Financial Highlights:
— Net income of $32.4 million compared to a net loss of $180.6 million for Q2 2024.
— Net income from continuing operations1 of $32.4 million compared to $8.5 million for Q2 2024.
— Adjusted Earnings available to Common Shareholders2 of $17.2 million compared to $1.9 million for Q2 2024, due to the sale of the RAL business and improved financial results attributable to growth at Voyageur and lower corporate costs.
— Adjusted Earnings available to Common Shareholders of $0.66 per Common Share, basic, compared to $0.07 for Q2 2024.
— Adjusted EBITDA of $51.3 million compared to $50.5 million for Q2 2024.
— Free Cash Flow of $34.6 million compared to $28.2 million for Q2 2024.
— Leverage Ratio of 1.5 compared to 1.4 at December 31, 2024, due to additional cash held at December 31, 2024 as a result of a $58.9 million prepayment of revenue relating to January 2025.
Chorus Aviation Inc. ('Chorus') (TSX: CHR) today announced its second quarter 2025 financial results.
“Our second quarter results reflect solid performance on all key financial metrics and concrete actions to return capital to shareholders, while re-investing in Chorus' growth and high-potential capabilities,” said Colin Copp, President and Chief Executive Officer, Chorus. “Additionally, we announced an agreement in July to acquire Montreal-based Elisen & Associates Inc., a leading provider of aerospace engineering and certification services as a strategic move to support future growth.”
“Voyageur's continued strong performance, combined with consistent earnings from Jazz's capacity purchase agreement (CPA) with Air Canada, contributed to these results,” added Mr. Copp. “The second quarter also included an important milestone for Voyageur, as it delivered the first of two Dash 8-300 Fireswift aerial firefighting aircraft on behalf of its customer, Metrea, a global, US-based defense and national security company. We are excited about the opportunity in this area.”
“The initiation of a quarterly dividend that we intend to grow over time with our business was a key step Chorus took to return shareholder value. Wealso completed $27.2 million in share buybacks so far this year to the end of June through our normal course issuer bid (NCIB) and a substantial issuer bid (SIB),” said Mr. Copp. “To further strengthen our balance sheet, Chorus today announced it will redeem its outstanding Series B Debentures in the principal amount of $28.7 million.”
Second Quarter Summary
In the second quarter of 2025, Chorus reported Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations of $51.3 million, an increase of $0.9 million compared to the second quarter of 2024 primarily due to:
— an increase in Voyageur's parts sales, contract flying and MRO activity; and
— a decrease in stock-based compensation of $2.4 million partially due to the recognition of the immediate vesting of certain restricted share units in Q2 2024 related to the sale of the RAL business and the change in fair value of the Total Return Swap offset by an increase in the Common Share price; and
— a decrease in general administrative expenses primarily attributable to lower overhead costs; partially offset by
— a decrease in aircraft leasing revenue under the CPA of $3.4 million primarily due to a change in lease rates on certain aircraft partially offset by a higher US dollar exchange rate; and
— a decrease in capitalization of major maintenance overhauls on owned aircraft of $1.4 million.
Adjusted Net Income from continuing operations was $17.2 million for the quarter, an increase of $6.4 million compared to the second quarter of 2024 primarily due to:
— a $0.9 million increase in Adjusted EBITDA as previously described;
— a decrease in net interest costs of $5.3 million primarily related to the repayment of the Series A Debentures at maturity, the partial repurchase of the Series B Debentures and Series C Debentures and the absence of any draw in the current quarter under the Operating Credit Facility; and
— a decrease of $2.3 million in income tax expense primarily due to an income tax recovery of $3.1 million related to non-capital loss carrybacks resulting from taxes paid on the redemption of the Preferred Shares; partially offset by
— an increase in depreciation expense of $1.2 million primarily attributable to capital expenditures; and
— a negative change in foreign exchange of $0.8 million.
Net income from continuing operations was $32.4 million, an increase of $24.0 million compared to the second quarter of 2024 primarily due to:
— the previously noted increase in Adjusted Net Income of $6.4 million; and
— a positive change in net unrealized foreign exchange of $17.6 million.
Adjusted Earnings available to Common Shareholders from continuing operations was $17.2 million for the quarter, an increase of $15.3 million compared to the second quarter of 2024 primarily due to:
— the previously noted increase in Adjusted Net Income of $6.4 million; and
— the elimination of Preferred Share dividends of $9.0 million due to the redemption of the Preferred Shares.
Year-to-Date Summary
Chorus reported Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations of $108.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025, an increase of $3.7 million compared to the same prior year period primarily due to:
— an increase in Voyageur's parts sales, contract flying and MRO activity;
— a decrease in stock-based compensation of $2.7 million due to the recognition of the immediate vesting of certain restricted share units in Q2 2024 related to the sale of the RAL business and the change in fair value of the Total Return Swap offset by an increase in the Common Share price; and
— a decrease in general administrative expenses primarily attributable to lower overhead costs; partially offset by
— a decrease in aircraft leasing revenue under the CPA of $4.2 million primarily due to a change in lease rates on certain aircraft partially offset by a higher US dollar exchange rate; and
— a decrease in capitalization of major maintenance overhauls on owned aircraft of $2.8 million.
Adjusted Net Income from continuing operations of $32.6 million, an increase of $9.2 million compared to the same prior year period primarily due to:
— a $3.7 million increase in Adjusted EBITDA as previously described; and
— a decrease in net interest costs of $10.8 million primarily related to the repayment of the Series A Debentures at maturity, the partial repurchase of the Series B Debentures and Series C Debentures and the absence of any draw in the current quarter under the Operating Credit Facility; partially offset by
— an increase in depreciation expense of $2.3 million primarily attributable to capital expenditures;
— a negative change in foreign exchange of $1.9 million; and
— an increase of $1.2 million in income tax expense primarily due to the increase in EBT, adjusted to remove non-taxable unrealized foreign exchange gains and certain non-deductible expenses partially offset by an income tax recovery of $3.1 million related to non-capital loss carrybacks resulting from taxes paid on the redemption of Preferred Shares.
Net income from continuing operations of $51.4 million, an increase of $37.5 million compared to the same prior year period primarily due to:
— the previously noted increase in Adjusted Net Income of $9.2 million; and
— a positive change in net unrealized foreign exchange of $28.3 million.
Adjusted Earnings available to Common Shareholders from continuing operations was $32.6 million, an increase of $27.0 million compared to the same prior year period primarily due to:
— the previously noted increase in Adjusted Net Income of $9.2 million; and
— the elimination of Preferred Share dividends of $17.8 million due to the redemption of the Preferred Shares.
Consolidated Financial Analysis
This section provides detailed information and analysis about Chorus' performance from continuing operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2024.
Outlook
(See cautionary statement regarding forward-looking information below.)
The discussion that follows includes forward-looking information. This outlook provides current expectations for the Jazz business in 2025 and 2026. This information may not be appropriate for other purposes.
The CPA provides a Fixed Margin to Jazz regardless of flying levels; therefore, any variations in flying are not expected to have any impact on Jazz's earnings. In addition, Jazz receives compensation for aircraft leased under the CPA that generates predictable Free Cash Flows. Jazz aircraft have amortizing debt that will be fully paid-off at the end of the original lease term under the CPA. At the end of each lease, Jazz will either extend the lease, sell or part-out each aircraft. Subsequent aircraft leases will continue to produce predictable Free Cash Flow at lower rates, however these aircraft will be unencumbered.
Portfolio of Aircraft Leasing under the CPA
— Current fleet of 48 wholly-owned aircraft and five spare engines
— Current net book value of $761.2 million
— Future contracted lease revenue US $340.5 million1,2
— Current weighted average fleet age of 9.0 years3
— Current weighted average remaining lease term of 4.4 years3
— Long-term debt of $291.1 million (US $213.4 million)
— 100% of debt has a fixed rate of interest
— Current weighted average cost of borrowing of 3.31%
Covered Aircraft
The actual and forecasted Covered Aircraft under the CPA for the years 2025 to 2026 are as follows:
Jazz has started the initial phase of an extensive cabin refurbishment program for aircraft operated under the Air Canada Express brand. This refurbishment program includes upgraded Wi-Fi connectivity, larger overhead storage bins, new lightweight seats, in-seat power supply, and refreshed cabin interiors for the E-175s and CRJ900s. In addition, a select number of Dash 8-400s will receive Wi-Fi connectivity for Toronto Billy Bishop service along with Jazz's previous announcement in May 2024 that its Dash 8-400 fleet would receive new lightweight seats as part of an emissions reduction initiative. All 39 owned aircraft leased under the CPA after 2026 are included in this passenger cabin refurbishment program with all costs associated with the program to be paid by Air Canada.
Capital Expenditures
Capital expenditures in 2025are expected to be as follows:
Use of Defined Terms
Capitalized terms used but not defined in this news release have the meanings given to them in management's discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition dated May 6, 2025 (the”MD&A”), which is available on Chorus' website (www.chorusaviation.com) and under Chorus' profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca). In this news release, the term “shareholders” refers only to holders of Common Shares.
Investor Conference Call / Audio Webcast
Chorus will hold an analyst call at 9:00 AM ET on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, to discuss the second quarter 2025 financial results. The call may be accessed by dialing 1-888-699-1199. The call will be simultaneously audio webcast via: https://app.webinar.net/QxZv6bkoemR.
This is a listen-in only audio webcast.
The conference call webcast will be archived on Chorus' website at www.chorusaviation.com under Investors > Reports. A playback of the call can also be accessed until midnight ET, August 13, 2025, by dialing toll-free 1-888-660-6345 and using passcode 45013 # (pound key).
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES This news release references several non-GAAP financial measures and ratios to supplement the analysis of Chorus' results.Chorus uses these non-GAAP measures to evaluate and assess performance. These non-GAAP measures are generally numerical measures of Chorus' financial performance, financial position, or cash flows, that include or exclude amounts from the most comparable GAAP measure. As such, these measures are not recognized for financial statement presentation under GAAP, do not have standardized meanings, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other entities, and should not be considered a substitute for or superior to GAAP results. For further information on non-GAAP measures used in this news release, please refer to Section 17 (Non-GAAP Financial Measures) of the MD&A, which is available on Chorus' website (www.chorusaviation.com) and under Chorus' profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca). Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures to their nearest GAAP measures are provided below.
Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted EBT, Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted Earnings available to Common Shareholders per Common Share
Adjusted Earnings available to Common Shareholders per Common Share is used by Chorus to assess performance and is calculated as Adjusted Net Income less non-controlling interest and Preferred Share dividends declared, excluding the MOIC.
Leverage Ratio
Leverage Ratio is used by Chorus as a means to measure financial leverage. Leverage Ratio is calculated by dividing Net debt by trailing 12-month Adjusted EBITDA. Management believes Leverage Ratio to be a useful ratio when monitoring and managing debt levels. In addition, as leverage is a measure frequently analyzed for public companies, Chorus has calculated the amount to assist readers in this review. Leverage Ratio should not be construed as a measure of cash flows. Net debt is a key component of capital management for Chorus and provides management with a measure of its net indebtedness.
Free Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP measure used as an indicator of financial strength and performance. Chorus believes that this measurement is useful as an indicator of its ability to service its debt, meet other ongoing obligations and reinvest in the Corporation and return capital to Common Shareholders. Readers are cautioned that Free Cash Flow does not represent residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures.
Free Cash Flow is defined as cash provided by operating activities less net changes in non-cash balances related to operations, capital expenditures excluding aircraft acquisitions and improvements. Following the sale of the RAL business in December 2024, asset sales are no longer considered part of the ordinary course of Chorus' business. Therefore, net proceeds from asset sales are no longer included in Free Cash Flow.
The following table provides a reconciliation of Free Cash Flow to cash flows from operating activities, which is the most comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP:
Adjusted Return on Equity
Adjusted Return on Equity is a non-GAAP financial measure used to gauge a corporation's profitability and how efficient it is in generating profits. Adjusted Return on Equity is calculated based on Chorus' Adjusted Net Income less non-controlling interest and Preferred Share dividends declared, excluding the MOIC, divided by Average Shareholders' equity excluding non-controlling interest, Preferred Shares and cash.
Forward-Looking Information
This news release includes forward-looking information and statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, “forward-looking information”). Forward-looking information is identified by the use of terms and phrases such as “aims”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “could”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “may”, “plan”, “potential”, “predict”, “project”, “will”, “would”, and similar terms and phrases, including negative versions thereof. All information and statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking and by their nature, are based on various underlying assumptions and expectations that are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual future results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking information. As a result, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information included in this news release will prove to be accurate or correct.
Examples of forward-looking information in this news release include the discussion in the Outlook section and statements regarding Chorus' future performance, the future profitability of the CPA, Chorus' growth prospects (including growth within Voyageur) and Chorus' ability to return capital to Common Shareholders. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking information for a number of reasons including: changes in the aviation industry and general economic conditions; the emergence of disputes with contractual counterparties (including under the CPA); a deterioration in Air Canada's financial condition; Jazz's inability to fully recover all Controllable Costs through Controllable Cost Revenue, Voyageur's inability to realize potential growth opportunities; any default by Chorus under debt covenants; asset impairments; changes in law; litigation; the imposition of tariffs on Canadian exports or imports or adverse changes to existing trade agreements and/or relationships; and the risk factors in Chorus' Annual Information Form dated February 19, 2025, and in Chorus' public disclosure record available under its profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents Chorus' expectations as of the date of this news release (or as of the date they are otherwise stated to be made) and is subject to change after such date. Chorus disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information as a result of new information, subsequent events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing factors and risks are not exhaustive.
About Chorus Aviation Inc.Chorus is a holding company which owns the following principal operating subsidiaries: Jazz Aviation, the largest regional operator in Canada and provider of regional air services under the Air Canada Express brand; Voyageur Aviation, a leading provider of specialty charter, aircraft modifications, parts provisioning and in-service support services; and Cygnet Aviation Academy, an industry leading accredited training academy preparing pilots for direct entry into airlines. Together, Chorus' subsidiaries provide services that encompass every stage of an aircraft's lifecycle, including: contract flying; aircraft refurbishment, engineering, modification, repurposing and transition; contract flying; aircraft and component maintenance, disassembly, and parts provisioning; aircraft acquisition and leasing; and pilot training.
Chorus Class A Variable Voting Shares and Class B Voting Shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol 'CHR'. Chorus' 6.00% Convertible Senior Unsecured Debentures due June 30, 2026 and 5.75% Senior Unsecured Debentures due June 30, 2027 trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbols 'CHR.DB.B' and 'CHR.DB.C' respectively. For further information on Chorus, please visit www.chorusaviation.com.
SOURCE Chorus Aviation Inc.
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