Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - SkyWest reported a net income of $91 million, or $2.21 per diluted share for Q4 2025, and a full-year net income of $428 million, or $10.35 per diluted share, reflecting a 31% increase in pre-tax income for the year [4][10] - Total Q4 revenue was $1 billion, down from $1.1 billion in Q3 2025 but up 8% from $944 million in Q4 2024 [10] - Pre-tax income for 2025 was $566 million, up 31% from 2024, with EBITDA reaching $982 million, an increase of over $100 million from the previous year [12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Contract revenue for Q4 was $803 million, down from $844 million in Q3 2025 but up from $786 million in Q4 2024 [10][11] - Prorate and charter revenue was $167 million in Q4, flat with Q3 2025 but up from $126 million in Q4 2024 [11] - Leasing and other revenue increased to $54 million in Q4, up from $39 million in Q3 and $32 million in Q4 2024, driven by maintenance services provided to third parties [11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - SkyWest Airlines achieved over 250 days of 100% controllable completion in 2025, with over 2,500 daily scheduled departures [7] - The company experienced a modest impact from the government shutdown, with approximately 2,000 canceled flights and 3,000 block hours lost, resulting in a $7 million negative impact on Q4 results [25] Company Strategy and Development Direction - SkyWest announced extensions on key flying agreements, including 40 E175s with United and 13 E175s with Delta, solidifying partnerships and ensuring ongoing revenue stability [6][20] - The company plans to acquire and finance 29 additional E175s by the end of 2028, with a total of nearly 300 E175s expected in service by that time [16][21] - SkyWest aims to enhance service to underserved communities and capitalize on strong demand for its prorate product [19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about growth possibilities in 2026, anticipating mid-single-digit percentage growth in block hours and earnings per share in the mid-$11 area [17][18] - The company is focused on improving return on invested capital and maintaining a strong balance sheet while pursuing various growth opportunities [16][70] - Management acknowledged challenges in the third-party MRO network but remains committed to enhancing fleet flexibility and operational execution [26][85] Other Important Information - SkyWest reduced its debt by $1 billion over the past three years, ending Q4 with a debt balance of $2.4 billion [13][16] - The company has $265 million of cumulative deferred revenue to be recognized in future periods [12] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of FAA cuts and government shutdown - Management acknowledged a strong cancellation rate relative to the industry due to the government shutdown but emphasized the importance of partnerships in mitigating impacts [29][30] Question: Update on encumbered assets - SkyWest has approximately $1.5 billion of unencumbered equipment, with expectations for this to increase as more E175s are paid off [32][33] Question: Aircraft utilization trends - Positive trends in aircraft utilization were noted, with expectations for continued improvement as schedules are optimized for 2026 [39] Question: E175 renewals and contract terms - The terms of the E175 renewals are consistent with previous agreements, reflecting evolving market conditions [42][47] Question: Maintenance expenses and aircraft readiness - Management indicated that maintenance expenses are consistent with previous levels, with 20 aircraft currently in heavy maintenance and expected to return to service soon [51][52] Question: Revenue model and charter business outlook - Demand for charter services remains strong, but aircraft availability limits the ability to capitalize on this demand in 2026 [77][78] Question: Performance compared to mainline partners - SkyWest consistently ranks as a high performer in completion percentages, emphasizing operational execution across multiple partnerships [81][82]