negative on a year-over-year basis, we now expect the back half of the month to flip positive. Given recent booking improvements coming out of July, we expect third-quarter unit revenues to be down roughly 5.5 percent year-over-year compared with our prior commentary of down 7.5 percent. Although early, holiday bookings are showing signs of strength with both yields and loads performing well against expectations on December capacity increases of 18 percent over 2023."

"Non-fuel unit costs are expected to be up approximately 4.5 percent during the third quarter as compared with the prior year, 2.5 points better than anticipated due primarily to the CrowdStrike impact coming in below what we had previously estimated and a better-than-expected completion factor during the quarter," stated Robert Neal, Chief Financial Officer of Allegiant Travel Company. "Additionally, we have observed improvements in the fuel environment. We expect fuel to come in at roughly $2.70 per gallon for the third quarter, down from our prior expectation of $2.80. Guidance updates related to the changes in the revenue and cost environments are included in the table below. We continue to expect Sunseeker to perform consistent with our prior guidance."

Third Quarter Guidance Update

	Current Guidance	Prior Guidance
System ASMs – year over year change	~1.8%	~1.3%
Scheduled service ASMs – year over year change	~1.6%	~1.3%
Fuel cost per gallon	$2.70	$2.80
Airline-only operating margin	(0.5%) – (1.5%)	(4.5%) – (6.5%)
Airline-only earnings (loss) per share, excluding special charges	($0.75) – ($1.25)	($1.50) – ($2.50)
Consolidated earnings (loss) per share, excluding special charges	($1.75) – ($2.25)	($2.50) – ($3.50)

 

Scheduled Service – Year Over Year Comparison

	August 2024	August 2023	Change
Passengers	1,327,765	1,310,751	1.3 %
Revenue passenger miles (000)	1,173,459	1,163,582	0.8 %
Available seat miles (000)	1,389,464	1,353,230	2.7 %
Load factor	84.5 %	86.0 %	(1.5pts)
Departures	9,143	8,839	3.4 %
Average stage length (miles)	862	866	(0.5 %)

 

Total System* – Year Over Year Comparison

	August 2024	August 2023	Change
Passengers	1,344,533	1,320,721	1.8 %
Available seat miles (000)	1,444,380	1,402,344	3.0 %
Departures	9,553	9,211	3.7 %
Average stage length (miles)	857	861	(0.5 %)

*Total system includes scheduled service and fixed fee contract.  System revenue passenger miles and
system load factor are not useful statistics as system available seat miles include both ASMs flown by fixed
fee flying as well as non-revenue producing repositioning flights used for operational needs.  Fixed fee flying
is better measured through dollar contribution versus operational statistics.

Preliminary Financial Results

	$ per gallon
August 2024 estimated average fuel cost per gallon - system	$2.63

Allegiant Travel Company
Las Vegas-based Allegiant (NASDAQ: ALGT) is an integrated travel company with an airline at its heart, focused on connecting customers with the people, places and experiences that matter most. Since 1999, Allegiant Air has linked travelers in small-to-medium cities to world-class vacation destinations with all-nonstop flights and industry-low average fares. Today, Allegiant's fleet serves communities across the nation, with base airfares less than half the cost of the average domestic roundtrip ticket. For more information, visit us at Allegiant.com. Media information, including photos, is available at gofly.us/iiFa303wrtF

ALGT/G

Note: This news release was accurate at the date of issuance. However, information contained in the release may have changed. If you plan to use the information contained herein for any purpose, verification of its continued accuracy is your responsibility. For further information please visit the company's investor website: ir.allegiantair.com

Reference to the Company's website above does not constitute incorporation of any of the information thereon into this news release.

Category: News

Allegiant Media Contact:		Investor Inquiries:
Sonya Padgett		Sherry Wilson
mediarelations@allegiantair.com		ir@allegiantair.com

 

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SOURCE Allegiant Travel Company

FAQ

What is Allegiant's projected fuel cost per gallon for Q3 2024?

Allegiant projects fuel costs at $2.70 per gallon for Q3 2024, down from the previous estimate of $2.80 per gallon.

How did Allegiant's passenger numbers change in August 2024 compared to August 2023?

Allegiant's scheduled service passengers increased by 1.3% in August 2024 compared to August 2023, while total system passengers rose by 1.8%.

What is Allegiant's (ALGT) expected airline-only operating margin for Q3 2024?

Allegiant (ALGT) expects an airline-only operating margin between -0.5% and -1.5% for Q3 2024.

How has Allegiant's (ALGT) Q3 2024 unit revenue forecast changed?

Allegiant (ALGT) now expects Q3 2024 unit revenues to be down approximately 5.5% year-over-year, improved from the previous forecast of a 7.5% decline.