ATSG 2024 revenue at $2bn, earnings down 43%
CAM unit added nine Boeing 767-300 freighters, and placed all nine of these aircraft with external customers in 2024.
Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) reported a revenue of $2 billion for 2024 as against $2.1 billion in 2023.
Adjusted pre-tax earnings declined 43 percent to $83 million from $146.7 million in 2023, says an official release.
2024 operational highlights
*Cargo Aircraft Management (CAM) added nine Boeing 767-300 freighter aircraft and placed all nine of these aircraft with external customers under long-term leases.
*Eleven more customer-provided 767-300 freighters were subleased to and operated by an ATSG cargo airline during 2024, for a total of 27 such aircraft in the fleet at the end of the year.
For the fourth quarter of 2024, ATSG reported revenue of $517 million and adjusted pre-tax earnings of $39.8 million as against $19.8 million in Q42023.
"As previously announced, on November 3, 2024, ATSG entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Stonepeak, a leading alternative investment firm specialising in infrastructure and real assets. The company is working to complete the transaction in the first half of 2025 and continues to make progress toward completing all conditions to closing. On February 10, 2025, ATSG received stockholder approval to be acquired by Stonepeak. At this time, ATSG is working to obtain approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation."
Segment results
Aircraft leasing and related revenues decreased 12 percent for the fourth quarter and six percent for the year, the release added. "While revenue benefited from nine additional 767-300 freighter leases since the end of December 2023, these lease revenues were more than offset by the scheduled return of nine 767-200 and four 767-300 aircraft and lower lease-related maintenance revenue over that same period.
"CAM's fourth quarter pretax earnings decreased $9 million, or 44 percent, to $12 million versus $21 million for the prior-year quarter, and decreased by $51 million, or 46 percent, to $59 million for the full year. Segment depreciation expense increased by $34 million and interest expense by $12 million versus the prior year.
"At the end of the fourth quarter, 91 CAM-owned aircraft were leased to external customers, one more than a year ago.
"Fourteen CAM-owned aircraft were in or awaiting conversion to freighters at the end of the fourth quarter, nine fewer than at the end of the prior-year quarter. This included seven 767s, one A321, and six A330s."
ACMI services pre-tax earnings came in at $26 million in the fourth quarter versus a pretax loss of $2 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. "Fourth quarter results benefited from eleven customer-provided Boeing 767-300 aircraft that were added to our flight operations as well as revenue rate increases since the prior year.
"Full year pre-tax earnings were $1 million in 2024 versus $32 million in 2023, down due to reduced flying in both our customers’ delivery networks and passenger operations as well as increased costs for depreciation and amortisation, employee compensation and customer incentives compared to 2023.
"Revenue block hours for ATSG's airlines increased one percent for the fourth quarter but declined six percent for 2024. Cargo block hours increased three percent for the fourth quarter, driven by the eleven incremental customer-provided aircraft, but declined five percent for the year when compared to 2023."
Mike Berger, Chief Executive Officer, ATSG says: "I’m proud of the entire ATSG team for their focus and dedication as we delivered strong fourth quarter results, as well as safe and reliable service. We saw continued momentum in our CAM leasing business, placing our ninth converted 767-300 freighter this year with an external customer in November. In ACMI services, we saw improved profitability in the quarter, operating all ten of the additional aircraft recently provided by Amazon with sequential quarter improvements in both passenger and freighter hours flown. We once again generated significant free cash flow, with a total of $228 million for the year. We remain excited about our future with Stonepeak, and we are on track for closing in the first half of this year. We are enthusiastic about the opportunities we see ahead of us in 2025, including the delivery of our first four converted A330 freighters."
