Volato 2023 Financial Results In Review:
Better late than never! It’s taken a while, but I’m slowly catching up with my 2023 performance reviews.
When I analyze fractional and branded charter providers that use flawed business models, I face a tough choice: say something or say nothing. When Avantair collapsed, in 2013, I knew they were going to fail and warned my clients. However, I regret not publicizing my growing concerns more widely!
Many of my articles are wildly unpopular with service providers, aircraft manufacturers, and some of their more opinionated employees. I can live with that because my only concern is protecting my clients and business aircraft users.
Volato 2023 Financial Performance In Review
Volato’s financial performance highlights the fundamental weakness of their business model. During 2023 they purchased relatively few aircraft, while operational losses skyrocketed. Volato reported 2023 revenues of $73.2 million and losses of $52.8 million, an astonishing performance! I disregard EBITDA, because this number excludes too many important expenses.
Volato’s HondaJet fleet grew from 22 to 24 aircraft. Flight hours increased from 5,031 to 11,273 YoY, a 124% increase. Despite increased hours, 2023 flying converts into less than 500 hours per captive aircraft. Worse, 38.8% of flight hours were consumed by deadhead! Herein lies the flaw with Volato’s business model. As the fleet grows, margins from share sales are being dwarfed by operational losses. Operational losses, in turn, are being exacerbated by Volato’s inability to charge higher fees, in a competitive market, disappointing aircraft productivity, high direct operating costs and unsustainable levels of deadhead. Operational “inefficiencies” might be trimmed, by modest percentages, but can’t be improved sufficiently to generate a profit using HondaJets, IMHO.
Volato reported 2023 aircraft sales of $21.443 million. Assuming 20% margins, they generated ~$4.288 million in share margins but lost $52.8 million. During 2022 aircraft sales hit $67.695 million. Assuming 20% margins, share sales generated margins of ~$13.539 million. Despite strong share sales, Volato reported a 2022 loss of $9.367. Put differently, and ignoring share sales, 2022 operational losses would have been ~$22.9 million or $4,552 per hour flown. Operational losses increased to $5,100 per square hour flown, during 2023. Hourly losses increased despite total flight hours doubling - a pattern I have seen before, many times. No matter how many fractional HondaJets Volato sells, operational losses will always far outpace share sale margins.
Perhaps that’s why Volato’s share price is down to $3.23 after flirting with $35.00, shortly after their SPAC flotation. Sadly, I feel a familiar combination of deja vu and inevitability surrounding Volato’s financial outlook.
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1wI worked for Hertz for 3 yrs as a transporter.I Loved the job,,we were like a small family.Then when COVID happened they laid us off.an during that time my knees started hurting,I have bone on bone.I wanted to go back to work but my knees wouldn't let me! Hertz was a good company to work for! Wish I was still there but I can't! I stop in once in awhile just to say Hi.I wish Scott Haralson good luck!