SkyWest : Announces Fourth Quarter 2019 Profit

NEWS RELEASE

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SkyWest, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter 2019 Profit

Fourth Quarter Highlights:

• $1.43 earnings per diluted share, up 12% from $1.28 in Q4 2018
• Pre-taxincome of $98 million, up from $91 million in Q4 2018; net income of $73 million, up from $67 million in Q4 2018
• Secured new flying contract for 20 new E175 aircraft with American Airlines ("American")

ST. GEORGE, UTAH, January 30, 2020 - SkyWest, Inc. (NASDAQ: SKYW) ("SkyWest") today reported financial and operating results for Q4 2019, including net income of $73 million, or $1.43 per diluted share, compared to net income of $67 million, or $1.28 per diluted share, for Q4 2018. Earnings per diluted share increased 12% in Q4 2019 from Q4 2018, primarily due to SkyWest's ongoing fleet transition. SkyWest has added ten new E175 aircraft and seven new CRJ900 aircraft since Q4 2018 and reduced aircraft ownership costs through early lease buyouts on 56 aircraft executed in 2019.

SkyWest reported net income of $340 million, or $6.62 per diluted share for the 2019 year. Adjusted net income for the 2019 year was $321 million, or $6.25 per diluted share, excluding the gain on the sale of ExpressJet Airlines ("ExpressJet") and other special items recorded in Q1 20191. Net income for the 2018 year was $280 million or $5.30 per diluted share.

Commenting on the results, Chip Childs, Chief Executive Officer and President of SkyWest, said

1 See Reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures section of this release for more information.

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"2020 represents the start of the next phase of our fleet transition as we increase new E175 aircraft and invest in our older CRJ fleet, driven by strong demand for both aircraft types. We expect this will make 2020 a pivot year to position us for a new trajectory in 2021 and 2022."

Financial Highlights

Revenue was $744 million in Q4 2019, down from $803 million in Q4 2018 due to the sale of ExpressJet in January 2019. Excluding ExpressJet revenue in Q4 2018, Q4 2019 revenue increased $59 million, primarily from adding 17 new aircraft since Q4 2018.

Operating expenses were $618 million in Q4 2019, down from $682 million in Q4 2018, also due to the sale of ExpressJet. Excluding ExpressJet operating expenses in Q4 2018, Q4 2019 operating expenses increased $59 million, primarily from growth in operations as a result of additional aircraft placed into service since Q4 2018 and an increase in maintenance expense.

Operational Update

New flying contract with American for 20 new E175 aircraft

• SkyWest awarded 20 aircraft under a ten-year contract, with the anticipated delivery of ten aircraft in late 2020 and ten aircraft during the first half of 2021
• SkyWest anticipates financing the aircraft through debt
• Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed

Aircraft deliveries under previously announced deals for Delta Air Lines ("Delta")New E175 aircraft to be financed and operated by SkyWest:

• Five aircraft were delivered in Q4 2019
• Six aircraft are scheduled for delivery from early to mid-2020

Upcoming new and used aircraft to be financed by Delta and operated by SkyWest:

• One new CRJ900 aircraft scheduled for delivery in mid-2020
• Six used E175 aircraft scheduled for in-service dates from early to mid-2020

In conjunction with new aircraft deliveries for Delta, SkyWest anticipates removing eight CRJ700 and four CRJ900 aircraft from its flying agreement with Delta by the end of 2020. Following the respective agreement expirations, SkyWest anticipates utilizing these 12 aircraft in various ways: placing them with other partners, using the airframes/engines as spares and/or leasing

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the airframes/engines to third parties.

Aircraft deliveries under a previously announced deal with American

SkyWest placed two of ten used CRJ700s with American during Q4 2019. SkyWest is scheduled to place the remaining eight CRJ700 aircraft with American throughout 2020. SkyWest anticipates acquiring five used CRJ700s from a third party and internally sourcing three CRJ700s through contract expirations.

Lease agreement with a third party for 29 CRJ700 aircraft

As of December 31, 2019, SkyWest has placed ten of 29 CRJ700 aircraft under a previously announced lease agreement with a third party under a ten-year lease term. SkyWest anticipates the remaining aircraft will be placed under the lease in increments through mid-2020.

Capital and Liquidity

SkyWest had $520 million in cash and marketable securities at December 31, 2019, down from $572 million at September 30, 2019. During the fourth quarter of 2019, SkyWest:

• Used $18 million in cash toward the purchase of five new E175 aircraft (total capital expenditure of $118 million on the acquired aircraft with $100 million of debt financing)
• Used $39 million toward the purchase of spare engines and used airframes and $24 million for other capital investments, primarily related to spare aircraft parts
• Used $10 million to repurchase stock under SkyWest's $250 million repurchase

program

Total debt was $3.0 billion at December 31, 2019 and September 30, 2019.

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Reconciliation to Adjusted Net Income and Diluted Earnings per Share (unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except per diluted share)

				For the year ended December 31, 2019
				Income tax
		Pre-tax			benefit					Net income per
		income		(expense)		Net income	diluted share
GAAP income	$	446,305	$	(106,206)	$	340,099		$	6.62
2019 adjustments (1)		(24,656)			5,646			(19,010)
Adjusted income	$	421,649	$	(100,560)	$	321,089		$	6.25

1. Excludes the gain on the sale of ExpressJet of $46.5 million (pre-tax); also excludes special item operating expenses of $21.9 million (pre-tax), primarily consisting of a non-cashwrite-off of aircraft manufacturer part credits that SkyWest forfeited to settle future lease return obligations. These adjustments were recorded in Q1 2019.

The non-GAAP information presented in this release should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for any measure derived in accordance with GAAP. The non-GAAP information may also be inconsistent with the manner in which similar measures are derived or used by other companies. Management uses such non-GAAP information for financial and operational decision-making purposes

and as a means to evaluate period-over-period comparisons and in forecasting SkyWest's business

going forward. Management believes that the presentation of such non-GAAP information, when considered in conjunction with the most directly comparable GAAP information, provides additional useful comparative information for investors in their assessment of the underlying performance of

SkyWest's business without regard to these items.

About SkyWest

SkyWest, Inc. is the holding company for SkyWest Airlines and SkyWest Leasing, an aircraft leasing company. SkyWest Airlines has a fleet of nearly 500 aircraft connecting millions of passengers each month to over 250 destinations and provides commercial air service in cities throughout North America with up to 2,500 daily flights. SkyWest Airlines operates through partnerships with United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines to carry more than 40 million passengers annually. Based in St. George, Utah, SkyWest continues to set the standard for excellence across the regional industry with exceptional value for customers, shareholders and its more than 14,000 employees.

SkyWest will host its conference call to discuss fourth quarter 2019 results today, January 30, 2020, at 2:30 p.m. Mountain Time. The conference call number is 1-877-418-5293 for domestic callers, 1-866-605- 3852 for Canada callers and 1-412-717-9593 for other international callers. Please call up to ten minutes in advance to ensure you are connected prior to the start of the call. The conference call will also be available live on the Internet at https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1088/32739. This press release and additional information regarding SkyWest, including access information for the digital

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rebroadcast of the fourth quarter 2019 earnings call, participation at investor conferences, investor presentations and monthly traffic statistic releases, can be accessed at inc.skywest.com.

Forward Looking-Statements

In addition to historical information, this release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "forecasts," "expects," "intends," "believes," "anticipates," "estimates," "should," "likely" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the continued demand for our product, the potential benefits resulting from the sale of ExpressJet, including reduced risk, increased flexibility, efficiency and improved positioning for market opportunities, the scheduled aircraft deliveries for SkyWest Airlines in upcoming years and the related removal from service and/or placement into service of certain aircraft, the expected terms, timing and benefits related to SkyWest's leasing and joint venture transactions, the expected earnings and other results from our ongoing fleet transition, as well as SkyWest's future financial and operating results, plans, objectives, expectations, estimates, intentions and outlook, and other statements that are not historical facts. All forward-looking statements included in this release are made as of the date hereof and are based on information available to SkyWest as of such date. SkyWest assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements for any reason. Readers should note that many factors could affect the future operating and financial results of SkyWest and could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements set forth in this release. These factors include, but are not limited to, the prospects of entering into agreements with existing or other carriers to fly new aircraft, ongoing negotiations between SkyWest and its major partners regarding their contractual obligations, uncertainties regarding operation of new aircraft, the ability to attract and retain qualified pilots, the impact of regulatory issues such as pilot rest rules and qualification requirements, and the ability to obtain aircraft financing.

Actual operational and financial results of SkyWest will likely also vary, and may vary materially, from those anticipated, estimated, projected or expected for a number of other reasons, including, in addition to those identified above: the challenges of competing successfully in a highly competitive and rapidly changing industry; developments associated with fluctuations in the economy and the demand for air travel; the financial stability of SkyWest's major partners and any potential impact of their financial condition on the operations of SkyWest; fluctuations in flight schedules, which are determined by the major partners for whom SkyWest conducts flight operations; variations in market and economic conditions; significant aircraft lease and debt commitments; residual aircraft values and related impairment charges; labor relations and costs; the impact of global instability; rapidly fluctuating fuel costs, and potential fuel shortages; the impact of weather-related or other natural disasters on air travel and airline costs; aircraft deliveries; the ability to attract and retain qualified pilots and other unanticipated factors. Risk factors, cautionary statements and other conditions which could cause SkyWest's actual results to differ materially from management's current expectations are contained in SkyWest's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

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SkyWest, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

(Dollars and Shares in Thousands, Except per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

			Three Months Ended				Year Ended
			December 31,				December 31,
			2019			2018			2019			2018
OPERATING REVENUES
Flying agreements	$	725,092	$	791,862	$	2,889,265	$	3,169,520
Airport customer service and other			18,499			11,628			82,698				52,159
Total operating revenues			743,591			803,490			2,971,963			3,221,679
OPERATING EXPENSES
Salaries, wages and benefits		248,978			299,744			1,001,746			1,201,518
Aircraft maintenance, materials and repairs		137,741			132,594			514,313			556,259
Depreciation and amortization		95,168			88,203			368,098			334,589
Aircraft fuel		31,546			30,449			119,115			117,657
Airport-related expenses		29,600			28,753			118,837			109,605
Aircraft rentals		16,158			35,929			71,998			154,945
Special items		-				-			21,869				-
Other operating expenses			59,095			66,315			243,729			272,826
Total operating expenses			618,286			681,987			2,459,705			2,747,399
OPERATING INCOME			125,305			121,503			512,258			474,280
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Interest income		3,051				3,131			14,131				8,823
Interest expense		(30,871)			(33,924)			(127,755)			(120,409)
Other income, net			304				150			47,671				3,620
Total other expense, net			(27,516)			(30,643)			(65,953)			(107,966)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES		97,789			90,860			446,305			366,314
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES			25,262			23,754			106,206				85,942
NET INCOME	$	72,527	$	67,106	$	340,099	$	280,372
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE	$	1.44			$	1.30	$	6.68			$	5.40
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE	$	1.43			$	1.28	$	6.62			$	5.30
Weighted average common shares
Basic		50,395			51,650			50,932				51,914
Diluted		50,796			52,556			51,375				52,871

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SkyWest, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Summary of Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Dollars in Thousands)

(Unaudited)

	December 31,		December 31,
		2019			2018
Cash and marketable securities	$	520,172	$	689,329
Other current assets		240,174			331,465
Total current assets		760,346			1,020,794
Property and equipment, net		5,345,823			4,963,732
Deposit on aircraft		48,858			42,012
Other long-term assets		502,102			286,674
Total assets	$	6,657,129	$	6,313,212
Current portion, long-term debt	$	364,126	$	350,206
Other current liabilities		560,550			574,620
Total current liabilities		924,676			924,826
Long-term debt, net of current maturities		2,628,989			2,809,768
Other long-term liabilities		928,450			614,337
Stockholders' equity		2,175,014			1,964,281
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	6,657,129	$	6,313,212

Unaudited Operating Highlights - SkyWest Airlines

	Three Months Ended			Year Ended
		December 31,				December 31,
	2019	2018	Change		2019	2018	Change
Block hours	368,301	351,928	4.7%	1,464,405	1,380,420	6.1%
Departures	214,299	198,346	8.0%	842,098	790,485	6.5%
Adjusted flight completion	99.9%	99.9%	0.0 pts	99.9%	99.9%	0.0 pts
Raw flight completion	98.4%	99.0%	(0.6) pts	97.9%	98.6%	(0.7) pts
Passengers carried	11,093,800	10,200,740	8.8%	43,660,766	40,302,301	8.3%
Passenger load factor	82.2%	81.4%	0.8 pts	82.3%	81.6%	0.7 pts
Average passenger trip length	496	500	(0.8)%	500	492	1.6%

On January 22, 2019, SkyWest completed the sale of ExpressJet to a third party. The unaudited operating highlights above include SkyWest Airlines only and exclude ExpressJet in both periods for comparability purposes.

Adjusted flight completion percent excludes weather cancellations. Raw flight completion includes weather cancellations.

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	SkyWest, Inc. and Subsidiaries
	Additional Operational Information (unaudited)
SkyWest's total fleet in service had no net change during Q4 2019, as follows:
	Aircraft in scheduled service at September 30, 2019:	483
	Additions:
	New E175 aircraft:	5
	Removals:
	CRJ700 aircraft:	(5)
	Aircraft in scheduled service at December 31, 2019:	483

SkyWest's total fleet in service decreased by 113 aircraft over the last 12 months, as follows:

Aircraft in scheduled service at December 31, 2018:	596
Additions:
New E175 aircraft:	10
New CRJ900 aircraft:	7
Total new aircraft added:	17
Used aircraft transitioned back into service, net:	1
SkyWest Airlines CRJ900s removed from service:	(5)
ExpressJet removals:
ERJ145 aircraft:	(100)
CRJ200 aircraft:	(16)
CRJ700 aircraft:	(10)
	(126)
Aircraft in scheduled service at December 31, 2019:	483

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SkyWest, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Additional Operational Information (continued and unaudited)

Completed Block Hours by Aircraft Type

			Three months ended December 31,			Year ended December 31,
SkyWest Airlines:		2019			2018				Variance %		2019			2018				Variance %
E175s	133,232		127,616		4.4%		529,008		457,285			15.7%
CRJ900s	30,872		28,080		9.9%		124,860		112,668			10.8%
CRJ700s	74,151		65,702		12.9%		298,599		267,387			11.7%
CRJ200s		130,046			130,530			(0.4)%			511,938			543,080				(5.7)%
Total Block Hours		368,301				351,928				4.7%				1,464,405			1,380,420				6.1%
	Aircraft in Scheduled Service and Block Hour Production Forecast for 2020
			As of				As of			As of			As of			As of
	12/31/2019			3/31/2020		6/30/2020			9/30/2020		12/31/2020
SkyWest Airlines aircraft (1):			(Actual)				(Estimate)			(Estimate)		(Estimate)		(Estimate)
E175s	156		158		163		169		178
CRJ900s	43		43		44		40		40
CRJ700s	94		94		94		94		94
CRJ200s		190			190			190			190			190
Total SkyWest Airlines		483			485			491			493			502
			Q4 2019					Q1 2020				Q2 2020				Q3 2020				Q4 2020			Total 2020
SkyWest Airlines (2):			(Actual)				(Estimate)			(Estimate)		(Estimate)		(Estimate)	(Estimate)
Block Hours	368,301		374,000		389,000		401,000		398,000			1,562,000

1. The aircraft count in the table above excludes aircraft removed from SkyWest's scheduled service. Actual fleet counts may vary from the forecast due to timing of aircraft removed from service, timing of aircraft placed into service when transitioning between flying contracts, and timing of new aircraft deliveries.
   As of December 31, 2019, SkyWest leased four CRJ200s, ten CRJ700s and five CRJ900s to third parties (these aircraft are excluded from the table above).
2. Actual production may vary from estimates for various reasons including, but not limited to, timing of aircraft removals and deliveries and anticipated flight completion rates.

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