10-Q 1 form10q.htm FORM 10Q REPUBLIC AIRWAYS 3RD QUARTER EARNINGS form10q.htm
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
__________________

FORM 10-Q
 
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
 
FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED September 30, 2007

OR

o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
 
FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM TO

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 000-49697
 
 
REPUBLIC AIRWAYS HOLDINGS INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

DELAWARE
06-1449146
(State or other jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
incorporation or organization)
 

8909 Purdue Road, Suite 300, Indianapolis, Indiana 46268
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(317) 484-6000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
_____________________
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. x Yes o No
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of accelerated filer and large accelerated filer in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one) 
 
 Large accelerated filer o 
 Accelerated filer x 
 Non-accelerated filer o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act)   rYes x No
 
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock as of August 03, 2007, the latest practicable date.

 
Outstanding on
Class
November 2, 2007
 
 
Common Stock
36,469,128
 

 
TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
Part I - Financial Information
 
 Item 1.
3
 
 
 
 
3
 
 
 
 
4
 
 
 
 
5
 
 
 
 
6
 
 
 
Item 2.
9
 
 
 
Item 3.
14
 
 
 
Item 4.
14
 
 
 
 
Part II - Other Information
 
Item 1A.
15
 
 
 
Item 6. 
16
 
 
 
 
17
 
 
Exhibit 10.39(t)*   Amendment No. 20 to Purchase Agreement DCT-014/2004, by and between Embraer-Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. and Republic Airline Inc., dated as October 18, 2007.
 
   
Exhibit 10.40(m)*  Amendment No. 13 to Letter Agreement DCT-014/2004, by and between Embraer-Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. and Republic Airline Inc., dated as of October 18, 2007.
 
   
Exhibit 10.41(a)*    First Amendment to United Express Agreement, by and between United Air Lines, Inc. and Shuttle America Corp., dated as of August 21, 2007.
  
   
Exhibit 10.45(b)*   Amendment Number Two to Delta Connection Agreement, by and among Delta Air Lines, Inc., Shuttle America Corp. (as assignee of Republic Airline Inc.) and Republic Airways Holdings Inc., dated as of August 21, 2007.
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
*A request for confidential treatment was filed for certain portions of the indicated document. Confidential portions have been omitted and filed separately with the Commission as required by Rule 24b-2 of the Commission.
 

All other items of this report are inapplicable
 

-2-


PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
  
 
REPUBLIC AIRWAYS HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
  
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
  
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
  
 
  
September 30,
    
December 31,
  
 
  
2007
    
2006
  
 
  
(Unaudited)
    
 
  
ASSETS
  
 
    
 
  
Current Assets:
  
 
    
 
  
Cash and cash equivalents
   $
183,119
     $
195,528
  
Receivables—net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $347 and $340 respectively
    
28,499
      
19,639
  
Inventories—net
    
40,611
      
31,821
  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    
12,953
      
11,411
  
Restricted cash
    
4,763
      
1,238
  
Deferred income taxes
    
9,349
      
3,467
  
 
                
Total current assets
    
279,294
      
263,104
  
Aircraft and other equipment—net
    
2,145,898
      
1,889,717
  
Intangible and other assets
    
199,950
      
192,285
  
Goodwill
    
13,335
      
13,335
  
 
                
Total
   $
2,638,477
     $
2,358,441
  
 
                
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                
Current Liabilities:
                
Current portion of long-term debt
   $
103,221
     $
86,688
  
Accounts payable
    
17,547
      
23,899
  
Accrued liabilities
    
109,567
      
92,458
  
 
                
Total current liabilities
    
230,335
      
203,045
  
Long-term debt—less current portion
    
1,682,920
      
1,482,115
  
Deferred credits and other non current liabilities
    
114,712
      
23,566
  
Deferred income taxes
    
173,074
      
140,886
  
 
                
Total liabilities
    
2,201,041
      
1,849,612
  
Commitments and contingencies
                
Stockholders' Equity:
                
Preferred stock, $.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding
                
Common stock, $.001 par value; one vote per share; 150,000,000 shares authorized; 43,461,187 and 42,708,743 shares issued and 38,174,187 and 42,708,743 shares outstanding, respectively
    
43
      
43
  
Additional paid-in capital
    
291,776
      
281,826
  
Warrants
    
—
      
8,574
  
Treasury stock, 5,287,000 shares, at cost
     (105,318 )    
—
  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
     (3,136 )     (3,877 )
Retained earnings
    
254,071
      
222,263
  
 
                
Total stockholders' equity
    
437,436
      
508,829
  
 
                
Total
   $
2,638,477
     $
2,358,441
  


See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).


-3-

 

REPUBLIC AIRWAYS HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
  
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)
  
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
  
 
  
 
    
 
  
 
  
Three Months Ended
    
Nine Months Ended
  
 
  
September 30,
    
September 30,
  
 
  
2007
    
2006
    
2007
    
2006
  
OPERATING REVENUES:
  
 
    
 
    
 
    
 
  
Passenger
   $
325,974
     $
301,314
     $
926,861
     $
828,920
  
Charter revenue and ground handling
    
905
      
1,098
      
5,025
      
6,704
  
Other
    
3,203
      
3,720
      
8,952
      
12,165
  
 
                                
Total operating revenues
    
330,082
      
306,132
      
940,838
      
847,789
  
 
                                
OPERATING EXPENSES:
                                
Wages and benefits
    
58,187
      
46,415
      
163,685
      
130,155
  
Aircraft fuel
    
71,682
      
89,766
      
216,815
      
248,426
  
Landing fees
    
14,140
      
11,382
      
39,376
      
30,468
  
Aircraft and engine rent
    
33,706
      
25,130
      
91,037
      
69,876
  
Maintenance and repair
    
36,115
      
28,953
      
95,601
      
75,856
  
Insurance and taxes
    
5,567
      
4,710
      
14,216
      
13,980
  
Depreciation and amortization
    
27,061
      
23,824
      
77,729
      
67,322
  
Other
    
26,197
      
19,398
      
75,577
      
54,675
  
 
                                
Total operating expenses
    
272,655
      
249,578
      
774,036
      
690,758
  
 
                                
OPERATING INCOME
    
57,427
      
56,554
      
166,802
      
157,031
  
 
                                
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
                                
    Interest expense
     (26,903 )     (22,942 )     (78,435 )     (66,772 )
Other income
    
3,108
      
2,633
      
9,030
      
7,247
  
 
                                
Total other income (expense)
     (23,795 )     (20,309 )     (69,405 )     (59,525 )
 
                                
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
    
33,632
      
36,245
      
97,397
      
97,506
  
 
                                
INCOME TAX EXPENSE
    
13,462
      
14,313
      
38,906
      
38,419
  
 
                                
NET INCOME
   $
20,170
     $
21,932
     $
58,491
     $
59,087
  
 
                                
NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE
   $
0.50
     $
0.52
     $
1.41
     $
1.41
  
 
                                
DILUTED NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE
   $
0.49
     $
0.50
     $
1.38
     $
1.36
  


See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).


-4-

 
REPUBLIC AIRWAYS HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
  
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
  
(In thousands)
  
 
  
 
  
Nine Months Ended
  
 
  
September 30,
  
 
  
2007
    
2006
  
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
   $
200,539
     $
167,816
  
 
                
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
                
Purchase of aircraft and other equipment
     (58,411 )     (76,807 )
Proceeds from sale of spare aircraft equipment                        
    
11,756
      
3,556
  
Aircraft deposits and other
     (36,708 )     (47,708 )
Aircraft deposits returned
    
39,903
      
21,953
  
 
                
NET CASH FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
     (43,460 )     (99,006 )
 
                
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
                
Payments on short/long-term debt
     (66,985 )     (55,270 )
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
    
8,000
      
1,904
  
Payments of debt issue costs
     (5,185 )     (4,677 )
Purchase of treasury stock
     (105,318 )    
—
  
 
                
NET CASH FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
     (169,488 )     (58,043 )
 
                
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
     (12,409 )    
10,767
  
 
                
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS—Beginning of period
    
195,528
      
162,005
  
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS—End of period
   $
183,119
     $
172,772
  
 
                
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
                
CASH PAID FOR INTEREST AND INCOME TAXES:
                
Interest paid
   $
76,170
     $
65,544
  
Income taxes paid
    
1,349
      
701
  
 
                
NON-CASH INVESTING & FINANCING TRANSACTIONS:
                
Aircraft, inventories, and other equipment purchased through financing arrangements from manufacturer
    
284,323
      
216,610
  
Refinancing aircraft debt from manufacturer to debt permanently financed
    
—
      
132,291
  
Parts, training and lease credits from aircraft manufacturer
     (7,980 )     (6,930 )
Fair value of warrants surrendered by Delta Air Lines
    
49,103
      
—
  
Engine received and other spare parts to be financed or paid
    
4,961
      
—
  

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).




-5-

 

REPUBLIC AIRWAYS HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

1. Basis of Presentation 
 
The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Republic Airways Holdings Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 included herein have been prepared, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The subsidiaries include Chautauqua Airlines, Inc. (“Chautauqua Airlines”), Republic Airline Inc. (“Republic Airline”) and Shuttle America Corporation (“Shuttle America”). Certain information and disclosures normally included in the consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although the Company believes that the following disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary to present fairly the results of operations for the interim periods presented. All adjustments are of a normal recurring nature, unless otherwise disclosed. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2007. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 15, 2007.

Revenue Recognition
 
Under the Company’s code-share agreements, the Company is reimbursed an amount per aircraft designed to compensate the Company for certain aircraft ownership costs. In accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force No. 01-08, Determining Whether an Arrangement Contains a Lease, the Company has concluded that a component of its revenue under the agreement discussed above is rental income, inasmuch as the agreement identifies the “right of use” of a specific type and number of aircraft over a stated period of time. The amounts deemed to be rental income during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 were $79,650 and $67,850, and $226,550 and $189,670, respectively, and have been included in passenger revenue in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of income.

New Accounting Standards

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statements of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and requires expanded disclosures about fair value measurements. This statement is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. We have not yet completed our assessment of the impact of this statement on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2007, the FASB released SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, a new standard that permits an entity to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. The objective of this statement is to improve financial reporting by providing entities with the opportunity to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions. SFAS No. 159 is effective in the first quarter of fiscal 2008. We have not yet completed our assessment of the impact of this statement on our consolidated financial statements.

2. Delta Air Lines Amendments

          In March 2007, Chautauqua Airlines and Shuttle America amended their fixed-fee agreements with Delta Air Lines (“Delta”). On March 27, 2007 the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York approved the amended agreements. Key terms of the amended agreements include the removal of all 15 thirty-seven seat ERJ-135 aircraft beginning in September 2008 at a rate of 2 aircraft per month, and effective May 1, 2007, an approximate 3% permanent reduction of block hour fees charged on Chautauqua Airlines’ remaining 24 fifty seat ERJ-145 and Shuttle America's 16 seventy seat ERJ-170 aircraft. In return for these amended terms, Delta agreed to surrender its warrants for 3,435,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, and the Company was granted a pre-petitioned, unsecured, general claim in the amount of $91,000 in Delta's Chapter 11 bankruptcy case. In April 2007, the Company sold the $91,000 pre-petition claim to a third party for $44,590 in cash.

As a result of the Delta amendment, in March 2007, the Company recorded a deferred credit of $44,590, which represented the net realizable value of the pre-petition claim on the approval date by the Bankruptcy Court. In addition, the Company recorded a deferred gain on the surrender of the warrants from Delta of $42,735, which was net of the write-off of the previously reported unamortized deferred warrant charge of $6,369. Stockholders' equity was reduced by $46,767, net of tax, resulting from the surrender of the warrants and their retirement.  During September 2007, after determining that the warrant transaction would not be subject to taxation,  the Company recorded a deferred tax asset and increased stockholders’ equity by $13,876, reflecting the book and tax basis difference associated with the surrender of the warrants.  The deferred credits for the proceeds of the pre-petition claim and the gain on the surrender of the warrants totaling $87,325 will be amortized as an adjustment to revenue over the remaining life of the agreements with Delta.

On August 21, 2007, the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary Shuttle America amended their Jet Services Agreement with Delta Air Lines, Inc. to provide for the replacement of sixteen, 70-seat ERJ-170 regional aircraft operating as Delta Connection with sixteen 76-seat ERJ-175 regional jet aircraft.  The new aircraft are expected to be placed into service during the second half of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009.

3. United Air Lines Amendments

On August 21, 2007, the Company and Shuttle America amended their Jet Services Agreement with United Air Lines, Inc. to provide for the operation of ten additional 70-seat ERJ-170 regional jet aircraft as United Express.  The aircraft are expected to be placed into service during the fourth quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009.

4. US Airways “Jet for Jobs” Program

During the quarter ended September 30, 2007, the Company was informed by US Airways that US Airways will recall all remaining pilots which have been made available under the “Jets for Jobs” program.  The “Jet for Jobs” program is a US Airways program that offered regional jet flight deck jobs to furloughed US Airways pilots.   The recall will occur between November 2007 and April 2008. Due to the pilot recall, the Company currently believes that the in-service dates of additional aircraft into its US Airways operations will be delayed. The delay will affect 11 ERJ-175 aircraft currently scheduled to begin service between December 2007 and June 2008. The Company currently estimates the average service delay for the aircraft to be approximately two months.

-6-
5. Risk Management

Beginning in April 2004, in anticipation of financing the purchase of regional jet aircraft on firm order with the manufacturer, the Company entered into fourteen treasury lock agreements with notional amounts totaling $373,500 and a weighted average interest rate of 4.47% with expiration dates through June 2005. Management designated the treasury lock agreements as cash flow hedges of forecasted transactions. The treasury lock agreements were settled at each respective settlement date, which were the purchase dates of the respective aircraft. The Company settled all of the agreements during 2004 and 2005 and the net amount paid was $7,472, and was recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax. Amounts paid or received on the settlement date are reclassified to interest expense over the term of the respective aircraft debt. The Company reclassified $165 and $75, and $550 and $225 to interest expense during the three month and nine month periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The Company had an accumulated other comprehensive loss relating to treasury lock agreements as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006 of $3,136 and $3,877.

6. Stock Compensation

The Company maintains stock-based compensation plans which allow for the issuance of nonqualified stock options to officers, other key employees of the Company, and to members of the Board of Directors. The Company accounts for stock compensation using the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment (SFAS No. 123(R)).

Employee Stock Options
 
In connection with employment agreements for certain key employees, the Company granted options to purchase shares of the Company's common stock with exercise prices ranging from $1.75 to $19.12. These stock options generally vest ratably over the term of the employment agreements and are exercisable for 10 years from the date of grant.  The exercise price of stock options is equal to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant.

The following option grants were issued pursuant to the 2007 Stock Equity Incentive Plan.  During the quarter ended September 30, 2007, pursuant to certain amended employment agreements, 600,000 stock options were granted with an exercise price of $19.12 which vest ratably over 12 months beginning either July 31, 2008 or August 31, 2008.  Additionally, 680,000 stock options were granted to certain employees with an exercise price of $19.12 and vest ratably over 48 months beginning September 30, 2007.
 
The Company estimates the fair value of stock options issued using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Expected volatilities are based on the historical volatility of the Company’s stock and other factors. The Company uses historical data to estimate option exercises and employee terminations within the valuation model. Dividends were based on an estimated dividend yield. The risk-free rates for the periods within the contractual life of the option are based on the U.S. Treasury rates in effect at the time of the grant. The forfeiture rate is based on historical information and management’s best estimate of future forfeitures. The expected term of options granted is derived from historical exercise experience and represents the period of time the Company expects options granted to be outstanding. Option valuation models require the input of subjective assumptions including the expected volatility and lives. Actual values of grants could vary significantly from the results of the calculations.   For the 600,000 and 680,000 common stock options granted during the three months ended September 30, 2007, the following assumptions were used in the Black-Scholes model: expected lives of, 1.9 years and 4.1 years and risk-free rates of, 4.26% and 4.21%, respectively.   The volatility used for both grants was 36.9%.  The weighted average grant date fair values were $4.47 and $6.83, respectively.

The following table summarizes the activity under the Company's stock option plans for the nine months ended September 30, 2007:
 
 
 
Shares
 
 
Weighted Average Exercise Price
 
 
Aggregate Intrinsic
Value
In Thousands
 
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life
Outstanding at January 1, 2007
 
 
1,725,577
 
 
$
12.54
 
 
 
 
 
Granted
 
 
1,735,000
 
 
 
19.01
 
 
 
 
 
Exercised
 
 
714,811
 
 
 
11.19
 
 
 
 
 
Forfeited
 
 
58,334
 
 
 
14.03
 
 
 
 
 
Outstanding at September 30, 2007
 
 
2,687,432
 
 
$
17.05
 
 
$
11,085
 
9.0 years
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exercisable at September 30, 2007
 
 
853,750
 
 
$
13.88
 
 
$
6,225
 
7.5 years

Restricted Common Shares

During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, pursuant to certain amended employment agreements, restricted shares were granted to purchase 37,633 shares of the Company’s common stock. The shares have a purchase price of $0.001 par value per share and vest ratably over 12 months beginning either July 31, 2007 or August 31, 2007. The fair value of all restricted shares granted was $700.
 
Stock Compensation Expense

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, $745 ($477, net of tax) and $1,950 ($1,170, net of tax), respectively, was charged to expense for stock compensation. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the nine month period ended September 30, 2007 was $6,426. The Company has a policy of issuing new common shares to satisfy the exercise of stock options. As of September 30, 2007, there was $8,723 of total unrecognized pre-tax compensation expense related to non-vested share-based compensation arrangements that is expected to be recognized through 2011.
 
Non-employee Director Stock Options 
 
The Company has also granted options for non-employee directors under the 2002 Equity Incentive Plan at a price equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of the grant. Each non-employee director was automatically granted options to purchase shares of common stock in May 2004 on the day prior to commencement of the initial public offering. The options vest over a 3 year period with 1/24 of the shares vesting monthly for the first 12 months and 1/48 of the shares vesting monthly over the remaining 24 months. The non-employee directors are to receive 2,500 options on the first trading day after each annual meeting of stockholders at which he or she is re-elected as a non-employee director. These options vest ratably over 12 months of continuous service. The non-employee options are exercisable until 10 years from the date of grant. During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, 15,000 stock options were granted to non-employee directors.
 
-7-
7. Net Income Per Common Share

Net income per common share is based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. The following is a reconciliation of the weighted average common shares for the basic and diluted per share computations:

 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
 
September 30,
 
 
 September 30,
 
 
 
2007
 
 
2006
 
 
2007
 
 
2006
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted-average common shares outstanding for basic net income per share
 
 
40,582,516
 
 
 
42,205,300
 
 
 
41,501,934
 
 
 
41,995,676
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Effect of dilutive employee stock options, restricted stock and warrants
 
 
285,896
 
 
 
1,333,880
 
 
 
813,020
 
 
 
1,301,173
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adjusted weighted-average common shares outstanding and assumed conversions for diluted net income per share
 
 
40,868,412
 
 
 
43,539,180
 
 
 
42,314,954
 
 
 
43,296,849
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The Company excluded 1,768,458 and 1,366,167 of employee stock options from the calculation of diluted net income per share due to their anti-dilutive impact for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 respectively. There were no exclusions in 2006.

8. Treasury Stock

In March 2007, the Company entered into an agreement with WexAir LLC, the Company's former majority stockholder, to purchase two million shares of its holdings in the Company’s common stock, par value $.001 per share, at a price of $20.50 per share, for total consideration of $41,000. The transaction was recorded as treasury stock on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. Settlement of the transaction occurred on March 21, 2007.

On August 28, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the purchase of up to $100,000 of the Company’s common stock.  The shares will be purchased on the open market or through privately-negotiated transactions from time-to-time during the twelve month period following the authorization.  Under the authorization, the timing and amount of purchase would be based upon market conditions, securities law limitations and other factors.  The stock buy-back program does not obligate the Company to acquire any specific number of shares in any period, and may be modified, suspended, extended or discontinued at any time without prior notice.

On September 4, and September 11, 2007, Republic Airways Holdings Inc. and WexAir RJET LLC (“WexAir”), an affiliate of the Company’s former majority stockholder, entered into Stock Purchase Agreements (the “Agreements”) dated as of September 4, 2007 and September 11, 2007, respectively.  Pursuant to the terms of the Agreements, Republic purchased, on September 4, 2007, two million shares and on September 11, 2007, one million shares of its Common Stock, par value $.001 per share, from WexAir at a price of $19.20 per share and $20.20 per share, respectively for a total consideration of $58,600.  Settlement of the transactions occurred on September 7, and September 11, 2007, respectively.  

An additional 287,000 shares of the Company’s common stock was purchased on the open market on various dates during September 2007, at a weighted average price of $19.92 for total consideration of $5,700.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2007 the Company had purchased 5.3 million shares of its Common Stock, which includes 3.3 million shares under the Board of Directors’ authorized $100,000 stock buy back program.  As of September 30, 2007, approximately $35,700 is available for future stock buy-back.

 9. Debt

During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company obtained 37 aircraft, 14 of which were debt-financed and 23 leased. The debt was obtained from banks and the aircraft manufacturer for terms between 12 and 15 years at interest rates ranging from 6.46% to 7.25%. The total debt incurred for the fourteen aircraft was $284,323. 

The Company’s revolving credit agreement with a bank was amended during the three months ended March 31, 2007. Among the significant amendments, the term was extended to March 31, 2009, the revolving credit facility was reduced to $15,000 and a liquidity covenant was added. The Company’s revolving credit agreement contains restrictive covenants that require, among other things, that the Company maintain a certain fixed charge coverage ratio, a debt to earnings leverage ratio and a liquidity covenant. The Company was in compliance with the covenants at September 30, 2007. As of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the Company had no outstanding borrowings under this agreement with the bank.
 
10. Commitments and Contingencies

As of September 30, 2007, the Company has 26 ERJ-170/175 regional jets on firm order. The current total list price for these 26 regional jets is $806,000. The Company has a commitment to obtain financing for all of these aircraft. The Company also has a commitment to acquire 10 spare aircraft engines with a current list price totaling approximately $43,600. These commitments are subject to customary closing conditions.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company made aircraft deposits in accordance with the aircraft commitments of $33,200. The aircraft deposits are included in other assets. All payments were made from cash generated from operations.

In July 2006, the Company announced that it had reached an agreement to operate forty-four 50-seat regional jets for Continental Airlines, Inc. As of September 30, 2007, 24 CRJ-200 and 20 ERJ-145 regional jets were in operation for Continental. The twenty ERJ-145 regional jets were transitioned from the Company’s US Airways operations. The aircraft will be operated for terms that vary from two to five years. Under certain conditions Continental may extend the term on the aircraft up to five additional years.

In January 2007, the Company and Frontier entered into an agreement whereby the Company will operate seventeen, 76-seat ERJ-170 regional jets. As of September 30, 2007, six of the ERJ-170 regional jets were in operation and the remaining 11 aircraft will be funded by deliveries from the manufacturer.

-8-
11. Income Taxes

In July 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48 Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes - An Interpretation of FASB 109 (FIN 48). FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an entity’s financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes and prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attributes for financial statement disclosure of tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return. Under FIN 48, the impact of an uncertain income tax position on an income tax return must be recognized at the largest amount that is more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon audit by the relevant taxing authority. An uncertain income tax position will not be recognized if it has less than a 50% likelihood of being sustained. Additionally, FIN 48 provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006.

The Company adopted the provisions of FIN 48 on January 1, 2007. At December 31, 2006, the Company had $1,200 recorded for income tax contingencies for a probable loss for uncertain income tax positions. The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits as of the date of adoption was $3,500. As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, the Company recognized a $2,300 increase in the liability for the unrecognized tax benefits which was accounted for as a reduction to retained earnings and an increase to deferred tax liability. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company recorded an additional $32 and $607, respectively, for unrecognized tax benefits.  

All of the unrecognized tax benefits at September 30, 2007, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate. The Company monitors ongoing tax cases related to its unrecognized tax benefits.  If an unfavorable tax case judgment is rendered, the Company may increase its tax liability for the unrecognized tax benefits by up to $1,000.

The Company did not record interest or penalties during the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 or nine months ended September 30, 2007. No interest and penalties were accrued for payment at December 31, 2006 and 2005 or September 30, 2007. The Company would recognize interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense if they occur. The adoption of FIN 48 on January 1, 2007, had no effect on the Company’s accrual for interest and penalties.

The Company is subject to taxation in the US and various states. The Company’s tax years 2000 to 2006 are subject to potential examination by the tax authorities.

12. Subsequent Event
   
In October 2007, the Company increased its ERJ-170/175 regional jets on firm order by an additional 11 ERJ-170/175 regional jets, bringing the total on firm order up to 37.  The current total list price for these 37 regional jets is $1,147,000.

On October 26, 2007, the Company entered into an agreement with WexAir RJET LLC, the Company’s former majority stockholder, to purchase 1,555,000 shares of its holdings in the Company’s common stock, par value $.001 per share, at a price of $20.90 per share, for total consideration of $32,500. Settlement of the transaction occurred on October 31, 2007.   Additionally, on October 31, 2007 and November 1, 2007, the Company purchased a total of 152,159 shares on the open market at a weighted average exercise price of $20.91 for total consideration of $3,186. The transactions will be recorded as treasury stock on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.    (See Note 8.)

These transactions closed the Company’s August 28, 2007 Board of Directors authorization to repurchase up to $100,000 of the Company’s common stock.  The total number of common stock shares repurchased pursuant to this authorization was 4,994,159 for total consideration of $100,000 at an average per share price of $20.02.

Item 2: Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

In addition to historical information, this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements. The Company may, from time to time, make written or oral forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements encompass the Company’s beliefs, expectations, hopes or intentions regarding future events. Words such as "expects," "intends," "believes," "anticipates," "should," "likely" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements included in this release are made as of the date hereof and are based on information available to the Company as of such date. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement. Actual results may vary, and may vary materially, from those anticipated, estimated, projected or expected for a number of reasons, including, among others, the risks discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which discussions are incorporated into this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q by reference. As used herein, "unit cost" means operating cost per Available Seat Mile (ASM).

Overview

Republic Airways Holdings Inc., (“the Company”) is a Delaware holding company organized in 1996 that owns Chautauqua Airlines, Inc., (“Chautauqua Airlines”), Republic Airline Inc. (“Republic Airline”) and Shuttle America Corporation (“Shuttle America”). As of September 30, 2007, we offered scheduled passenger service on approximately 1,200 flights daily to 112 cities in 38 states, Canada and Jamaica pursuant to code-share agreements with AMR Corp., the parent of American Airlines, Inc. (“American”), US Airways, Inc. (“US Airways”), Delta Air Lines, Inc. (“Delta”), United Air Lines, Inc. (“United”), Continental Airlines, Inc. (“Continental”) and Frontier Airlines, Inc. (“Frontier”). We began flying for Continental in January 2007 and for Frontier in March 2007. Currently, we provide our six partners with regional jet service, operating as AmericanConnection, Continental Express, Delta Connection, Frontier, US Airways Express, or United Express including service out of their hubs and focus cities in Atlanta, Boston, Denver, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Houston, Indianapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Washington, D.C. (Dulles and National).

We have established Chautauqua to operate regional jets having 50 or fewer seats; Shuttle America to operate regional jets having 70-seats; and Republic Airline to operate regional jets having more than 70-seats.
 
We have long-term, fixed-fee regional jet code-share agreements with each of our partners that are subject to our maintaining specified performance levels. Pursuant to these fixed-fee agreements, which provide for minimum aircraft utilization at fixed rates, we are authorized to use our partners' two-character flight designation codes to identify our flights and fares in our partners' computer reservation systems, to paint our aircraft in the style of our partners, to use their service marks and to market ourselves as a carrier for our partners. In addition, in connection with a marketing agreement among Delta, Continental and Northwest Airlines, certain of the routes that we fly using Delta's and Continental’s flight designator codes are also flown under Northwest's designator code. Our fixed-fee agreements eliminate our exposure to fluctuations in fuel prices, fare competition and passenger volumes. Our development of relationships with multiple major airlines has enabled us to reduce our dependence on any single airline, allocate our overhead more efficiently among our partners and reduce the cost of our services to our partners.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, Delta accounted for approximately 33% of the Company’s passenger revenues, United accounted for approximately 25%, US Airways accounted for approximately 22%, American accounted for approximately 10%, Continental accounted for approximately 9% and Frontier accounted for 1%.
 
-9-

 The following table sets forth certain operational statistics and the percentage-of-change for the periods identified below:

Unaudited Operating Highlights
                                
 
  
 
                                
 
  
   
Three Months Ended September 30,
    
Nine Months Ended September 30,
  
   
2007
    
2006
    
Change
    
2007
    
2006
    
Change
  
Passenger Revenues, excluding fuel (000)
    
254,292
      
211,548
       20.2 %    
710,046
      
580,494
       22.3 %
Passengers carried
    
4,435,108
      
3,456,979
       28.3 %    
11,820,385
      
9,340,356
       26.6 %
Revenue passenger miles (000)(1)
    
2,343,771
      
1,808,115
       29.6 %    
6,248,072
      
4,918,383
       27.0 %
Available seat miles (000)(2)
    
3,039,510
      
2,479,659
       22.6 %    
8,293,452
      
6,702,458
       23.7 %
Passenger load factor(3)
     77.1 %     72.9 %  
4.2
pts     75.3 %     73.4 %  
1.9
 pts
Cost per available seat mile, including interest expense (cents)(4)
    
9.86
      
10.99
       (10.3 )%    
10.27
      
11.30
       (9.1 )%
Fuel cost per available seat mile
    
2.36
      
3.62
       (34.8 )%    
2.61
      
3.71
       (29.6 )%
Cost per available seat mile, excluding fuel expense (cents)
    
7.50
      
7.37
       1.8 %    
7.66
      
7.60
       0.8 %
Operating Aircraft at period end:
                                                
37-50 seat regional jets
    
118
      
95
       24.2 %    
118
      
95
       24.2 %
70+ seat regional jets
    
93
      
75
       24.0 %    
93
      
75
       24.0 %
Block hours(5)
    
176,623
      
149,288
       18.3 %    
492,241
      
407,540
       20.8 %
Departures
    
100,168
      
86,093
       16.3 %    
276,532
      
234,123
       18.1 %
Average daily utilization of each aircraft (hours)(6)
    
10.3
      
10.5
       (1.9 )%    
10.3
      
10.3
       0.0 %
Average aircraft stage length (miles)
    
523
      
512
       2.1 %    
522
      
517
       1.0 %

(1)  
Revenue passenger miles are the number of scheduled miles flown by revenue passengers.
(2)  
Available seat miles are the number of seats available for passengers multiplied by the number of scheduled miles those seats are flown.
(3)  
Revenue passenger miles divided by available seat miles.
(4)  
Total operating and interest expenses divided by available seat miles.
(5)  
Hours from takeoff to landing, including taxi time.
(6)  
Average number of hours per day that an aircraft flown in revenue service is operated (from gate departure to gate arrival).

-10-
Results of Operations

Three Months Ended September 30, 2007 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2006

Net income in 2007 decreased by 8.0%, or $1.8 million, to $20.2 million in 2007 compared to $21.9 million in 2006.  The decrease in net income is due to the impact of elevated pilot attrition levels during 2007, which resulted in reduced scheduled operations, an increase in pilot training expenses and unreimbursed aircraft costs totaling approximately $4.2 million, net of tax, for the quarter.

Operating revenue in 2007 increased by 7.8%, or $24.0 million, to $330.1 million in 2007 compared to $306.1 million in 2006. Excluding reimbursement for fuel expense, which is a pass-through cost to our partners, passenger revenues increased 20.2% for the third quarter of 2007.  The increase was due to revenue earned from 45 regional jets that were added to fixed-fee revenue service since September 30, 2006. Twenty-four 50-seat CRJs were added for Continental, fifteen ERJ-175 regional jets were added for US Airways, and six ERJ-170 regional jets were added for Frontier. Of the 45 aircraft added to fixed-fee service, three ERJ-170 regional jets were on short-term assignment as of September 30, 2006.
 

The following table sets forth information regarding the Company’s expense components for the three months ended September 30, 2007. Individual expense components are also expressed in cents per ASM.

 
 
Three Months ended September 30,
 
   
2007
    
2006
  
 
 
Amount
 
 
Cents
per ASM
 
 
Amount
 
 
Cents
per ASM
 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
OPERATING EXPENSES:
                        
Wages and benefits
 
 $
58,187
 
 
 
1.91
 
 
 $
46,415
 
 
 
1.87
 
Aircraft fuel
 
 
71,682
 
 
 
2.36
 
 
 
89,766
 
 
 
3.62
 
Landing fees
 
 
14,140
 
 
 
0.47
 
 
 
11,382
 
 
 
0.46
 
Aircraft and engine rent
 
 
33,706
 
 
 
1.11
 
 
 
25,130
 
 
 
1.01
 
Maintenance and repair
 
 
36,115
 
 
 
1.19
 
 
 
28,953
 
 
 
1.17
 
Insurance and taxes
 
 
5,567
 
 
 
0.18
 
 
 
4,710
 
 
 
0.19
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
 
27,061
 
 
 
0.89
 
 
 
23,824
 
 
 
0.96
 
Other
 
 
26,197
 
 
 
0.86
 
 
 
19,398
 
 
 
0.78
 
Total operating expenses
 
 
272,655
 
 
 
8.97
 
 
 
249,578
 
 
 
10.06
 
                                 
Interest expense
 
 
26,903
 
 
 
0.89
 
 
 
22,942
 
 
 
0.93
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
Total operating expenses and interest expense
 
 
299,558
 
 
 
9.86
 
 
 
272,520
 
 
 
10.99
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total operating expenses and interest expense less fuel
  
$
227,876
      
7.50
    
$
182,754
      
7.37
  


Total operating and interest expenses increased by 9.9% or $27.0 million, to $299.6 million in 2007 compared to $272.5 million in 2006 due to the increase in flight operations. The unit cost on total operating and interest expenses, excluding fuel charges, increased 1.8% to 7.5¢ in 2007 from 7.4¢ in 2006.  Factors relating to the change in operating expenses are discussed below.

Wages and benefits increased by 25.4%, or $11.8 million, to $58.2 million for 2007 compared to $46.4 million for 2006. The increase was due mainly to an $8.5 million increase in flight crew and maintenance operations wage expense to support the increase in regional jet operations and a $2.0 million increase in related employee benefit costs resulting from the additional wage expense and increased costs for employee welfare programs.  We recorded stock based compensation expense of $0.7 million in 2007 compared to $0.3 million in 2006. The cost per available seat mile remained unchanged at 1.9¢.

Aircraft fuel expense decreased 20.1%, or $18.1 million, to $71.7 million for 2007 compared to $89.8 million for 2006 due to a 25% decrease in the amount of gallons consumed partially offset by a 7.0% increase in the average price per gallon from $2.30 in 2006 to $2.46 in 2007.  Beginning in January 2007, we did not record fuel expense and the related revenue for a portion of the United operations, because United began paying for fuel directly at certain airports.  We also do not pay for or record fuel expense and the related revenue for Continental, Frontier, or US Airways operations.  The unit cost decreased from 3.6¢ in 2006 to 2.4¢ in 2007.
 
Landing fees increased by 24.2%, or $2.8 million, to $14.1 million in 2007 compared to $11.4 million in 2006. The increase is due to a 13% increase in departures, combined with a heavier average landing weight per departure caused by the additional 70+ seat regional jets.  Our fixed-fee agreements provide for a direct reimbursement of landing fees.  The unit cost remained unchanged at 0.5¢.

-11-
Aircraft and engine rent increased by 34.1%, or $8.6 million, to $33.7 million in 2007 compared to $25.1 million in 2006 due mainly to a $9.0 million increase in aircraft rents on the additional 27 leased regional jets since September 2006 and leases on additional spare engines, partially offset by the purchase of 5 previously leased regional jets in the third quarter of 2006. The unit cost increased to 1.1¢ in 2007 from 1.0¢ in 2006.

Maintenance and repair expenses increased by 24.7%, or $7.2 million, to $36.1 million in 2007 compared to $29.0 million for 2006. The addition of 42 aircraft resulted in a $5.3 million increase in long-term maintenance agreement expenses.  Additionally, repair expenses on parts not under warranty or included under long term contracts increased $1.7 million.  The unit cost remained unchanged at 1.2¢.
 
Insurance and taxes increased 18.2% or $0.9 million to $5.6 million in 2007 compared to $4.7 million in 2006.  The increase in property taxes of $1.2 million was partially offset by a $0.3 million decrease in insurance expense due to lower rates.  Our fixed-fee agreements generally provide for a direct reimbursement of insurance and property taxes.  The unit cost remained unchanged at 0.2¢.
 
Depreciation and amortization increased 13.6%, or $3.2 million, to $27.1 million in 2007 compared to $23.8 million in 2006 due mainly to $3.2 million of additional depreciation on 15 regional jet aircraft purchased since September 30, 2006.  The amortization for aircraft take-off and landing slots was $0.1 million in 2007 compared to $0.9 million in 2006. The unit cost decreased to 0.9¢ in 2007 compared to 1.0¢ in 2006.

Other expenses increased 35.1%, or $6.8 million, to $26.2 million in 2007 from $19.4 million in 2006. Pilot training expenses increased $1.5 million to support the increased operations and elevated level of pilot attrition.  Flight crew travel expenses and passenger catering costs also increased $3.2 million to support the increased regional jet operations.  Facility costs, including rents and freight costs to move and receive aircraft parts, increased $1.4 million.  The unit cost increased to 0.9¢ in 2007 compared to 0.8¢ in 2006.
 
Interest expense increased 17.3% or $4.0 million, to $26.9 million in 2007 from $22.9 million in 2006 primarily due to interest on debt related to the purchase of 15 regional jet aircraft since September 30, 2006. The weighted average interest rate increased to 6.2% in 2007 from 6.0% in 2006. The unit cost remained unchanged at 0.9¢.

We incurred income tax expense of $13.5 million during 2007, compared to $14.3 million in 2006. The effective tax rate for 2007 of 40.0% is higher than the statutory rate due to state income taxes.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006

Net income in 2007 decreased by 1.0%, or $0.6 million, to $58.5 million in 2007 compared to $59.1 million in 2006.  The decrease in net income is due to the impact of elevated pilot attrition levels during 2007, which resulted in reduced scheduled operations, an increase in pilot training expenses and unreimbursed aircraft costs totaling approximately $10.8 million, net of tax, for the nine months ended September 30, 2007.

Operating revenue in 2007 increased by 11.0%, or $93.0 million, to $940.8 million in 2007 compared to $847.8 million in 2006. The increase was due to revenue earned from 45 regional jets that were added to fixed-fee revenue service since September 30, 2006. Twenty-four of the incremental aircraft were added for Continental, fifteen were added for US Airways, and six were added for Frontier. Three of the 45 aircraft added to fixed-fee service were on short-term assignment as of September 30, 2006.

The following table sets forth information regarding the Company’s expense components for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. Individual expense components are also expressed in cents per ASM.

 
 
Nine Months ended September 30,
 
   
2007
    
2006
  
 
 
Amount
 
 
Cents
per ASM
 
 
Amount
 
 
Cents
per ASM
 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
OPERATING EXPENSES:
                        
Wages and benefits
 
$
163,685
 
 
 
1.97
 
 
 $
130,155
 
 
 
1.94
 
Aircraft fuel
 
 
216,815
 
 
 
2.61
 
 
 
248,426
 
 
 
3.71
 
Landing fees
 
 
39,376
 
 
 
0.47
 
 
 
30,468
 
 
 
0.45
 
Aircraft and engine rent
 
 
91,037
 
 
 
1.10
 
 
 
69,876
 
 
 
1.04
 
Maintenance and repair
 
 
95,601
 
 
 
1.15
 
 
 
75,856
 
 
 
1.13
 
Insurance and taxes
 
 
14,216
 
 
 
0.17
 
 
 
13,980
 
 
 
0.21
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
 
77,729
 
 
 
0.94
 
 
 
67,322
 
 
 
1.00
 
Other
 
 
75,577
 
 
 
0.91
 
 
 
54,675
 
 
 
0.82
 
Total operating expenses
 
 
774,036
 
 
 
9.32
 
 
 
690,758
 
 
 
10.30
 
                                 
Interest expense
 
 
78,435
 
 
 
0.95
 
 
 
66,772
 
 
 
1.00
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
Total operating expenses and interest expense
 
 
852,471
 
 
 
10.27
 
 
 
757,530
 
 
 
11.30
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total operating expenses and interest expense less fuel
  
$
635,656
      
7.66
    
$
509,104
      
7.59
  


-12-
Total operating and interest expenses increased by 12.5% or $94.9 million, to $852.5 million in 2007 compared to $757.5 million in 2006 due to the increase in flight operations. The unit cost on total operating and interest expenses, excluding fuel charges, increased 0.9% to 7.7¢ in 2007 from 7.6¢ in 2006. Factors relating to the change in operating expenses are discussed below.

Wages and benefits increased by 25.8%, or $33.5 million, to $163.7 million for 2007 compared to $130.2 million for 2006. The increase was due mainly to a $23.9 million increase in flight crew and maintenance operations wage expense to support the increase in regional jet operations and a $6.5 million increase in related employee benefit costs resulting from the additional wage expense and increased costs for employee welfare programs.  We recorded stock based compensation expense of $1.9 million in 2007 compared to $1.0 million in 2006.  The unit cost increased to 2.0¢ in 2007 compared to 1.9¢ in 2006.

Aircraft fuel expense decreased 12.7%, or $31.6 million, to $216.8 million for 2007 compared to $248.4 million for 2006 due mainly to a 15% decrease in the amount of gallons consumed. The average price per gallon was $2.30 in 2007 compared to $2.23 in 2006. Beginning in January 2007, we did not record fuel expense and the related revenue for a portion of the United operations, because United began paying for fuel directly at certain airports.  We also do not pay for or record fuel expense and the related revenue for Continental, Frontier, or US Airways operations.  The unit cost decreased to 2.6¢ in 2007 compared to 3.7¢ in 2006.

Landing fees increased by 29.2%, or $8.9 million, to $39.4 million in 2007 compared to $30.5 million in 2006. The increase was due to 15% more departures and a higher average fee charged by the airports in 2007. Our fixed-fee agreements provide for a direct reimbursement of landing fees.  The unit cost remained unchanged at 0.5¢.

Aircraft and engine rent increased 30.3%, or $21.2 million, to $91.0 million in 2007 compared to $69.9 million in 2006 due mainly to a $24.8 million increase in aircraft rents on the additional 27 leased regional jets since September 2006 and leases on additional spare engines, partially offset by the purchase of 5 previously leased regional jets in the third quarter of 2006.  The unit cost increased to 1.1¢ in 2007 compared to 1.0¢ in 2006.

Maintenance and repair expenses increased by 26.0%, or $19.7 million, to $95.6 million in 2007 compared to $75.9 million for 2006. The addition of 42 aircraft resulted in a $10.8 million increase in long-term maintenance agreement expenses.  Repair expenses on parts not under warranty or included under long term contracts increased $4.4 million.  Additionally, heavy maintenance, or c-check expenses and damage related expenses increased by $3.0 million.  The unit cost increased to 1.2¢ in 2007 compared to 1.1¢ in 2006.

Insurance and taxes increased 1.7%, or $0.2 million to $14.2 million in 2007 compared to $14.0 million in 2006.  The increase in property taxes of $1.0 million was partially offset by a $0.8 million decrease in insurance expense due to lower rates.  Our fixed-fee agreements generally provide for a direct reimbursement of insurance and property taxes.  The unit cost remained unchanged at 0.2¢.

Depreciation and amortization increased 15.5%, or $10.4 million, to $77.7 million in 2007 compared to $67.3 million in 2006 due mainly to $9.5 million of additional depreciation on 15 regional jet aircraft purchased since September 30, 2006 and the depreciation of 5 regional jets purchased off of lease in the third quarter of 2006. The amortization for aircraft take-off and landing slots was $0.3 million in 2007 compared to $2.8 million in 2006.  The unit cost decreased to 0.9¢ in 2007 compared to 1.0¢ in 2006.

Other expenses increased 38.2%, or $20.9 million, to $75.6 million in 2007 from $54.7 million in 2006. Pilot training expenses increased $5.0 million to support the increased operations and elevated level of pilot attrition.  Flight crew travel expenses and passenger catering costs also increased $9.7 million to support the increased regional jet operations. Facility costs, including rents and freight costs to move and receive aircraft parts, increased $2.9 million.  The unit cost increased to 0.9¢ in 2007 compared to 0.8¢ in 2006.

Interest expense increased 17.5% or $11.7 million, to $78.4 million in 2007 from $66.8 million in 2006 primarily due to interest on debt related to the purchase of 15 additional regional jet aircraft since September 30, 2006. The weighted average interest rate increased to 6.3% in 2007 from 6.0% in 2006. The unit cost remained unchanged at 1.0¢.

We incurred income tax expense of $38.9 million during 2007, compared to $38.4 million in 2006. The effective tax rate for 2007 of 39.9% is higher than the statutory rate due to state income taxes.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
Historically, the Company has used internally generated funds, third-party financing and funds generated from common stock offerings to meet its working capital and capital expenditure requirements. As of September 30, 2007, the Company had $183.1 million in cash and cash equivalents and a working capital surplus of $49.0 million.
 
During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company obtained 37 aircraft, 14 of which were debt-financed and 23 leased. The total debt incurred for the eight purchased aircraft was $284.3 million.
 
Net cash from operating activities was $200.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. Net cash from operating activities consists primarily of net income of $58.5 million, the receipt of the Delta pre-petition claim of $44.6 million, adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities consisting of depreciation and amortization of $77.8 million, the changes in deferred income taxes of $38.0 million, amortization of debt issuance costs and other of $3.2 million, and the effects of changes in certain assets and liabilities consisting of increases in accounts receivable of $8.9 million, prepaid and other current assets of $1.5 million, inventory of $8.8 million, other assets of $13.8 million, offset by an increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $11.4 million.
 
Net cash used by investing activities was $(43.5) million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. The net cash used by investing activities consists of the down payments made to purchase 14 regional jet aircraft and the purchase of aircraft related equipment, offset by deposits returned for delivered aircraft and proceeds from sale of equipment.
 
Net cash used by financing activities was $(169.5) million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. The net cash used by financing activities included the Company’s purchase of its common stock for $(105.3) million, scheduled debt payments and debt issuance costs payments of $(72.2) million offset by $8.0 million of proceeds from the exercise of employee stock options.
 
The Company currently anticipates that its available cash resources, cash generated from operations and anticipated third-party financing arrangements will be sufficient to meet its anticipated working capital and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next 12 months.

-13-
Aircraft Leases and Other Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
 
The Company has significant obligations for aircraft that are classified as operating leases, and are not reflected as liabilities on its balance sheet. These leases expire between 2009 and 2022. As of September 30, 2007, the Company’s total mandatory payments under operating leases aggregated approximately $1.2 billion and total minimum annual aircraft rental payments for the next 12 months under all non-cancelable operating leases is approximately $142.0 million.
 
Other non-cancelable operating leases consist of engines, terminal space, operating facilities and office equipment. The leases expire through 2023. As of September 30, 2007, the Company’s total mandatory payments under other non-cancelable operating leases aggregated approximately $115.6 million. Total minimum annual other rental payments for the next 12 months are approximately $11.1 million. 

Purchase Commitments

The Company has substantial commitments for capital expenditures, including the acquisition of new aircraft. The Company intends to finance these aircraft through long-term loans or lease arrangements, although there can be no assurance the Company will be able to do so.

As of September 30, 2007, the Company has a commitment to purchase 26 additional ERJ-170/175 regional jets. The current total list price of the 26 regional jets is approximately $806.0 million.   During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company made aircraft deposits in accordance with the aircraft commitments of $33.2 million. The Company also has a commitment to acquire 10 spare aircraft engines with a current list price of approximately $43.5 million. These commitments are subject to customary closing conditions.

 In July 2006, the Company announced that it had reached an agreement to operate forty-four 50-seat regional jets for Continental Airlines, Inc. As of September 30, 2007, 24 CRJ-200 and 20 ERJ-145 regional jets were in operation for Continental. The twenty ERJ-145 regional jets were transitioned from the Company’s US Airways operations. The aircraft will be operated for terms that vary from two to five years. Under certain conditions Continental may extend the term on the aircraft up to five additional years.

In January 2007, the Company and Frontier entered into an agreement whereby the Company will operate seventeen, 76-seat ERJ-170 regional jets. As of September 30, 2007, six of the ERJ-170 regional jets were in operation and the remaining 11 aircraft will be funded by deliveries from the manufacturer.
 
In August the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary Shuttle America amended their Jet Services Agreement with Delta Air Lines, Inc. to provide for the replacement of sixteen, 70-seat ERJ-170 regional aircraft operating as Delta Connection with sixteen 76-seat ERJ-175 regional jet aircraft.  The new aircraft are expected to be placed into service during the second half of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009.

In August the Company and Shuttle America amended their Jet Services Agreement with United Air Lines, Inc. to provide for the operation of ten additional 70-seat ERJ-170 regional jet aircraft as United Express.  The aircraft are expected to be placed into service during the fourth quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009.

The Company’s commercial commitments at September 30, 2007 include letters of credit totaling $12.3 million expiring within one year.
 
The Company anticipates cash payments for interest for the year ended 2007 to be approximately $106.3 million, and the Company does not anticipate significant tax payments in 2007.

Item 3: Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Interest Rates
 
The Company’s earnings are affected by changes in interest rates due to amount of cash and securities held. At September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, all of the Company’s long-term debt was fixed rate debt. We anticipate that additional debt will be at fixed rates.
 
Item 4: Controls and Procedures
 
The Company maintains “disclosure controls and procedures”, as such term is defined under Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e), that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in its Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, the Company’s management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives and the Company’s management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. The Company carried out an evaluation, as of the end of the period covered by this report, under the supervision and with the participation of its management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based upon their evaluation and subject to the foregoing, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that its disclosure controls and procedures were effective and were reasonably designed to ensure that material information is made known to them by others within the Company during the period in which this report was being prepared.

There have been no significant changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during our most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.


-14-



Part II. OTHER INFORMATION
 
Item 1A. Risk Factors

During the quarter ended September 30, 2007 the Company was informed by US Airways that US Airways will recall all remaining pilots which have been made available under the “jets for jobs” program.   The recall will occur between November 2007 and April 2008. Due to the pilot recall, the Company currently believes that the in-service dates of additional aircraft into its US Airways operations will be delayed. The delay will affect 11 ERJ-175 aircraft currently scheduled to begin service between December 2007 and June 2008. The Company currently estimates the average service delay for the aircraft to be approximately two months.

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 (the “10-K”) and Part II, "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2007 (the "10-Q"), which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. The risks described in our 10-K and 10-Q are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
 
(c)
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities (1)
 
 
 
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
        Period            
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased
 Average
Price Paid
per Share
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs
Maximum Dollar
Value of Shares that
May Yet Be Purchased
Under the Plans or
Programs
         
July 1, 2007 through July 31, 2007        
         
August 1, 2007 through August 31, 2007        
         
September 1, 2007 through September 30, 2007                 3,287,000
 $19.57
3,287,000
 $35,682,360
         
    Total
3,287,000
  
3,287,000
  
 
(1)           On August 28, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the purchase of up to $100 million of the Company’s common stock.  Repurchases for this program may be made in accordance with applicable securities laws on the open market or through privately-negotiated transactions from time-to-time during the twelve month period following the authorization.

-15-



Item 6.
 
 

 
(a)
Exhibits
 
 
 
 
10.39(t)*
Amendment No. 20 to Purchase Agreement DCT-014/2004, by and between Embraer-Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. and Republic Airline Inc., dated as of October 18, 2007.
     
 
10.40(m)*
Amendment No. 13 to Letter Agreement DCT-014/2004, by and between Embraer-Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. and Republic Airline Inc., dated as of October 18, 2007.
     
 
10.41(a)
Amendment Number Two to Delta Connection Agreement, by and among Delta Air Lines, Inc., Shuttle America Corp. (as assignee of Republic Airline Inc.) and Republic Airways Holdings Inc., dated as of August 21, 2007.
     
 
10.45(b)
First Amendment to United Express Agreement, by and between United Air Lines, Inc. and Shuttle America Corp., dated as of August 21, 2007.
 
 
 
 
31.1
Certification by Bryan K. Bedford, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President of Republic Airways Holdings Inc., pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, in connection with Republic Airways Holdings Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2007.
 
 
 
 
31.2
Certification by Robert H. Cooper, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Republic Airways Holdings Inc., pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, in connection with Republic Airways Holdings Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2007.
 
 
 
 
32.1
Certification by Bryan K. Bedford, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President of Republic Airways Holdings Inc., pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, in connection with Republic Airways Holdings Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2007.
 
 
 
 
32.2
Certification by Robert H. Cooper, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Republic Airways Holdings Inc., pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, in connection with Republic Airways Holdings Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2007.
 
 
 
 
*
A request for confidential treatment was filed for certain portions of the indicated document. Confidential portions have been omitted and filed separately with the Commission as required by Rule 24b-2 of the Commission.




-16-






Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 
REPUBLIC AIRWAYS HOLDINGS INC.
 
(Registrant)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dated: November 2, 2007
By: /s/ Bryan K. Bedford
 
Name: Bryan K. Bedford
 
Title: Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President
 
(principal executive officer)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dated: November 2, 2007
By: /s/ Robert H. Cooper
 
Name: Robert H. Cooper
 
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
(principal financial and accounting officer)
 
 



-17-