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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Mesa Air narrows fourth-quarter loss

Advertiser Staff

Mesa Air Group Inc., the parent of interisland carrier go!, said yesterday its fiscal fourth-quarter net loss narrowed to $30.6 million, or $1.15 a share, from $68.2 million, or $2.37 a share, a year earlier.

Revenue for the quarter fell 0.8 percent to $325.3 million as a fall in capacity was partially offset by an increase in fuel revenue. Losses from continuing operations for the quarter were $22.3 million, or 83 cents a share.

Pro forma net income, which excludes among other things the impact of vendor settlements, equity investments and a settlement with Aloha Airlines, rose 41 percent to $3.1 million.

In November, Mesa reached an agreement with Aloha's former majority owner, Yucaipa Cos., to use the Aloha name as part of settling a lawsuit in which Aloha alleged that Mesa misused confidential information to launch go! and drive Aloha out of business.

Under the terms of the settlement, Mesa agreed to make a $2 million cash payment, issue shares of common stock equal to 10 percent of its outstanding shares and provide interisland travel benefits to certain former Aloha Airlines employees.

Also as part of the agreement, Yucaipa would license the Aloha name to Mesa if Yucaipa is able to purchase the rights to the name in an upcoming bankruptcy court auction.