Saker Aviation Services, Inc. Announces Financial Results For The Six Months Ended June 30, 2016

NEW YORK, Aug. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Saker Aviation Services, Inc. (SKAS), an aviation services company specializing in ground-based services to the general aviation marketplace, today announced its financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2016.

Revenue and operating income in the six months ended June 30, 2016 of $7,031,568 and $782,368, respectively, are flat and down 10.7 percent, respectively, as compared to revenue of $7,044,851 and operating income of $876,261 in the six months ended June 30, 2015.  The initial phase of mandatory reductions in air tour activity at the Company's New York operation, which occurred on June 1, 2016, negatively impacted the year-over-year revenue comparison.  At the same time, fee payments to New York City in connection with those operations increased 38.2 percent, which depressed operating income in 2016 as compared to 2015.

"The combination of higher fee payments to New York City and the first stage of mandatory air tour reductions drove unfavorable comparisons this year as compared to 2015.  While the higher payments to the City were timing related, the upcoming second stage of mandatory air tour reductions on October 1, 2016 will continue to affect top-line results," stated Ron Ricciardi, the Company's President.  "In the second half of the year we'll experience a favorable shift in fee payments to New York, as those fees are based on gross receipts from our New York operation.  The combination of the first two stages of air tour reductions, however, will continue the anticipated pressure on operating income for the balance of 2016 and into 2017."  

The Company also reported Adjusted EBITDA¹ of $1,052,294 for the six months ended June 30, 2016, a decrease of $163,504 or 13.4 percent as compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $1,215,798 in the six months ended June 30, 2015.  Please see footnote 1 below for the Company's definition of Adjusted EBITDA, a description of why the Company uses Adjusted EBITDA and important disclaimers regarding Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP measure.  A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to the appropriate GAAP measure is also included in footnote 1.

About Saker Aviation Services, Inc.
Saker Aviation Services (www.SakerAviation.com), through our subsidiaries, operates in the aviation services segment of the general aviation industry, in which we serve as the operator of a heliport, a fixed base operation ("FBO"), and as a consultant for a seaplane base that we do not own.  FBOs provide ground-based services, such as fueling and aircraft storage for general aviation, commercial and military aircraft, and other miscellaneous services.

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "seeks," "believes," "estimates," "expects" and similar references to future periods.   These statements may include projections of revenue, provisions for doubtful accounts, income or loss, capital expenditures, repayment of debt, other financial items, statements regarding our plans and objectives for future operations, acquisitions, divestitures and other transactions, statements of future economic performance, statements of the assumptions underlying or relating to any of the foregoing statements and statements other than statements of historical fact. 

Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and assumptions regarding its business, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. The Company's actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. The Company therefore cautions readers of this press release against relying on any of these forward-looking statements because they are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future performance. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include the Company's services and pricing, general economic conditions, its ability to raise additional capital, its ability to obtain the various approvals and permits for the acquisition and operation of FBOs and the other risk factors contained under Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Any forward-looking statement made in this press release speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause the Company's actual results to differ may emerge from time to time and it is not possible to predict all of them. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

- FINANCIAL TABLES TO FOLLOW -

¹ Explanation of Adjusted EBITDA, a Non-GAAP Financial Measure

The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, as adjusted for stock based compensation expense and other income and expense items.  The Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA, which is a financial measure that is not defined by Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), is a useful performance metric because it eliminates non-cash and/or non-recurring charges to earnings.  It is important to note that non-GAAP measures such as Adjusted EBITDA should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or superior to, net income, cash flows, or other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.  A reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA is as follows for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015.

SOURCE Saker Aviation Services, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.SakerAviation.com