Summary of Sky Harbour Group Conference Call Company Overview - **Company Name**: Sky Harbour Group (NYSEAM: SKYH) - **Industry**: Aviation Infrastructure and Real Estate - **Business Model**: Focuses on constructing and leasing hangars for business aircraft across the United States, utilizing long-term ground leases typically extending to 50 years [2][3][4] Core Business Insights - **Tenant Base**: - High net worth individuals (majority) - Corporations with business aviation fleets - Government tenants and charter operators (smallest segment) [3][4] - **Ancillary Services**: In addition to hangar rentals, the company provides aviation services such as fuel sales and aircraft towing [4] - **Unit Economics**: Targeting low to mid-teen yields on cost or NOI yields, financed through tax-exempt municipal bonds [5][19] Market Dynamics - **Growth of Business Aviation Fleet**: The size of the business aviation fleet in the U.S. is consistently growing, with larger aircraft being introduced, leading to increased demand for hangar space [6][7] - **Supply Constraints**: Hangar development has not kept pace with the growth of the aviation fleet due to local municipalities' reluctance to invest taxpayer dollars in hangar construction [7][8] - **Competitive Landscape**: Sky Harbour differentiates itself from Fixed Base Operators (FBOs) by focusing solely on servicing its own clients, providing a more private and secure environment [10][11] Financial Performance and Projections - **Current Operations**: Operating at 23 airports with plans to expand to over 50 [5][6] - **Revenue Growth**: Anticipated revenue growth as airports transition from raw ground leases to completed constructions and lease-up processes, which can take 2-3 years [20][21] - **EBITDA Status**: Currently at break-even on an EBITDA basis, with expectations to achieve positive EBITDA as construction projects complete [21][22] Recent Developments - **Debt Financing**: - Issued $166 million in tax-exempt municipal debt at 4.18% to fund initial projects [23] - Announced a $200 million debt facility with J.P. Morgan, functioning as a tax-exempt construction loan [24] - Issued $150 million in sub-debt at 6%, which will serve as equity contribution for upcoming projects [26][44] - **Cost Management**: Facing rising construction costs, with current costs around $300 per sq ft, a 30%-50% increase from previous projects [32][33] - **Internalization of Construction**: Efforts to bring more construction processes in-house to reduce costs, including hiring a general contractor and acquiring a hangar manufacturing facility [15][34] Future Outlook - **Dividend Potential**: While there is interest in dividends, the company plans to retain cash flows for reinvestment into high-yielding assets for the foreseeable future [29][30] - **Investor Concerns**: Main concerns revolve around construction costs and capital expenditures, with strategies in place to manage these through vertical integration and cost control measures [32][33][34] - **Growth Strategy**: Focus on acquiring new ground leases and expanding construction capabilities to meet increasing demand for hangar space [18][27] Conclusion Sky Harbour Group is positioned for growth in the aviation infrastructure sector, with a clear strategy to capitalize on the increasing demand for hangar space while managing costs and financing effectively. The company is focused on internalizing construction processes and expanding its footprint across U.S. airports, aiming for sustainable profitability in the coming years.