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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (702) 851-7300

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.

Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be

submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such

shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such fi les).  Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a

smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated

filer,” “smaller reporting company,”and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of

the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C.

7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements.  ☐ 

 

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant's executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b).  ☐ 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

The aggregate market value of common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $1.9 billion computed by reference to the closing sale price of the common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on June 30, 2023, the last trading day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter.

The number of shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding as of the close of business on February 23, 2024 was 18,286,324.

Portions of the Proxy Statement to be used in connection with the solicitation of proxies to be voted at the registrant’s annual meeting to be held on June 26, 2024, and to be filed with the Commission subsequent to the date hereof, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Report on Form 10-K.

EXHIBIT INDEX IS LOCATED ON PAGE 90.

We have made forward-looking statements in this annual report on Form 10-K, and in the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” that are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions, and on information currently available to our management. Forward-looking statements include our statements regarding future expenses, revenues, earnings, available seat mile (ASM) growth, fuel cost and consumption, expected capital expenditures, number of contracted aircraft to be placed in service in the future, our ability to consummate announced aircraft transactions, timing of aircraft deliveries and retirements, number of possible future markets that may be served, the implementation of a joint alliance with VivaAerobus, the operation of our Sunseeker Resort, as well as other information concerning future results of operations, business strategies, financing plans, competitive position, industry environment, potential growth opportunities, the effects of future regulation and the effects of competition. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts and can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate," “project,” “hope” or similar expressions.

Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Important risk factors that could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements generally may be found in our periodic reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. These risk factors include, without limitation, the impact of regulatory reviews of Boeing on its aircraft delivery schedule, an accident involving, or problems with, our aircraft, public perception of our safety, our reliance on our automated systems, our reliance on Boeing and third parties to deliver aircraft under contract to us on a timely basis, risk of breach of security of personal data, volatility of fuel costs, labor issues and costs, the ability to obtain regulatory approvals as needed, the effect of economic conditions on leisure travel, debt covenants and balances, the impact of governmental regulations on the airline industry, the ability to finance aircraft to be acquired, the ability to obtain necessary government approvals to implement the announced alliance with VivaAerobus and to otherwise prepare to offer international service, terrorist attacks, risks inherent to airlines, our competitive environment, our reliance on third parties who provide facilities or services to us, the possible loss of key personnel, economic and other conditions in markets in which we operate, the ability to successfully operate Sunseeker Resort at Charlotte Harbor, increases in maintenance costs and availability of outside maintenance contractors to perform needed work on our aircraft on a timely basis and at acceptable rates, cyclical and seasonal fluctuations in our operating results, and the perceived acceptability of our environmental, social and governance efforts.

Any forward-looking statements are based on information available to us today and we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of future events, new information or otherwise.

 

 

We are a leisure travel company focused on providing travel and leisure services and products to residents of under-served cities in the United States. We were founded in 1997 and, in conjunction with our initial public offering in 2006, we incorporated in the state of Nevada. Our unique business model provides diversified revenue streams from various travel services and product offerings which distinguish us from other travel companies. We operate a low-cost, low utilization passenger airline marketed primarily to leisure travelers in under-served cities, allowing us to sell air transportation both on a stand-alone basis and bundled with the sale of air-related and third party services and products. In addition, we provide air transportation under fixed fee flight arrangements. Our developed nation-wide route network, pricing philosophy, direct distribution, award-winning loyalty programs, advertising, and product offerings built around relationships with premier leisure companies, are all intended to appeal to leisure travelers and make it attractive for them to purchase air travel and related services and products from us.

In connection with our leisure travel focus, we opened Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor on December 15, 2023. The resort has 785 guestrooms (including suites) and 20 curated food and beverage outlets.

Below is a brief description of the travel services and products we provide to our airline customers:

Scheduled service air transportation. We provide scheduled air transportation on limited-frequency, nonstop flights predominantly between under-served cities and popular leisure destinations. As of February 1, 2024, our operating fleet consisted of 126 Airbus A320 series aircraft. As of that date, we were selling travel on 555 routes to 124 cities. Of these routes, 428 of them are unique routes which do not have any current nonstop competition. In this document, references to "Airbus A320 series aircraft" are intended to describe both Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft.

Ancillary air-related products and services. We provide unbundled air-related services and products in conjunction with air transportation for an additional cost to customers. These optional air-related services and products include baggage fees, advance seat assignments, our own travel protection product, change fees, use of our call center for purchases, priority boarding, a customer convenience fee, food and beverage purchases on board, and other air-related services. The revenue for ancillary air-related products and services is reflected in the passenger revenue income statement line item, along with scheduled service air transportation revenue and travel point redemptions from our co-brand Allegiant credit card and our non-card loyalty program.

Third party products and services. We offer third party travel products such as hotel rooms and ground transportation (rental cars and hotel shuttle products) for sale to our passengers. The marketing component of revenue related to our co-brand credit card is also included in this category.

Fixed fee contract air transportation. We provide air transportation through fixed fee agreements and charter service on a year-round and ad-hoc basis.

We continue to sharpen our focus on offerings to meet more of the travel and leisure needs of our customers. We have coined this next stage of our Company strategy as "Allegiant 2.0" which includes the following Company goals:

•maintaining our foundation of providing affordably accessible all-nonstop air travel while refining and strengthening our air travel product;

•expanding our already broad domestic network as we have identified more than 1,400 incremental routes of which approximately 77 percent currently have no nonstop service;

•expanding our travel company focus and offerings with the operation of Sunseeker Resort at Charlotte Harbor (the "Resort" or "Sunseeker Resort");

•seeking to offer (subject to government approval) transborder international scheduled service to premier beach destinations in Mexico through our partnership with VivaAerobus;

•utilizing our customer data to capture accretive, asset-light direct-to-consumer revenue opportunities by offering vacation packages that include hotel stay and car rental;

•transforming our eCommerce strategy to create a frictionless experience for our customers and drive increased air ancillary and third party revenue generation;

•expanding our award-winning co-brand credit card program and our non-card loyalty program;

•maximizing return from our marketing investment dollars by entering into dynamic agreements, such as the naming rights agreement with the Raiders of the National Football League for Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas

Our principal executive offices are located at 1201 N. Town Center Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89144. Our telephone number is (702) 851-7300. Our website address is http://www.allegiant.com. We have not incorporated by reference into this annual report the information on our website and investors should not consider it to be a part of this document. Our website address is included in this document for reference only. Our annual report, quarterly reports, current reports and amendments to those reports are made available free of charge through the investor relations section on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

We have developed a unique business model that primarily focuses on leisure travelers in under-served cities. The business model has evolved as our experienced management team has looked differently at the traditional way business has been conducted in the airline and travel industries. Our focus on the leisure customer allows us to eliminate the significant costs associated with serving a wide variety of customers and to concentrate our product appeal on a customer base which is under-served by traditional airlines. We have consciously developed a business model which distinguishes us from the traditional airline approach:

By separating base airfare from our air-related services and products such as baggage fees, advance seat assignments, travel protection, change fees, priority boarding, and food and beverage purchases, we are able to lower our airfares and target leisure travelers who are more concerned with price and the ability to customize their experience with us by only purchasing the additional conveniences they value. This strategy allows us to generate additional passenger revenues from our customers' decisions to purchase these ancillary products.

We have established a broad route network with a national footprint. As of February 1, 2024, we serve 543 active routes between 90 origination cities and 33 leisure destinations in 42 states, and as of that date, we had announced 12 new routes scheduled to begin service in 2024. In most of these cities, we provide service to more than one of our leisure destinations which are offered either on a year-round or seasonal basis. Our vast network footprint, coupled with our low frequency scheduling, provides us with a diversified, resilient network. We operate to more cities than any non-legacy U.S. carrier, protecting us against overexposure to any one geographic location. Our 24 bases spread throughout the country provide us the flexibility to redeploy capacity to best match demand trends around the country.

The geographic diversity of our route network protects us from regional variations in the economy and helps insulate us from competitive actions, as it would be difficult for a competitor to materially impact our business by targeting one city or region. Our widespread route network also contributes to the continued growth of our customer base. The below map illustrates our route network as of February 1, 2024, including service announcements as of that date. The orange dots represent leisure destinations and the blue dots represent origination cities.

We have identified more than 1,400 additional domestic routes which we could target in the future to further expand our network.

In developing a unique business model, our ancillary offerings (ancillary air-related items included in passenger revenue as well as the sale of third party products and services) have been a significant source of our revenue growth. We have increased revenue related to these ancillary items from $5.87 per passenger in 2004 to $72.90 per passenger in 2023. We own and manage our own eCommerce platform, which gives us the ability to modify our system to enhance third party product offerings based on specific needs. We believe the control of our automation systems has allowed us to be innovators in the industry by providing our customers with a variety of different travel services and products, and allowing us to seek to increase revenues through testing of alternative revenue management approaches.

We believe the following strengths from our unique business model allow us to maintain a competitive advantage in the markets we serve:

We believe small and medium-sized cities represent a large, under-served market, especially for leisure travel. Prior to the initiation of our service, leisure travelers from these markets had limited desirable options to reach leisure destinations because existing carriers are generally focused on connecting business customers through their hub-and-spoke networks.

We believe our low fare, nonstop service, along with our leisure company relationships, make it attractive for leisure travelers to purchase airfare and travel-related products from us. The size of the markets we serve, and our focus on the leisure customer, allow us to adequately serve these markets with less frequency, and to vary our air transportation capacity to match seasonal and day-of-the-week demand patterns.

By focusing primarily on under-served cities and routes, we believe we avoid the intense competition in high traffic domestic air corridors. In most of our markets, travelers previously faced high airfares and cumbersome connections, or long drives, to major airports in order to reach our leisure destinations. Based on published data from the U.S. Department of Transportation (“DOT”), we believe the initiation of our service stimulates demand, as we have typically seen a substantial increase in traffic subsequent to new service beginning. Our market strategy is neither hostile to legacy carriers, whose historical focus has been connecting small cities to business markets with regional jets, nor to traditional low cost or ultra-low cost carriers generally focused on larger markets. Additionally, major carriers have reduced service to medium-sized cities which we believe they no longer consider to be core hubs.

We actively manage our seat capacity to match leisure demand patterns. This is enabled by our highly variable cost structure which allows us to increase capacity in high demand periods. This has resulted in our being able to generate a disporportionate portion of our operating income in the peak periods including March, summer (June and July) and the holiday seasons.

Our core business model manages seat capacity by increased utilization of our aircraft during periods of high leisure demand and decreased utilization in low leisure demand periods. By way of illustration, in 2023, during our peak demand period in July, we averaged 7.4 system block hours per aircraft per day while in September, our lowest month for demand, we averaged only 4.5 system block hours per aircraft per day, which is almost 40 percent less than the average system block hours in July.

Our management of seat capacity also includes changes in weekly frequency of certain markets based on identified peak and off-peak travel demand throughout the year. Unlike other carriers which typically provide a fairly consistent number of flights every day of the week, we manage our capacity with a goal of being profitable on each route. We do this by flying only on days with sufficient market demand. In 2023, we were able to profitably fly a disproportionately low 11 percent of our scheduled ASMs on off-peak days (Tuesdays and Wednesdays).

To effectively hedge against fuel cost increases, during periods of high fuel cost we will often pull back capacity, particularly in off peak periods, and focus our flying in peak periods which drives higher fares to offset the fuel cost increases. Conversely, during periods of lower fuel costs, we will increase flying in off peak periods as marginally profitable flights will become more profitable with lower fuel costs.

Our strong revenue production from ancillary items, coupled with our ability to rapidly adjust capacity, has allowed us to consistently operate profitably and in many cases, produce among the industry leading margins in challenging macro environments, including periods of high fuel prices, economic recession and a pandemic.

We believe a low cost structure is essential to competitive success in the airline industry, particularly as a solely leisure focused carrier. In evaluating our cost performance, our management team typically compares to the following other publicly held domestic airlines: Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines and Sun Country Airlines (which we refer to as the "Industry"). Our airline operating CASM, excluding fuel, special charges, and Sunseeker Resort) was 8.12 ¢ in 2023, which we believe is significantly lower than the Industry average.

We continue to focus on maintaining low operating costs through the following tactics and strategies:

Low aircraft ownership costs. We achieve low aircraft ownership costs by opportunistically acquiring aircraft and by primarily owning our aircraft. As of February 1, 2024, we own or finance lease all but 17 of the aircraft in our operating fleet. In addition, we believe that we properly balance lower aircraft acquisition costs and operating costs to minimize our total costs.

Throughout our history, we have primarily purchased used aircraft with meaningful remaining useful lives, at reduced prices. As of February 1, 2024, our operating fleet consists of 126 Airbus A320 series aircraft, of which 113 were acquired used and 13 were acquired new.

In December 2021, we opportunistically negotiated an agreement with The Boeing Company to purchase 50 newly manufactured 737MAX aircraft with options to purchase additional 737MAX aircraft. We amended this agreement in 2023 with revised terms that now provide us with options to purchase up to an additional 80 737MAX aircraft. Under our contract with Boeing, deliveries of the initial 50 aircraft are expected between 2024 and 2025, but will likely be impacted by recent events affecting Boeing quality assurance and the certification process for the 737MAX-7 aircraft. See Item 1A – Risk Factors - "Regulatory review of Boeing's operations could delay its production schedule, which could impact us as any delivery delays may result in lower profitability than expected and delayed growth as well as bad publicity and other consequences." We believe this new aircraft purchase will be complementary with our low cost strategy. Our intent to retain ownership of the aircraft, coupled with the longer useful life for depreciation purposes should result in similar ownership expense when compared with a used aircraft in our fleet. In addition, the expected fuel savings, improved operational reliability, and other savings expected from the use of these new aircraft should aid in improving our overall low cost structure, and the lower cost of operating this aircraft is expected to allow us to profitably add new service or routes.

We expect to continue to acquire used aircraft as necessary to support planned growth and aircraft retirements.

Low distribution costs. Our nontraditional marketing approach reduces distribution costs. We do not sell our product through outside sales channels, thus avoiding the fees charged by travel websites (Expedia, Orbitz or Travelocity) and traditional global distribution systems (“GDS”) (Sabre or Worldspan). Our customers can only purchase air travel at our airport ticket counters or, for a fee, on our website or through our telephone reservation center. The purchase of air travel through our website is the least expensive form of distribution for us and accounted for 95.8 percent of our scheduled service revenue during 2023.

Data driven. As an organization, we strive to always use data to make informed, fact-based decisions. We are continuing to focus on capturing data to identify trends and patterns in an effort to gain efficiencies and decrease costs. For example, we utilize predictive maintenance to identify necessary aircraft maintenance before a problem arises, thereby avoiding unscheduled maintenance events which are costly and disruptive to our schedule. In addition, our direct to consumer distribution method results in enhanced data which helps us deepen our relationship with our customers and increase sales.

Simple product. We believe offering a simple product is critical to achieving low operating costs. As such, we sell only nonstop flights; we do not currently code-share or interline with other carriers; we have a single class cabin; we do not provide any free catered items - everything on board is for sale; we do not provide cargo or mail services; and we do not offer other perks such as airport lounges.

Under-served market airports. Our business model focuses on residents of under-served cities in the United States. Typically, the airports in these cities have lower operating costs than airports in larger cities. These lower costs are driven by less expensive passenger facilities, landing, and ground service charges. In addition to inexpensive airport costs, many of our airports provide marketing support.

Cost-driven schedule. We aim to build our scheduled service so that substantially all of our crews and aircraft return to base each night. This allows us to maximize crew efficiency, and more cost-effectively manage maintenance, spare aircraft and spare parts. Additionally, this structure allows us to add or subtract markets served by a base without incremental costs. We believe leisure travelers are generally less concerned about departure and arrival times than business travelers, so we are able to schedule flights at times that enable us to reduce costs while remaining desirable to our leisure customers.

We believe leisure travelers are generally more price-sensitive than other travelers. As such, we offer the unbundling of the air transportation product by charging fees for services many U.S. airlines have historically only bundled in their base fare. This pricing structure allows us to target travelers who are most concerned with low fare travel while also allowing travelers to customize their experience with us by purchasing only the additional conveniences they value. For example, we do not offer complimentary advance seat assignments; however, customers who value this product can purchase advance seat assignments for a small incremental cost. In addition, snacks and beverages are sold individually on the aircraft, allowing passengers to purchase only items they value. Our direct to consumer distribution method enables a variety of added revenue opportunities with direct “one-stop” shopping solutions and managed product offerings.

We offer various bundled ancillary products whereby customers can elect to purchase multiple ancillary products at a discount.

Revenue from ancillary items will continue to be a key component in our total average fare as we believe leisure travelers are less sensitive to ancillary fees than the base fare.

Our third party product offerings give our customers the opportunity to purchase hotel rooms, rental cars and airport shuttle service. Our third party offerings are available to customers based on our agreements with various travel and leisure companies. For example, we have partnered exclusively with Enterprise Holdings Inc. for the sale of rental cars packaged with air travel. The pricing of each product and our margin can be adjusted based on customer demand because our customers purchase travel directly through our booking engine.

As of December 31, 2023, we had $870.7 million of unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and investment securities, and total debt and finance lease obligations (net of related costs) of $2.26 billion. We had net debt (total debt and finance lease obligations less cash, cash equivalents and investment securities) of $1.39 billion as of December 31, 2023. As of February 1, 2024, we have $275.0 million of undrawn capacity under revolving credit facilities plus another $25.1 million of undrawn capacity under our PDP (pre-delivery payments) facilities.

Our current scheduled air service (including seasonal service) predominantly consists of limited frequency, nonstop flights into leisure destinations from under-served cities across the continental United States. The scheduled service routes as of February 1, 2024 are summarized below (includes 543 active routes, and 12 newly announced routes as of February 1, 2024, which will begin service in 2024):

The number of routes served varies from time to time as some routes are offered seasonally or on a temporary basis.

Core to Allegiant’s business model is our direct-to-customer distribution. In lieu of the Global Distribution System (GDS) distribution points used by most airlines, allegiant.com is our primary distribution method. This low-cost strategy results in significant cost savings by avoiding fees associated with GDS. It also enables a variety of added revenue opportunities with direct “one-stop” shopping solutions and managed product offerings.

Automation is key to this strategy as we continue to enhance our capabilities. Our website and mobile app streamline the booking process and strengthen our ability to sell air ancillary and third-party products. Additionally, we expect other automation enhancements will create additional revenue opportunities by allowing us to capitalize on customer loyalty with additional product offerings.

Our direct-to-customer distribution method also enables us to gather valuable customer data. In addition to helping us better understand our customers, we utilize data such as customer email to market our products and services in a cost-effective way. Database marketing opportunities span the full customer journey including the time of travel purchase, between purchase and travel, and after travel is complete. To this end, we are working to strengthen customer engagement, while affording a more elastic, reliable information technology infrastructure with significant development advantages for marketing as well as for other business units across the company.

Beyond allegiant.com, we market our products and services through a combination of traditional advertising, including radio, television as well as digital advertising. Enhanced data and analytics are being streamlined into our digital advertising system to build more targeted campaigns driving efficiency in our digital media spend. We can more surgically match our digital advertising dollars and the impressions they drive with the web users who are most likely to book their travel for the routes, to better optimize load and yield.

Whether introducing new service to a community or promoting existing routes, our advertising is often supported by cooperative marketing funding from airport authorities and destination marketing organizations. We continue to see benefit from these cooperative marketing campaigns, as well as from high-profile sponsorships like Allegiant Stadium. Underpinning our advertising efforts, high-profile sponsorships add credibility to our brand, drive new customer acquisition and enhance our national profile.

Our co-brand credit card incentivizes customers who fly more often to maximize their benefits with members-only promotions and travel perks like complimentary priority boarding. Cardholders are among our most engaged customers and book air ancillary and third-party products at a higher rate than other customers. As of December 31, 2023, we had more than 485 thousand co-brand cardholders. For five years in a row, Allegiant's co-brand credit card has been voted as the No. 1 Best Airline Credit Card and our non-card loyalty program Allways Rewards® was recently rated as the number two Best Frequent Flyer Program in USA Today's 10 Best Loyalty/Rewards Readers' Choice Awards. Allways Rewards®, with more than 17 million members at December 31, 2023, allows us to develop and maintain direct, long-term relationships with our customers. Similar to our cardholder program, we provide greater value to our Allways members through personalized promotions and targeted communications which we expect will result in customer loyalty and increased revenues over time.

We believe our co-brand credit card and non-card loyalty program may be particularly attractive to our customers in the small to mid-sized cities served by us as there are few other airlines that operate service from those cities and as a result, our loyalty programs offer rewards these customers may highly value. In addition, our co-brand credit card is designed for the less frequent leisure traveler, with status benefits – such as priority check-in, priority boarding and a free drink onboard – from day one of having the card.

The airline industry is highly competitive. Passenger demand and fare levels have historically been influenced by, among other things, the general state of the economy, international events, fuel prices, industry capacity, and pricing actions taken by other airlines. The principal competitive factors in the airline industry are price, nonstop flights, schedule, customer service, routes served, types of aircraft, safety record and reputation, code-sharing relationships, and frequent flyer or loyalty programs.

Our competitors include legacy airlines, low cost carriers ("LCCs"), ultra-low cost carriers ("ULCC"), regional airlines, new entrant airlines, and to a much lesser extent, other forms of transportation. The legacy airlines are larger, have significantly greater financial resources, are better known, and have more established reputations than us. In a limited number of cases, following our entry into a market, competitors have chosen to add service, reduce their fares, or both. Competitors may also choose to enter after we have developed a market.

We believe our under-served city strategy and less than daily service has reduced the intensity of competition we might otherwise face. As of February 1, 2024, we are the only mainline domestic scheduled carrier operating out of the Orlando Sanford International Airport and at 12 other airports in our network. We and Sun Country Airlines are the only mainline domestic scheduled carriers serving Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport, Punta Gorda Airport, and St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport. Although no other mainline domestic scheduled carriers operate in these airports, most U.S. airlines serve the major airport for Orlando, Phoenix, Fort Myers, and Tampa. In addition, many U.S. airlines serve our other leisure destinations. As a result, there is potential for increased competition on our routes.

As of December 31, 2023, we face mainline non-stop competition on approximately 23 percent of our operating and announced routes. We overlap with Southwest Airlines on 77 routes, Spirit Airlines on 34 routes, Frontier Airlines on 33 routes, American Airlines on 17 routes, Breeze Airways on 17 routes, Delta Airlines on 16 routes, United Airlines on nine routes, JetBlue Airways on seven routes, Sun Country Airlines on five routes and Alaska Airlines on three routes. In many cases, we face competition from more than one other airline on the same route, resulting in a total of 127 competitive routes as of that date and 428 routes with no current nonstop competition. We may also experience additional competition based on recent route announcements of other airlines.

Indirectly, we compete with various carriers that provide nonstop service to our leisure destinations from airports near our cities. We also face indirect competition from legacy carriers offering hub-and-spoke connecting flights to our markets, although these fares tend to be substantially higher, with much longer elapsed travel times. Several airlines also offer competitive one-stop service from the cities we serve.

In our fixed fee operations, we compete with other scheduled airlines in addition to independent passenger charter airlines. We also compete with aircraft owned or controlled by large tour companies. The basis of competition in the fixed fee market is cost, equipment capabilities, service, reputation, and schedule flexibility.

As an integrated travel company with an expanding airline business, we believe that solidifying our commitment to ESG efforts is a natural integration into our long-term corporate strategy and will enable us to better serve our stakeholders. In 2022, we entered a 3-year partnership with Schneider Electric to develop a comprehensive ESG program including:

•Identify and prioritize relevant ESG topics through a materiality assessment. These topics are included in our ESG reports.

•Publish ESG reports referencing the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).

•Provide ongoing carbon emissions reporting of Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

•Establish ESG targets and environmental target achievement plans, which we published in our 2022 ESG report.

In 2023, we issued our second annual ESG report. This comprehensive report outlines our disclosures pertaining to material topics identified by key stakeholders and establishes the following ESG Goals:    

•Environmental: Emissions - Reduce tank-to-wake GHG emissions by 10 percent per revenue ton kilometer (RTK) by the end of 2030 from 2023 base year.

•Social: (1) Safety - Earn the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification by the end of 2026. (2) Diversity and Inclusion - Over the years, we have attracted and cultivated top talent that has led to our ability to consistently achieve industry-leading financial metrics. We will continue to hire, develop and support the best team members by fostering a transparent, diverse and inclusive company culture.

•Governance: (1) Customer Engagement - Maintain a controllable completion of at least 99.5 percent annually. (2) Procurement - Adopt a responsible sourcing policy and embed the policy into existing governance and procurement management systems by the end of 2025

To determine material topics, a materiality assessment was conducted. This assessment benchmarked material ESG topics across our industry, global reporting frameworks and third-party rating and ranking methodologies. We then engaged with more than 400 stakeholders including customers, employees, suppliers, shareholders and community partners. Based on survey and interview results, we identified the following topics as material to Allegiant:

•Environmental - Emissions, Energy, Waste and Hazardous Materials

•Social - Product Quality and Safety, Accident and Safety Management, Human Rights, Benefits and Work-Life Balance, Non-Discrimination, Employee Health and Safety, Employment, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Employee Training and Development, Labor Management, Local Job Creation

•Governance - Business Ethics and Integrity, Anti-Corruption, Competitive Behavior, Data Security, Customer Privacy

These material topics will continue to guide the development of our annual ESG reports.

In addition, we made recent investments in several ESG areas that will enable us to build a more resilient business, drive greater efficiencies and give back to our communities. These include the following:

Environmental: Agreed to purchase 50 Boeing 737MAX aircraft, which are expected to burn up to 20 percent less fuel on a per passenger basis compared to certain of the older Airbus A320 Series aircraft in our fleet, with the option to purchase an additional 80 Boeing 737MAX aircraft.

Social: Provided in-kind travel for Make-A-Wish kids and their families, including our 2000th wish kid in the beginning of 2023. Continued offering free office space in our Las Vegas headquarters to the Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada Chapter. Pledged $1.0 million to Boys & Girls Clubs of America as discussed under "Community Involvement" below. Gifted over $40,000 of flight vouchers to local elementary and high school teachers in partnership with The Smith Center for the Performing Arts’ The Heart of Education Awards program.

Governance: In 2022, we began efforts to implement multiple systems – including SAP Ariba, Trax and Fuel Plus – to manage and enhance our supply chain. All three systems are procurement platforms that will enable better tracking of our supplier spend

and demographics to help us account for the items or services we procure. In 2023, we launched SAP Ariba and Fuel Plus for enterprise-wide use. We expect to launch Trax in 2024.

The aviation industry accounts for roughly two percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, almost all of which is attributable to aircraft fuel. Back in 2013, we began the process of transitioning our fleet from a mixture of MD-80 aircraft and Boeing 757 aircraft to an all-Airbus fleet with the transition concluding in November 2018. During this period, we saw significant improvement in fuel efficiency. During 2023, we consumed 225 million gallons of fuel averaging 83.4 ASMs per gallon of fuel, a 32 percent improvement when compared to 2012. Our agreement with Boeing and CFM International to purchase 50 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft powered by LEAP 1-B engines, with deliveries beginning in 2024, will provide us with new aircraft and more environmentally friendly engines. This aircraft is expected to burn up to 20 percent less fuel on a per passenger basis as compared to certain of the older Airbus A320 aircraft in our fleet.

As of December 31, 2023, the composition of our fleet included a mix of A319 and A320 aircraft with seat configurations ranging from 156 to 186 seats, some of which are fitted with fuel-efficient Sharklets. We expect to see further fuel efficiency once the 737 MAX aircraft are added to our fleet.

Despite the significant fuel efficiencies gained over the past decade, we recognize we have a responsibility to do more, and one of our ESG goals is to reduce emissions through the end of this decade. We have an internal Fuel Steering Committee that meets monthly to discuss various alternatives to conserve fuel. Building on the dedicated efforts and teamwork of our pilots, dispatchers, and station personnel, we are actively advancing our fuel conservation practices across all flights, which include the following:

•Single engine taxi in and out, as time permits

•Constant descent angle approach, as permitted by air traffic

•Flaps 3 for landing, an Airbus green procedure creating less drag during the landing process, conditions permitting

•Idle thrust reverse for landing, conditions permitting

•Auxiliary power unit fuel optimization

•Route optimization

•Data collection by aircraft to identify performance deterioration and rectify where necessary

•Optimization of the amount of contingency and dispatch fuel

•Deployment of process to find optimal winds aloft while inflight

In addition to the initiatives above, we are currently assessing sustainable aviation fuels as part of our sustainability strategy for reaching our emissions intensity reduction goal by the end of 2030 and offsetting requirements under the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).

Unlike many air carriers focused on business travel, our strategy is to provide access to affordable travel for leisure travelers who highly value their vacations and are likely to take vacations in any economic environment. We are a low utilization air carrier focusing on leisure travel. We seek to closely match our available capacity with demand trends in providing only nonstop service from under-served cities to leisure destinations. For example, in 2023 during our peak demand period in July, we averaged 7.4 system block hours per aircraft per day while in September, we averaged only 4.5 system block hours per aircraft per day when leisure demand is seasonally lower. This practice of significantly reduced flying during the off-peak periods leads to consistently high load factors, and further enhances fuel efficiency. We offer all nonstop flights, directly from 123 cities as of February 1, 2024, providing service in many markets abandoned or under-served by larger carriers. If not for Allegiant, many of the customers we serve would not have access to direct flights by virtue of either geography or price point. Prior to our initiation of service on these routes, many of these passengers either traveled by car, which is significantly less fuel efficient than air travel, or traveled by car to larger airports to fly, where higher cost connecting flights were the only option. As fuel consumption is greatest during take-off, the ability to travel to the destination with a single take-off, as opposed to at least two take-offs on connecting flights, is more fuel efficient.

 

The cost of fuel is volatile, as it is subject to many economic and geopolitical factors we can neither control nor predict. Significant increases in fuel costs could materially affect our operating results and profitability. We do not use financial derivative products to hedge our exposure to fuel price volatility, nor do we have any plans to do so in the future. Our largely variable cost structure allows us to adjust capacity accordingly based on the fuel environment.

We continue to invest heavily in cybersecurity, cyber risk, vendor risk, and privacy initiatives. We employ experienced staff dedicated to cybersecurity and cyber risk analysis, process, and technology. We continue to evaluate and proactively implement new preventive and detective processes and technologies including forward looking threat intelligence and data centric security measures.

One of our current and ongoing data security initiatives is the migration of critical business applications into the cloud infrastructure, which will allow us to take advantage of analytics and automation functionality. These improvements also provide further opportunities to increase business intelligence and flexibility, improve business continuity, and mitigate disaster scenarios. Protecting business data and our customers’ privacy is critical to our continued operations and we intend to continue investing resources in cyber security accordingly.

For further information on our cybersecurity practices, see Item 1C - Cybersecurity.

As of December 31, 2023, the airline employed 5,643 full-time equivalent employees. Full-time equivalent employees consisted of approximately 1,200 pilots, 1,550 flight attendants, 650 airport operations personnel, 750 maintenance personnel, 200 reservation agents, 50 flight dispatchers, and 1,200 management and other personnel. Additionally, we employed 1,043 full-time equivalent employees at our newly opened Sunseeker Resort as of the same date.

Four groups of our employees – pilots, flight attendants, dispatchers, and maintenance technicians – are represented by labor organizations pursuant to the Railway Labor Act (“RLA”). Those unions have negotiated separate collective bargaining agreements (“CBAs”) with us covering the rates of pay, rules, and working conditions that apply to those employees.

The CBAs covering our dispatchers and maintenance technicians do not become amendable until 2026 and 2028, respectively. The CBAs covering our pilots and flight attendants became amendable in 2021 and 2022, respectively, and we are currently engaged in collective bargaining with the respective representatives of those employees for successor agreements.

Under the RLA, if direct negotiations do not result in an agreement, either party may request the National Mediation Board ("NMB") to appoint a federal mediator to assist the parties with their negotiations. If no agreement is reached in these mediated discussions, the NMB must proffer binding arbitration to the parties. If either party rejects binding arbitration, the RLA imposes a “cooling off” period and allows for the President of the United States to create an emergency board to investigate the dispute and issue recommendations for reaching a settlement. Only after this process has been exhausted may either party resort to self-help, such as a work stoppage by the union and its members.

In 2023, we and the union that represents our pilots jointly requested the appointment of a mediator through the NMB. The NMB has appointed a mediator and the parties continue to participate in mediated negotiations.

In May 2023, we reached a tentative agreement with the union representing our flight attendants, but the proposed agreement was rejected by this work group. The parties have now resumed negotiations on the terms of a new contract.

To date, we have not experienced any work interruptions or stoppages from our non-unionized or unionized employee groups.

Beginning in 2021, we have made significant investments to replace certain core proprietary systems with more advanced and integrated third party software solutions. We have selected SAP as our accounting system, Trax as our Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) system, and Navitaire as our passenger service system. We are transitioning to new systems in other areas as well.

SAP's accounting system is expected to simplify our financial operations, enabling real-time data access and improved financial reporting. Trax's MRO system is expected to provide enhanced maintenance, repair, and overhaul operations, streamlining aircraft maintenance schedules and reducing associated costs. Navitaire’ s passenger service system is expected to improve the way the airline manages customer interactions, reservations, and allows for dynamically priced ancillary products. Navitaire is also expected to facilitate the initiation and operation of our planned joint alliance with VivaAerobus. We successfully switched over to SAP and Navitaire in 2023, with the Trax cutover projected in 2024.

As part of our human capital resource objectives, we seek to recruit, retain, and develop our existing and future workforce. We strive to build and maintain a diverse environment that people want to join, and where team members want to stay to build their careers. Our total rewards philosophies support these objectives. Above all else, safety is our number one core value, along with achievement, flexibility, innovation, bias for action, teamwork, transparency and accountability, and outcome-based values that define our human capital mission.

We have long supported Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and operate a Diversity & Inclusivity Council made up of company leadership, and facilitate more than ten company-wide network groups to inspire a more inclusive culture while giving a dedicated focus to our recruiting processes to continue driving diverse hiring.

Our total rewards philosophy is based around building a culture of high performance. We utilize competitive base salaries, discretionary performance-based bonuses, spot rewards, profit sharing, and equity as attraction and retention tools for our team members.

As of December 31, 2023, the airline had approximately 6,060 team members (including both full-time and part-time employees), of whom approximately 73 percent are in front line positions such as flight crew, mechanics or airport personnel. Additionally, we had over 1,100 full-time and part-time newly added Sunseeker Resort employees as of same date.

The safety and well-being of our team members is a top priority, and we believe each and every team member plays an essential role in creating a safe and healthy workplace. Our health and safety policies and practices are intended to protect not only our team members, but also our customers in all things we do.

Our human capital focus has been externally recognized through Allegiant’s placement on Newsweek's America's Greatest Workplaces for Diversity 2024 and Most Responsible Companies 2024. In addition, we received recognition in 2023 from VETS Indexes as a 4-Star Employer for Military hiring, Yello's Top 100 Internship Programs, and honored among Newsweek's America's Greatest Workplaces, Greatest Workplaces for Diversity, and Greatest Workplaces for Women, all for 2023. We were also recognized in 2023 as one of Forbes Best Mid-Size Employers and Fortune's Most Innovative Companies.

We have worked with the Make-A-Wish® Foundation since 2012 by flying "wish kids" and their families to their desired destinations, at no cost, and donating a portion of proceeds from our in-flight Wingz Kids Snack Pack to the organization. To kick off 2023, we celebrated a special milestone welcoming our 2000th wish kid on board an Allegiant flight. This in-kind flight program provides Make-A-Wish with a valuable service at no cost to the organization or the wish families. Additionally, we donate the use of 7,500 square feet of office space at our headquarters campus to the Southern Nevada chapter of Make-A-Wish, providing a home for the nonprofit organization's administrative office at no cost. The site also serves as the host location for volunteer training, meetings and a place of support for families of children receiving wishes. We are considered a Wish Champion by Make-A-Wish America, recognizing more than $1 million in annual contributions.

In May 2023, we pledged $1 million to Boys & Girls Clubs of America to develop and launch a new program seeking to inspire children to choose future careers in aviation. The gift also includes a fundraising campaign to match donations made by individuals who make a new monthly pledge or increase their current amount. The program launched with a tour of our West Coast training center and allowed Club youth to fly an Airbus simulator, learn about the features of an aircraft and ask pilots about their careers.

We have also been a national partner with The Arc, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocacy on behalf of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We partner with the organization to offer “Wings for All” educational programs in communities we serve, helping make travel accessible for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.

We support Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics ("STEM") education programs that provide access to careers in aeronautical sciences in under-served communities. We have partnered with local high schools and with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to offer Allegiant Careers in Aviation Scholarships, assisting students pursuing careers in the aviation industry.

We also partner with the American Red Cross, supporting disaster preparedness, relief and recovery efforts in communities we serve. In this effort, we have provided no-cost supply flights and volunteer transport to support Red Cross hurricane recovery efforts in Florida and Puerto Rico in recent years. In the wake of Hurricane Ian in 2022, we made a $100,000 donation to the organization to help restore critical resources in the community and we sponsored a month-long nationwide blood drive to further support relief efforts.

Periodically, we provide additional support in our home community of Las Vegas, donating surplus in-flight food and beverage items such as juices, sodas and snacks to a local community food bank for distribution to families in need. We also provide $40,000 worth of flight vouchers on an annual basis to hundreds of local elementary and high school teachers as part of The Smith Center for the Performing Arts’ Heart of Education Awards program.

We have a Federal Aviation Administration ("FAA") approved maintenance program, which is administered by our maintenance department headquartered in Las Vegas.

Technicians employed by us have appropriate experience and hold required licenses issued by the FAA. We provide them with comprehensive training and maintain our aircraft in accordance with FAA regulations. The maintenance performed on our aircraft can be divided into three general categories: line maintenance, major maintenance, and component and engine overhaul and repair. Line maintenance is generally performed by our personnel in certain cities of our network and by contractors elsewhere. We contract with FAA-approved outside organizations to provide major maintenance and component and engine overhaul and repair. We have chosen not to invest in facilities or equipment to perform our own major maintenance, engine overhaul or component work. Our management supervises all maintenance functions performed by our personnel and contractors employed by us, and by outside organizations.

In December 2021, we announced plans for a fully-integrated commercial alliance agreement with VivaAerobus, designed to expand options for nonstop leisure air travel between our markets in the United States and Mexico. We and VivaAerobus have submitted a joint application to the DOT requesting approval of and antitrust immunity for the alliance. We believe this alliance is consistent with the DOT's goal of providing maximum benefits to the public, as the alliance is expected to increase competition, reduce transborder fares and provide increased nonstop service for our consumers traveling between the U.S. and Mexico.

The alliance is anticipated to add new transborder routes and nonstop competition where currently only connecting service is available. More than 250 new potential nonstop route opportunities have been identified as part of the DOT application, though specific routes targeted for service wilI be announced at a later date, following the application's approval. We and VivaAerobus expect to offer flights under the alliance after governmental approval of the applications. The DOT process has progressed substantially, but review is currently suspended pending the outcome of diplomatic engagement on broader treaty issues.

In addition, we have made an investment of $50.0 million in VivaAerobus.

Sunseeker Resort at Charlotte Harbor opened in December 2023, culminating a multi-year vision of the company. In 2017, we purchased more than 20 acres of land to build the Resort and announced our initial plans for the Resort. We then hired experienced industry executives in 2018 and 2019 to plan for the operation of the Resort. Construction began in March 2019.

Construction was delayed as a result of the pandemic, supply chain difficulties and then Hurricane Ian in 2022 and Hurricane Idalia in 2023. Damage from the storms and other insured events exceeded $78 million and a portion of the insurance claims remains outstanding.

Construction was substantially completed in December 2023, and the Resort opened. Certain assets did not open to the public from the beginning as two restaurants, one of the suite towers, the rooftop pool and certain retail establishments did not open until first quarter 2024.

The Resort consists of more than 500 hotel rooms, 189 one-, two- and three-bedroom suites with full kitchens and washer-dryers, 20 restaurants, including seven stand-alone restaurants, a food hall with 11 food and beverage concepts and two other poolside options. The two-bedroom suites can be separately locked allowing for up to 785 keys on the property.

The Resort has 60,000 square feet of convention and meeting space which can accommodate up to 1,200 attendees. The convention area includes innovative technology and features two waterfront ballrooms. Accompanying the ballrooms are two executive boardrooms, 12 meeting rooms, and an ideation suite with separate breakout rooms. We are actively selling to groups. During the 2024 period ended February 15, 2024, we have hosted 16 groups.

The Resort also offers a state-of-the-art 7,100-square-foot fitness center and a full-service spa and salon as well as two pools including a 21,000-square-foot rooftop facility and a 117,000-square-foot ground-level experience.

In addition, the Aileron Golf Course is within a short distance from the Resort. The golf course was renovated simultaneously with the construction of the Resort and features a more than 7,000-yard championship course. The golf course is available only to guests at Sunseeker and through limited memberships. The clubhouse was renovated at the same time and the 10,800 square foot facility offers a restaurant, bar, pro shop and event facilities.

During the construction of our Sunseeker Resort in Charlotte Harbor, Florida, we implemented design features and strategies to promote environmental efficiency and resilience. We intend to keep ESG embedded within day-to-day operations and the guest experience.

As of February 1, 2024, the Resort and Aileron Golf Course employ more than 1,200 employees, making it one of the largest employers in Southwest Florida.

Consistent with our travel and leisure company focus, we may pursue other travel and leisure initiatives from time to time in the future.

 

We maintain insurance policies we believe are of types customary in the airline industry and as required by the DOT, and are in amounts we believe to be adequate to protect us against material loss. The policies principally provide coverage for public liability, war-risk, passenger liability, baggage and cargo liability, property damage, including coverages for loss or damage to our flight equipment, directors and officers insurance and workers’ compensation. We also maintain what we believe to be customary insurance on Sunseeker Resort and as required by the terms of our construction loan. There is no assurance, however, that the amount of insurance we carry will be sufficient to protect us from material loss in all cases. Available commercial insurance in the future could be more expensive, could have material differences in coverage than is currently provided, and may not be adequate to protect us from risk of loss.

 

We are subject to federal, state and local laws affecting the airline industry and to extensive regulation by the DOT, the FAA, and other governmental agencies.

DOT. The DOT primarily regulates economic issues affecting air transportation such as certification and fitness of carriers, consumer protection, competitive practices, insurance requirements, and statistical reporting. The DOT also regulates requirements for accommodation of passengers with disabilities, including those using service animals. The DOT monitors the continuing fitness of carriers and has the authority to promulgate regulations and to investigate (including by on-site inspections) and institute proceedings to enforce its regulations and related federal statutes, and may assess civil penalties, suspend or revoke operating authority, and seek criminal sanctions. The DOT also has authority to restrict or prohibit a carrier’s cessation of service to certain communities if such cessation would leave the community without scheduled airline service.

In addition, the DOT has authority to approve alliance or partnership agreements under which two or more air carriers collaborate and to grant immunity from U.S. antitrust laws for the provision of such collaboration. In December 2021, we (i.e., our airline subsidiary) and Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. doing business as VivaAerobus (“Viva”), a Mexican airline, submitted to DOT a joint application requesting approval of and antitrust immunity for a comprehensive alliance agreement applicable to all routes we and/or Viva may operate between points in the United States and points in Mexico. The joint application explains how the proposed Allegiant-Viva alliance is expected to benefit the traveling public (as well as Allegiant, Viva, and their respective employees) by bringing significant new competition and service options, including lower fares, additional capacity on existing routes, and increased overall transborder capacity in the form of nonstop flights on routes now served only via connecting service. Over a period of 20 months the DOT’s review and analysis progressed substantially, but on July 31, 2023, the DOT suspended processing of the joint application pending resolution of an aviation trade dispute between the governments of Mexico and the United States that arose earlier in 2023. The dispute remains unresolved and there is no assurance when or whether the DOT will ultimately approve the agreement and grant antitrust immunity.

We hold DOT certificates of public convenience and necessity authorizing us to engage in scheduled air transportation of passengers, property and mail within the United States, its territories and possessions, and between the United States and all countries that maintain a liberal aviation trade relationship with the United States (known as “open skies” countries). We also hold DOT authority to engage in scheduled air transportation of passengers, property and mail between the United States and Mexico. We hold DOT authority to engage in charter air transportation of passengers, property, and mail on a domestic and international basis.

FAA. The FAA primarily regulates flight operations and safety, including matters such as airworthiness and maintenance requirements for aircraft, pilot, mechanic, dispatcher and flight attendant training and certification, flight and duty time limitations, and air traffic control. The FAA requires each commercial airline to obtain and hold an FAA air carrier certificate. This certificate, in combination with operation specifications issued to the airline by the FAA, authorizes the airline to operate at specific airports using aircraft certificated by the FAA. We have and maintain in effect FAA certificates of airworthiness for all our aircraft, and we hold the necessary FAA authority to fly to all the cities we currently serve. Like all U.S. certificated carriers, our provision of scheduled service to certain destinations may require specific governmental authorization. The FAA has the authority to investigate all matters within its purview, to modify, suspend or revoke our authority to provide air transportation, to approve or disapprove the addition of aircraft to our operation specifications, and to modify, suspend or revoke FAA licenses issued to individual personnel, for failure to comply with FAA regulations. The FAA can assess civil penalties for such failures and institute proceedings for the collection of monetary fines after notice and hearing. The FAA also has authority to seek criminal sanctions. The FAA can suspend or revoke our authority to provide air transportation on an emergency basis, without notice and hearing, if, in the FAA’s judgment, safety requires such action. A legal right to an independent, expedited review of such FAA action exists. Emergency suspensions or revocations have been upheld with few exceptions. The FAA monitors our compliance with maintenance, flight operations and safety regulations on an ongoing basis, maintains a continuous working relationship with our operations and maintenance management personnel, and performs pre-scheduled inspections as well as frequent spot inspections of our aircraft, employees and records.

The FAA also has the authority to promulgate rules and regulations and issue maintenance directives and other mandatory orders relating to, among other things, inspection, repair and modification of aircraft and engines, safety management systems, aircraft equipment requirements, noise abatement, mandatory removal and replacement of aircraft parts and components, mandatory retirement of aircraft, operational requirements and procedures, and employee drug and alcohol testing. Such rules, regulations and directives are normally issued after an opportunity for public comment; however, they may be issued without advance notice or opportunity for comment if, in the FAA’s judgment, safety requires such action. We believe we are operating in compliance with applicable DOT and FAA regulations, interpretations and policies and we hold all necessary operating and airworthiness authorizations, certificates and licenses.

The FAA periodically conducts extensive or targeted audits of our operations. We have satisfactorily responded to all findings on all Certificate Holder Evaluation Process and other inspections conducted.

Security. Within the United States, civil aviation security functions, including review and approval of the content and implementation of air carriers’ security programs, passenger and baggage screening, cargo security measures, airport security, assessment and distribution of intelligence, threat response, and security research and development are the responsibility of the Transportation Security Administration (“TSA”) of the Department of Homeland Security. The TSA has enforcement powers similar to the DOT’s and FAA’s described above. It also has the authority to issue regulations, including in cases of emergency, the authority to do so without advance notice, including issuance of a grounding order as occurred on September 11, 2001.

Aviation Taxes and Fees. The authority of the federal government to collect most types of aviation taxes, which are used, in part, to finance the nation’s airport and air traffic control systems, and the authority of the FAA to expend those funds must be periodically reauthorized by the U.S. Congress. A five-year reauthorization extending certain commercial aviation taxes (known generally as Federal Excise Taxes or "FET") expired September 30, 2023; a short-term extension is in effect through March 31, 2024. Legislation to reauthorize the FAA through September 30, 2028 is pending in the U.S. Congress. All carriers are required to collect these taxes from passengers and pass them through to the federal government. In addition to FET, there are federal fees related to services provided by the TSA, and, in the case of international flights, U.S. Customs and Border Protection ("CBP"), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“CIS”), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service ("APHIS"). There are also FAA-approved Passenger Facility Charges ("PFCs") imposed by most of the airports we serve. Like FET, air carriers are required to collect these fees from passengers and pass them through to the respective federal agency or airport authority. These fees do not need to be reauthorized, although their amounts may be revised periodically.

In 2024 or thereafter, Congress may consider legislation that could increase the amount of FET and/or one or more of the other federally imposed or approved fees identified above. Increasing the overall price charged to passengers could lessen demand for air travel. Additionally, federal funding to airports and/or airport bond financing could be affected through legislation, which could result in higher fees, rates, and charges at many of the airports we serve.

Environmental. We are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment and affecting matters such as aircraft engine emissions, aircraft noise emissions, and the discharge or disposal of materials and chemicals, which laws and regulations are administered by numerous state and federal agencies. These agencies have enforcement powers similar to the DOT’s and FAA’s described above. In addition, we may be required to conduct an environmental review of the effects projected from the addition of our service at airports.

In 2016 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) formally concluded that current and projected concentrations of greenhouse gases ("GHG") emitted by various aircraft, including all the aircraft we and other air carriers operate, threaten public health and welfare. This finding may be a precursor to increased EPA regulation of commercial aircraft emissions in the United States, as has taken effect for operations within the European Union under EU legislation. In January 2021 the EPA adopted regulations setting emissions standards for newly-designed aircraft, with immediate effect, and for in-production aircraft, effective 2028. Similarly, in December 2022, the EPA adopted particulate matter emission standards and test procedures for newly-designed aircraft, with immediate effect, and for in-production aircraft, effective 2028. In February 2024, the FAA adopted regulations implementing these EPA requirements. These new EPA and FAA standards and procedures harmonize with International Civil Aviation Organization ("ICAO") requirements. The aircraft we currently operate are not affected by these standards, and those we have on order would be affected only if manufactured after December 31, 2027.

In response to growing concerns over GHG emissions from the aviation sector, particularly carbon emissions and their role in climate change, the ICAO introduced a market-based mechanism, the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), in 2016. CORSIA aims to stabilize carbon emissions from international flights, setting a target for carbon-neutral growth starting in 2021. Airlines are expected to offset any growth in emissions beyond the set baseline through approved carbon-offsetting practices or by using sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). The initial CORSIA baseline was determined by the average emissions from 2019 and 2020. However, the COVID-19 pandemic's dramatic effect on international travel led to a recalibration in June 2020, eliminating 2020 from the baseline calculation for CORSIA's initial phase (2021-2023). A revised baseline pegged at 85% of 2019's emissions levels, was introduced in 2022 for application from 2024 to 2035. CORSIA is being implemented in stages, beginning with a pilot phase that ran from 2021 through 2023. The pilot phase was followed by a first phase of the program, which began January 1, 2024. The second phase of the program will begin in 2027. While participation in the early and pilot stages is optional, the second phase mandates involvement from certain countries, including the U.S. However, U.S. legislation mandating participation in CORSIA is not yet in effect and is pending.

We anticipate that in 2024 and thereafter, legislative and regulatory concern with the environmental impacts of the air transportation industry will increase, and that the longer-term effects on our fleet and operating costs may be substantial.

According to a September 2021 White House announcement, civil aviation accounts for 11 percent of emissions by the U.S. transportation sector as a whole. The FAA has announced a U.S. aviation sector goal of net-zero GHG emissions by 2050, consistent with the broader federal objective of achieving net-zero GHG emissions economy-wide by 2050. We cannot predict whether these or similar initiatives will lead to legislation that will pass the Congress or, if enacted into law, how it ultimately would apply to our operations or the airline industry.

Federal law recognizes the right of airport operators with special noise problems to implement local noise abatement procedures so long as those procedures do not interfere unreasonably with interstate and foreign commerce and the national air transportation system. These restrictions can include limiting nighttime operations, directing specific aircraft operational procedures during takeoff and initial climb, and limiting the overall number of flights at an airport. Few of the airports we serve currently impose such restrictions on the number of flights or hours of operation that have a meaningful impact on our operations. It is possible one or more such airports or others may impose additional or future restrictions with or without advance notice, which may impact our operations.

Foreign Ownership. To maintain our DOT and FAA certificates, our airline operating subsidiary and we (as the airline’s holding company) must qualify continuously as citizens of the United States within the meaning of U.S. aeronautical laws and regulations. This means we must be under the actual control of U.S. citizens and we must satisfy certain other requirements, including that our president and at least two-thirds of our board of directors and other managing officers are U.S. citizens, and that not more than 25 percent of our voting stock is owned or controlled by non-U.S. citizens. The amount of non-voting stock that may be owned or controlled by non-U.S. citizens is strictly limited as well. We believe we are in compliance with these ownership and control criteria.

Other Regulations. Air carriers are subject to certain provisions of federal laws and regulations governing communications because of their extensive use of radio and other communication facilities, and are required to obtain an aeronautical radio license from the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”). To the extent we are subject to FCC requirements, we intend to continue to comply with those requirements.

The quality of water used for drinking and hand-washing aboard aircraft is subject to regulation by the EPA. To the extent we are subject to EPA requirements, we intend to continue to comply with those requirements.

Working conditions of cabin crew members while onboard aircraft are subject to regulation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ("OSHA") of the Department of Labor. To the extent we are subject to OSHA requirements, we intend to continue to comply with those requirements.

Our operations may become subject to additional federal requirements in the future under certain circumstances. During a period of past fuel scarcity, air carrier access to jet fuel was subject to allocation regulations promulgated by the Department of Energy. Changes to the federal excise tax and other government fees imposed on air transportation have been proposed and implemented from time to time and may result in an increased tax burden for airlines and their passengers.

We are also subject to state and local laws, regulations, and ordinances at locations where we operate and to the rules and regulations of various local authorities that operate the airports we serve. Of the more than 120 airports we serve, not more than 20 percent have curfews or gate limitations that meaningfully impact our operations at those airports. Also, some airports we serve have short runways that require us to operate some flights at less than full capacity.

International air transportation, whether provided on a scheduled or charter basis, is subject to the laws, rules, regulations, and licensing requirements of the foreign countries to, from, and over which the international flights operate. Foreign laws, rules, regulations and licensing requirements governing air transportation are generally similar, in principle, to the regulatory scheme of the United States as described above, although in some cases foreign requirements are comparatively less onerous and in others, more onerous. We must comply with the laws, rules and regulations of each country to, from, or over which we operate. Our proposed U.S.-Mexico alliance with Viva, described above, received approval by Mexico’s Federal Economic Competition Commission (COFECE) in October 2022; however, that approval will require renewal (which is not assured) in view of the suspension of DOT processing described above. International flights are also subject to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Agriculture requirements and the requirements of equivalent foreign governmental agencies.

Future Laws and Regulations. Congress, the DOT, the FAA, the TSA, and other governmental agencies have under consideration, and in the future may consider and adopt, new laws, regulations, interpretations and policies regarding a wide variety of matters that could affect, directly or indirectly, our operations, ownership, and profitability. We cannot predict what other matters might be considered in the future by the FAA, the DOT, the TSA, other agencies, or Congress, nor can we judge what impact, if any, the implementation of any of these proposals or changes might have on our business.

Civil Reserve Air Fleet. We are a participant in the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (“CRAF”) Program which affords the U.S. Department of Defense the right to charter our aircraft during national emergencies when the need for military airlift exceeds the capability of available military resources. During the Persian Gulf War of 1990-91 and on other occasions, CRAF carriers were required to permit the military to use their aircraft in this manner. As a result of our CRAF participation, we are eligible to bid on and be awarded peacetime airlift contracts with the military on a preferential basis.

We are relying on Boeing to deliver our new 737 MAX aircraft to support airline growth and to replace aircraft we have designated for retirement.

The FAA is working with Boeing to address quality control procedures at Boeing and its suppliers in the aftermath of the recent emergency landing of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft and subsequent temporary grounding of all 737 MAX 9 aircraft pending inspections of the door plug which was the source of the issue. As part of the focused attention on Boeing’s production, inspection and quality assurance processes, the FAA has indicated that aircraft production rates will be capped until they are fully satisfied with Boeing's quality practices. These factors could delay deliveries to us. Delays in delivery will likely delay our ability to capitalize on the expected profitability from the addition of these aircraft to our fleet and increase our interest costs for funds borrowed for pre-delivery deposits. In addition, our inability to add these aircraft to our operating fleet as planned may adversely impact our unit costs as fewer available seat miles will be produced without these aircraft in our operating fleet and given our announced plan to retire certain of our Airbus aircraft. We are also counting on the timely addition of our firm 737 MAX order to meet environmental goals we have published in our 2022 sustainability report.

Any subsequent FAA action or any future adverse 737 MAX events or safety concerns might disproportionately impact us as we rely on these new aircraft to augment our fleet as well as to replace aircraft to be retired.

Our firm order with Boeing calls for the delivery of a mix of 737 MAX-8200 aircraft and 737 MAX-7 aircraft. The -7 version has yet to be certificated by the FAA. These recent events will likely impact the timing of the -7 certification, which could affect our order.

As more than 1,100 737 MAX aircraft remain in service throughout the world and FAA oversight and Boeing process improvements should further assure the public regarding safety issues, we continue to believe that the addition of the 737 MAX aircraft will be safe, reliable and accretive to our profitability. However, negative publicity from these or future events could reflect poorly on our planned 737 service and our Company.

 

Fuel costs constituted approximately 30.4 percent of our total operating expenses in 2023. Although average fuel cost per gallon was lower in 2023 than 2022, the price per gallon as of early 2024 remains significantly higher than in prior years. Significant increases in fuel costs have negatively affected our operating results in the past, and future fuel cost volatility could materially affect our financial condition and results of operations. 

Both the cost and availability of aircraft fuel are subject to many economic and political factors and events occurring throughout the world over which we have no control. Meteorological events may also result in short-term disruptions in the fuel supply. Aircraft fuel availability is also subject to periods of market surplus and shortage, and is affected by demand for heating oil, gasoline, and other petroleum products. Due to the effect of these events on the price and availability of aircraft fuel, our ability to control this cost is limited, and the price and future availability of fuel cannot be predicted with any degree of certainty. Due to the high percentage of our operating costs represented by fuel, a relatively small increase in the price of fuel could have a significantly negative impact on our operating costs. A fuel supply shortage or higher fuel prices could result in reduction of our service during the period affected.

We have made a business decision not to purchase financial derivatives to hedge against increases in the cost of fuel. This decision may make our operating results more vulnerable to the impact of fuel price increases.

Labor costs constituted approximately 30.0 percent of our total operating costs in 2023, our second largest expense line item. Labor costs are generally rising and there is much competition for qualified candidates.

Further, we have four employee groups (pilots, flight attendants, flight dispatchers and maintenance technicians) which have elected union representation. These groups represent approximately 53.4 percent of our employees.

In 2016, we reached a collective bargaining agreement with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, representing our pilots. The pilot agreement is now amendable and in 2022 the parties jointly sought mediation through the National Mediation Board. Pilot pay scales have increased significantly in the industry and we expect our next contract with this work group to reflect industry competitive rates which will be significantly higher than our current pilot rates. In the meantime and in recognition of these higher prevailing pilot pay rates, in May 2023, we began to accrue a retention bonus which will become payable to our pilots who remain with us until a new collective bargaining agreement is ratified.

An agreement with the Transport Workers Union for the flight attendant group was approved in 2017 and became amendable in 2022. We reached a tentative agreement with this union, but the tentative agreement was rejected by the flight attendants in July 2023 by a 39 percent to 61 percent vote. As such, we continue to negotiate with this work group.

We also have agreements with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters for the flight dispatchers and for maintenance technicians. In 2023, we entered into agreements with both groups to increase pay rates and extend all other terms of the agreement by two years, until 2026 for our flight dispatchers and until 2028 for maintenance technicians.

Future union contracts with these, or other, work groups could put additional pressure on our labor costs.

If we are unable to reach agreement on the terms of collective bargaining agreements in the future, or we experience wide-spread employee dissatisfaction, attrition in these work groups, difficulty in hiring sufficient personnel or work slow downs or stoppages could have an adverse effect on our operations and future results.

We compete against other U.S. airlines for pilots, aircraft maintenance technicians and other labor. Recently, there has been a scarcity of pilots for hire, more pilots in the industry are approaching mandatory retirement age and there is significant competition to hire new pilots. Attrition beyond normal levels or the inability to attract new pilots could negatively impact our growth, operations and results of operations. The scarcity of pilots and opportunities at other carriers could encourage our captains and first officers to leave our airline, exacerbating the challenge to maintain sufficient numbers of pilots to fly our published schedule and to grow our network. The lack of a new collective bargaining agreement with our pilots’ union (now in negotiation) could also contribute to attrition and serve as an impediment to our being able to hire and maintain sufficient numbers of pilots.

Additionally, the airline industry, including our third party vendors, has experienced and may continue to experience challenges in hiring and retaining other labor positions, such as aircraft maintenance technicians, ground handling and customer service agents, and flight attendants. Our and our vendors' inability to attract and retain personnel for these positions could negatively impact our results of operations and growth plans. Additionally, we may be required to increase our wage and benefit packages, or pay increased rates to our vendors, to retain these positions. This would result in increased overall costs and may adversely impact our results of operations.

As of February 1, 2024, our operating fleet consists of 126 Airbus A320 series aircraft, of which 13 were acquired new and 113 were acquired used. Our aircraft range from 5 to 26 years from their manufacture date at February 1, 2024, with an average age of 15.5 years.

An accident involving one of our aircraft, even if fully insured, could result in a public perception that we are less safe or reliable than other airlines, which would harm our business. Further, there is no assurance that the amount of insurance we carry would be sufficient to protect us from material loss. Because we are smaller than most airlines, an accident would likely adversely affect us to a greater degree than a larger, more established airline.

In-flight emergencies affecting our aircraft, and resulting media attention, could also contribute to a public perception regarding safety concerns and a loss of business.

The FAA could suspend or restrict the use of our aircraft in the event of actual or perceived mechanical problems or safety issues while it conducts its own investigation, whether involving our aircraft or another U.S. or foreign airline’s aircraft. Our business could also be significantly harmed if the public avoids flying our aircraft due to an adverse perception of the aircraft we utilize because of safety concerns or other problems, whether real or perceived, or in the event of an accident involving these aircraft.

We receive, retain, and transmit certain personal information about our customers. Additionally, our online operations rely on the secure transmission of customer data. We use third party systems, integrated software, and advanced cyber security tools in order to protect the customer data we obtain through the course of our business. Although we use a variety of security techniques to protect customer information, a compromise of our physical or network security systems through a cyberattack would create the risk that customers’ personal information might be obtained by unauthorized persons.

In addition, such security related events could be widely publicized and could adversely affect our reputation with our customers, vendors and stockholders, could harm our competitive position particularly with respect to our ecommerce operations, and could thereby materially adversely affect our operations, revenues, results of operations and financial position. Consequences could include litigation, other legal actions against us, and/or the imposition of penalties, fines, fees or liabilities. We currently are self insured against these risks. Moreover, a security compromise or ransomware event could require us to devote significant management resources to address the problems created by the issue and to expend significant additional resources to further upgrade the security measures we employ to guard personal and confidential information against cyberattacks and other attempts to access or otherwise compromise such information and could result in a disruption of our operations, particularly our digital operations.

The way organizations handle customer data is subject to increasing legislation and regulation, typically intended to protect the privacy of customer data received, retained, and transmitted. We could be adversely affected if we fail to comply with existing rules or practices, or if legislation or regulations are expanded to require changes in our business practices. These privacy developments are difficult to anticipate and could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

We depend on automated systems to operate our business, including our air reservation system, telecommunication systems, our website, and other automated systems. Our continuing initiatives to enhance the capabilities of our automated systems could increase the risk of automation failures. Any failure by us to handle our automation needs could negatively affect our internet sales (on which we rely heavily) and customer service, and result in lost revenues and increased costs.

Our website and reservation system must be able to accommodate a high volume of traffic and deliver necessary functionality to support our operations. Our automated systems cannot be completely protected against events that are beyond our control, such as natural disasters, telecommunications failures, malware, ransom ware, security breaches or cyber-security attacks. Although we have implemented security measures and have information systems disaster recovery plans in place, we cannot assure investors that these measures are adequate to prevent disruptions or losses. Substantial or repeated website, reservations system, or telecommunication system failures could decrease the attractiveness of our services. Any disruption to these systems could result in the loss of important data and revenue, increase in expenses, and harm to our business.

 

The airline industry is particularly sensitive to changes in economic conditions. Unfavorable U.S. economic conditions have historically driven changes in travel patterns and have resulted in reduced discretionary spending for leisure travel. Unfavorable economic conditions could impact demand for airline travel in our under-served cities to our leisure destinations. During difficult economic times, we may be unable to raise prices in response to fuel cost increases, labor, or other operating costs, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

We opened Sunseeker Resort in Southwest Florida in December 2023. The successful operation of the project will be subject to the usual risks of any new business, including risks of gaining sufficient interest from vacationers to stay in our hotel and suites, the desirability of the project’s location, competition, retention of the management team, unfavorable weather, the ability to attract, train and retain sufficient numbers of suitable line employees and the ability to profitably operate the hotel and related offerings at the rates offered.

We will be able to implement the joint alliance with VivaAerobus as planned only if the DOT grants us antitrust immunity and we receive similar approval from Mexican authorities. Although we believe we should qualify for these approvals, there can be no assurance when or if we will be able to obtain them. DOT approval has now been held up indefinitely pending the outcome of diplomatic engagement on broader treaty issues.

Many of the U.S. airports from which we hope to offer this service do not currently qualify to offer international service. The initiation of this service from these airports will depend on the airport satisfying the requirements for international service, for which we can provide no assurance.

Prior to offering international service on our website, we will need to implement the necessary systems to accommodate international travel and to meet the various requirements imposed by the U.S. and Mexico. In 2023, we implemented many of these systems. However, there is no assurance that these requirements will be met in time for the expected launch of these services.

For Mexican routes to be operated by VivaAerobus, we will be relying on them to provide our customers with the quality flight experience our customers expect when traveling on our airline. Otherwise, the success of the joint alliance and our reputation may suffer.

In 2024, Congress may consider legislation that could increase the amount of Federal Excise Tax (“FET”) and/or one or more of the other government fees imposed on air travel. By increasing the overall price charged to passengers, any additional taxes or fees could lessen the demand for air travel or force carriers to lower fares to maintain demand. Increased taxes and fees per passenger may impact our load factors more than other airlines as our lower fares are designed to stimulate demand for our services, and taxes and fees may represent a higher proportion of our overall price than for other airlines.

As with all scheduled airlines, the FAA must approve each aircraft we utilize and each airport we serve. Although there are no generic restrictions on growth in place at the current time, future limitations from the FAA could potentially hinder our growth.

Our debt and finance lease obligations as of December 31, 2023 totaled $2.26 billion net of related costs. In addition, in December 2021, we entered into a purchase agreement with The Boeing Company to purchase 50 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft which are expected to deliver in 2024, 2025, and 2026. This indebtedness, the Boeing purchase agreement and other commitments with debt service and fixed charge obligations could:

•make it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to our indebtedness, and any failure to comply with the obligations of any of our debt instruments, including financial and other restrictive covenants, could result in an event of default under agreements governing our indebtedness;

•make it more difficult to satisfy our other future obligations, including our obligations to pay the purchase price in respect of current and future aircraft purchase contracts;

•require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow to pay principal and interest on our debt, which will reduce the funds available to fund internal growth through working capital, capital expenditures, and for other purposes;

•limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business, the competitive environment, legislation and our industry;

•make us more vulnerable to adverse changes in our business, economic, industry, market or competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation;

•expose us to interest rate and pricing increases on indebtedness and financing arrangements as general interest rates rise;

•restrict us from pursuing strategic acquisitions or exploiting certain business opportunities;

•subject us to a greater risk of non-compliance with financial and other restrictive covenants in financing arrangements;

•limit, among other things, our ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures, debt service requirements, execution of our business strategy and other purposes or raise equity capital in the future and increasing the costs of such additional financings; and

•place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors who may not be as highly leveraged or who have less debt in relation to cash flow.

In addition, our ability to service our indebtedness will depend on our future performance, which will be affected by prevailing economic conditions and financial, business, regulatory and other factors. Many of these factors are beyond our control and could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

At maturity, or in the event of an acceleration of payment obligations, we may be unable to pay our outstanding indebtedness with our cash and cash equivalents then on hand. In such event, we would be required to seek alternative sources of funding, which may not be available on commercially reasonable terms, terms as favorable as our current agreements, or at all. If we are unable to refinance our indebtedness or find alternative means of financing our operations, we may be required to take actions that are inconsistent with our current business practices or strategy.

As of December 31, 2023, the principal balance of our Senior Secured Notes due 2027 (the "Senior Secured Notes") was $550.0 million and the principal balance of our Sunseeker construction loan was $350.0 million. These loan agreements as well as one of our revolving credit facilities contain covenants limiting our ability to, among other things, make certain types of restricted payments, including paying dividends, incur debt or liens, merge or consolidate with others, dispose of assets, enter into certain transactions with affiliates, engage in certain business activities or make certain investments. In addition, the loan agreements contain financial covenants, including requiring us, at the end of each calendar quarter, to maintain a maximum total leverage ratio and to maintain a minimum aggregate amount of liquidity of $300.0 million. We have pledged our assets to secure the Senior Secured Notes and revolving credit facility with the exceptions of aircraft and aircraft engines, the Sunseeker Resort and certain other exceptions. The Sunseeker Resort is pledged to secure the $350.0 million construction loan agreement to finance the construction of the Resort. This will limit our ability to obtain debt secured by these pledged assets while these loans are outstanding.

These loan agreements contain various events of default (including failure to comply with the covenants under the loan agreements), and upon an event of default the lenders may, subject to various cure rights, require the immediate payment of all amounts outstanding under the these loans.

As a result of these restrictive covenants, we may be limited in how we conduct business, and we may be unable to raise additional debt or equity financing to operate during difficult times or to take advantage of new business opportunities.

We typically finance our aircraft through debt financing after purchase. Although we have entered into agreements which had undrawn financing commitments of $25.1 million for our Boeing order at February 1, 2024, we have secured revolving lines of credit for up to $275.0 million to offset the risk that financing may not be available on acceptable terms when needed and while we believe debt financing will be available for the aircraft we will acquire, we cannot provide assurance that we will be able to secure such financing on terms attractive to us or at all. To the extent we cannot secure such financing on acceptable terms or at all, we may be required to modify our aircraft acquisition plans, incur higher than anticipated financing costs, or use more of our cash balances for aircraft acquisitions than we currently expect.

The average age of our aircraft as of February 1, 2024, is 15.5 years, which is older than the fleets of many other carriers. In general, the cost to maintain aircraft increases as they age, and exceeds the cost to maintain newer aircraft. FAA regulations, including aging aircraft airworthiness directives, require additional and enhanced maintenance inspections for older aircraft. These regulations can directly impact the frequency of inspections as an aircraft ages, and vary by aircraft or engine type, depending on the unique characteristics of each aircraft and/or engine.

In addition, we may be required to comply with any future law changes, regulations, or airworthiness directives. We cannot assure investors our maintenance costs will not exceed our expectations.

 

We rely on Boeing and the owners of used aircraft under contract to be able to deliver aircraft in accordance with the terms of executed agreements in a timely manner. Delivery schedules for newly built aircraft frequently slip which could delay deliveries to us. Our planned initiation of service with these aircraft in the future could be adversely affected if Boeing or other third parties fail to perform as contractually obligated. See also Risk Factors - Regulatory review of Boeing’s operations could delay its production schedule, which could impact us as any delivery delays may result in lower profitability than expected and delayed growth as well as bad publicity and other consequences.

We have entered into agreements with third party contractors to provide certain facilities and services required for our operations, such as aircraft maintenance, ground handling, baggage services, and ticket counter space. Our reliance on others to provide essential services on our behalf gives us less control over costs and the efficiency, timeliness and quality of contract services.

As our aircraft age and as we add a new aircraft type, we will need to rely further on outside MRO (maintenance, repair, overhaul) facilities to complete the necessary work. Currently, there is a concern about whether the capacity of the MRO’s we use is sufficient to handle all of our needed maintenance as well as their other business. If not, the cost of our maintenance events may increase and delays may occur in servicing our aircraft which could result in fewer aircraft available for our scheduled service.

We may not be able to maintain or grow our ancillary revenues.

Our business strategy includes expanding our ancillary products and services. We cannot ensure that passengers will pay for additional ancillary products and services we offer in the future, or that they will continue to pay for the ancillary products and services we currently offer. Regulatory changes could also adversely affect our ancillary revenue opportunities. Failure to maintain our ancillary revenues could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and stock price. If we are unable to maintain and grow these revenues, we may be unable to execute our strategy to continue to offer low base fares in order to stimulate demand.

Our business depends upon the efforts of our chief executive officer, Maury Gallagher, president, Gregory Anderson, and a small number of executive management and operating personnel. We do not currently maintain key-man life insurance on Mr. Gallagher, Mr. Anderson or any other executives. We may have difficulty replacing management or other key personnel who leave and, therefore, the loss of the services of any of these individuals could harm our business.

We operate in a public-facing industry dependent on fossil fuels to a large extent. ESG (environmental, social and governance) has become a more prominent focus for public companies and the SEC has proposed rules which will mandate certain ESG disclosures. Although we are working with a recognized consultant in this area and we intend to comply with any SEC requirements, our brand and reputation may suffer if our stakeholders are not satisfied with our ESG disclosures, the goals we have set in that area or our progress toward meeting those goals.

Failure to achieve our environmental, social and governance goals and public pressure from investors or policy groups' perception of the environmental impact of air travel could also adversely impact our reputation and brand. Our ability to meet our environmental goal depends on various actions from third parties outside of our control. These include policy changes from federal and state governments, significant capital investment from third parties and research and development from manufacturers and other stakeholders, all to support or incentivize pursuit of commercially viable sustainable fuel alternatives or new technologies to support the industry's achievement of its carbon abatement goals. Additionally, meeting our environmental goal will require the adoption of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), the supply of which currently falls short of the aviation industry requirements and would likely be commercially viable only with the support and incentives from governmental initiatives.

 

As has resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic, contagious illness and fear of contagion could have a material adverse impact on the airline industry. Any general reduction in airline passenger traffic as a result of an outbreak of disease or other travel advisories could dampen demand for our services even if not applicable to our markets. Resulting decreases in passenger volume would harm our load factors, could increase our cost per passenger and adversely affect our operating results.

The extent of impact of any future pandemic or contagion on our business and our financial and operational performance will depend on the duration, spread, severity and recurrences of the disease; the possible imposition of testing requirements before domestic travel; the duration and scope of any federal, state and local government restrictions; the availability and effectiveness of vaccines; the extent of the impact of the outbreak on overall demand for air travel; and our access to capital during the affected periods, all of which could be highly uncertain and cannot be predicted.

Future pandemics or contagions may cause public health officials to recommend precautions to mitigate the spread of the disease. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these resulted in federal, state and local authorities instituting measures such as imposing self-quarantine requirements, requiring testing before entry into certain states; issuing directives forcing businesses to temporarily close, restricting air travel and issuing shelter-in-place and similar orders limiting the movement of individuals. To the extent in effect to address communicable diseases in the future, such measures could depress demand for air travel, disrupt our operations, and materially adversely affect our business.

Moreover, the ability to attract and retain passengers depends, in part, upon the perception and reputation of our company and the public’s concerns regarding the health and safety of air travel generally. Actual or perceived risk of infection could have a material adverse effect on the public's comfort with air travel, in general or on our flights, which could harm our reputation and business.

 

The airline industry is highly competitive. The under-served cities we serve on a scheduled basis have traditionally attracted considerably less attention from our potential competitors than larger markets, and in most of our small city markets, we are the only provider of nonstop service to our leisure destinations. If other airlines or new airline start-ups begin to provide nonstop services to and from these or similar markets, or otherwise target these or similar markets, the increase in the amount of direct or indirect competition could cause us to reconsider service to affected markets, could impact our margins or could impact our future planned service.

 

 

Even if not directed at the airline industry, a future act of terrorism, the threat of such acts, or escalation of U.S. military involvement overseas could have an adverse effect on the airline industry. In the event of a terrorist attack, the industry would likely experience significantly reduced demand for travel services. These actions, or consequences resulting from these actions, would likely harm our business and the airline and travel industry. If we are called on to provide aircraft in the event of national emergencies as a result of our participation in the CRAF program, our operations would be disrupted.

Airlines are subject to extensive regulatory and legal compliance requirements, both domestically and internationally, that involve significant costs. In the last several years, the FAA has issued a number of directives and other regulations relating to the maintenance and operation of aircraft that have required us to incur significant expenditures. FAA requirements cover, among other things, retirement of older aircraft, fleet integration of newer aircraft, safety management systems, collision avoidance systems, airborne windshear avoidance systems, noise abatement, aircraft weight and payload limits, assumed average passenger weight, employee drug and alcohol testing, pilot and flight attendant duty time limitations, and increased inspection and maintenance procedures to be conducted on aging aircraft. The future cost of complying with these and other laws, rules and regulations, including new federal legislative and DOT regulatory requirements in the consumer-protection area, cannot be predicted and could significantly increase our costs of doing business.

Over the past 15 years the DOT has adopted revisions and expansions to a variety of its consumer protection regulations and policies. Additional expanded regulations have been proposed by DOT and may take effect in 2024 or thereafter, as may new consumer protection legislation proposed in Congress. We are not able to predict the impact of new consumer protection rules on our business, though we monitor the progress of potential laws and rulings. We are subject to fines or other enforcement actions if the DOT believes we are not in compliance with these or other rules or regulations or with the federal consumer protection laws administered by the DOT. Even if our actions or practices are found to be compliant, we could incur substantial costs defending our actions or practices.

Federal funding to airports and/or airport bond financing could be affected through future deficit reduction legislation, which could result in higher fees, rates, and charges at many of the airports we serve. Additionally, from time to time legislative proposals have been made to re-regulate the airline industry in varying degrees - for example, to specify minimum seat-size and legroom requirements - which if adopted could affect our costs materially. Such legislation may be proposed and could be adopted in 2024, particularly in the course of FAA reauthorization. Proposed consumer-protection enhancements in reauthorization legislation include a requirement for fee-free family seating, a mandatory five-year validity of airline vouchers and credits, and substantially increased civil penalties for noncompliance by airlines with consumer-protection and other regulatory requirements.

We (i.e., our airline subsidiary) and VivaAerobus, a Mexican airline, submitted to DOT in December 2021 a joint application requesting approval of and antitrust immunity for a comprehensive alliance agreement applicable to all routes we and/or Viva may operate between points in the United States and points in Mexico. Over a period of 20 months, the DOT’s review and analysis progressed substantially, but on July 31, 2023, the DOT suspended processing of the joint application pending resolution of an aviation trade dispute between the governments of Mexico and the United States that arose earlier in 2023.

The dispute remains unresolved and there is no assurance when or whether DOT will ultimately approve the agreement and grant antitrust immunity. While Mexican regulatory approval was issued in late 2022, that approval will require renewal (which is not assured) and both parties have stated they do not intend to proceed under the agreement in the absence of antitrust immunity issued by DOT. In addition, full performance under the agreement is contingent upon Mexico retaining Category 1 status under the FAA’s International Aviation Safety Assessment (“IASA”) program. The FAA found Mexico to be noncompliant from May 2021 until September 2023, when Mexico’s IASA Category 1 status was reinstated. An adverse outcome in one or more of these respects would likely thwart our plans to enter the U.S.-Mexico market for a number of years, despite the significant effort and expense we have incurred and continue to incur on the project.

We anticipate that in 2024 and thereafter, legislative and regulatory concern with the environmental impacts of the air transportation industry will increase, and that the longer-term effects on our fleet and operating costs may be substantial. In the past, legislation to address climate change issues as they relate to the transportation industry has been introduced in the U.S. Congress, including a proposal to require transportation fuel producers and importers to acquire market-based allowances to offset the emissions resulting from combustion of their fuels. Similarly, as recently as February 2021, legislation was introduced in the U.S. Congress to incentivize the production of sustainable aviation fuel (also known as biofuel) and to assist the aviation industry in reducing emissions. According to a September 2021 White House announcement, civil aviation accounts for 11 percent of emissions by the U.S. transportation sector as a whole. The FAA has announced a U.S. aviation sector goal of net-zero greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions by 2050, consistent with the broader federal objective of achieving net-zero GHG emissions economy-wide by 2050. We cannot predict whether legislation to implement these goals will pass the Congress or, if enacted into law, how it ultimately would apply to our operations or the airline industry.

In addition, the EPA concluded in 2016 that current and projected concentrations of GHG emitted by various aircraft, including all of the aircraft we and other carriers operate, threaten public health and welfare. This finding may be a precursor to increased EPA regulation of commercial aircraft emissions in the United States, as has taken effect for operations within the European Union under EU legislation. Binding international measures adopted under the auspices of the International Civil Aviation Organization (“ICAO”), a specialized agency of the United Nations, are scheduled to become effective over the next several years, with the pilot phase having begun in 2021. In January 2021 the EPA adopted regulations setting emissions standards equivalent to ICAO’s for newly-designed aircraft, with immediate effect, and for in-production aircraft, effective 2028. Similarly, in December 2022, the EPA adopted particulate matter emission standards and test procedures for newly-designed aircraft, with immediate effect, and for in-production aircraft, effective 2028. In February 2024, the FAA adopted regulations implementing these EPA requirements. These new EPA and FAA standards and procedures harmonize with ICAO requirements. The aircraft we currently operate are not affected by these standards, and those we have on order would be affected only if manufactured after December 31, 2027. As noted, however, we anticipate an ever-increasing legislative and regulatory focus on aviation’s impacts on the environment. These developments and any additional legislation or regulations addressing climate change are likely to increase our costs of doing business in the future and the increases could be material.

With respect to aircraft weight and balance, consumer protection, climate change, taxation, and other matters affecting the airline industry, whether the source of new requirements is legislative or regulatory, increased costs will adversely affect our profitability if we are unable to pass the costs on to our customers or adjust our operations to offset the new costs.

Various states and localities across the country are attempting to impose requirements, such as wage and hour requirements, meal and rest break and sick leave laws, on flight attendants and pilots (“flight crew”) who spend the vast majority of their working hours in the air and in various states and jurisdictions on a daily basis. These requirements would create significant operational challenges for air carriers by creating a patchwork of state and local laws which undermine the federal deregulation of the airline industry and, in theory, could require airlines to simultaneously comply with rules which conflict with those of other jurisdictions, federal regulations, and the provisions of labor agreements. Courts continue to remain divided on whether federal deregulation preempts these state laws and Congress has not addressed the issue. The impact on flight crew staffing, pay and scheduling technology may potentially increase our costs of doing business and could make certain routes cost prohibitive. Flight crews have filed class action lawsuits against air carriers in a number of states with varied results and, in many cases, the results have been appealed. Such suits are costly to defend and could result in sizeable liability exposure for any air carrier.

 

Like other airlines, we are subject to delays caused by factors beyond our control, including air traffic congestion at airports and en route, adverse weather conditions, increased security measures, and the outbreak of disease. Delays frustrate passengers and increase costs, which in turn could affect profitability. During periods of fog, snow, rain, storms or other adverse weather conditions, flights may be canceled or significantly delayed. Cancellations or delays due to weather conditions, traffic control problems, and breaches in security could harm our operating results and financial condition.

A substantial proportion of our scheduled flights have Las Vegas, Orlando, Phoenix, Tampa/St. Petersburg, Punta Gorda, Destin or Sarasota as either their destination or origin. Our business could be harmed by any circumstances causing a reduction in demand for air transportation to one or more of these markets, or our other leisure destinations, such as adverse changes in local economic conditions, negative public perception of the particular city, significant price increases, or the impact of future terrorist attacks or natural disasters.

The market price of our common stock may fluctuate substantially due to a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control, including:

•the impact of pandemics and other communicable diseases on air travel and any related government restrictions impacting air travel

•fuel price volatility, and the effect of economic and geopolitical factors and worldwide oil supply and consumption on fuel availability

•announcements concerning our competitors, new market entrants, the airline industry, or the economy in general

•strategic actions by us or our competitors, such as acquisitions or restructurings

•media reports and publications about the safety of our aircraft or the aircraft types we operate

•new regulatory pronouncements and changes in regulatory guidelines

•announcements concerning our business strategy

•our ability to grow service in the future as rapidly as the market anticipates

•general and industry-specific economic conditions

•changes in financial estimates or recommendations by securities analysts

•substantial sales of our common stock or other actions by investors with significant shareholdings

•additional issuances of our common stock

•labor costs or work actions

•general market conditions

The stock markets in general have experienced substantial volatility that has often been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. These types of broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock.

 

In the past, stockholders have sometimes instituted securities class action litigation against companies following periods of volatility in the market price of their securities. Although we have insurance to cover these claims up to policy limits, these lawsuits or similar litigation could result in substantial costs, divert management’s attention and resources, and harm our business or results of operations.

We are subject to a Nevada statute (NRS 78.411 through 78.444) that prohibits us from engaging in certain “combinations,” including mergers, consolidations, sales and leases of assets, issuances of securities and similar transactions, with a stockholder who is the beneficial owner of 10 percent or more of our stock (an “interested stockholder”), for a period of up to four years after the date that person became an interested stockholder, unless either our board of directors approves, in advance, the transaction by which the person became an interested stockholder, or such combination is approved at a meeting by at least 60 percent of voting power of our stock that is not beneficially owned by the interested stockholder, or its affiliates or associates. Between two and four years after the date the person first became an interested stockholder, a combination may also be permitted if the interested stockholder satisfies certain requirements with respect to the aggregate consideration to be received by holders of outstanding shares in the combination.

In addition, another Nevada statute (NRS 78.378 through 78.3793) may eliminate the voting rights of shares of our stock to the extent the shares are acquired by a holder in connection with, or within 90 days prior to, an acquisition of a “controlling interest”

that causes such holder to exceed certain thresholds (one-fifth, one-third and a majority or more) of the total voting power of our stock. In such event, the holder will only obtain such voting rights in the “control shares” so acquired as may be approved by a resolution of our stockholders of the corporation at a special or annual meeting. The statute also provides a mechanism for us to force the redemption of the control shares at the average price paid therefor. Our board of directors may, however, exempt any acquisition of a controlling interest by certain existing or future stockholders by amending the corporation’s bylaws (or articles of incorporation) within 10 days following such acquisition.

These Nevada statutes could discourage or make more difficult a takeover attempt that certain stockholders may consider in their best interests. These provisions may also adversely affect prevailing market prices for our common stock. We have not opted out of either of these statutes.

To comply with restrictions imposed by federal law on foreign ownership of U.S. airlines, our articles of incorporation and bylaws restrict voting of shares of our capital stock by non-U.S. citizens. The restrictions imposed by federal law currently require no more than 25 percent of our stock be voted, directly or indirectly, by persons who are not U.S. citizens, and that our president and at least two-thirds of the members of our board of directors be U.S. citizens. Our bylaws provide no shares of our capital stock may be voted by or at the direction of non-U.S. citizens unless such shares are registered on a separate stock record, which we refer to as the foreign stock record. Our bylaws further provide no shares of our capital stock will be registered on the foreign stock record if the amount so registered would exceed the foreign ownership restrictions imposed by federal law. Registration on the foreign stock record is made in chronological order based on the date we receive a written request for registration. Non-U.S. citizens will be able to own and vote shares of our common stock only if the combined ownership by all non-U.S. citizens does not violate these requirements.

 

 

None. 

As a critical infrastructure company, we regularly face cybersecurity threats from malicious third parties that could obtain unauthorized access to our internal systems, networks and data. It is virtually impossible for us to entirely mitigate the risk of these and other security threats we face. The security, performance, and reliability of our network may in the future be disrupted by third parties, including nation-states, competitors, hackers, disgruntled employees, former employees, or contractors. While we have implemented security measures internally and have integrated security measures into our systems, network, and products, these measures have not always functioned as expected and have not always detected or prevented all unauthorized activity, prevented all security breaches or incidents, mitigated all security breaches or incidents, or protected against all attacks or incidents.

We have implemented processes and procedures for the assessment, identification, and management of material risks from cybersecurity threats. These processes implement both qualitative and quantitative measurements that have been agreed upon with our third-party consultants, our auditors, and integrated into our overall risk management process.

Our process includes assessing, mitigating, and managing risk in three categories: cybersecurity or technical risk, vendor risk, and compliance and regulatory risk. To support those risk management categories, we partner with third parties in the implementation of tooling to help us decrease cyber risks and ensure compliance within Allegiant and with third parties. We verify third-party compliance, such as suppliers and business partners, by aligning with several standards. For example, we subject our IT suppliers to the Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) and payment card industry (PCI) compliance standards where applicable.

To certify our policies and processes to International Standards Organization (ISO)/ International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 27001, we are engaging a third-party consulting firm to conduct a gap analysis on our cybersecurity compliance. After achieving compliance, we expect to engage a third-party auditor to ensure we are compliant on an annual basis. Achieving compliance with any cybersecurity standard does not guarantee that controls cannot be broken, bypassed, or circumvented by zero-day vulnerabilities, or malicious threat actors.

Our overall approach to cybersecurity risk management includes the following key elements:

•Multi-layered defenses, coupled with in-depth and continuous monitoring – We utilize data analytics to detect anomalies and search for cybersecurity threats. From time to time, we engage third party consultants or other advisors to assist in assessing, identifying and managing cybersecurity threats. We also periodically use our internal audit function to conduct additional assessments and reviews.

•Insider Threats – We maintain an insider threat program, designed to identify, assess, and address potential risks from within Allegiant. Our program evaluates potential risks consistent with industry best practices, customer requirements and applicable law, including privacy and other considerations.

•Information Sharing and Collaboration – We work with government, customer, industry and supplier partners including government-industry partnerships and critical infrastructure threat intelligence sharing platforms. These relationships enable the rapid sharing of threat intelligence and vulnerability mitigation across the industry and the defense industrial base and supply chain.

•Third Party Risk Assessments – We conduct information security assessments before sharing or allowing the hosting of sensitive information in our computing environments, and those managed by third parties. Our standard terms and conditions with third parties include contractual provisions requiring certain security protections.

•Training and Awareness – We seek to create a culture of security. We provide training to our employees to help identify, avoid, and mitigate cybersecurity threats. Our employees are required to participate in cybersecurity training at least annually and our training includes spear phishing and other awareness training. We regularly remind our employees and partners of the importance of handling and protecting customer and employee data, including through annual privacy and security training. We also host periodic tabletop exercises and drills with management and other employees to practice rapid response to cyber incidents.

•Supplier Engagement – We require our suppliers to comply with our standard information security terms and conditions and require them to complete information security questionnaires to enable us to review and assess any potential cyber-related risks depending on the nature of the services provided.

•Scalability – We continue to invest directly in our cybersecurity program, as well as augmentation of those cybersecurity services through managed services and third parties, depending on the maturity and risk of the operating model of the business unit.

As of the date of this report, we have not identified any cybersecurity threats that have materially affected or are reasonably anticipated to have a material effect on the organization. Although we have not experienced cybersecurity incidents that are individually, or in the aggregate, material, we have experienced cyberattacks in the past, which we believe have thus far been largely mitigated by preventative, detective and responsive measures implemented by us. For a detailed discussion of our cybersecurity related risks, see Item 1A Risk Factors – “A breach in the security of personal information, breach in credit card data or system disruptions caused by security breaches or cyberattacks – including attacks on those parties we do business with – could harm our ability to conduct our operations and could have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.”

Our board is responsible for overseeing our enterprise risk management activities in general, the appropriate committees assist the board in the role of risk oversight. Our chief information security officer (CISO) presents a quarterly update to the full board, including an update on our risk management process and risk trends related to cybersecurity.

We have a dedicated cybersecurity team, composed of individuals with a diverse set of information security, cybersecurity, and governance, risk and compliance backgrounds, collectively giving our cybersecurity program significant experience. Our CISO leads our day-to-day data security and customer privacy efforts — overseeing operations, cybersecurity, privacy risk and compliance. The CISO, who has more than 30 years of experience reports daily to our chief information officer (CIO), monthly to the risk and compliance committee (consisting of the president and executive leadership) and quarterly to our board.

 

 

The following table summarizes our total in-service aircraft as of December 31, 2023:

 

 

 

We lease facilities at the majority of our leisure destinations and several other airports we serve. Our leases for terminal passenger service facilities (which include ticket counter and gate space, and operations support areas) generally have a term ranging from month-to-month to several years, and may typically be terminated with a 30 to 90 day notice. We have also entered into use agreements at each of the airports we serve which provide for non-exclusive use of runways, taxiways, and other facilities. Landing fees under these agreements are based on the number of landings and weight of the aircraft.

The following details the airport locations we utilize as operational bases as of February 1, 2024:

We believe we have sufficient access to gate space for current and presently contemplated future operations at all airports we serve.

We use leased facilities at our operational bases to perform line maintenance, overnight parking of aircraft, and other operations' support. We lease additional space in cargo areas at Harry Reid International Airport (Las Vegas), Nashville International Airport, Orlando Sanford International Airport, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, Punta Gorda Airport, Sarasota Manatee Airport, Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, and St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport for our primary line maintenance operations. We also lease or own warehouse space in Las Vegas, Orlando Sanford, St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Punta Gorda, and Phoenix-Mesa for aircraft spare parts and supplies.

Our primary corporate offices are located in Las Vegas, where we own approximately 11 acres of property containing approximately 211,000 square feet of office space.

We also lease and/or own other facilities in Las Vegas and Florida, with approximately 350,000 square feet of space used for training and other corporate purposes. These leases expire between 2024 and 2048.

We own approximately 28 acres on the harbor in Port Charlotte, Florida where Sunseeker Resort - Charlotte Harbor is located which includes additional property available for related purposes and for possible future expansion. We also own an office building in Lake Suzy, Florida for Sunseeker administration. Additionally, we own a golf course (Aileron Golf Course) consisting of 156 acres in Lake Suzy, Florida, which serves as an amenity to the Resort.

We are subject to certain legal and administrative actions we consider routine to our business activities. We believe the ultimate outcome of any pending legal or administrative matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, liquidity, or results of operations.

 

 

Our common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (symbol: ALGT). On February 1, 2024, the last sale price of our common stock was $79.92 per share. The following table sets forth the range of high and low sale prices for our common stock for the periods indicated.

As of February 23, 2024, there were approximately 200 holders of record of our common stock. Because many of our shares are held by brokers and other institutions on behalf of shareholders, we are unable to estimate the total number of beneficial holders.

The following table provides information regarding options, warrants and other rights to acquire equity securities under our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2023:

(1)There are no securities to be issued under any equity compensation plans not approved by our security holders.

(2)The shares shown as to be issued under equity compensation plans exclude 573,560 shares of unvested restricted stock awards as all restricted stock awards are deemed to have been issued.

(3)Our 2022 Long-Term Incentive Plan applies a fungible ratio such that a full-value award, such as a restricted stock grant or restricted stock unit grant, will be counted at two times its number for purposes of the plan limit. As a result, a maximum of 242,843 shares of restricted stock are remaining for future issuance under the 2022 Long-Term Incentive Plan.

We paid a quarterly dividend from 2015 through first quarter 2020 when we suspended all cash dividends upon the onset of the pandemic. In addition, in connection with the Payroll Support Program Agreements we entered into with the U.S. Department of Treasury, repurchases of common stock and the payment of cash dividends were prohibited through September 30, 2022.

In 2023, we recommenced the payment of cash dividends. Our board established the annual dividend rate at $2.40 per share and dividends of $0.60 per share per quarter were declared, and paid, in the third and fourth quarters, bringing total regular cash dividends declared, and paid, in 2023 to $1.20 per share.

Certain of our credit agreements limit the amount of dividends we may pay. The most restrictive agreement provides that absent an event of default, regularly scheduled dividends in any four-quarter period may be paid up to the lesser of $75.0 million or 20 percent of our consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the agreement) for the previous four-quarter period. Absent an event of default, this restriction does not constrain the continued payment of a quarterly dividend at the current level.

 

The following table reflects repurchases of our common stock during the fourth quarter of 2023:

(1)Includes shares repurchased from employees who vested a portion of their restricted stock grants. These share repurchases were made at the election of each employee pursuant to an offer to repurchase by us. In each case, the shares repurchased constituted a portion of vested shares necessary to satisfy income tax withholding requirements.

(2)Represents the remaining dollar amount of open market purchases of our common stock which has been authorized by our board under a share repurchase program.

The following graph compares the cumulative total shareholder return on our common stock with the cumulative total return on the Nasdaq Composite Index and the NYSE ARCA Airline Index since December 31, 2018. The graph assumes that the value of the investment in our common stock and each index was $100 on December 31, 2018 and that all dividends are reinvested. Stock price performance for the historical periods presented is not necessarily indicative of future results.

The stock price performance graph shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this annual report on Form 10-K into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such Acts.

 

•Total operating revenue was a company record of $2.5 billion, up 9.0 percent as compared to 2022, on a total system capacity increase of 1.9 percent.

•Full-year TRASM was 13.38 cents, a record annual TRASM, up 7.0 percent as compared to 2022 on scheduled service capacity increases of 1.7 percent.

•Average total fare was $142.15, up 5.6 percent compared to 2022, including total average ancillary revenue of $72.90, up 7.6 percent from 2022.

•Recorded highest fixed fee revenue in company history of $68.5 million.

•Extended the collective bargaining agreement for flight dispatchers through May 2026 and the collective bargaining agreement for maintenance technicians through October 2028.

•Opened Sunseeker Resort at Charlotte Harbor on December 15, 2023.

•Ranked number 3 amongst major US carriers in the Wall Street Journal's "The Best and Worst Airlines of 2023".

•Made great progress to strengthen our system and operations by:

◦Adding more than 1,300 full-time equivalent employees, including approximately 1,000 newly hired Sunseeker Resort team members

◦Investing in the systems implementations discussed in the Business section.

◦Planning to induct our new Boeing aircraft

•Acquired over 140 thousand new Allegiant co-brand credit card holders during the year, with over 485 thousand active cardholders at year end.

•Received $119.6 million in total co-brand credit card remuneration from Bank of America, up 18 percent from 2022

•Added 2.1 million Allegiant Allways Rewards® members during 2023, with more than 17 million total members at year end, a 13 percent increase over the year-end 2022 number.

•Allegiant co-brand credit card and Allegiant Allways Rewards® were voted as the No. 1 Best Airline Credit Card and No. 2 Best Frequent Flyer Program in USA Today's 10 Best 2023 Loyalty/Rewards Readers' Choice Awards. Allegiant's co-brand credit card was named the best airline co-brand credit card for the fifth consecutive year.

•Published the company's second annual ESG report, which includes five company-wide targets, including an emissions intensity reduction goal.

The following table sets forth the number and type of aircraft in service and operated by us as of the dates indicated. All of the aircraft in our fleet as of December 31, 2023 are owned by us except as indicated in the footnotes to the table:

(1)Does not include one aircraft of which we have taken delivery as of December 31, 2023 and which was not in service as of that date.

(2)Includes 23 aircraft under finance lease and 13 aircraft under operating lease as of December 31, 2023, 20 aircraft under finance lease and 13 aircraft under operating lease as of December 31, 2022, and 11 aircraft under finance lease and 11 aircraft under operating lease as of December 31, 2021.

(3)Includes four aircraft under operating lease as of December 31, 2023, December 31, 2022, and December 31, 2021.

As of December 31, 2023, we are party to forward purchase agreements for 51 aircraft with 13 deliveries expected in 2024, approximately 24 in 2025 and the remainder thereafter. The timing of these deliveries is based on management's best estimates and differs from the contract in place. Refer to Part I - Item 2. Properties for further detail regarding our aircraft fleet.

 

We manage capacity and route expansion through optimization of our flight schedule to, among other things, better match demand in certain markets. We continually adjust our network through the addition of new markets and routes, adjusting the frequencies into existing markets, and exiting under-performing markets, as we seek to achieve and maintain profitability on each route we serve.

As of February 1, 2024, and including service announcements through that date, we were selling seats on 555 routes serving 124 cities in 42 states.

The following table shows the number of leisure destinations and cities served as of the dates indicated (includes cities served seasonally):

While demand has normalized since the post-pandemic period, peak period demand remains at or near all-time highs. Demand continues to compare favorably to 2019 as scheduled service load factors and total revenue per available seat mile ("TRASM") in 2023 were above 2019 and 2022 levels.

The cost of fuel is volatile, as it is subject to many economic and geopolitical factors we can neither control nor predict. Significant increases in fuel costs could materially affect our operating results and profitability. We have not sought to use financial derivative products to hedge our exposure to fuel price volatility, nor do we have any plans to do so in the future.

The cost per gallon of fuel began to increase significantly in 2021, and the increases were exacerbated by the geopolitical impact of the war in Ukraine. Increases in refinery costs also added to our fuel cost. Although the average fuel cost per gallon declined in 2023 when compared to 2022, the average fuel cost per gallon in 2023 remained 43.7 percent higher than in 2021. We expect high fuel costs will continue to impact our total costs and operating results.

Since December 2021, we have signed an agreement and multiple amendments with The Boeing Company to purchase 50 newly manufactured 737 MAX aircraft with options to purchase an additional 80 737MAX aircraft. We believe this new aircraft purchase is complementary with our low cost strategy based on our intent to retain ownership of the aircraft, the longer useful life for depreciation purposes, expected fuel savings and operational reliability from the use of these new aircraft.

In the interest of increased quality control at Boeing and its suppliers, the FAA has indicated that aircraft production rates will be capped until they are fully satisfied with Boeing's quality practices. These factors could delay deliveries to us.

The collective bargaining agreement with our pilots is currently amendable and the parties have jointly requested the involvement of the National Mediation Board ("NMB") to assist with the negotiations. The mediation process with the NMB began in early 2023 and is continuing. Separately from the ongoing collective bargaining agreement negotiations, and in an attempt to begin to address pilot pay issues, effective in May 2023, we are recognizing a retention bonus for pilots who continue employment with us until a new labor agreement is approved. The amount being accrued is 35 percent of current pay for a minimum of 85 pay credit hours per month except for first year first officers for whom the percentage is 82 percent.

We are also in the process of negotiating a new contract with the union representing our flight attendants after a tentative agreement negotiated with the union was rejected by the work group.

The terms of any new collective bargaining agreement will increase our costs over the term of the contract. Until new agreements are in place, attrition and difficulty hiring sufficient personnel in the affected work groups could have an adverse effect on our operations and growth.

The supply of pilots necessary for airline industry growth may be a limiting factor. The ability to hire and retain pilots will be critical to our and the industry’s growth.

We have identified more than 1,400 incremental routes as opportunities for future network growth, with approximately 77 percent of these additional routes having no current nonstop service. Our ability to add significant numbers of new routes has been temporarily stymied by flight crew staffing, high fuel costs, economic conditions and other factors. Once these conditions allow, we should be able to achieve meaningful growth with greater utilization of our fleet (and, in particular, during peak demand periods), and with projected growth of the fleet.

In our 2022 sustainability report, we established ESG goals in the areas of environmental, social and governance. We will be reporting annually on our progress toward meeting those goals.

In December 2021, we announced plans for a fully-integrated commercial alliance agreement with VivaAerobus, designed to expand options for nonstop leisure air travel between our markets in the United States and Mexico. We and VivaAerobus have submitted a joint application to the DOT requesting approval of and antitrust immunity for the alliance. Although the DOT process has progressed substantially, their review of our application is currently suspended pending the outcome of diplomatic engagement on broader treaty issues and, as a result, the timing of commencement of this service is uncertain as it will depend on when or if the DOT will ultimately approve the grant of antitrust immunity.

Sunseeker Resort at Charlotte Harbor opened in December 2023. Its success will depend on our ability to attract sufficient hotel occupancy through groups and transient bookings at acceptable daily rates and to profitably operate our food and beverage options.

A brief description of the items included in our operating expense line items follows.

Aircraft fuel expense includes the cost of aircraft fuel, fuel taxes, into plane fees and airport fuel flowage, storage or through-put fees.

 

Salaries and benefits expense includes wages, salaries, and employee bonuses, sales commissions for in-flight personnel and Sunseeker Resort personnel, as well as expenses associated with employee benefit plans, stock compensation expense related to equity grants, and employer payroll taxes. The CARES Act employee retention tax credit was recorded as an offset to salaries and benefits expense in both 2021 and 2022.

Station operations expense includes the fees charged by airports for the use or lease of airport facilities and fees charged by third party vendors for ground handling services, commissary expenses, and other related services. Station operations expense also includes most of our irregular operations costs.

Depreciation and amortization expense includes the depreciation of all owned fixed assets, including aircraft and engines, Sunseeker Resort assets, and assets recorded in connection with finance leases. Also included is the amortization of major maintenance expenses on our aircraft and engines, which are capitalized under the deferral method of accounting and amortized as a component of depreciation and amortization expense over the estimated period until the next scheduled major maintenance event.

 

Maintenance and repairs expense includes all parts, materials and spares required to maintain our aircraft. Also included are fees for repairs performed by third party vendors.

Sales and marketing expense includes all advertising, promotional expenses, sponsorships, travel agent commissions, debit and credit card processing fees associated with the sale of scheduled service and air-related ancillary charges, costs related to advertising and marketing for the Sunseeker Resort, and credit card processing fees for Resort bookings.

Aircraft lease rentals expense consists of the cost of leasing aircraft under operating leases with third parties as well as the cost for sub-service which may be utilized in order to accommodate passengers in the event of operational disruption.

 

Other expense includes travel and training expenses for crews and ground personnel, facility lease expenses, professional fees, personal property taxes, information technology consulting, other expenses for non-airline initiatives (including Sunseeker Resort, and the now discontinued Allegiant Nonstop family entertainment centers and Teesnap), the cost of passenger liability insurance, aircraft hull insurance and all other insurance policies, excluding employee welfare insurance. Additionally, this expense includes gain and loss on disposals of aircraft and other equipment disposals, and all other administrative and operational overhead expenses not included in other line items above.

Special charges include charges taken in 2023 for accelerated retirements of 21 airframes for early retirement to coincide with planned 737 MAX aircraft deliveries. Other special charges in 2023 and the special charges in 2022 relate to the estimated loss incurred by Sunseeker from the impact of Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Idalia and subsequent insured losses. The amounts of the Sunseeker special charges are offset by amounts recovered under our insurance policies.

Passenger revenue. Passenger revenue increased 8.7 percent in 2023 compared with 2022 as scheduled service passengers increased by 3.1 percent on a 1.7 percent increase in departures. In addition, stronger passenger demand resulted in a 3.5 percent increase in scheduled service base fares in 2023 compared to 2022. Ancillary air-related revenues also increased by 10.9 percent in 2023 over 2022.

Third party products revenue. Third party products revenue for 2023 increased 11.5 percent over 2022. The increase was primarily the result of an increase in marketing revenue from our co-brand credit card program, offset by a 4.8 percent decrease in rental car days sold and an 11.6 percent decrease in hotel room nights sold.

Fixed fee contract revenue. Fixed fee contract revenue for 2023 increased 12.5 percent compared with 2022 as a result of a 19.8 percent increase in fixed fee departures.

The following table presents operating unit costs on a per ASM basis, defined as Operating CASM, for the indicated periods. Excluding fuel on a per ASM basis provides management and investors the ability to measure and monitor our cost performance absent fuel price volatility. Both the cost and availability of fuel are subject to many economic and political factors beyond our control. Excluding special charges and Sunseeker operating costs allows management and investors to better compare our airline unit costs with those of other airlines.

NM Not meaningful

Aircraft fuel expense. Aircraft fuel expense decreased $118.9 million, or 14.6 percent, in 2023 compared to 2022. This was primarily driven by a 17.2 percent decrease in average fuel cost per gallon offset by a 2.9 percent increase in gallons consumed on a 1.9 percent increase in ASMs.

Salaries and benefits expense. Salaries and benefits expense increased $135.4 million, or 24.5 percent, in 2023 compared to 2022. The increase is largely due to pilot retention bonuses that we began to accrue in May 2023 and other increases in crew pay, a 6.4 percent year-over-year increase in the number of full-time equivalent airline employees, and Sunseeker pre-opening expenses attributable to the hiring of more than 1,000 team members for its opening in December 2023.

Station operations expense. Station operations expense during 2023 increased $1.4 million or 0.5 percent over 2022 due to increased costs associated with airport and landing fees and a 2.1 percent increase in departures, which were offset by a decrease in costs associated with irregular operations.

Depreciation and amortization expense. Depreciation and amortization expense during 2023 increased $25.6 million or 13.0 percent including an $11.7 million increase in amortization of deferred heavy maintenance as compared to 2022 and an increase of 3.8 percent in the average number of aircraft owned and in service. Capitalized software development costs related to the implementations of SAP and Navitaire and the opening of Sunseeker Resort also contributed to higher depreciation and amortization expense as these assets were placed in service during the year.

Maintenance and repairs expense. Maintenance and repairs expense during 2023 increased by $6.0 million or 5.1 percent compared to 2022. This was primarily due to a 9.6 percent increase in the average number of aircraft in service.

Sales and marketing expense. Sales and marketing expense during 2023 increased 13.8 percent compared to 2022, primarily due to an increase in net credit card fees in 2023 as a result of an 8.7 percent increase in passenger revenue year-over-year, and due to a one-time fee to transition, and an associated relaunch campaign for our co-brand credit card. In addition, Sunseeker advertising in connection with the Resort opening in December 2023 contributed to the increase.

Other operating expense. Other expense increased by $20.0 million or 17.6 percent year-over-year, due in part to incremental increases in outsourced labor and software support associated with ongoing IT initiatives and flight crew training needed to support the onboarding of the Boeing fleet. Other expense also includes preopening expenses of $14.8 million related to Sunseeker Resort.

Special charges. Special charges of $28.6 million were recorded within operating expenses during 2023 compared to $34.6 million in 2022. The special charges in 2022 include estimated loss from property damage to Sunseeker Resort related to Hurricane Ian and two subsequent insurance events in 2022, offset by amounts recovered under the company's insurance policies. The special charges in 2023 are attributable to accelerated depreciation from the planned early retirement of 21 airframes per our revised fleet plan, which was offset by $6.4 million of net insurance recoveries (that is, insurance recoveries in excess of new losses related to the 2023 Hurricane Idalia and revised damages on Hurricane Ian and its related insurance events) on Sunseeker damages in 2023.

Income tax expense. We recorded a $41.5 million tax expense compared to a $2.5 million tax expense during 2023 and 2022 respectively. The effective tax rates for 2023 and 2022 differed from the statutory federal income tax rate of 21.0 percent primarily due to state income taxes and the impact of ASU 2016-09 related to share-based payments.

The comparison of our 2022 results to 2021 results is included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, under Part II Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

			For the Year Ended December 31,
Airline operating statistics (unaudited):			2023						2022						2021						2020						2019
Total system statistics:
Passengers			17,342,236						16,796,544						13,637,405						8,623,984						15,012,149
Available seat miles (ASMs) (thousands)			18,772,110						18,419,045						17,490,571						13,125,533						16,174,240
Airline operating expense per ASM (CASM) (cents)			12.02		¢				11.75		¢				8.21		¢				8.56		¢				9.08		¢
Fuel expense per ASM (cents)			3.71		¢				4.42		¢				2.52		¢				1.69		¢				2.65		¢
Airline operating CASM, excluding fuel (cents)			8.31		¢				7.33		¢				5.69		¢				6.87		¢				6.43		¢
Departures			120,525						118,069						117,047						87,955						110,542
Block hours			285,453						278,792						264,628						196,849						248,513
Average stage length (miles)			882						884						856						862						855
Average number of operating aircraft during period			125.2						114.2						103.0						97.4						85.6
Average block hours per aircraft per day			6.2						6.7						7.0						5.9						8.0
Full-time equivalent employees at end of period			5,643						5,306						4,432						3,819						4,130
Fuel gallons consumed (thousands)			224,996						218,606						204,689						149,479						196,442
ASMs per gallon of fuel			83.4						84.3						85.4						87.8						82.3
Average fuel cost per gallon			$	3.09					$	3.73					$	2.15					$	1.48					$	2.18
Scheduled service statistics:
Passengers			17,143,870						16,630,138						13,509,544						8,553,623						14,823,267
Revenue passenger miles (RPMs) (thousands)			15,639,329						15,224,346						11,963,715						7,626,470						13,038,003
Available seat miles (ASMs) (thousands)			18,208,820						17,909,190						17,027,902						12,814,080						15,545,818
Load factor			85.9		%				85.0		%				70.3		%				59.5		%				83.9		%
Departures			116,044						114,066						113,121						85,276						105,690
Block hours			276,313						270,516						256,991						191,732						238,361
Average seats per departure			176.3						175.7						174.2						172.8						171.1
Yield (cents)(1)			7.59		¢				7.31		¢				6.61		¢				5.88		¢				7.00		¢
Total passenger revenue per ASM (TRASM) (cents)(2)			13.38		¢				12.50		¢				9.78		¢				7.40		¢				11.28		¢
Average fare - scheduled service(3)			$	69.25					$	66.88					$	58.50					$	52.45					$	61.58
Average fare - air-related charges(3)			$	66.33					$	61.67					$	58.33					$	53.02					$	51.96
Average fare - third party products			$	6.57					$	6.07					$	6.40					$	5.43					$	4.72
Average fare - total			$	142.15					$	134.62					$	123.24					$	110.91					$	118.26
Average stage length (miles)			888						890						862						867						859
Fuel gallons consumed (thousands)			218,129						212,466						198,891						145,528						188,596
Average fuel cost per gallon			$	3.09					$	3.72					$	2.13					$	1.48					$	2.18
Percent of sales through website during period			95.8		%				96.0		%				94.7		%				93.1		%				93.3		%
Other Data:
Rental car days sold			1,377,710						1,447,708						1,361,123						1,132,173						1,921,930
Hotel room nights sold			249,933						282,854						261,158						199,059						415,593

(1)Defined as scheduled service revenue divided by revenue passenger miles

(2)Various components of this measure do not have a direct correlation to ASMs. These figures are provided on a per ASM basis so as to facilitate comparisons with airlines reporting revenues on a per ASM basis.

(3)Reflects division of passenger revenue between scheduled service and air-related charges in our booking path.

The following terms used in this section and elsewhere in this annual report have the meanings indicated below:

 

“Available seat miles” or “ASMs” represents the number of seats available for passengers multiplied by the number of miles the seats are flown.

 

“Average fuel cost per gallon” represents total aircraft fuel expense for our total system divided by the total number of fuel gallons consumed in our total system.

 

“Average stage length” represents the average number of miles flown per flight. 

“Block hours” represents the number of hours during which the aircraft is in revenue service, measured from the time of gate departure until the time of gate arrival at the destination.

“Load factor” represents the percentage of aircraft seating capacity utilized (revenue passenger miles divided by available seat miles).

“Airline operating expense per ASM” or “CASM” represents airline only operating expenses excluding Sunseeker divided by total system available seat miles.

 

“Airline operating CASM, excluding fuel” represents airline only operating expenses excluding Sunseeker, less aircraft fuel expense, divided by total system available seat miles. This statistic provides management and investors the ability to measure and monitor our airline cost performance absent fuel price volatility. Both the cost and availability of fuel are subject to many economic and political factors and therefore are beyond our control.

 

“Passengers” represents the total number of passengers flown on all flight segments.

 

“Revenue passenger miles” or “RPMs” represents the number of miles flown by revenue passengers.

 

“Total passenger revenue per ASM” or “TRASM” represents total passenger revenue divided by scheduled service available seat miles.

Cash, cash equivalents and investment securities (short-term and long-term) decreased to $870.7 million at December 31, 2023, from $1,018.4 million at December 31, 2022. Investment securities represent highly liquid marketable securities which are available-for-sale.

As of February 1, 2024, we have $275.0 million of undrawn capacity under revolving credit facilities plus another $25.1 million of undrawn capacity under a PDP financing facility and $215.7 million under a prearranged aircraft financing facility.

Restricted cash represents escrowed funds under fixed fee contracts, escrowed project funds and cash collateral against letters of credit required by hotel properties for guaranteed room availability, airports and certain other parties. Under our fixed fee flying contracts, we require our customers to prepay for flights to be provided by us. The prepayments are escrowed and are recorded as restricted cash with a corresponding amount reflected as air traffic liability until the flight is completed.

We suspended share repurchases and our quarterly cash dividend in first quarter 2020, as part of cash conservation efforts in response to the effects of COVID-19 on our business. In connection with our receipt of financial support under the payroll support programs, we agreed not to repurchase shares or pay cash dividends through September 30, 2022. We resumed our share repurchases in fourth quarter 2022 and have $75.7 million of unused authority at December 31, 2023.

We reinstituted a regular cash dividend in third quarter 2023 at an annual rate of $2.40 per share, payable quarterly.

We believe we have more than adequate liquidity resources through our cash, cash equivalent and short term investment balances, our undrawn capacity under existing credit facilities, operating cash flows and anticipated access to liquidity, to meet our current contractual obligations and remain in compliance with the debt covenants in our existing financing agreements for the next 12 months. We will continue to consider raising funds through debt financing to finance aircraft purchases and also on an opportunistic basis.

Our debt and finance lease obligations balance, without reduction for related issuance costs, increased from $2.12 billion as of December 31, 2022 to $2.28 billion as of December 31, 2023. During 2023, we borrowed $642.6 million including $352.1 million of fixed rate debt and $290.5 million related to pre-delivery deposits. During 2023, we made principal payments of $480.9 million, including a $150.0 million voluntary prepayment of our senior secured note maturing in 2024 and $171.5 million voluntary prepayment of debt secured by aircraft, of which $60.0 million was due in 2024. We also entered into a revolving credit facility in 2023 to borrow up to $100.0 million, which remains undrawn. Including this revolving credit facility, we had $275.0 million undrawn and available under our revolving credit facilities as of December 31, 2023.

Operating Activities. Operating cash inflows are primarily derived from providing air transportation and related ancillary products and services to customers. During 2023, our operating activities provided $423.1 million of cash compared to $303.1 million during 2022. This change was primarily attributable to a $115.1 million increase in net income compared to 2022 with offsets for changes in individual current asset and liability items.

Investing Activities. Cash used for investing activities was $721.9 million during 2023 compared to $491.4 million in 2022. During 2023, there was a $339.3 million increase in purchases of property and equipment, which includes a $245.6 million increase related to aircraft pre-delivery deposits. This increase was offset by a $51.9 million increase in proceeds from maturities of investment securities, net of purchases, and a $30.3 million increase in insurance proceeds from damages at the Sunseeker Resort.

Financing Activities. Cash provided by financing activities for 2023 was $212.9 million, compared to $33.1 million in 2022. The change was the result of a $220.8 million decrease in principal payments on long term debt and finance lease obligations and $102.3 million of cash disbursed to us from funds held in a construction loan deposit trust account during 2023, compared to $92.7 million of funds deposited into the construction deposit trust account (which are considered to be both cash proceeds from the issuance of debt and cash outflows to the deposit trust account) in 2022. The funds in the construction deposit trust account consisted of proceeds of the Sunseeker construction loan and insurance recoveries and were disbursed to us on approval of construction expenses submitted to the trustee. The increase in cash provided by these factors in 2023 was offset by a $213.9 million decrease in proceeds from the issuance of debt and finance lease obligations, net of issuance costs, and $22.1 million used to pay cash dividends in 2023, compared to none in the prior year.

 

The following table discloses aggregate information about our contractual cash obligations and off-balance sheet arrangements as of December 31, 2023 and the periods in which payments are due:

 

(1)Long-term debt obligations (including variable interest entities) include scheduled interest payments, using applicable reference rates as of December 31, 2023, and excludes debt issuance costs.

(2)Includes aircraft and engine acquisition obligations under existing purchase agreements. These amounts are not reflected on our balance sheet.

 

The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our financial statements based on events and transactions occurring during the periods reported. Note 2 to our Consolidated Financial Statements provides a detailed discussion of our significant accounting policies.

Critical accounting policies are defined as those policies that reflect significant judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain. Our actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We believe our critical accounting policies are limited to those described below. 

 

Allways Rewards® Credit Card Program

Under the Allegiant co-brand credit card arrangement, points are sold and consideration is received under an agreement which expires in 2031. Under this arrangement, we identified the following deliverables: travel points to be awarded (the travel component), use of our brand and access to our member lists, and certain other advertising and marketing elements (collectively the marketing component). Each of these deliverables is accounted for separately and allocation of the consideration from the agreement is determined based on the relative selling price of each deliverable. We applied a level of management judgment and estimation in determining the best estimate of selling price for each deliverable by considering multiple inputs and methods including, but not limited to, the redemption value of points awarded, discounted cash flows, brand value, volume discounts, published selling prices, number of points to be awarded and number of points expected to be redeemed.

Revenue from the travel component is deferred based on its relative selling price and is recognized into revenue when the points are redeemed by cardholders and the related service is provided. Revenue from the marketing component is considered earned in the period in which points are sold and is therefore recognized into third party products revenue in the same period.

We record impairment losses on long-lived assets used in operations, consisting principally of property and equipment, when events or changes in circumstances indicate, in management’s judgment, that the assets might be impaired and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the carrying amount of those assets. In making these determinations, we utilize certain assumptions, including, but not limited to: (i) estimated fair value of the assets; and (ii) estimated future cash flows expected to be generated by those assets which are based on additional assumptions such as (but not limited to) asset utilization, average fare, block hours, fuel costs, length of service the asset will be used in operations, and estimated salvage values.

In estimating the useful lives and residual values of our aircraft, we have primarily relied upon actual experience with the same or similar aircraft types, current and projected future market information, and input from other industry sources. Subsequent revisions to these estimates could be caused by changing market prices of our aircraft, changes in utilization of the aircraft, and other fleet events.

See related disclosure in Note 2 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.

We are subject to certain market risks, including changes in interest rates and commodity prices (specifically, aircraft fuel). The adverse effects of changes in markets could pose potential loss, as discussed below. The sensitivity analysis does not consider the effects that such adverse changes may have on overall economic activity, nor does it consider additional actions we may take to mitigate our exposure to such changes. Actual results may differ.

Our results of operations can be significantly impacted by changes in the price and availability of aircraft fuel. Aircraft fuel expense during 2023 represented 30.4 percent of our total operating expenses. Increases in fuel prices, or a shortage of supply, could have a material impact on our operations and operating results. Based on our fuel consumption during 2023, a hypothetical ten percent increase in the average price per gallon of fuel would have increased fuel expense by approximately $69.1 million. We have not hedged fuel price risk for many years.

As of December 31, 2023, we had $429.6 million of variable-rate debt, including current maturities and without reduction for $4.7 million in related costs. A hypothetical 100 basis point change in interest rates would have affected interest expense on variable rate debt by approximately $3.9 million during 2023.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Allegiant Travel Company and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and our report dated February 29, 2024 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of a critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

As discussed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, the Sunseeker Resort at Charlotte Harbor (Sunseeker Resort) was damaged during 2023 as a result of Hurricane Idalia. Based on the Company’s assessment of the damage and the anticipated future restoration costs, which approximate the carrying amount of the portion of the assets that were damaged, an estimated $23.6 million loss was recorded as a reduction to the carrying amount of the Sunseeker Resort during the year ended December 31, 2023.

We identified the evaluation of the estimated loss associated with the Sunseeker Resort as a critical audit matter. Subjective auditor judgment was required to evaluate the estimated loss and the assumption that the future restoration costs approximate the carrying amount of the damaged assets.

The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls related to the Company’s property loss estimation process, including a control related to determining the assumption that the future restoration costs approximate the carrying amount of the damaged assets. We evaluated the reasonableness of the estimated loss by obtaining a confirmation of the anticipated restoration costs estimated by the Company’s insurance- claim adjustor directly from that adjustor. We compared the confirmation of the future restoration costs from the insurance claim adjustor to the estimated loss recorded by the Company.

We evaluated certain publicly available costing indices to assess the Company’s assumption that the future restoration costs approximate the carrying amount of the damaged assets.

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2016.