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Allegiant Travel Co.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 10 new, 6 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted operating margin reached 3.1%: Adjusted operating income was $29.8M, an adjusted operating margin of 3.1%, up 3.4 points year over year on a pro forma basis. Source
  • GAAP loss, adjusted loss near breakeven: Diluted loss per share was $(0.56) on a GAAP basis, and adjusted diluted loss per share was $(0.03) after excluding special charges. Source
  • Fuel cost per gallon up 55.5%: Average fuel cost per gallon was $3.98, up 55.5% year over year; aircraft fuel expense was $293.6M, up 94.1% as reported. Source
  • TRASM up 28.3% pro forma: Scheduled service TRASM was 14.18 cents, up 28.3% pro forma, on 5.7% less scheduled capacity, the company said. Source
  • Peak-day schedule set for fourth quarter: 72% of fourth-quarter ASMs are scheduled on high-demand peak days, and MAX aircraft are expected to be 20% of combined capacity. Source

“expanding our adjusted operating margin by 340 basis points year over year on a pro forma basis in our seasonally slowest quarter, despite a more than 55 percent surge in fuel costs per gallon”

Greg Anderson, chief executive officer of Allegiant Travel Company

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
System ASMs SourceFourth quarter 2026~FlatNew
Scheduled service ASMs SourceFourth quarter 2026~+1.7%New
Fuel cost per gallon SourceFourth quarter 2026$4.75New
Adjusted operating margin SourceFourth quarter 20266.0% - 7.0%New
Interest expense SourceFourth quarter 2026~$50 millionNew
Capitalized interest SourceFourth quarter 2026(~$6)New
Interest income SourceFourth quarter 2026~$11 millionNew
Assumed tax rate SourceFourth quarter 202623 %New
Weighted average shares outstanding SourceFourth quarter 202627.3 millionNew
Adjusted earnings per share SourceFourth quarter 2026$1.00 - $1.50New
Weighted average shares outstanding SourceFull-year 202623.9 millionKept
Adjusted earnings per share SourceFull-year 2026>$6.00Kept
Aircraft-related capital expenditures SourceFull-year 2026$640 to $660 millionKept
Capitalized deferred heavy maintenance SourceFull-year 2026$75 to $85 millionKept
Other capital expenditures SourceFull-year 2026$115 to $125 millionKept
Recurring principal payments SourceFull-year 2026$205 to $215 millionKept
Aircraft in passenger service SourceYear-end 2026171Raised from 170

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Fourth quarter 2026 guidance was given, covering system and scheduled ASMs, fuel, adjusted operating margin, interest, tax rate, share count and adjusted EPS. Source
  • Guidance withdrawn: The full-year 2026 fuel cost per gallon of $3.70 given in the second quarter release does not appear in this release.
  • Guidance kept: Full-year adjusted EPS of greater than $6.00, weighted shares of 23.9 million and the full-year capex ranges match the second quarter release. Source
  • New: In October the company exercised six Boeing 737-8 purchase options for 2028 delivery, bringing total firm orders under the Boeing agreement to 56. Source
  • New: An Investor Day was set for December 7. Source

Third quarter results

  • Revenue rose 19.0% pro forma: Total operating revenue was $961.6M, up 71.1% as reported with Sun Country included from May 13, and up 19.0% on a pro forma basis. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin reached 3.1%: Adjusted operating income was $29.8M, an adjusted operating margin of 3.1%, up 3.4 points year over year on a pro forma basis. Source
  • GAAP loss, adjusted loss near breakeven: Diluted loss per share was $(0.56) on a GAAP basis, and adjusted diluted loss per share was $(0.03) after excluding special charges. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin 11.5%: Adjusted EBITDA was $110.9M, giving an adjusted EBITDA margin of 11.5%, which the company said was up 1.6 points on a pro forma basis. Source

Allegiant and Sun Country segments

  • Sun Country posted an operating loss: Sun Country segment revenue was $277.8M with an operating loss of $4.1M, while the Allegiant segment reported operating income of $14.9M, both on a GAAP basis. Source
  • Segment adjusted margins compared: The segment reconciliation shows an adjusted operating margin of 3.9% for the Allegiant segment and 1.1% for Sun Country. Source
  • Cargo revenue reported from Sun Country: Cargo revenue was $52.4M, all from Sun Country, against none in the prior-year quarter; cargo operating expenses were $59.1M. Source

“They also demonstrate our flexible business model in action as we reduced pro forma capacity by nearly six percent year over year to protect margins in a high-fuel environment.”

Greg Anderson, chief executive officer of Allegiant Travel Company

Products and customers

  • Fixed fee revenue up 7.9% pro forma: Fixed fee contract revenue was $83.6M, up 7.9% pro forma, and included $63.0M from Sun Country. Source
  • Expedia partnership adds customers: Management said the Expedia partnership is bringing new customers into the company's ecosystem. Source
  • Co-brand card remuneration rising: Allegiant Air co-brand card remuneration was $42.1M in the quarter, up 23.6% year over year excluding Sun Country. Source
  • Ancillary revenue per passenger up: Total ancillary revenue per passenger was $76.64, up 5.8% pro forma, with pricing and product enhancements cited as drivers. Source
  • Industry awards received: The company said Skytrax named it 2026's Best Low-Cost Airline in North America, its third consecutive year, and USA TODAY ranked it first for credit card and frequent flyer program. Source

Costs and fuel

  • Fuel cost per gallon up 55.5%: Average fuel cost per gallon was $3.98, up 55.5% year over year; aircraft fuel expense was $293.6M, up 94.1% as reported. Source
  • Non-fuel unit cost up 9.1%: Adjusted operating CASM excluding fuel, special charges and cargo was 9.23 cents, up 9.1% pro forma, against 8.46 cents in the prior-year pro forma figure. Source
  • Salaries and station costs rose: Salaries and benefits rose 46.3% to $287.4M, and station operations rose 59.7% to $114.0M, as reported. Source
  • Special charges of $19.1M: Special charges, net of recoveries, were $19.1M: airline special charges of $21.0M less a $1.9M Sunseeker recovery, including $18.9M of integration costs. Source
  • Maintenance and sales costs rose: Maintenance and repairs rose 49.8% to $59.8M, and sales and marketing rose 55.4% to $35.8M, as reported. Source

“Continued execution, combined with our expanding scale, creates multiple pathways to realize the underlying earnings power of the company.”

Greg Anderson, chief executive officer of Allegiant Travel Company

Margins, fares and load factor

  • TRASM up 28.3% pro forma: Scheduled service TRASM was 14.18 cents, up 28.3% pro forma, on 5.7% less scheduled capacity, the company said. Source
  • Load factor rose 2.4 points: Scheduled service load factor was 86.7%, up 2.4 points from 84.3% in the prior year. Source
  • Scheduled fares rose sharply: Scheduled service average fare was $74.27, up 50.3% pro forma, against $49.43 in the prior-year pro forma figure. Source

Capacity, fleet and demand

  • Peak-day schedule set for fourth quarter: 72% of fourth-quarter ASMs are scheduled on high-demand peak days, and MAX aircraft are expected to be 20% of combined capacity. Source
  • Pro forma capacity cut about 6%: Total system ASMs were down 6.0% pro forma and scheduled service ASMs down 5.7%, which management said was done to protect margins. Source
  • Quarter-end fleet mix: The passenger fleet at quarter end included 76 Airbus A320s and 21 Boeing 737 MAX-8s, per the fleet plan table. Source

Capital, cash and liquidity

  • Liquidity of $1.1B at quarter end: Available liquidity was $1.1B, including $864.7M of cash and investments and $250.0M undrawn under revolving facilities; $336.8M of aircraft and PDP financing commitments were undrawn and excluded. Source
  • Operating cash outflow in quarter: Cash used in operations was $211.0M in the quarter. Source
  • Total and net debt levels: Total debt was $2.9B and net debt $2.1B, with debt principal payments of $86.9M made during the quarter. Source
  • Quarterly capital spending: Capital expenditures were $135.7M, with $114.6M for aircraft and $21.1M other; deferred heavy maintenance was $19.6M. Source
  • Share count up with Sun Country: Weighted average basic and diluted shares were 26,990 thousand, up 49.5%, reflecting shares issued for the Sun Country acquisition. Source
  • Air traffic liability at quarter end: Consolidated air traffic liability was $632.5M at September 30, 2026. Source

Strategy, integration and people

  • Boeing purchase options exercised: In October the company exercised six Boeing 737-8 purchase options for 2028 delivery; 22 aircraft have been delivered and 74 options remain. Source
  • Software redevelopment amortization accelerated: Accelerated amortization of software identified for redevelopment was $1.3M in the quarter and $21.2M year to date. Source
  • Integration progress cited: Management thanked team members for their execution and continued integration progress, and said the company is building the nation's leading leisure carrier. Source
  • Full-time headcount up 39.8%: Full-time equivalent employees at quarter end were 8,210, up 39.8% from 5,871 a year earlier. Source
  • Pilot retention bonus paid: A $267.0M pilot retention bonus payment is included in the $211.0M operating cash outflow for the quarter. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 November 2026

  • Investor Day on December 7: Management plans to share integration milestones and its long-term financial framework at the Investor Day on December 7. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Passengers, total system Source5,707,095
Yield, scheduled service (cents) Source8.05
Average block hours per aircraft per day Source6.1
Operating margin, consolidated GAAP Source1.1%
ASMs per gallon of fuel Source85.7

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management cited a sharp rise in fuel cost per gallon, and reduced pro forma capacity in response to high fuel costs. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it remains confident in the full-year adjusted EPS guidance of greater than $6.00, despite elevated fuel costs. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.