Source: Copa

Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE: CPA), today announced financial results for the first quarter of 2020 (1Q20). The terms “Copa Holdings” and “the Company” refer to the consolidated entity.  The following financial information, unless otherwise indicated, is presented in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). See the accompanying reconciliation of non-IFRS financial information to IFRS financial information included in the financial tables section of this earnings release. Unless otherwise stated, all comparisons with prior periods refer to the first quarter of 2019 (1Q19).

OPERATING AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

  • Due to air travel restrictions implemented in response to the Covid-19 outbreak, the Company was forced to temporarily suspend all commercial flights on March 22nd, 2020.  The Company currently expects to re-start a scaled-down operation on June 1st, 2020, although this date could be delayed as a result of further travel restrictions.
  • For 1Q20, Copa Holdings reported net profit of US$74.3 million or earnings per share (EPS) of US$1.75, as compared to net profit of US$89.4 million or earnings per share of US$2.11 in 1Q19.
  • Operating profit for 1Q20 came in at US$98.7 million, representing a 12.6% decrease from operating profit of US$112.9 million in 1Q19.  Operating margin for 1Q20 came in at 16.6%, compared to an operating margin of 16.8% in 1Q19.
  • For 1Q20, consolidated passenger traffic decreased 16.3% on a 14.4% capacity reduction.  As a result, consolidated load factor for the quarter decreased 1.9 percentage points to 81.5%.
  • Total revenues for 1Q20 decreased 11.4% to US$595.5 million.  Yield per passenger mile increased 5.8% to 12.8 cents and RASM came in at 10.8 cents, or 5.8% higher than 1Q19.
  • Operating cost per available seat mile (CASM) increased 3.8%, from 8.7 cents in 1Q19 to 9.0 cents in 1Q20.  CASM excluding fuel costs increased 8.0% from 6.1 cents in 1Q19 to 6.6 cents in 1Q20, mainly as a result of flight cancellations in March due to the Covid-19 outbreak and, later in the month, the unexpected grounding of the Company´s fleet, resulting in a significant year over year capacity reduction.
  • During 1Q20 the Company drew US$145 million from its available short-term lines of credit.
  • Cash, short-term and long-term investments ended the quarter at US$ 1.13 billion, representing approximately 43% of the last twelve months’ revenues.
  • Copa Holdings ended the quarter with a consolidated fleet of 102 aircraft – 6 Boeing 737MAX9s, 68 Boeing 737-800s, 14 Boeing 737-700s, and 14 Embraer-190s.

Subsequent Events

  • Given the uncertainty related to the Covid-19 crisis, including the effect on future air travel demand, on April 26, 2020 our Board of Directors postponed dividend payments for the remaining quarters of 2020.
  • Throughout the month of April, the Company obtained unsecured, committed credit facilities with three local banks, for an aggregate amount of US$150 million dollars.  These facilities remain unutilized.
  • On April 30, 2020, the Company further bolstered its cash position by successfully closing a US$350 millionconvertible senior notes offering, maturing in 2025.