Wheels Up Announces First Quarter Results
Financial performance illustrates continued momentum of business transformation
Installation of Gogo high-speed satellite Wi-Fi to begin this summer
Agreement with Delta to extend
Board of Directors authorizes stock repurchase program
Commentary from
First Quarter 2025 Results
- Revenue of
$177.5 million , down 10% year over year - Total Gross Bookings of
$241.9 million , up 8% year over year - Gross loss of
$1.1 million , a$15.5 million improvement year over year - Adjusted Contribution of
$22.4 million equating to an Adjusted Contribution Margin of 12.6%, up 12 percentage points year over year - Net loss of
$99.3 million or$(0.14) per share - Adjusted EBITDA loss of
$24.2 million , a 51% improvement year over year - Adjusted EBITDAR loss of
$18.8 million , a 54% improvement year over year
"Our results this quarter show the progress we are making in our business transformation and we are pleased to see continued commercial momentum in light of more uncertain economic conditions. We remain focused on improving profitability and expanding margins by modernizing our fleet, leveraging our first-of-its-kind partnership with Delta, and delivering premium solutions for every customer journey," said
Business highlights
-
More profitable flying. The company's top priority has been to continue realigning its product, fleet and flying to better meet customer demand. As a result of the associated increased Utility and operational efficiency, Gross loss improved
$15 million year over year in the March quarter despite a$20 million decline in revenue. Adjusted Contribution Margin increased by nearly 12 percentage points year over year to 12.6 percent, due primarily to the 23 percent increase in Utility during the March quarter. -
Leading operational reliability. A key component of
Wheels Up's strategic growth plan is to deliver the industry's most reliable operation for our customers. During the March quarter, the company delivered a 97 percent Completion Rate and 85 percent On-Time Performance. As the fleet rapidly transitions to a modernized and more operationally reliable fleet, we expect to be able to drive higher On-Time Performance, Completion Rate and Utility. -
Continuing to drive value in our strategic partnership with Delta. New corporate accounts are the fastest growing segment in the business, illustrating the traction the company is seeing in its joint selling efforts with Delta. For the March quarter, corporate membership fund sales increased 13 percent year over year and represented nearly 40 percent of total membership fund sales. In addition, this summer,
Wheels Up and Delta will partner to offer customers new options for hybrid travel combiningDelta One commercial andWheels Up private flights for European destinations. Customers flying toAthens ,Barcelona ,Naples , Nice andRome will be offered seamless transitions to private jet flights and helicopter transfers arranged byWheels Up for arrival at their final destination in unparalleled comfort and style. -
Extension of revolving credit facility. The company ended the quarter with approximately
$272 million of total liquidity, comprised of approximately$171.8 million of cash and cash equivalents and a$100 million undrawn revolving credit facility. The company recently reached an agreement with Delta to extend the$100 million revolving credit facility to remain available throughSeptember 20, 2026 . -
Definitive agreement with Gogo to provide high-speed satellite Wi-Fi
. As part of its fleet modernization strategy, last October the company announced that its new fleet would be outfitted with state-of-the-art satellite WiFi. The company recently executed a definitive agreement with Gogo to install their Galileo HDX satellite Wi-Fi systems in
Wheels Up aircraft. Installation is expected to begin this summer and ramp up quickly through the remainder of the year. -
Share repurchase program. On
April 30, 2025 , the company's Board of Directors approved the repurchase of up to$10 million of shares of the company's common stock from time to time through open market repurchases or other privately negotiated transactions.
Financial and Operating Highlights(1) |
|||||
|
|||||
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
||
(in thousands, except Live Flight Legs, Private Jet Gross Bookings per Live |
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
% Change |
Total Gross Bookings |
$ 241,902 |
|
$ 224,674 |
|
8 % |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Private Jet Gross Bookings |
$ 205,293 |
|
$ 191,763 |
|
7 % |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Live Flight Legs |
10,895 |
|
11,754 |
|
(7) % |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Private Jet Gross Bookings per Live Flight Leg |
$ 18,843 |
|
$ 16,315 |
|
15 % |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Utility |
38.1 |
|
30.9 |
|
23 % |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Active Users(2) |
6,166 |
|
10,218 |
|
(40) % |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Completion Rate |
97 % |
|
98 % |
|
n/m |
|
|
|
|
|
|
On-Time Performance (D-60) |
85 % |
|
90 % |
|
n/m |
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
|
|
||
(In thousands, except percentages) |
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
$ Change |
|
% Change |
Revenue |
$ 177,530 |
|
$ 197,101 |
|
$ (19,571) |
|
(10) % |
Gross profit (loss) |
$ (1,104) |
|
$ (16,554) |
|
$ 15,450 |
|
n/m |
Adjusted Contribution |
$ 22,441 |
|
$ 2,015 |
|
$ 20,426 |
|
n/m |
Adjusted Contribution Margin |
12.6 % |
|
1.0 % |
|
n/a |
|
12 pp |
Net loss |
$ (99,313) |
|
$ (97,393) |
|
$ (1,920) |
|
(2) % |
Adjusted EBITDA |
$ (24,150) |
|
$ (49,229) |
|
$ 25,079 |
|
51 % |
Adjusted EBITDAR |
$ (18,792) |
|
$ (41,086) |
|
$ 22,294 |
|
54 % |
Net cash used in operating activities |
$ (47,924) |
|
$ (73,794) |
|
$ 25,870 |
|
35 % |
__________________ |
|
(1) |
For information regarding |
(2) |
Active Users as of |
n/m |
Not meaningful |
About
For more information, visit www.wheelsup.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future circumstances or events based on certain assumptions and include any statement, projection or forecast that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside of the control of
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures, such as Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDAR, Adjusted Contribution and Adjusted Contribution Margin. These non-GAAP financial measures are in addition to, and not a substitute for or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with
For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, see the sections titled "Definitions of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" included in this press release.
Contacts
Investors:
ir@wheelsup.com
Media:
press@wheelsup.com
|
|||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS |
|||
(Unaudited, in thousands except share and per share data) |
|||
|
|||
|
Three Months Ended |
||
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
Revenue |
$ 177,530 |
|
$ 197,101 |
|
|
|
|
Costs and expenses: |
|
|
|
Cost of revenue (exclusive of items shown separately below) |
158,424 |
|
198,260 |
Technology and development |
10,524 |
|
11,081 |
Sales and marketing |
22,161 |
|
21,437 |
General and administrative |
56,817 |
|
36,237 |
Depreciation and amortization |
20,210 |
|
15,395 |
Gain on sale of aircraft held for sale |
(6,551) |
|
(2,724) |
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets, net |
(3,289) |
|
1,963 |
Total costs and expenses |
258,296 |
|
281,649 |
|
|
|
|
Loss from operations |
(80,766) |
|
(84,548) |
|
|
|
|
Other income (expense) |
|
|
|
Gain on divestiture |
— |
|
3,403 |
Loss on extinguishment of debt |
(38) |
|
(1,706) |
Change in fair value of warrant liability |
— |
|
(28) |
Interest income |
1,148 |
|
56 |
Interest expense |
(19,880) |
|
(14,555) |
Other income (expense), net |
301 |
|
(129) |
Total other income (expense) |
(18,469) |
|
(12,959) |
|
|
|
|
Loss before income taxes |
(99,235) |
|
(97,507) |
|
|
|
|
Income tax benefit (expense) |
(78) |
|
114 |
|
|
|
|
Net loss |
(99,313) |
|
(97,393) |
Less: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests |
— |
|
— |
Net loss attributable to |
$ (99,313) |
|
$ (97,393) |
|
|
|
|
Net loss per share of Class A common stock: |
|
|
|
Basic and diluted |
$ (0.14) |
|
$ (0.14) |
|
|
|
|
Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding: |
|
|
|
Basic and diluted |
698,270,154 |
|
697,983,030 |
|
|||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS |
|||
(Unaudited, in thousands, except share data) |
|||
|
|||
|
|
|
|
ASSETS |
|
|
|
Current assets: |
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ 171,845 |
|
$ 216,426 |
Accounts receivable, net |
41,797 |
|
32,316 |
Parts and supplies inventories |
12,723 |
|
12,177 |
Aircraft held for sale |
24,767 |
|
35,663 |
Prepaid expenses |
32,011 |
|
23,546 |
Other current assets |
15,664 |
|
11,941 |
Total current assets |
298,807 |
|
332,069 |
Property and equipment, net |
333,422 |
|
348,339 |
Operating lease right-of-use assets |
35,153 |
|
56,911 |
|
219,476 |
|
217,045 |
Intangible assets, net |
92,056 |
|
96,904 |
Restricted cash |
35,218 |
|
30,042 |
Other non-current assets |
76,850 |
|
76,701 |
Total assets |
$ 1,090,982 |
|
$ 1,158,011 |
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY |
|
|
|
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
Current maturities of long-term debt |
$ 31,658 |
|
$ 31,748 |
Accounts payable |
37,872 |
|
29,977 |
Accrued expenses |
84,895 |
|
89,484 |
Deferred revenue, current |
758,231 |
|
749,432 |
Other current liabilities |
12,748 |
|
16,643 |
Total current liabilities |
925,404 |
|
917,284 |
Long-term debt, net |
382,765 |
|
376,308 |
Operating lease liabilities, non-current |
53,076 |
|
50,810 |
Other non-current liabilities |
9,620 |
|
9,837 |
Total liabilities |
1,370,865 |
|
$ 1,354,239 |
|
|
|
|
Mezzanine equity: |
|
|
|
Executive performance award |
$ 8,223 |
|
$ 5,881 |
Total mezzanine equity |
8,223 |
|
$ 5,881 |
|
|
|
|
Equity: |
|
|
|
Common Stock, |
$ 70 |
|
$ 70 |
Additional paid-in capital |
1,931,900 |
|
1,921,581 |
Accumulated deficit |
(2,202,208) |
|
(2,102,895) |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
(9,556) |
|
(12,662) |
|
(8,312) |
|
(8,203) |
|
(288,106) |
|
(202,109) |
Non-controlling interests |
— |
|
— |
Total equity |
(288,106) |
|
(202,109) |
Total liabilities and equity |
$ 1,090,982 |
|
$ 1,158,011 |
|
|||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS |
|||
(Unaudited, in thousands) |
|||
|
|||
|
Three Months Ended |
||
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
Cash flows from operating activities |
|
|
|
Net loss |
$ (99,313) |
|
$ (97,393) |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: |
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
20,210 |
|
15,395 |
Equity-based compensation |
12,661 |
|
11,211 |
Payment in kind interest |
13,050 |
|
10,123 |
Amortization (accretion) of deferred financing costs and debt discount |
1,893 |
|
(1,880) |
Gain on sale of aircraft held for sale |
(4,975) |
|
(2,724) |
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets, net |
(3,229) |
|
1,963 |
Impairment of right-of-use assets |
20,218 |
|
— |
Other |
1,678 |
|
162 |
Changes in assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
Accounts receivable |
(8,481) |
|
(5,952) |
Other receivables |
(3,437) |
|
2,113 |
Prepaid expenses |
(8,324) |
|
12,215 |
Other current assets |
(262) |
|
(4,371) |
Other non-current assets |
1,166 |
|
9,456 |
Accounts payable |
7,760 |
|
13,093 |
Accrued expenses |
(6,005) |
|
(12,211) |
Deferred revenue |
7,917 |
|
(25,145) |
Other assets and liabilities |
(451) |
|
151 |
Net cash used in operating activities |
(47,924) |
|
(73,794) |
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from investing activities: |
|
|
|
Purchases of property and equipment |
(14,704) |
|
(4,022) |
Capitalized software development costs |
(3,338) |
|
(3,540) |
Purchase of aircraft held for sale |
(3,800) |
|
(2,331) |
Proceeds from sale of aircraft held for sale, net |
33,005 |
|
25,988 |
Other |
4,950 |
|
3,508 |
Net cash provided by investing activities |
16,113 |
|
19,603 |
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|
|
|
Purchase of shares for treasury |
(109) |
|
(338) |
Proceeds from long-term debt |
9,876 |
|
— |
Repayments of long-term debt |
(18,451) |
|
(23,976) |
Payment of debt issuance costs |
(2) |
|
— |
Net cash used in financing activities |
(8,686) |
|
(24,314) |
|
|
|
|
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
1,092 |
|
(1,030) |
|
|
|
|
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
(39,405) |
|
(79,535) |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period |
246,468 |
|
292,825 |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period |
$ 207,063 |
|
$ 213,290 |
Definitions of Key Operating Metrics
Total Gross Bookings and Private Jet Gross Bookings. We define Total Gross Bookings as the total gross spend by our members and customers on all private jet flight services under our member programs and charter offerings, all group charter flights, which are charter flights with 15 or more passengers ("Group Charter Flights"), and all cargo flight services ("
We define Private Jet Gross Bookings as the total gross spend by our members and customers on all private jet flight services under our member programs and charter offerings (excluding Group Charter Flights and
For each of Total Gross Bookings and Private Jet Gross Bookings, the total gross spend by our members and customers is the amount invoiced to the member or customer and includes the cost of the flight and related services, such as catering, ground transportation, certain taxes, fees and surcharges. We use Total Gross Bookings and Private Jet Gross Bookings to provide useful information for historical period-to-period comparisons of our business and to identify trends, including relative to our competitors. Our calculation of Total Gross Bookings and Private Jet Gross Bookings may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
In
Live Flight Legs. We define Live Flight Legs as the number of completed one-way revenue generating private jet flight legs in the applicable period, excluding empty repositioning legs and owner legs related to aircraft under management. We believe Live Flight Legs is a useful metric to measure the scale and usage of our platform and our ability to generate Flight revenue.
Private Jet Gross Bookings per Live Flight Leg. We use Private Jet Gross Bookings per Live Flight Leg to measure the average gross spend by our members and customers on all private jet flight services under our member programs and charter offerings (excluding Group Charter Flights and
Utility. We define Utility for the applicable period as the total revenue generating flight hours flown on our controlled aircraft fleet, excluding empty repositioning legs, divided by the monthly average number of available aircraft in our controlled aircraft fleet. Utility is expressed as a monthly average. We measure the revenue generating flight hours for a given flight on our controlled aircraft as the actual flight time from takeoff to landing. We determine the number of aircraft in our controlled aircraft fleet available for revenue generating flights at the end of the applicable month and exclude aircraft then classified as held for sale. We use Utility to measure the efficiency of our operations, our ability to generate a return on our assets and the impact of our fleet modernization strategy.
Active Users. We define Active Users as the unique non-member customers who completed a revenue generating flight at least once in the applicable period, excluding wholesale flight activity, plus all members as of the end of the applicable period. While a unique member or non-member customer can complete multiple revenue generating flights on our platform in a given period, that unique member or non-member customer is counted as only one Active User. We use Active Users to assess the adoption of our platform and frequency of transactions, which are key factors in our penetration of the market in which we operate and our ability to generate revenue.
Completion Rate. We define Completion Rate as the percentage of total scheduled flights operated and completed, excluding customer-initiated flight cancellations.
On-Time Performance (D-60). We define On-Time Performance (D-60) as the percentage of total flights flown that departed within 60 minutes of the scheduled time, inclusive of air traffic control, weather, maintenance and customer delays, excluding all cancelled flights.
For the three months ended
Definitions of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR. We calculate Adjusted EBITDA as Net income (loss) adjusted for (i) Interest income (expense), (ii) Income tax expense, (iii) Depreciation and amortization, (iv) Equity-based compensation expense, (v) Acquisition and integration related expenses and (vi) other items not indicative of our ongoing operating performance, including but not limited to, restructuring charges. We calculate Adjusted EBITDAR as Adjusted EBITDA, as further adjusted for aircraft lease costs.
We include Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR as supplemental measures for assessing operating performance, to be used in conjunction with bonus program target achievement determinations, strategic internal planning, annual budgeting, allocating resources and making operating decisions, and to provide useful information for historical period-to-period comparisons of our business, as each measure removes the effect of certain non-cash expenses and other items not indicative of our ongoing operating performance.
Adjusted EBITDAR is included as a supplemental measure, because we believe it provides an alternate presentation to adjust for the effects of financing in general and the accounting effects of capital spending and acquisitions of aircraft, which may be acquired outright, acquired subject to acquisition debt, including under the Revolving Equipment Notes Facility, by capital lease or by operating lease, each of which may vary significantly between periods and results in a different accounting presentation.
Adjusted Contribution and Adjusted Contribution Margin. We calculate Adjusted Contribution as Gross profit (loss) excluding Depreciation and amortization and adjusted further for equity-based compensation included in Cost of revenue and other items included in Cost of revenue that are not indicative of our ongoing operating performance. Adjusted Contribution Margin is calculated by dividing Adjusted Contribution by total revenue.
We include Adjusted Contribution and Adjusted Contribution Margin as supplemental measures for assessing operating performance and for the following: to be used to understand our ability to achieve profitability over time through scale and leveraging costs; and to provide useful information for historical period-to-period comparisons of our business and to identify trends.
Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures |
|||
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR |
|||
|
|||
The following tables reconcile Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR to Net loss, which is the most directly comparable GAAP measure (in thousands): |
|||
|
|||
|
Three Months Ended |
||
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
Net loss |
$ (99,313) |
|
$ (97,393) |
Add back (deduct) |
|
|
|
Interest expense |
19,880 |
|
14,555 |
Interest income |
(1,148) |
|
(56) |
Income tax (benefit) expense |
78 |
|
(114) |
Other (income) expense, net |
(301) |
|
129 |
Depreciation and amortization |
20,210 |
|
15,395 |
Change in fair value of warrant liability |
— |
|
28 |
Gain on divestiture |
— |
|
(3,403) |
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets, net |
(3,289) |
|
1,963 |
Equity-based compensation expense |
12,661 |
|
11,211 |
Integration and transformation expense(1) |
1,183 |
|
— |
Fleet modernization expense(2) |
5,147 |
|
— |
Restructuring charges(3) |
— |
|
2,144 |
|
— |
|
3,023 |
Certificate consolidation expense(5) |
— |
|
1,138 |
Other(6) |
20,742 |
|
2,151 |
Adjusted EBITDA |
$ (24,150) |
|
$ (49,229) |
Aircraft lease costs(7) |
$ 5,358 |
|
$ 8,143 |
Adjusted EBITDAR |
$ (18,792) |
|
$ (41,086) |
__________________ |
|
(1) |
Consists of expenses associated with the Company's global integration efforts, including charges for employee separation programs and third-party advisor costs. |
(2) |
Consists of expenses incurred in connection with the execution of our fleet modernization strategy first announced in |
(3) |
Includes charges for contract termination fees and employee separation programs as part of our cost reduction and strategic business initiatives. |
(4) |
Consists of expenses associated with establishing the |
(5) |
Consists of expenses incurred to execute the consolidation of our |
(6) |
For the three months ended |
(7) |
Aircraft lease costs are reflected in Cost of revenue on the condensed consolidated statement of operations for the applicable period. |
Refer to "Supplemental Expense Information" below, for further information.
Adjusted Contribution and Adjusted Contribution Margin |
|||
|
|||
The following tables reconcile Adjusted Contribution to Gross profit (loss), which is the most directly comparable GAAP measure (in thousands): |
|||
|
|||
|
Three Months Ended |
||
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
Revenue |
$ 177,530 |
|
$ 197,101 |
Less: Cost of revenue |
(158,424) |
|
(198,260) |
Less: Depreciation and amortization |
(20,210) |
|
(15,395) |
Gross profit (loss) |
(1,104) |
|
(16,554) |
Gross margin |
(0.6) % |
|
(8.4) % |
Add back: |
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
20,210 |
|
15,395 |
Equity-based compensation expense in cost of revenue |
78 |
|
746 |
Integration and transformation expense in cost of revenue(1) |
363 |
|
— |
Fleet modernization expense in cost of revenue(2) |
3,057 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
1,402 |
Certificate consolidation expense in cost of revenue(4) |
— |
|
1,026 |
Other in cost of revenue(5) |
(163) |
|
— |
Adjusted Contribution |
$ 22,441 |
|
$ 2,015 |
Adjusted Contribution Margin |
12.6 % |
|
1.0 % |
__________________ |
|
(1) |
Consists of expenses associated with the Company's global integration efforts including charges for employee separation programs. |
(2) |
Consists of expenses incurred in connection with the execution of our fleet modernization strategy first announced in |
(3) |
Consists of expenses associated with establishing the |
(4) |
Consists of expenses incurred to execute the consolidation of our |
(5) |
Consists of amounts recovered on Parts and supplies inventory reserved during prior periods related to Parts and supplies inventory deemed in excess after revision of future business needs associated with strategic business initiatives, including fleet modernization. |
Supplemental Revenue Information |
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
Three Months Ended |
|
Change in |
||||
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
$ |
|
% |
|
Membership |
$ 9,189 |
|
$ 16,854 |
|
$ (7,665) |
|
(45) % |
Flight |
147,568 |
|
150,929 |
|
(3,361) |
|
(2) % |
Other |
20,773 |
|
29,318 |
|
(8,545) |
|
(29) % |
Total |
$ 177,530 |
|
$ 197,101 |
|
$ (19,571) |
|
(10) % |
Supplemental Expense Information |
|||||||||
|
|||||||||
(In thousands) |
Three Months Ended |
||||||||
Cost of |
|
Technology |
|
Sales and |
|
General and |
|
Total |
|
Equity-based compensation expense |
$ 78 |
|
$ 434 |
|
$ 241 |
|
$ 11,908 |
|
$ 12,661 |
Integration and transformation |
363 |
|
— |
|
500 |
|
320 |
|
1,183 |
Fleet modernization expense |
3,057 |
|
— |
|
72 |
|
2,018 |
|
5,147 |
Other |
(163) |
|
— |
|
— |
|
20,905 |
|
20,742 |
|
|||||||||
(In thousands) |
Three Months Ended |
||||||||
Cost of |
|
Technology |
|
Sales and |
|
General and |
|
Total |
|
Equity-based compensation expense |
$ 746 |
|
$ 283 |
|
$ 135 |
|
$ 10,047 |
|
$ 11,211 |
Restructuring charges |
— |
|
— |
|
1,597 |
|
547 |
|
2,144 |
|
1,402 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
1,621 |
|
3,023 |
Certificate consolidation expense |
1,026 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
112 |
|
1,138 |
Other |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
2,151 |
|
2,151 |
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