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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K


ý

 

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010

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 No. 0-14719

SKYWEST, INC.

Incorporated under the Laws of Utah   87-0292166
(IRS Employer ID No.)

444 South River Road
St. George, Utah 84790
(435) 634-3000

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock, No Par Value

         Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ý    No o

         Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of this Act. Yes o    No ý

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or 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. Yes ý    No o

         Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes o    No o

         Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in the definitive proxy statement incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K, or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ý

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer o   Accelerated filer ý   Non-accelerated filer o
(Do not check if a
smaller reporting company)
  Smaller reporting company o

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o    No ý

         The aggregate market value of the registrant's common stock held by non-affiliates (based upon the closing sale price of the registrant's common stock on The Nasdaq National Market) on June 30, 2010 was approximately $662,770,767.

         As of February 17, 2011, there were 53,908,621 shares of the registrant's common stock outstanding.

Documents Incorporated by Reference

         Portions of the registrant's proxy statement to be used in connection with the Registrant's 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Report as specified.


Table of Contents


SKYWEST, INC.

ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
   
  Page No.  

PART I

 

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward Looking Statements

    3  

Item 1.

 

Business

    4  

Item 1A.

 

Risk Factors

    18  

Item 1B.

 

Unresolved Staff Comments

    32  

Item 2.

 

Properties

    32  

Item 3.

 

Legal Proceedings

    35  

Item 4.

 

Removed and reserved

    37  

PART II

 

Item 5.

 

Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

    38  

Item 6.

 

Selected Financial Data

    41  

Item 7.

 

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

    42  

Item 7A.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

    62  

Item 8.

 

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

    63  

Item 9.

 

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

    102  

Item 9A.

 

Controls and Procedures

    102  

Item 9B.

 

Other Information

    105  

PART III

 

Item 10.

 

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

    105  

Item 11.

 

Executive Compensation

    105  

Item 12.

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

    105  

Item 13.

 

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

    105  

Item 14.

 

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

    105  

PART IV

 

Item 15.

 

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

    105  

Signatures

    110  

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PART I

        Unless otherwise indicated, "SkyWest," "we," "us," "our" and similar terms refer to SkyWest, Inc.; "SkyWest Airlines" refers to our wholly-owned subsidiary, SkyWest Airlines, Inc.; "Atlantic Southeast" refers to our wholly-owned subsidiary, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Inc.; and"ExpressJet" refers to ExpressJet Airlines, Inc., a subsidiary of Atlantic Southeast


Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

        Certain of the statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K should be considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "plan," "project," "could," "should," "hope," "likely," and "continue" and similar terms used in connection with statements regarding our outlook, the revenue environment, our contractual relationships, and our anticipated financial performance. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about our future growth and development plans, including our future financial and operating results, our plans for SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet, the anticipated benefits of our acquisition of ExpressJet, our objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts. Readers should keep in mind that all forward-looking statements are based on our existing beliefs about present and future events outside of our control and on assumptions that may prove to be incorrect. If one or more risks identified in this Report materializes, or any other underlying assumption proves incorrect, our actual results will vary, and may vary materially from those anticipated, estimated, projected, or intended. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described below in Item 1A., Risk Factors, and the following:

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        There may be other factors that may affect matters discussed in forward-looking statements set forth in this Report, which factors may also cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed. We assume no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting these statements other than as required by law.

ITEM 1.    BUSINESS

General

        Through SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet, we offer scheduled passenger service with approximately 4,000 daily departures to destinations in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Substantially all of our flights are operated as Delta Connection, United Express, Continental Express or AirTran under code-share arrangements with Delta, United, Continental or AirTran, respectively, with significant presence in Delta's, United's and Continental's key domestic hubs and focus cities. SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet generally provide regional flying to our partners under long-term, fixed-fee code-share agreements. Among other features of our fixed-fee agreements, our partners generally reimburse us for specified direct operating expenses (including fuel expense, which is passed through to our partners), and pay us a fee for operating the aircraft.

        On November 12, 2010, we completed the acquisition of ExpressJet via the merger of Express Delaware Merger Co., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Atlantic Southeast (the "Merger Subsidiary"), with and into ExpressJet Holdings, Inc., the parent company of ExpressJet ("ExpressJet Holdings"), with ExpressJet Holdings continuing as the surviving company in the merger and becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Atlantic Southeast (the "ExpressJet Merger").

        At the effective time of the ExpressJet Merger, each issued and outstanding share of ExpressJet Holdings common stock (other than shares of ExpressJet Holdings common stock owned by ExpressJet Holdings as treasury stock or shares of ExpressJet Holdings common stock owned by SkyWest, Merger Subsidiary or any other wholly-owned subsidiary of SkyWest) was converted into the right to receive $6.75 per share in cash, payable to the holder thereof, without interest. Based on the number of outstanding shares of ExpressJet Holdings common stock as of the effective time of the ExpressJet Merger, the aggregate value of the ExpressJet Merger consideration was $131.6 million. After taking into effect the number of shares acquired by SkyWest, Merger Subsidiary and any other wholly-owned subsidiaries of SkyWest prior to the effective time of the ExpressJet Merger, the aggregate value of the ExpressJet Merger consideration was $136.5 million.

        SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet have developed industry-leading reputations for providing quality, low-cost regional airline service during their long operating histories. SkyWest Airlines has been flying since 1972, Atlantic Southeast since 1979 and ExpressJet since 1986. As of December 31, 2010, our consolidated fleet consisted of a total of 710 aircraft, of which 246 were assigned to Delta, 242 were assigned to United, 206 were assigned to Continental, four were subleased to other affiliated entities, four were assigned to AirTran, three were assigned to ExpressJet's charter operations, three were designated as spare maintenance aircraft and two were subleased to other un-affiliated entities. We currently operate two types of regional jet aircraft: the Bombardier Aerospace ("Bombardier") regional jet, which comes in three different configurations (the 50-seat Bombardier CRJ200 Regional Jet (the "CRJ200")), the 70-seat Bombardier CRJ700 Regional Jet (the "CRJ700") and the 70-90-seat Bombardier CRJ900 Regional Jet (the "CRJ900") and the 50-seat Embraer ERJ-145

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regional jet ("ERJ145"). We also operate the 30-seat Embraer Brasilia EMB-120 turboprop (the "Brasilia turboprop").

        We were incorporated in Utah in 1972. Our principal executive offices are located at 444 South River Road, St. George, Utah 84790, and our primary telephone number is (435) 634-3000. We maintain an Internet web site at www.skywest.com. Our website provides a link to the web site of the SEC, through which our annual, quarterly and current reports, as well as amendments to those reports, are available. In addition, we provide electronic or paper copies of our filings free of charge upon request.

Our Operating Platforms

        SkyWest Airlines provides regional jet and turboprop service primarily located in the midwestern and western United States. SkyWest Airlines offered approximately 1,700 daily scheduled departures as of December 31, 2010, of which approximately 1,180 were United Express flights, 490 were Delta Connection flights and 30 were AirTran-coded flights. SkyWest Airlines' operations are conducted from hubs located in Chicago (O'Hare), Denver, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, San Francisco and Salt Lake City. SkyWest Airlines' fleet as of December 31, 2010 consisted of 21 CRJ900s, all of which were flown for Delta, 83 CRJ700s, of which 70 were flown for United and 13 for Delta; 142 CRJ200s, of which 83 were flown for United, 52 were flown for Delta, four were flown for AirTran, and three were used as spare maintenance aircraft, and 48 Brasilia turboprops, of which 38 were flown for United and 10 were flown for Delta.

        SkyWest Airlines currently conducts its Delta Connection operations pursuant to the terms of an Amended and Restated Delta Connection Agreement which obligates Delta to compensate SkyWest Airlines for its direct costs associated with operating Delta Connection flights, plus a payment based on block hours flown (the "SkyWest Airlines Delta Connection Agreement"). SkyWest Airlines' United code-share operations are conducted under a United Express Agreement pursuant to which SkyWest Airlines is paid primarily on a fee-per-completed block hour and departure basis, plus a margin based on performance incentives (the "SkyWest Airlines United Express Agreement"). Under the SkyWest Airlines United Express Agreement, excess margins over certain percentages must be returned or shared with United, depending on various conditions.

        On November 4, 2009, SkyWest Airlines entered into a code-share agreement with AirTran. Under the terms of the code-share agreement, SkyWest Airlines operates four CRJ200s for AirTran under a pro-rate arrangement. The AirTran code-share agreement has a three-year term; however, after May 15, 2010, either party may terminate the agreement upon 120 days written notice.

        Atlantic Southeast provides regional jet service principally in the United States, primarily from hubs located in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Chicago (O'Hare) and Washington Dulles. Atlantic Southeast offered more than 900 daily scheduled departures as of December 31, 2010, of which approximately 800 were Delta Connection flights and 100 were United Express flights. Atlantic Southeast's fleet as of December 31, 2010, consisted of ten CRJ900s (all of which were flown for Delta), 42 CRJ700s (all of which were flown for Delta) and 114 CRJ200s (98 of which were flown for Delta and 16 of which were flown for United). Under the terms of a Second Amended and Restated Delta Connection Agreement executed by Atlantic Southeast and Delta (the "Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreement"), Delta has agreed to compensate Atlantic Southeast for its direct costs associated with operating Delta Connection flights, plus, if Atlantic Southeast completes a certain minimum percentage of its Delta Connection flights, a specified margin on such costs. Additionally, the Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreement provides for incentive compensation upon satisfaction of certain performance

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goals. Under the Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreement, excess margins over certain percentages must be returned to or shared with Delta, depending on various conditions. Atlantic Southeast's United code-share operations are conducted under a United Express Agreement pursuant to which Atlantic Southeast is paid primarily on a fee-per-completed block hour and departure basis, plus a margin based on performance incentives (the "Atlantic Southeast United Express Agreement"). Under the Atlantic Southeast United Express Agreement, excess margins over certain percentages must be returned or shared with United, depending on various conditions.

        ExpressJet provides regional jet service principally in the United States, primarily from hubs located in Cleveland, Newark, Houston, Chicago (O'Hare) and Washington Dulles. ExpressJet offered more than 1,300 daily scheduled departures as of December 31, 2010, of which approximately 1,050 were Continental Express flights and 250 were United Express flights. ExpressJet's fleet as of December 31, 2010 consisted of 244 ERJ145s 206 of which were flown for Continental, 35 of which were flown for United and three of which were used for charter operations. ExpressJet's Continental and United code-share operations are conducted under a Capacity Purchase Agreement executed between ExpressJet and Continental ("Continental CPA") and a United Express Agreement executed between ExpressJet and United ("ExpressJet United Express Agreement") pursuant to which ExpressJet is paid by Continental or United, as applicable, primarily on a fee-per-completed block hour and departure basis, plus a margin based on performance incentives.

Competition and Economic Conditions

        The airline industry is highly competitive. SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet compete principally with other code-sharing regional airlines, but also with regional airlines operating without code-share agreements, as well as low-cost carriers and major airlines. The combined operations of SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet extend throughout most major geographic markets in the United States. Our competition includes, therefore, nearly every other domestic regional airline, and to a certain extent, most major and low-cost domestic carriers. The primary competitors of SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet among regional airlines with code-share arrangements include Air Wisconsin Airlines Corporation, American Eagle Airlines, Inc. ("American Eagle") (owned by American Airlines, Inc. ("American")), Comair, Inc. ("Comair") (owned by Delta), Compass Airlines ("Compass"), Mesaba Airlines ("Mesaba"), Horizon Air Industries, Inc. ("Horizon") (owned by Alaska Air Group, Inc. ("Alaska Airlines")), Mesa Air Group, Inc. ("Mesa"), Pinnacle Airlines Corp. ("Pinnacle"), Republic Airways Holdings Inc. ("Republic") and Trans State Airlines, Inc.("Trans State") Major airlines award contract flying to these regional airlines based upon, but not limited to, the following criteria: low cost, financial resources, overall customer service levels relating to on-time arrival and departure statistics, cancellation of flights, baggage handling performance and the overall image of the regional airline as a whole. The principal competitive factors we experience with respect to our pro-rate flying include fare pricing, customer service, routes served, flight schedules, aircraft types and relationships with major partners.

        The principal competitive factors for code-share partner regional airlines are code-share agreement terms, customer service, aircraft types, fare pricing, flight schedules and markets and routes served. The combined operations of SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet represent the largest regional airline operation in the United States. However, some of the major and low-cost carriers are larger, and have greater financial and other resources than SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet, individually or collectively. Additionally, regional carriers owned by major airlines, such as American Eagle and Comair, may have access to greater resources, through their parent companies, than SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet, and may have enhanced competitive advantages since they are subsidiaries of major airlines. Moreover, federal deregulation of the industry

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allows competitors to rapidly enter our markets and to quickly discount and restructure fares. The airline industry is particularly susceptible to price discounting because airlines incur only nominal costs to provide service to passengers occupying otherwise unsold seats.

        Generally, the airline industry is highly sensitive to general economic conditions, in large part due to the discretionary nature of a substantial percentage of both business and leisure travel. Many airlines have historically reported lower earnings or substantial losses during periods of economic recession, heavy fare discounting, high fuel costs and other disadvantageous environments. Economic downturns, combined with competitive pressures, have contributed to a number of reorganizations, bankruptcies, liquidations and business combinations among major and regional carriers. The effect of economic downturns may be somewhat mitigated by the predominantly contract-based flying arrangements of SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet. Nevertheless, the per passenger component in such fee structure would be affected by an economic downturn. In addition, if Delta or United, or one or more other code-share partners we may secure in the future, experience a prolonged decline in passenger load or are harmed by low ticket prices or high fuel prices, they will likely seek to renegotiate their code-share agreements with SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet, as applicable, or cancel flights in order to reduce their costs.

Industry Overview

        The airline industry in the United States has traditionally been dominated by several major airlines, including American, Delta, US Airways and United. The major airlines offer scheduled flights to most major U.S. cities, numerous smaller U.S. cities, and cities throughout the world through a hub and spoke network.

        Low cost carriers, such as Southwest Airlines Co. ("Southwest"), JetBlue Airways Corporation ("JetBlue"), Republic and AirTran, generally offer fewer conveniences to travelers and have lower cost structures than major airlines, which permits them to offer flights to and from many of the same markets as the major airlines, but at lower prices. Low cost carriers typically fly direct flights with limited service to smaller cities, concentrating on higher demand flights to and from major population bases.

        Regional airlines, such as SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast, ExpressJet, Mesa, Pinnacle, Compass, Mesaba, Trans State and Republic typically operate smaller aircraft on lower-volume routes than major and low cost carriers. Several regional airlines, including American Eagle, Comair, and Horizon, are wholly-owned subsidiaries of major airlines.

        In contrast to low cost carriers, regional airlines generally do not try to establish an independent route system to compete with the major airlines. Rather, regional airlines typically enter into relationships with one or more major airlines, pursuant to which the regional airline agrees to use its smaller, lower-cost aircraft to carry passengers booked and ticketed by the major airline between a hub of the major airline and a smaller outlying city. In exchange for such services, the major airline pays the regional airline either a fixed flight fee, termed "contract" or "fixed-fee" flights, or receives a percentage of applicable ticket revenues, termed "pro-rate" or "revenue-sharing" flights.

        Regional airlines generally enter into code-share agreements with major airlines, pursuant to which the regional airline is authorized to use the major airline's two-letter flight designator codes to identify the regional airline's flights and fares in the central reservation systems, to paint its aircraft with the colors and/or logos of its code-share partner and to market and advertise its status as a carrier for the code-share partner. For example, SkyWest Airlines flies out of Chicago (O'Hare), Washington Dulles,

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Denver, Los Angeles and San Francisco as United Express, out of Salt Lake City as Delta Connection and out of Milwaukee as an AirTran carrier. Atlantic Southeast operates primarily as Delta Connection out of Atlanta and Cincinnati and as United Express out of Chicago (O'Hare) and Washington Dulles. ExpressJet operates primarily as Continental Express out of Houston, Cleveland, Newark and Denver, and as United Express out of Chicago (O'Hare) and Washington Dulles. In addition, the major airline generally provides services such as reservations, ticketing, ground support and gate access to the regional airline, and both partners often coordinate marketing, advertising and other promotional efforts. In exchange, the regional airline provides a designated number of low-capacity (usually between 30 and 70 seats) flights between larger airports served by the major airline and surrounding cities, usually in lower-volume markets. The financial arrangements between the regional airlines and their code-share partners usually involve contractual or fixed-fee payments based on the flights or a revenue-sharing arrangement based on the flight ticket revenues, as explained below:

Code-Share Agreements

        SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet operate under United Express Agreements with United. SkyWest, SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast operate under Delta Connection Agreements with Delta, ExpressJet operates under the Continental CPA with Continental and SkyWest Airlines operates under a code-share agreement with AirTran.

        These code-share agreements authorize Delta, United, Continental and AirTran to identify our flights and fares under their two-letter flight designator codes ("DL," "UA" "CO", or "FL") in the central reservation systems, and generally require us to paint our aircraft with their colors and logos and to market our status as Delta Connection, United Express Continental Express or AirTran. Under each of our code-share agreements, our passengers participate in the major partner's frequent flyer program, and the major partner provides additional services such as reservations, ticket issuance, ground support services and gate access. We also coordinate our marketing, advertising and other promotional efforts with Delta, United, Continental and AirTran. As of December 31, 2010, approximately 89% of our passenger revenues related to contract flights, where Delta, United or Continental controlled scheduling, ticketing, pricing and seat inventories. The remainder of our passenger revenues as of December 31, 2010 related to pro-rate flights, where we controlled scheduling,

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ticketing, pricing and seat inventories, and shared revenues with Delta, United or AirTran according to pro-rate formulas. The following summaries of our code-share agreements do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the applicable agreement.

SkyWest Airlines Delta Connection Agreement

        SkyWest Airlines and Delta are parties to the SkyWest Airlines Delta Connection Agreement, dated as of September 8, 2005. As of December 31, 2010, SkyWest Airlines operated 21 CRJ900s, 13 CRJ700s and 52 CRJ200s under the SkyWest Airlines Delta Connection Agreement. Additionally, as of December 31, 2010, SkyWest Airlines operated 10 Brasilia turboprops under the Delta code under a revenue-sharing arrangement. SkyWest Airlines operates these aircraft to provide Delta Connection service between Delta hubs and destinations designated by Delta. As of December 31, 2010, SkyWest Airlines was operating approximately 490 Delta Connection flights per day. Generally, Delta is entitled to all passenger, cargo and other revenues associated with each flight.

        In exchange for providing the designated number of flights and performing SkyWest Airlines' other obligations under the SkyWest Airlines Delta Connection Agreement, SkyWest Airlines is scheduled to receive from Delta on a weekly basis (i) specified fixed rate payments for each completed flight, which are intended to pay for certain costs related to the Delta Connection flights, plus (ii) a fixed dollar payment per completed flight block hour, subject to annual escalation at an agreed rate. Costs directly reimbursed by Delta under the SkyWest Airlines Delta Connection Agreement include costs primarily related to fuel, aircraft engine maintenance and ownership.

        Among other provisions, the SkyWest Airlines Delta Connection Agreement also provides that, beginning with the third anniversary of the execution of the agreement (September 8, 2008), Delta has the right to require that certain contractual rates under that agreement shall not exceed the average rate of all carriers within the Delta Connection Program. On November 19, 2010, SkyWest Airlines reached an agreement with Delta related to the average rate provisions to be applied under the SkyWest Airlines Delta Connection Agreement.

        The SkyWest Airlines Delta Connection Agreement provides that, beginning with the fifth anniversary of the execution of the agreement (September 8, 2010), Delta has the right to require that certain contractual rates under that agreement shall not exceed the second lowest rates of all carriers within the Delta Connection Program. On November 19, 2010, SkyWest Airlines reached an agreement with Delta related to the second lowest rate provisions to be applied under the SkyWest Airlines Delta Connection Agreement. As a result of that agreement, SkyWest Airlines and Delta have established the contractual rates which will apply under the SkyWest Airlines Delta Connection Agreement through December 31, 2015.

        The SkyWest Airlines Delta Connection Agreement is scheduled to terminate on September 8, 2020, unless Delta elects to exercise its option to extend the term for up to four additional five-year terms. The SkyWest Airlines Delta Connection Agreement is subject to early termination in various circumstances, including:

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Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreement

        Atlantic Southeast and Delta are parties to the Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreement, dated as of September 8, 2005. As of December 31, 2010, Atlantic Southeast operated ten CRJ900s, 42 CRJ700s and 98 CRJ200s for Delta under the Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreement. As of December 31, 2010, Atlantic Southeast was operating more than 800 Delta Connection flights per day between Atlanta or Cincinnati and outlying destinations. Under the Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreement, Delta is entitled to all passenger, cargo and other revenues associated with each flight. Commencing in 2008, Atlantic Southeast is entitled to maintain its percentage of total Delta Connection flights that it had in 2007, so long as its bid for additional regional flying is competitive with bids submitted by other regional carriers.

        In exchange for providing the designated number of flights and performing Atlantic Southeast's other obligations under the Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreement, Atlantic Southeast is scheduled to receive from Delta on a weekly basis (i) specified fixed rate payments for each completed flight, which are intended to pay for certain direct costs related to Delta Connection flights plus (ii) if Atlantic Southeast completes a certain minimum percentage of its Delta Connection flights, an amount equal to a certain percentage of the direct costs (not including fuel costs) related to the Delta Connection flights. Costs directly reimbursed by Delta under the Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreement include costs related to fuel, ground handling, and aircraft engine maintenance and ownership. The Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreement also provides for incentive compensation based upon Atlantic Southeast's performance, including on-time arrival performance and completion percentage rates.

        Among other provisions, the Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreement provides that, beginning with the third anniversary of the execution of the agreement (September 8, 2008), Delta has the right to require that certain contractual rates under that agreement shall not exceed the average rate of all carriers within the Delta Connection Program. On November 19, 2010, Atlantic Southeast reached an agreement with Delta related to the average rate provisions to be applied under the Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreement.

        The Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreement provides that, beginning with the fifth anniversary of the execution of the agreement (September 8, 2010), Delta has the right to require that certain contractual rates under that agreement shall not exceed the second lowest rates of all carriers within the Delta Connection Program. On November 19, 2010, Atlantic Southeast reached an agreement with Delta related to the second lowest rate provisions to be applied under the Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreement. As a result of that agreement, Atlantic Southeast and Delta have established the contractual rates which will apply under the Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreement through December 31, 2015.

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        The Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreement is scheduled to terminate on September 8, 2020, unless Delta elects to exercise its option to extend the term for up to four additional five-year terms. The Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreement is subject to early termination in various circumstances including:

SkyWest, Inc. Delta Connection Agreement

        In December 2006, we entered into a Delta Connection Agreement which awarded us the right to operate 12 CRJ700s, previously operated by Comair. This Delta Connection Agreement is ancillary to, and satisfied certain obligations of Delta under the Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreement. We have the right to designate either SkyWest Airlines or Atlantic Southeast to operate the 12 aircraft to provide service, primarily to and from Delta's Cincinnati hub through February 2012 (subject to Delta's right to extend the arrangement for up to three additional three-year terms). Under the arrangement, Delta has agreed to pay Atlantic Southeast or SkyWest Airlines, as applicable, a fixed-fee per completed block hour, a fixed-fee per completed departure, a fixed-fee for overhead, a one-time start-up payment for each aircraft delivered and incentive payments based upon performance, including on-time arrival performance and completion percentage rates. Additionally, Delta has agreed to reimburse SkyWest Airlines or Atlantic Southeast, as applicable, for certain operating costs under this Delta Connection Agreement.

SkyWest Airlines United Express Agreement

        SkyWest Airlines and United are parties to the SkyWest Airlines United Express Agreement entered into on July 31, 2003. As of December 31, 2010, SkyWest Airlines operated 70 CRJ700s, 83 CRJ200s and 38 Brasilia turboprops under the SkyWest Airlines United Express Agreement, flying a total of approximately 1,180 United Express flights per day between Chicago (O'Hare), Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington Dulles and designated outlying destinations. Generally, under the SkyWest Airlines United Express Agreement, United retains all air fares, cargo rates, mail charges and other revenues associated with each flight.

        In exchange for providing the designated number of flights and performing SkyWest Airlines' obligations under the SkyWest Airlines United Express Agreement, SkyWest Airlines receives from United compensation (subject to an annual adjustment) of a fixed fee per completed block hour, a fixed fee per completed departure, a fixed fee per passenger, and a fixed fee for overhead and aircraft costs. The SkyWest Airlines United Express Agreement provides for incentives based upon SkyWest Airlines' performance, including on-time arrival performance and completion percentage rates.

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Additionally, certain of SkyWest Airlines' operating costs are reimbursed by United, including costs related to fuel and aircraft ownership. As of December 31, 2010, 29 of the 38 Brasilia turboprops and 18 of the 83 CRJ200s SkyWest Airlines operated under the SkyWest Airlines United Express Agreement were operated under a revenue-sharing arrangement.

        On October 16, 2009, SkyWest Airlines extended to United a secured term loan in the amount of $80 million. The term loan bore interest at a rate of 11%, with a ten-year amortization period. The loan was secured by certain ground equipment and airport slot rights held by United. On August 11, 2010, United repaid the $80 million term loan. SkyWest Airlines also agreed to defer certain amounts otherwise payable to SkyWest Airlines under the existing SkyWest Airlines United Express Agreement. The maximum deferral amount is $49 million and any amounts deferred accrue a deferral fee of 8%, payable weekly. United's right to defer such payments is scheduled to terminate in 2019.

        On October 16, 2009, SkyWest Airlines and United agreed to extend the right of SkyWest Airlines to operate 40 regional jet aircraft under the SkyWest Airlines United Express Agreement until the end of their respective lease terms (on average 8.4 years).

        United has the option, upon twelve months prior notice, of extending the SkyWest Airlines United Express Agreement for five years. The SkyWest Airlines United Express Agreement is subject to early termination in various circumstances including:

Atlantic Southeast United Express Agreement

        On February 10, 2010, Atlantic Southeast and United entered into the Atlantic Southeast United Express Agreement, pursuant to which Atlantic Southeast operated 16 CRJ200 aircraft as a United Express carrier as of December 31, 2010. The Atlantic Southeast United Express Agreement is a capacity purchase agreement with a five-year term, and other terms which are generally consistent with the SkyWest Airlines United Express Agreement.

ExpressJet Continental CPA

        Effective November 12, 2010, ExpressJet entered into the Continental CPA, whereby ExpressJet agreed to provide regional airline service in the Continental flight system.

        The Continental CPA provides for a ten-year term, subject to early termination by Continental or ExpressJet upon the occurrence of certain events. Continental's termination rights include the right to terminate the Continental CPA if ExpressJet's performance falls below identified standards (and such failure is not cured within 60 days following receipt of notice), upon the occurrence of a labor strike

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lasting for 15 days and material defaults under certain lease agreements relating to aircraft operated by ExpressJet under the Continental CPA (provided that such material default is not cured within 60 days following receipt of notice). ExpressJet's termination rights include the right to terminate the Continental CPA if Continental fails to make payment of $500,000 or more due to ExpressJet under the Continental CPA and such failure is not cured within five business days following receipt of notice.

        Under the terms of the Continental CPA, ExpressJet operates 206 aircraft in the Continental flight system. All of the aircraft are leased to ExpressJet by Continental pursuant to sublease or lease agreements. Upon the expiration of the Continental CPA, ExpressJet is obligated to return the subleased or leased aircraft to Continental.

        Under the terms of the Continental CPA, Continental has agreed to compensate ExpressJet on a monthly basis based on the block hours flown by ExpressJet and the weighted average number of aircraft operated by ExpressJet under the Continental CPA. Additionally, ExpressJet may earn incentive compensation for good operating performance, but is subject to financial penalties for poor operating performance. The parties to the Continental CPA have made customary representations, warranties and covenants, and the agreement contains other provisions typical of agreements of this kind, including with respect to various operational, marketing and administrative matters.

ExpressJet United Express Agreement

        ExpressJet and United are parties to the ExpressJet United Express Agreement entered into on December 1, 2009. As of December 31, 2010, ExpressJet operated 35 ERJ-145s under the United Express Agreement. Generally, under the ExpressJet United Express Agreement, United retains all air fares, cargo rates, mail charges and other revenues associated with each flight.

        In exchange for providing the designated number of flights and performing ExpressJet's' obligations under the ExpressJet United Express Agreement, ExpressJet receives from United compensation (subject to an annual adjustment) of a fixed fee per completed block hour, fixed fee per completed departure, fixed fee per passenger and a fixed fee for overhead and aircraft costs. The ExpressJet United Express Agreement provides for incentives based upon ExpressJet's performance, including on-time arrival performance and completion percentage rates. Additionally, certain of ExpressJet's operating costs are reimbursed by United, including fuel costs.

        The ExpressJet United Express Agreement expires in three tranches: the agreement expires with respect to 13 aircraft on April 4, 2011, 11 aircraft on April 30, 2012 and 11 aircraft on April 30, 2013. The ExpressJet United Express Agreement also contains a renewal option, at United's election, for additional periods up to a total term of five years. Under the agreement, United must notify ExpressJet of its intention to renew each group of aircraft not less than six months prior to the end of the term for such aircraft.

SkyWest Airlines AirTran code-share agreement

        On November 4, 2009, SkyWest Airlines entered into a code-share agreement with AirTran. Under the terms of the code-share agreement, SkyWest Airlines operates four CRJ200s for AirTran under a pro-rate arrangement; either party may terminate the agreement upon 120 days written notice.

Markets and Routes

        As of December 31, 2010, SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast scheduled the following daily flights as Delta Connection carriers: 644 flights to or from Hartsfield—Jackson Atlanta International Airport, 392 flights to or from Salt Lake City International Airport, 90 flights to or from Minneapolis International Airport, 52 flights to or from Memphis International Airport, 48 flights to or from

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Detroit International Airport and 20 flights to or from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

        As of December 31, 2010, SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet scheduled the following daily flights as a United Express carrier: 460 flights to or from Chicago O'Hare International Airport, 376 flights to or from Denver International Airport, 256 flights to or from Los Angeles International Airport, 276 flights to or from San Francisco International Airport, 122 flights to or from Washington Dulles and 64 flights to or from other outlying airports.

        As of December 31, 2010, ExpressJet scheduled the following daily flights as a Continental Express carrier: 620 flights to or from Houston International Airport, 168 flights to or from Cleveland International Airport and 296 flights to or from Newark International Airport.

        As of December 31, 2010, SkyWest Airlines scheduled 56 daily flights as an AirTran carrier to or from Milwaukee International Airport.

        Our flight schedules are structured to facilitate the connection of our passengers with flights of our major partners at the airports we serve.

Training and Aircraft Maintenance

        SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet employees perform substantially all routine airframe and engine maintenance and periodic inspection of equipment at their respective maintenance facilities, and provide substantially all training to SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet crew members and maintenance personnel at their respective training facilities. SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet also contract with third party vendors for non-routine airframe and engine maintenance.

Fuel

        Historically, we have not experienced problems with the availability of fuel, and believe we will be able to obtain fuel in quantities sufficient to meet our existing and anticipated future requirements at competitive prices. Standard industry contracts generally do not provide protection against fuel price increases, nor do they ensure availability of supply. However, our code-share agreements with Delta, United and Continental provide for fuel used in the performance of the code-share agreements to be reimbursed by our major partners, thereby reducing our exposure to fuel price fluctuations. United purchased fuel directly from fuel vendors for our United Express aircraft under contract operated out of Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Denver; Continental purchased all of the fuel for our Continental aircraft directly from Continental's fuel vendors; and as of June 1, 2009, Delta purchased the majority of the fuel for our Delta aircraft under contract directly from its fuel vendors. During the year ended December 31, 2010, approximately 76% of our fuel purchases were associated with our Delta and United code-share agreements and were reimbursed or paid directly by our major partners and approximately 24% of our fuel purchases were associated with our pro-rate operations. A substantial increase in the price of jet fuel, to the extent our fuel costs are not reimbursed, or the lack of adequate fuel supplies in the future, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

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Employee Matters

Railway Labor Act

        Our relations with labor unions in the U.S. are governed by the Railway Labor Act. Under the Railway Labor Act, a labor union seeking to represent an unrepresented craft or class of employees is required to file with the National Mediation Board (the "NMB") an application alleging a representation dispute, along with authorization cards signed by at least 35% of the employees in that craft or class. The NMB then investigates the dispute and, if it finds the labor union has obtained a sufficient number of authorization cards, conducts an election to determine whether to certify the labor union as the collective bargaining representative of that craft or class. Under the NMB's usual rules, a labor union will be certified as the representative of the employees in a craft or class only if more than 50% of those employees vote for union representation. A certified labor union then enters into negotiations toward a collective bargaining agreement with the employer.

        Under the Railway Labor Act, a collective bargaining agreement between an airline and a labor union does not expire, but instead becomes amendable as of a stated date. Either party may request that the NMB appoint a federal mediator to participate in the negotiations for a new or amended agreement. If no agreement is reached in mediation, the NMB may determine, at any time, that an impasse exists and offer binding arbitration. If either party rejects binding arbitration, a 30-day "cooling off" period begins. At the end of this 30-day period, the parties may engage in "self help," unless the U.S. President appoints a Presidential Emergency Board ("PEB") to investigate and report on the dispute. The appointment of a PEB maintains the "status quo" for an additional 60 days. If the parties do not reach agreement during this period, the parties may then engage in "self help." "Self help" includes, among other things, a strike by the union or the imposition of proposed changes to the collective bargaining agreement by the airline. Congress and the President have the authority to prevent "self help" by enacting legislation that, among other things, imposes a settlement on the parties.

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Collective Bargaining

        As of December 31, 2010, we had 18,378 full-time equivalent employees. Approximately 40% of these employees were represented by unions, including the following employee groups.

Employee Group
  Approximate
Number of
Active Employees
Represented
  Representatives   Status of Agreement

Atlantic Southeast Pilots

    1,500   Air Line Pilots Association International   Amendable November 2011

Atlantic Southeast Flight Attendants

   
960
 

Association of Flight Attendants—CNA

 

Amendable July 2012

Atlantic Southeast Flight Controllers

   
70
 

Professional Airline Flight Control Association

 

Amendable June 2014

Atlantic Southeast Mechanics

   
500
 

International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers

 

Union representation approved. Negotiations have not started.

Atlantic Southeast Stock Clerks

   
60
 

International Brotherhood of Teamsters

 

Union representation approved. Negotiations have not started.

ExpressJet Pilots

   
2,200
 

Air Line Pilots Association International

 

Amendable December 2010

ExpressJet Flight Attendants

   
1,100
 

International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers

 

Amendable August 2011

ExpressJet Mechanics

   
900
 

International Brotherhood of Teamsters

 

Amendable August 2009

ExpressJet Dispatchers

   
100
 

Transport Workers Union of America

 

Amendable July 2014

ExpressJet Production Workers

   
20
 

Union of Industrial Production Workers

 

N/A

ExpressJet Stock Clerks

   
80
 

International Brotherhood of Teamsters

 

Union representation approved. Negotiations have not started.

        Labor unions periodically engage in organizing efforts to represent various groups of our employees, including at our airline subsidiaries, that are not represented for collective bargaining purposes.

        The successful integration of ExpressJet into Atlantic Southeast and achievement of the anticipated benefits of our acquisition of ExpressJet depend significantly on integrating Atlantic Southeast's and

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ExpressJet's employee groups and on maintaining productive employee relations. The integration of ExpressJet and Atlantic Southeast workforces will be challenging. Completing the integration of the workforces of the two airlines will require the resolution of potentially difficult issues relating to representation of various work groups and the relative seniority of the work groups at each carrier. Unexpected delays or expenses or other challenges to integrating the workforces could impact the anticipated synergies from the combination of Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet and affect our financial performance.

        As of December 31, 2010, SkyWest and SkyWest Airlines collectively employed 9,067 full-time equivalent employees consisting of 4,475 pilots and flight attendants, 2,956 customer service personnel, 1,146 mechanics and other maintenance personnel, and 490 administration and support personnel. None of these employees are currently represented by a union. We are aware, however, that collective bargaining group organization efforts among SkyWest Airlines' employees occur from time to time and we anticipate that such efforts will continue in the future. If unionization efforts are successful, we may be subjected to risks of work interruption or stoppage and/or incur additional expenses associated with increased union representation of our employees. Neither SkyWest nor SkyWest Airlines has ever experienced a work stoppage due to a strike or other labor dispute, and we consider SkyWest Airlines' relationships with its employees to be good.

Government Regulation

        All interstate air carriers, including SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet, are subject to regulation by the U.S. Department of Transportation (the "DOT"), the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (the "FAA") and other governmental agencies. Regulations promulgated by the DOT primarily relate to economic aspects of air service. The FAA requires operating, air worthiness and other certificates; approval of personnel who may engage in flight, maintenance or operating activities; record-keeping procedures in accordance with FAA requirements; and FAA approval of flight training and retraining programs. Generally, governmental agencies enforce their regulations through, among other ways, certifications, which are necessary for the continued operations of SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet, and proceedings, which can result in civil or criminal penalties or revocation of operating authority. The FAA can also issue maintenance directives and other mandatory orders relating to, among other things, grounding of aircraft, inspection of aircraft, installation of new safety-related items and the mandatory removal and replacement of aircraft parts.

        We believe SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet are operating in compliance with FAA regulations and hold all operating and airworthiness certificates and licenses which are necessary to conduct their respective operations. We incur substantial costs in maintaining current certifications and otherwise complying with the laws, rules and regulations to which SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet are subject. SkyWest Airlines', Atlantic Southeast's and ExpressJet's flight operations, maintenance programs, record keeping and training programs are conducted under FAA approved procedures. SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet do not currently operate at any airports where landing slots are restricted.

        All air carriers are required to comply with federal laws and regulations pertaining to noise abatement and engine emissions. All air carriers are also subject to certain provisions of the Federal Communications Act of 1934, as amended, because of their extensive use of radio and other communication facilities. SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet are also subject to certain other federal and state laws relating to protection of the environment, labor relations and equal employment opportunity. We believe SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet are in compliance in all material respects with these laws and regulations.

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Environmental Matters

        SkyWest, SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet are subject to various federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to environmental protection matters. These laws and regulations govern such matters as environmental reporting, storage and disposal of materials and chemicals and aircraft noise. We are, and expect in the future to be, involved in various environmental matters and conditions at, or related to, our properties. We are not currently subject to any environmental cleanup orders or actions imposed by regulatory authorities. We are not aware of any active material environmental investigations related to our assets or properties.

Safety and Security

        We are committed to the safety and security of our passengers and employees. Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet have taken many steps, both voluntarily and as mandated by governmental agencies, to increase the safety and security of their operations. Some of the safety and security measures we have taken with our code-share partners include: aircraft security and surveillance, positive bag matching procedures, enhanced passenger and baggage screening and search procedures, and securing of cockpit doors. We are committed to complying with future safety and security requirements.

Insurance

        SkyWest, SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet maintain insurance policies we believe are of types customary in the industry and in amounts we believe are adequate to protect against material loss. These policies principally provide coverage for public liability, passenger liability, baggage and cargo liability, property damage, including coverages for loss or damage to our flight equipment, and workers' compensation insurance. We cannot assure, however, that the amount of insurance we carry will be sufficient to protect us from material loss.

Seasonality

        Our results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of those for the entire year, since the airline industry is subject to seasonal fluctuations and general economic conditions. Our operations are somewhat favorably affected by pleasure travel on our pro-rate routes, historically contributing to increased travel in the summer months, and are unfavorably affected by decreased business travel during the months from November through January and by inclement weather which occasionally results in cancelled flights, principally during the winter months.

ITEM 1A.    RISK FACTORS

        In addition to factors discussed elsewhere in this Report, the following are important risks which could adversely affect our future results. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently do not deem material may also impair our business operations. If any of the risks we describe below occur, or if any unforeseen risk develops, our operating results may suffer, our financial condition may deteriorate, the trading price of our common stock may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment in us.


Risks Related to Our Operations

We are highly dependent on Delta, United and Continental.

        If any of our code-share agreements with Delta, United or Continental are terminated, we would be significantly impacted and likely would not have an immediate source of revenue or earnings to offset such loss. A termination of any of these agreements would likely have a material adverse effect

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on our financial condition, operating revenues and net income unless we are able to enter into satisfactory substitute arrangements for the utilization of the affected aircraft by other code-share partners, or, alternatively, obtain the airport facilities and gates and make the other arrangements necessary to fly as an independent airline. We may not be able to enter into substitute code-share arrangements, and any such arrangements we might secure may not be as favorable to us as our current agreements. Operating our airline independent from major partners would be a significant departure from our business plan, would likely be very difficult and may require significant time and resources, which may not be available to us at that point.

        The current terms of the SkyWest, SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreements are subject to certain early termination provisions. Delta's termination rights include cross-termination rights (meaning that a breach by SkyWest, SkyWest Airlines or Atlantic Southeast of its Delta Connection Agreement could, under certain circumstances, permit Delta to terminate any or all of the Delta Connection Agreements), the right to terminate each of the agreements upon the occurrence of certain force majeure events (including certain labor-related events) that prevent SkyWest Airlines or Atlantic Southeast from performance for certain periods and the right to terminate each of the agreements if SkyWest Airlines or Atlantic Southeast, as applicable, fails to maintain competitive base rate costs, subject to certain rights of SkyWest Airlines to take corrective action to reimburse Delta for lost revenues. The current terms of the SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet United Express Agreements are subject to certain early termination provisions and subsequent renewals. United may terminate the SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet United Express Agreements due to an uncured breach by SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast or ExpressJet of certain operational or performance provisions, including measures and standards related to flight completions, baggage handling and on-time arrivals. The current terms of the Continental CPA are subject to certain early termination provisions and subsequent renewals. Continental may terminate the Continental CPA due to an uncured breach by ExpressJet of certain operational and performance provisions, including measures and standards related to flight completions and on-time arrivals.

        We currently use the systems, facilities and services of Delta, United and Continental to support a significant portion of our operations, including airport and terminal facilities and operations, information technology support, ticketing and reservations, scheduling, dispatching, fuel purchasing and ground handling services. If Delta, United or Continental were to cease any of these systems, close any of these facilities or no longer provide these services to us, due to termination of one of our code-share agreements, a strike or other labor interruption by Delta, United or Continental personnel or for any other reason, we may not be able to replace those systems, facilities or services on terms and conditions as favorable as those we currently receive, or at all. Since our revenues and operating profits are dependent on our level of flight operations, we could then be forced to significantly reduce our operations. Furthermore, upon certain terminations of our code-share agreements, Delta, United and Continental could require us to sell or assign to them facilities and assets, including maintenance facilities, we use in connection with the code-share services we provide. As a result, in order to offer airline service after termination of any of our code-share agreements, we may have to replace these facilities, assets and services. We may be unable to arrange such replacements on satisfactory terms, or at all.

We may be negatively impacted if Delta, United or Continental experiences significant financial difficulties in the future.

        For the year ended December 31, 2010 approximately 99.3% of our ASMs were attributable to our code-share agreements with Delta, United and Continental. Both Delta and United have incurred significant losses in recent years, which materially weakened their financial condition. Volatility in fuel prices may negatively impact Delta's, United's and Continental's results of operations and financial condition. Among other risks, Delta, United and Continental are vulnerable both to unexpected events

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(such as additional terrorist attacks or additional spikes in fuel prices) and to deterioration of the operating environment (such as a recession or significant increased competition). There is no assurance that Delta, United or Continental will be able to operate successfully under these financial conditions.

        In light of the importance of our code-share agreements with Delta, United and Continental to our business, a default by Delta, United or Continental under any of these agreements, or the termination of these agreements could jeopardize our operations. Such events could leave us unable to operate many of our current aircraft, as well as additional aircraft we are obligated to purchase, which would likely result in a material adverse effect on our operations and financial condition.

        The financial condition of Delta, United and Continental will continue to pose risks for our operations. Serial bankruptcies are not unprecedented in the commercial airline industry, and Delta, Continental and/or United could file for bankruptcy, in which case our code-share agreements could be subject to termination under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Regardless of whether subsequent bankruptcy filings prove to be necessary, Delta, United and Continental have required, and will likely continue to require, our participation in efforts to reduce costs and improve their respective financial positions. These efforts could result in lower utilization rates of our aircraft, lower departure rates on the contract flying portion of our business, more volatile operating margins and more aggressive contractual positions, which could result in additional litigation. We believe that any of these developments could have a negative effect on many aspects of our operations and financial condition.

        On October 16, 2009, SkyWest Airlines agreed to defer receipt of certain amounts otherwise payable by United under the existing SkyWest Airlines United Express Agreement. The maximum deferral amount is $49 million and any amounts deferred accrue a deferral fee of 8%, payable weekly. United's right to defer such payments is scheduled to terminate on October 16, 2019. United's failure to repay the amounts deferred pursuant to the foregoing financing arrangement could have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial condition.

Our ability to realize all of the anticipated benefits of the ExpressJet Merger will depend on the successful integration of the operations of Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet.

        Many of the potential synergies of the ExpressJet Merger will only result from the successful integration of the operations of Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet, both of which operated as independent airlines prior to the ExpressJet Merger. The integration of Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet will require our management to devote significant attention and resources to combining both airlines' business practices and operations. We may also incur significant costs, and devote significant management time, in our efforts to obtain a single operating certificate for the combined operations of Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet. There is no assurance that we will be able to achieve a single operating certificate for the combined operations of the two airlines. This integration process could result in the loss of key employees, diversion of management attention, the disruption or interruption of, or the loss of momentum in, our ongoing businesses or inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies, any of which could adversely affect our ability to maintain relationships with passengers and employees or our ability to achieve the anticipated benefits of the ExpressJet acquisition, or could reduce our earnings or otherwise adversely affect our business and financial results.

The integration of the Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet workforces will present significant challenges, including the possibility of labor-related disagreements that may adversely affect our operations.

        The successful integration of Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet and achievement of the anticipated benefits of the ExpressJet Merger largely depend upon the successful combination of Atlantic Southeast's and ExpressJet's employee groups and on maintaining productive employee relations. The integration of the workforces of the two airlines will require the resolution of potentially difficult issues

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relating to representation of various work groups and the relative seniority of the work groups at each carrier. Unexpected delays, expenses or other challenges to integrating the workforces could impact the anticipated synergies from the combination of Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet and affect the operations and financial performance of the combined airline.

The amounts we receive under our code-share agreements may be less than the corresponding costs we incur.

        Under our code-share agreements with Delta, United and Continental, we are compensated for certain costs we incur in providing services. With respect to costs that are defined as "pass-through" costs, our code-share partner is obligated to pay to us the actual amount of the cost. With respect to other costs, our code-share partner is obligated to pay to us amounts based, in part, on pre-determined rates for certain costs. During the year ended December 31, 2010, approximately 31% of our costs were pass-through costs and approximately 69% of our costs were reimbursable at pre-determined rates. These pre-determined rates may not be based on the actual expenses we incur in delivering the associated services. If we incur expenses that are greater than the pre-determined reimbursement amounts payable by our code-share partners, our financial results will be negatively affected.

        SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast have each entered into a Delta Connection Agreement with Delta, pursuant to which SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast provide contract flight services for Delta. Among other provisions, those Delta Connection Agreements provide that Delta has the right to require that certain contractual rates under those agreements shall not exceed the second lowest rates of all carriers within the Delta Connection Program. On November 19, 2010, SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast reached agreements with Delta related to the second lowest rate provisions to be applied under their respective Delta Connection Agreements. As a result, SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast have established the contractual rates which will apply under those agreements through December 31, 2015.

        There can be no assurance that the agreed-upon rates will be higher than the costs SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast will incur to provide the services required under their respective Delta Connection Agreement. The new rates and future rate adjustments could negatively affect our financial position and operating results.

SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast are engaged in litigation with Delta, which may negatively impact our financial results and our relationship with Delta

        During the quarter ended December 31, 2007, Delta notified SkyWest, SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast of a dispute under the Delta Connection Agreements executed by Delta with SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast. The dispute relates to allocation of liability for certain irregular operations, or "IROP" expenses that are paid by SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast to their passengers and vendors under certain situations. As a result, Delta withheld a combined total of approximately $25 million (pretax) from one of the weekly scheduled wire payments to SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast during December 2007. Delta continues to withhold a portion of the funds we believe are payable as weekly scheduled wire payments to SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast. As of June 30, 2008, we had recognized a cumulative total of $31.7 million of revenue associated with the funds withheld by Delta. On February 1, 2008, SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast filed a lawsuit in Georgia state court disputing Delta's treatment of the matter (the "Complaint"). Delta filed an Answer to the Complaint and a Counterclaim against SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast on March 24, 2008. Delta's Counterclaim alleges that Atlantic Southeast and SkyWest Airlines breached the Delta Connection Agreements by invoicing Delta for the IROP expenses that were paid pursuant to Delta's policies, and claims only a portion of those expenses may be invoiced to Delta. Delta seeks unspecified damages in its counterclaim. Since July 1, 2008, we have not recognized revenue related to IROP expense reimbursements withheld by Delta because collection

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of those reimbursements is subject of litigation and is not reasonably assured. The current status of the litigation with Delta is summarized below in Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

        There can be no assurance that the dispute between SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast, on the one hand, and Delta, on the other hand, will be resolved consistent with the position taken by SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast. If the dispute is not resolved consistent with the position taken by SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast our financial results would be negatively impacted. The litigation may have other negative effects on our relationship with Delta and our operations under the existing Delta Connection Agreements.

Disagreements regarding the interpretation of our code-share agreements with our major partners could have an adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition.

        SkyWest, SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet have entered into code-share agreements with Delta, United and Continental. For the year ended December 31, 2010, more than 99% of our ASMs were attributable to flights we flew under those agreements. We anticipate that, for the foreseeable future, substantially all of our revenues will be generated under existing or future code-share agreements.

        Contractual agreements, such as our code-share agreements, are subject to interpretation and disputes may arise under such agreements if the parties to an agreement apply different interpretations to that agreement. Those disputes may divert management time and resources from the core operation of the business, and may result in litigation, arbitration or other forms of dispute resolution.

        In recent years we have experienced disagreements with our major partners regarding the interpretation of various provisions of our code-share agreements. Some of those disagreements have resulted in litigation (see the preceding risk factor entitled SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast are engaged in litigation with Delta, which may negatively impact our financial results and our relationship with Delta), and we may be subject to additional disputes and litigation in the future. Those disagreements have also required a significant amount of management time and financial resources.

        To the extent that we continue to experience disagreements regarding the interpretation of our code-share or other agreements, we will likely expend valuable management time and financial resources in our efforts to resolve those disagreements. Those disagreements may result in litigation, arbitration or other proceedings. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that any or all of those proceedings, if commenced, would be resolved in our favor. An unfavorable result in any such proceeding could have adverse financial consequences or require us to modify our operations. Such disagreements and their consequences could have an adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition.

We have a significant amount of contractual obligations.

        As of December 31, 2010, we had a total of approximately $1.9 billion in total long-term debt obligations. Substantially all of this long-term debt was incurred in connection with the acquisition of aircraft, engines and related spare parts. We also have significant long-term lease obligations primarily relating to our aircraft fleet. These leases are classified as operating leases and therefore are not reflected as liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets. At December 31, 2010, we had 539 aircraft under lease, with remaining terms ranging from one to 17 years. Future minimum lease payments due under all long-term operating leases were approximately $2.7 billion at December 31, 2010. At a 6.2% discount factor, the present value of these lease obligations was equal to approximately $2.0 billion at December 31, 2010. As of December 31, 2010, we had commitments of approximately $193.5 million to purchase four new CRJ700s and lease eight used CRJ700s. We expect to complete these deliveries by the fourth quarter of 2011. Our high level of fixed obligations could impact our ability to obtain additional financing to support additional expansion plans or divert cash flows from operations and expansion plans to service the fixed obligations.

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We may be limited from expanding our flying within the Delta, United and Continental flight systems, and there are constraints on our ability to provide airline services to airlines other than Delta, United and Continental.

        Additional growth opportunities within the Delta, United and Continental flight systems are limited by various factors. Except as currently contemplated by our existing code-share agreements, we cannot assure that Delta, United or Continental will contract with us to fly any additional aircraft. We may not receive additional growth opportunities, or may agree to modifications to our code-share agreements that reduce certain benefits to us in order to obtain additional aircraft, or for other reasons. Furthermore, the troubled financial condition and prior bankruptcies and restructurings of Delta and United may reduce the growth of regional flying within their flight systems. Given the troubled nature of the airline industry, we believe that some of our competitors may be more inclined to accept reduced margins and less favorable contract terms in order to secure new or additional code-share operations. Even if we are offered growth opportunities by our major partners, those opportunities may involve economic terms or financing commitments that are unacceptable to us. Any one or more of these factors may reduce or eliminate our ability to expand our flight operations with our existing code-share partners. Additionally, even if Delta, United and/or Continental choose to expand our fleet on terms acceptable to us, they may be allowed at any time to subsequently reduce the number of aircraft covered by our code-share agreements. We also cannot provide any assurance that we will be able to obtain the additional ground and maintenance facilities, including gates, and support equipment, to expand our operations. The failure to obtain these facilities and equipment would likely impede our efforts to implement our business strategy and could materially and adversely affect our operating results and our financial condition.

        Delta, United, Continental and AirTran may be restricted in increasing their business with us, due to "scope" clauses in the current collective bargaining agreements with their pilots that restrict the number and size of regional jets that may be operated in their flight systems not flown by their pilots. Delta's scope limitations restrict its partners from operating aircraft with over 76 seats, even if those aircraft are operated for an airline other than Delta. We cannot assure that these scope clauses will not become more restrictive in the future. Any additional limit on the number of regional jets we can fly for our code-share partners could have a material adverse effect on our expansion plans and the price of our common stock.

        Our business model depends on major airlines, including Delta, United, Continental and AirTran electing to contract with us instead of operating their own regional jets. Some major airlines, including Delta, American and Alaska Airlines, own their own regional airlines or operate their own regional jets instead of entering into contracts with regional carriers. We have no guarantee that in the future our code-share partners will choose to enter into contracts with us instead of operating their own regional jets. Our partners are not prohibited from doing so under our code-share agreements. A decision by Delta, United or Continental to phase out code-share relationships and instead acquire and operate their own regional jets could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or the price of our common stock.

        Additionally, our code-share agreements limit our ability to provide airline services to other airlines in certain major airport hubs of each of Delta and United. Under the SkyWest Airlines Delta Connection Agreement, our growth is contractually restricted in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Orlando and Salt Lake City. Under the Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreement, our growth is restricted in Atlanta, Cincinnati, New York (John F. Kennedy International Airport), Orlando and Salt Lake City. Under the SkyWest Airlines United Express Agreement, growth is restricted in Chicago (O'Hare International Airport), Denver, San Francisco, Seattle/Tacoma and Washington D.C. (Dulles International Airport). Due to the fluctuations in our schedules, which are established primarily by our major partners, there may be times that the number of flights we fly to and from a particular airport may exceed the limitations set forth in one or more of our code-share agreements. The breach of those

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limitations could constitute a breach of the applicable code-share agreement, which could have a material adverse effect on our operations.

Economic and industry conditions constantly change, and negative economic conditions in the United States and other countries may create challenges for us that could materially and adversely affect our operations and financial condition.

        Our operations and financial condition are affected by many changing economic and other conditions beyond our control, including, among others:

        The aggregate effect of any, or some combination, of the foregoing economic and industry conditions on our operations or financial condition is virtually impossible to forecast; however, the occurrence of any or all of such conditions in a significant manner could materially and adversely affect our operations and financial condition.

Increased labor costs, strikes, labor disputes and increased unionization of our workforces may adversely affect our ability to conduct our business.

        Our business is labor intensive, requiring large numbers of pilots, flight attendants, mechanics and other personnel. Labor costs constitute a significant percentage of our total operating costs. For example, during the year ended December 31, 2010, our salary, wage and benefit costs constituted approximately 28.9% of our total operating costs. Increases in our unionized labor costs could result in a material reduction in our earnings. Any new collective bargaining agreements entered into by other regional carriers with their work forces may also result in higher industry wages and increased pressure on us to increase the wages and benefits of our employees. Future agreements with unionized and non-unionized employees may be on terms that are not as attractive as our current agreements or comparable to agreements entered into by our competitors.

        Approximately 40% of our workforce is unionized. Strikes or labor disputes with our unionized employees may adversely affect our ability to conduct business. Relations between air carriers and labor unions in the U.S. are governed by the Railway Labor Act, which provides that a collective bargaining agreement between an airline and a labor union does not expire, but instead becomes amendable as of a stated date. The Railway Labor Act generally prohibits strikes or other types of self-help actions both before and after a collective bargaining agreement becomes amendable, unless and until the collective bargaining processes required by the Railway Labor Act have been exhausted.

        SkyWest Airlines' employees are not currently represented by any union; however, collective bargaining group organization efforts among those employees occur from time to time. Such efforts will likely continue in the future and may ultimately result in some or all of SkyWest Airlines' employees being represented by one or more unions. Moreover, one or more unions representing Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet employees may seek a single carrier determination by the National Mediation Board, which could require SkyWest Airlines to recognize such union or unions as the certified

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bargaining representative of SkyWest Airlines' employees. One or more unions representing Atlantic Southeast or ExpressJet employees may also assert that SkyWest Airlines' employees should be subject to Atlantic Southeast or ExpressJet collective bargaining agreements. If SkyWest Airlines' employees were to unionize or be deemed to be represented by one or more unions, negotiations with unions representing SkyWest Airlines' employees could divert management attention and disrupt operations, which may result in increased operating expenses and may negatively impact our financial results. Moreover, we cannot predict the outcome of any future negotiations relating to union representation or collective bargaining agreements. Agreements reached in collective bargaining may increase our operating expenses and negatively impact our financial results.

        If we are unable to reach labor agreements with any current or future unionized work groups, we may be subject to work interruptions or stoppages, which may adversely affect our ability to conduct our operations and may even allow Delta, United or Continental to terminate their respective code-share agreement.

We have been adversely affected by increases in fuel prices, and we would be adversely affected by disruptions in the supply of fuel.

        Dependence on foreign imports of crude oil, limited refining capacity and the possibility of changes in government policy on jet fuel production, transportation and marketing make it impossible to predict the future availability of jet fuel. If there are additional outbreaks of hostilities or other conflicts in oil-producing areas or elsewhere, or a reduction in refining capacity (due to weather events, for example), or governmental limits on the production or sale of jet fuel, there could be a reduction in the supply of jet fuel and significant increases in the cost of jet fuel. Major reductions in the availability of jet fuel or significant increases in its cost, or a continuation of current high prices for a significant period of time, would have a material adverse impact on us.

        Pursuant to our contract flying arrangements, Delta, United and Continental have agreed to bear the economic risk of fuel price fluctuations on our contracted flights. We bear the economic risk of fuel price fluctuations on our pro-rate operations. As of December 31, 2010, essentially all of our Brasilia turboprops flown for Delta were flown under pro-rate arrangements, while approximately 64% of our Brasilia turboprops flown in the United system were flown under pro-rate arrangements. As of December 31, 2010, we operated 18 CRJ200s under a pro-rate agreement with United and four CRJ200s under a pro-rate arrangement with AirTran. Our operating and financial results with respect to these pro-rate arrangements can be affected by the price and availability of jet fuel and in the event we are unable to pass on increased fuel prices to our pro-rate customers by increasing fares our financial performance would be adversely impacted.

The Airline Safety and Pilot Training Improvement Act of 2009 could negatively affect our operations and our financial condition.

        Prompted by the crash of a Colgan aircraft, which killed 50 people near Buffalo, New York, passengers and governmental authorities have raised questions about pilot qualifications, training and fatigue. The Airline Safety and Pilot Training Improvement Act of 2009 (the "Improvement Act") was signed into law by President Barack Obama in August of 2010. The Improvement Act adds new certification requirements for entry-level commercial pilots, requires additional emergency training, improves availability of pilot records and mandates stricter rules to minimize pilot fatigue.

        The Improvement Act also:

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        The implementation of the Improvements Act (and associated regulations) may increase our compliance and FAA reporting obligations, have a negative effect on pilot scheduling, work hours or other aspects of our operations, and negatively impact our operations and financial condition.

Reduced utilization levels of our aircraft under our code-share agreements would adversely impact our financial results.

        Our code-share agreements set forth minimum levels of flight operations which our major partners are required to schedule for our operations and we are required to provide. These minimum flight operating levels are intended to compensate us for reduced operating efficiencies caused by production decreases made by our major partners under our respective code-share agreements. Generally, our major partners have utilized our flight operations at levels which exceed the minimum levels set forth in our code-share agreements, however, in recent years our major partners have reduced our utilization to levels which, at times, have been lower than the levels required by our code-share agreements. If our major partners schedule the utilization of our aircraft below historical levels (including taking into account the stage length and frequency of our scheduled flights), we may not be able to maintain operating efficiencies previously obtained, which would negatively impact our operating results and financial condition. Additionally, our major partners may change routes and frequencies of flights, which can shorten flight trip lengths. Changes in schedules may increase our flight costs, which could exceed the reimbursed rates paid by our major partners. Continued reduced utilization levels of our aircraft or other changes to our schedules under our code-share agreements would adversely impact our financial results.

Declining interest rates could have a negative effect on our financial results.

        Our earnings are affected by changes in interest rates due to the amount of our variable rate long-term debt and the amount of cash and securities we hold. Under our contractual arrangements with our major partners, we are directly reimbursed for interest expense on aircraft as a pass-through cost. The pass-through interest expense is recorded as passenger revenue in our consolidated statement of income. Thus, a decline in interest expense associated with contract aircraft would be passed through to our major partners. Interest expense increased $0.2 million, or 0.2%, during the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase in interest expense was substantially due to a decrease in interest rates and the majority of this reduction was passed through to our major partners. Interest income increased $3.3 million, or 29.3% during the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to the year ended December 31, 2009. Interest income is not a component of our contractual arrangement with our major partners. If interest rates were to decline, our major partners would receive the principal benefit of the interest expense decline, since interest expense is generally passed through to our major partners, however, if declining interest rates reduce our interest income, our financial results will be negatively affected.

Our insurance costs have increased and further increases in insurance costs or reductions in coverage could have an adverse impact on us.

        We carry insurance for public liability, passenger liability, property damage and all-risk coverage for damage to our aircraft. As a result of terrorist attacks occurring during recent years, aviation insurers significantly reduced the amount of insurance coverage available to commercial air carriers for liability to persons other than employees or passengers for claims resulting from acts of terrorism, war

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or similar events (war-risk coverage). At the same time, these insurers significantly increased the premiums for aviation insurance in general.

        The U.S. government has agreed to provide commercial war-risk insurance for U.S.-based airlines through December 31, 2011, covering losses to employees, passengers, third parties and aircraft. If the U.S. government ceases to provide such insurance beyond that date, or reduces the coverage provided by such insurance, we will attempt to purchase insurance coverage, likely with a narrower scope, from commercial insurers at an additional cost. To the extent this coverage is not available at commercially reasonable rates, we would be adversely affected.

        While the price of commercial insurance had declined since the period immediately after the 2001 terrorist attacks, in the event commercial insurance carriers further reduce the amount of insurance coverage available to us, or significantly increase the cost of obtaining such coverage, we would be adversely affected.

We could be adversely affected by an outbreak of a disease that affects travel behavior.

        In the second quarter of 2009, there was an outbreak of the H1N1 flu virus which had an adverse impact throughout our network. In 2003, there was an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ("SARS"), which had an adverse impact on travel behavior. In addition, in the past there have been concerns about outbreaks or potential outbreaks of other diseases, such as avian flu. Any outbreak of a disease (including a worsening of the outbreak of the H1N1 flu virus) that affects travel behavior could have a material adverse impact on our operating results and financial condition. In addition, outbreaks of disease could result in quarantines of our personnel or an inability to access facilities or our aircraft, which could adversely affect our operations and financial condition.

We may be unable to obtain all of the aircraft, engines, parts or related maintenance and support services we require, which could have a material adverse impact on our operations and financial condition.

        We rely on a limited number of aircraft types, and are dependent on Bombardier and Embraer as the sole manufacturers of our aircraft. For the year ended December 31, 2010, 41.5% of our available seat miles were flown using CRJ200s, 38.1% of our available seat miles were flown using CRJ700s and 11.4% of our available seat miles were flown using CRJ900s. As of December 31, 2010, we had commitments of approximately $193.5 million to purchase four new CRJ700s and lease eight used CRJ700s. We expect to complete these deliveries by fourth quarter of 2011.

        Any significant disruption or delay in the expected delivery schedule of our fleet would adversely affect our business strategy and overall operations and could have a material adverse impact on our operating results or our financial condition. Certain of Bombardier's aerospace workers are represented by unions and have participated in at least one strike in recent history. Any future prolonged strike at Bombardier or delay in Bombardier's production schedule as a result of labor matters could disrupt the delivery of regional jets to us, which could adversely affect our planned fleet growth. We are also dependent on General Electric and Rolls Royce as the sole manufacturers of our aircraft engines. General Electric and Rolls Royce also provide parts, repair and overhaul services, and other types of support services on our engines. Our operations could be materially and adversely affected by the failure or inability of Bombardier, Embraer, General Electric and/or Rolls Royce to provide sufficient parts or related maintenance and support services to us on a timely or economical basis, or the interruption of our flight operations as a result of unscheduled or unanticipated maintenance requirements for our aircraft or engines. In addition, the issuance of FAA directives restricting or prohibiting the use of Bombardier aircraft types we operate would have a material adverse effect on our business and operations.

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Maintenance costs will likely continue to increase as the age of our regional jet fleet increases.

        Our maintenance costs increased $51.4 million, or 11.8%, during the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to the year ended December 31, 2009. The average age of our CRJ200s and our ERJ145s is approximately 9.2 years and 9.0 years, respectively. Most of the parts on the CRJ200 and ERJ145 fleets are no longer under warranty and we have started to incur more heavy airframe inspections and engine overhauls on those aircraft. Our maintenance costs are expected to continue to increase on our CRJ200 and ERJ145 fleets. Under our SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast United Express Agreements, specific amounts are included in the current rates for future maintenance on CRJ200 engines used in SkyWest Airlines' and Atlantic Southeast's' United Express operations. The actual cost of maintenance on CRJ200 engines may vary from the agreed upon rates. During the year ended December 31, 2010, our CRJ200 engine expense for aircraft operated under our SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast United Express Agreements increased $41.5 million as compared to the year ended December 31, 2009.

        Because the average age of our CRJ900s and CRJ700s as of December 31, 2010 was approximately 3.1 and 5.7 years, respectively, our CRJ900 and CRJ700 fleets require less maintenance now than we anticipate they will require in the future. We have incurred relatively low maintenance expenses on our CRJ900 and CRJ700 fleets because most of the parts on these aircraft are under multi-year warranties and a limited number of heavy airframe checks and engine overhauls have occurred. Our maintenance costs will increase significantly, both on an absolute basis and as a percentage of our operating expenses, as our fleet ages and these warranties expire. Those increased costs will have a negative impact on our financial results.

If we incur problems with any of our third-party service providers, our operations could be adversely affected.

        Our reliance upon others to provide essential services to support our operations may limit our ability to control the efficiency and timeliness of contract services. We have entered into agreements with contractors to provide various facilities and services required for our operations, including fuel supply and delivery, aircraft maintenance, services and ground facilities, and software and expect to enter into additional similar agreements in the future. These agreements are generally subject to termination after notice. Any material problems with the efficiency and timeliness of our automated or contract services could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Interruptions or disruptions in service at one of our hub airports, due to adverse weather or for any other reason, could have a material adverse impact on our operations.

        We currently operate primarily through hubs in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Chicago, Denver, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Houston, Washington, D.C., Newark, Cleveland and the Pacific Northwest. Nearly all of our flights either originate from or fly into one of these hubs. Our revenues depend primarily on our completion of flights and secondarily on service factors such as timeliness of departure and arrival. Any interruptions or disruptions could, therefore, severely and adversely affect us. Extreme weather can cause flight disruptions, and during periods of storms or adverse weather, fog, low temperatures, etc., our flights may be canceled or significantly delayed. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, in particular, caused severe disruption to air travel in the affected areas and adversely affected airlines operating in the region, including Atlantic Southeast. We operate a significant number of flights to and from airports with particular weather difficulties, including Atlanta, Salt Lake City, Chicago, Milwaukee and Denver. A significant interruption or disruption in service at one of our hubs, due to adverse weather or otherwise, could result in the cancellation or delay of a significant portion of our flights and, as a result, could have a severe adverse impact on our, operations and financial performance.

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We are increasingly dependent on technology, and if our technology fails or we are unable to continue to invest in new technology, our business may be adversely affected.

        We have become increasingly dependent on technology initiatives to reduce costs and to enhance customer service in order to compete in the current business environment. The performance and reliability of our technology are critical to our ability to compete effectively. Technology initiatives will continue to require significant capital investments in order to deliver these expected benefits. If we are unable to make these investments, our business and operations could be negatively affected. In addition, we may face challenges associated with integrating complex technology systems of each of Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet. If we are unable to manage these challenges effectively, our business and operations could be negatively affected.

        In addition, any internal technological error or failure or large scale external interruption in the technology infrastructure we depend on, such as power, telecommunications or the internet, may disrupt our internal network. Any individual, sustained or repeated failure of technology could impact our customer service and result in increased costs. Like most companies, our technology systems and related data may be vulnerable to a variety of sources of interruption due to events beyond our control, including natural disasters, terrorist attacks, telecommunications failures, computer viruses, hackers and other security issues. While we have in place, and continue to invest in, technology security initiatives and disaster recovery plans, these measures may not be adequate or implemented properly to prevent a business disruption and mitigate the resulting adverse financial consequences.

Our investment in foreign airlines may negatively impact our profitability.

        On September 4, 2008, we announced our intention to acquire a 20% interest in a Brazilian regional airline, Trip Linhas Aereas ("Trip"), for $30 million. As of December 31, 2010, we had an investment balance of $35.0 million in Trip, which represents a 20% interest in Trip. On September 29, 2010, the Company acquired a 30% ownership interest in Mekong Aviation Joint Stock Company, an airline operating in Vietnam ("Air Mekong"), for $7 million. Our investments in Trip and Air Mekong are recorded as "Other assets" on our consolidated balance sheet. There is no assurance that either Trip or Air Mekong will ultimately succeed in its respective business plan. In the event that Trip or Air Mekong incurs operating losses or files for bankruptcy, our investment may have little or no value and our financial results and condition would be negatively impacted.

Our business could be harmed if we lose the services of our key personnel.

        Our business depends upon the efforts of our chief executive officer, Jerry C. Atkin, and our other key management and operating personnel. We may have difficulty replacing management or other key personnel who leave and, therefore, the loss of the services of any of these individuals could harm our business. We do not maintain key-man insurance on any of our executive officers.


Risks Related to the Airline Industry

We may be materially affected by uncertainties in the airline industry.

        The airline industry has experienced tremendous challenges in recent years and will likely remain volatile for the foreseeable future. Among other factors, the financial challenges faced by major carriers, including Delta, United and Continental, the slowing U.S. economy and increased hostilities in Iraq, the Middle East and other regions have significantly affected, and are likely to continue to affect, the U.S. airline industry. These events have resulted in declines and shifts in passenger demand, increased insurance costs, increased government regulations and tightened credit markets, all of which have affected, and will continue to affect, the operations and financial condition of participants in the industry, including us, major carriers (including our major partners), competitors and aircraft manufacturers. These industry developments raise substantial risks and uncertainties, which will affect us, major carriers (including our major partners), competitors and aircraft manufacturers in ways that we are unable to currently predict.

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The airline industry is highly competitive and has undergone a period of consolidation and transition leaving fewer potential code-share partners.

        The airline industry is highly competitive. We not only compete with other regional airlines, some of which are owned by or operated as code-share partners of major airlines, but we also face competition from low-cost carriers and major airlines on many of our routes. Low-cost carriers such as Southwest, JetBlue, US Airways and Frontier among others, operate at many of our hubs, resulting in significant price competition. Additionally, a large number of other carriers operate at our hubs, creating intense competition. Certain of our competitors are larger and have significantly greater financial and other resources than we do. Moreover, federal deregulation of the industry allows competitors to rapidly enter our markets and to quickly discount and restructure fares. The airline industry is particularly susceptible to price discounting because airlines incur only nominal costs to provide service to passengers occupying otherwise unsold seats. Increased fare competition could adversely affect our operations and the price of our common stock. The airline industry has undergone substantial consolidation, and it may in the future undergo additional consolidation. Recent examples include the merger between United and Continental in October 2010, Delta and Northwest Airlines, Inc. ("Northwest") in November 2008 and America West Airlines and US Airways in September 2005, as well as the announced merger of Southwest and AirTran. We understand that several airlines are currently in discussions related to consolidation in the industry. Other developments include domestic and international code-share alliances between major carriers. Any additional consolidation or significant alliance activity within the airline industry could limit the number of potential partners with whom we could enter into code-share relationships and could have a material adverse effect on our relationships with our code-share partners.

        As a result of industry consolidations, one or more major airlines may change their strategy regarding the use of their wholly-owned regional carriers and the use of third party regional carriers such as SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet. The major airlines may also make other strategic changes such as changing or consolidating hub locations. If our major partners were to make changes such as these in their strategy and operations, our operations and financial results could be adversely impacted.

Terrorist activities or warnings have dramatically impacted the airline industry, and will likely continue to do so.

        The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and their aftermath have negatively impacted the airline industry in general, including our operations. The primary effects experienced by the airline industry include a substantial loss of passenger traffic and revenue. Although, to some degree, airline passenger traffic and revenue have recovered since the September 11th attacks, additional terrorist attacks could have a similar or even more pronounced effect. Even if additional terrorist attacks are not launched against the airline industry, there will be lasting consequences of the attacks, including increased security and insurance costs, increased concerns about future terrorist attacks, increased government regulation and airport delays due to heightened security. Additional terrorist attacks and the fear of such attacks could negatively impact the airline industry, and result in further decreased passenger traffic and yields, increased flight delays or cancellations associated with new government mandates, as well as increased security, fuel and other costs. We cannot provide any assurance that these events will not harm the airline industry generally or our operations or financial condition in particular.

Fuel costs have adversely affected, and will likely continue to adversely affect, the operations and financial performance of the airline industry.

        The price of aircraft fuel is unpredictable and was volatile during much of 2008 and 2009 and, to a lesser degree, 2010. Higher fuel prices may lead to higher airfares, which would tend to decrease the

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passenger load of our code-share partners. In the long run, such decreases will likely have an adverse effect on the number of flights such partner will ask us to provide and the revenues associated with such flights. Additionally, fuel shortages have been threatened. The future cost and availability of fuel to us cannot be predicted, and substantial fuel cost increases or the unavailability of adequate supplies of fuel may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. During periods of increasing fuel costs, our operating margins have been, and will likely continue to be, adversely affected.

We are subject to significant governmental regulation.

        All interstate air carriers, including SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet, are subject to regulation by the DOT, the FAA and other governmental agencies. Regulations promulgated by the DOT primarily relate to economic aspects of air service. The FAA requires operating, air worthiness and other certificates; approval of personnel who may engage in flight, maintenance or operation activities; record keeping procedures in accordance with FAA requirements; and FAA approval of flight training and retraining programs. We cannot predict whether we will be able to comply with all present and future laws, rules, regulations and certification requirements or that the cost of continued compliance will not have a material adverse effect on our operations. We incur substantial costs in maintaining our current certifications and otherwise complying with the laws, rules and regulations to which we are subject. A decision by the FAA to ground, or require time-consuming inspections of or maintenance on, all or any of our aircraft for any reason may have a material adverse effect on our operations. In addition to state and federal regulation, airports and municipalities enact rules and regulations that affect our operations. From time to time, various airports throughout the country have considered limiting the use of smaller aircraft, such as our aircraft, at such airports. The imposition of any limits on the use of our aircraft at any airport at which we operate could have a material adverse effect on our operations.

The occurrence of an aviation accident would negatively impact our operations and financial condition.

        An accident or incident involving one of our aircraft could result in significant potential claims of injured passengers and others, as well as repair or replacement of a damaged aircraft and its consequential temporary or permanent loss from service. In the event of an accident, our liability insurance may not be adequate to offset our exposure to potential claims and we may be forced to bear substantial losses from the accident. Substantial claims resulting from an accident in excess of our related insurance coverage would harm our operational and financial results. Moreover, any aircraft accident or incident, even if fully insured, could cause a public perception that our operations are less safe or reliable than other airlines.


Risks Related to Our Common Stock

We can issue additional shares without shareholder approval.

        Our Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended (the "Restated Articles"), authorize the issuance of up to 120,000,000 shares of common stock, all of which may be issued without any action or approval by our shareholders. As of December 31, 2010, we had 54,172,971 shares outstanding. In addition, as of December 31, 2010, we had equity-based incentive plans under which 4,419,708 shares are reserved for issuance and an employee stock purchase plan under which 2,643,208 shares are reserved for issuance, both of which may dilute the ownership interest of our shareholders. Our Restated Articles also authorize the issuance of up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock. Our board of directors has the authority to issue preferred stock with the rights and preferences, and at the price, which it determines. Any shares of preferred stock issued would likely be senior to shares of our common stock in various regards, including dividends, payments upon liquidation and voting. The value of our common stock could be negatively affected by the issuance of any shares of preferred stock.

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The amount of dividends we pay may decrease or we may not pay dividends.

        Historically, we have paid dividends in varying amounts on our common stock. The future payment and amount of cash dividends will depend upon our financial condition and results of operations, loan covenants and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors. There can be no assurance that we will continue our practice of paying dividends on our common stock or that we will have the financial resources to pay such dividends.

Provisions of our charter documents and code-share agreements may limit the ability or desire of others to gain control of our company.

        Our ability to issue preferred and common shares without shareholder approval may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control and may adversely affect the voting and other rights of the holders of our common stock, even in circumstances where such a change in control would be viewed as desirable by most investors. The provisions of the Utah Control Shares Acquisitions Act may also discourage the acquisition of a significant interest in or control of our company. Additionally, our code-share agreements contain termination and extension trigger provisions related to change in control type transactions that may have the effect of deterring a change in control of our company.

ITEM 1B.    UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

ITEM 2.    PROPERTIES

Flight Equipment

        As of December 31, 2010, our fleet consisted of the following types of owned and leased aircraft:

Aircraft Type
  Number of
Owned Aircraft
  Number of
Leased Aircraft
  Passenger
Capacity
  Scheduled Flight
Range (miles)
  Average Cruising
Speed (mph)
  Average Age
(years)
 

CRJ200s

    86     172     50     1,500     530     9.2  

CRJ700s

    65     60     70     1,600     530     5.7  

CRJ900s

    11     24     90     1,500     530     3.1  

ERJ145s

    0     244     50     1,500     530     9.0  

Brasilia Turboprops

    9     39     30     300     300     13.5  

        On January 4, 2011, we announced SkyWest Airlines' plans to acquire four additional regional jet aircraft during 2011. SkyWest Airlines plans to place these aircraft into operation under the SkyWest Airlines Delta Connection Agreement. Additionally, we have announced plans to lease eight used CRJ700s from another operator. SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast plan to operate the eight CRJ700s under the SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreements. On January 25, 2011, SkyWest Airlines agreed to operate five CRJ700s for Alaska Airlines. SkyWest Airlines plans to lease these aircraft from Alaska Airlines for a nominal amount.

        Total expenditures for these aircraft and related flight equipment, including amounts for contractual price escalations, are estimated to be approximately $193.5 million through 2011.

        The following table outlines the number of Bombardier Regional Jets that SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet are scheduled to receive during each of the periods set forth below and the expected size and composition of our combined fleet following the receipt of these aircraft.

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The projected fleet size schedule below assumes aircraft financed under operating leases will be returned to the lessor at the end of each lease.

 
  During the fiscal year
ending December 31,
 
 
  2011   2012   2013   2014  

Additional aircraft deliveries

                         

Additional CRJ200s

    0     0     0     0  

Additional CRJ700s

    17     0     0     0  

Additional CRJ900s

    0     0     0     0  

 

 
  As of December 31,  
 
  2011   2012   2013   2014  

Expected fleet size

                         

Total Bombardier Regional Jets

    428     392     382     372  

Total Embraer Regional Jets

    228     217     198     172  

Total Brasilia Turboprops

    33     28     16     9  

Total Combined Fleet

    689     637     596     553  

        The Bombardier and Embraer Regional Jets are among the quietest commercial jets currently available and offer many of the amenities of larger commercial jet aircraft, including flight attendant service, as well as a stand-up cabin, overhead and under seat storage, lavatories and in-flight snack and beverage service. The speed of Bombardier and Embraer Regional Jets is comparable to larger aircraft operated by the major airlines, and they have a range of approximately 1,600 miles; however, because of their smaller size and efficient design, the per-flight cost of operating a Bombardier or Embraer Regional Jet is generally less than that of a 120-seat or larger jet aircraft.

        The Brasilia turboprops are 30-seat, pressurized aircraft designed to operate more economically over short-haul routes than larger jet aircraft. These factors make it economically feasible for SkyWest Airlines to provide high frequency service in markets with relatively low volumes of passenger traffic. Passenger comfort features of the Brasilia turboprops include stand-up headroom, a lavatory, overhead baggage compartments and flight attendant service. We expect that Delta and United will want us to continue to operate Brasilia turboprops in markets where passenger load and other factors make the operation of a regional jet impractical. As of December 31, 2010, SkyWest Airlines operated 48 Brasilia turboprops out of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Seattle/Tacoma and Portland. SkyWest Airlines' Brasilia turboprops are generally used in its California markets, which are characterized by high frequency service on shorter stage lengths.

Ground Facilities

        SkyWest, SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet own or lease the following principal properties:

SkyWest Facilities

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SkyWest Airlines Facilities

Atlantic Southeast Facilities

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ExpressJet Facilities

Our management deems the current facilities of SkyWest, SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet as being suitable to support existing operations and believes these facilities will be adequate for the foreseeable future.

ITEM 3.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

        We are subject to certain legal actions which we consider routine to our business activities. As of December 31, 2010, our management believed, after consultation with legal counsel, that the ultimate outcome of such legal matters is not likely to have a material adverse effect on our financial position, liquidity or results of operations. However, the following are significant outstanding legal matters,

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which if not resolved consistent with the position we have taken in those matters, would negatively impact our financial results.

Atlantic Southeast and SkyWest Airlines v. Delta

        During the quarter ended December 31, 2007, Delta notified SkyWest, SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast of a dispute under the Delta Connection Agreements executed by Delta with SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast. The dispute relates to allocation of liability for IROP expenses that are paid by SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast to their passengers and vendors under certain situations. As a result, Delta withheld a combined total of approximately $25 million (pretax) from one of the weekly scheduled wire payments to SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast during December 2007. Delta continues to withhold a portion of the funds we believe are payable as weekly scheduled wire payments to SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast. As of June 30, 2008, we had recognized a cumulative total of $31.7 million of revenue associated with the funds withheld by Delta. Since July 1, 2008, we have not recognized revenue related to IROP expense reimbursements withheld by Delta because collection of those reimbursements is the subject of litigation (summarized below) and is therefore not reasonably assured. On February 1, 2008, SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast filed a lawsuit in Georgia state court disputing Delta's treatment of the matter (the "Complaint"). Delta filed an Answer to the Complaint and a Counterclaim against SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast on March 24, 2008. Delta's Counterclaim alleges that Atlantic Southeast and SkyWest Airlines breached the Delta Connection Agreements by invoicing Delta for the IROP expenses that were paid pursuant to Delta's policies, and claims only a portion of those expenses may be invoiced to Delta. After proceedings that included contested motions, document discovery, and some depositions, Delta voluntarily dismissed its counterclaim. Discovery in that action was not yet complete. On February 14, 2011, SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast exercised their statutory rights to voluntarily dismiss their claims in the Fulton County, Georgia Superior Court, and filed a new complaint in the Georgia State Court of Fulton County. The claims continue to include Breach of Contract, Breach of Contract based on Mutual Departure, Breach of Contract based on Voluntary Payment, and Breach of the Duty of Good Faith and Fair Dealing.

        During the fourth quarter of 2010, we began preliminary settlement discussions with Delta related to the dispute. Notwithstanding the legal merits of the case, we offered to settle the claim for approximately $5.9 million less than the cumulative total of revenue recognized related to this matter. Those settlement discussions were not successful; a result of our settlement offer, we recorded a bad debt allowance of $5.9 million as of December 31, 2010. SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast continue to vigorously pursue their claims set forth in their Complaint pending in the Georgia State Court of Fulton County.

ExpressJet Stockholder Litigation

        Between August 5, 2010, and August 25, 2010, nine substantially similar putative shareholder class action suits (collectively, the "Texas State Actions") were filed by individual ExpressJet Holdings stockholders in the District Court of Harris County, Texas against ExpressJet and its directors. Many of the petitions also name SkyWest, Atlantic Southeast and/or Merger Subsidiary (together, the "SkyWest Defendants") as defendants in the litigation.

        The petitions filed in the Texas State Actions generally allege that the ExpressJet Holdings director defendants breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the negotiations and approval of the definitive merger agreement which sets forth the terms and conditions of the ExpressJet Merger (the "Merger Agreement"), and that the SkyWest Defendants aided and abetted such alleged breaches of fiduciary duties. The Texas State Actions seek, among other things, an injunction enjoining the ExpressJet Merger and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and rescission of any transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. On August 18, 2010, plaintiff Rayside filed a

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motion to consolidate the Texas State Actions into Case No. 2010-48784 in the first-filed court (the "189th District Court). On August 20, 2010, plaintiffs Levine, Tejeda, Doraiswamy and Swanepoel filed a similar motion in the 189th District Court. On September 10, 2010, the 189th District Court ordered the consolidation of the Texas State Actions with and into Case No. 2010-48784 (the consolidated action is referred to herein as the "Consolidated Texas State Action").

        On September 20, 2010, a putative stockholder class action (the "Texas Federal Action" and, together with the Consolidated Texas State Action, the "Actions") was commenced in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division. The complaint filed in the Texas Federal Action includes substantially identical allegations to and requests substantially the same relief as the petitions in the Texas State Actions, but also includes allegations related to the ExpressJet Holdings preliminary proxy statement filed with the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission on September 3, 2010.

        On October 8, 2010, counsel for the defendants in the Actions, counsel for the plaintiff class in the Consolidated Texas State Action and counsel for plaintiff in the Texas Federal Action agreed to and executed a memorandum of understanding (the "MOU") containing the terms of an agreement in principle to resolve the Actions. The MOU provides that, in consideration for the settlement of the Actions, ExpressJet Holdings made certain disclosures in the definitive proxy statement that was sent to the ExpressJet Holdings stockholders soliciting approval of the ExpressJet Merger. In the MOU, the defendants in the Actions acknowledge that they considered the claims raised by the plaintiffs in the Actions in connection with the disclosures contemplated by the MOU. In exchange, the parties to the MOU have agreed to use their best efforts to draft and execute a definitive stipulation of settlement that includes a plaintiff class consisting of all record and beneficial holders of ExpressJet Holdings stock, other than defendants in the Consolidated Texas State Action and any firm, trust, corporation or other entity controlled by any such defendant, during the period beginning on and including December 2, 2009, through and including the date of the consummation of the ExpressJet Merger. The court has scheduled a hearing for April 14, 2011 to consider whether the negotiated settlement should be approved. If approved by the parties and the 189th District Court, the settlement will result in the dismissal with prejudice of the Consolidated Texas State Action and release by the plaintiff class of all claims under federal and state law that were or could have been asserted in the Actions or which arise out of or relate to the transactions contemplated by the ExpressJet Merger. The MOU further provides that, in the event the Consolidated Texas State Action is dismissed in accordance with the settlement stipulation, the parties to the MOU will use their best efforts to obtain the dismissal with prejudice of the Texas Federal Action. The settlement of the Consolidated Texas State Actions is subject to numerous conditions set forth in the MOU and to be contained in any stipulation of settlement, including the completion of the ExpressJet Merger.

        For financial reporting purposes we accrue an estimated loss if the loss is probable and reasonably estimable. Because these conditions have not been satisfied, we did not record a loss related to the preceding matter as of December 31, 2010.

ITEM 4.    REMOVED AND RESERVED

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PART II

ITEM 5.    MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Market Price for Our Common Stock

        Our common stock is traded on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol "SKYW." At February 17, 2011, there were approximately 949 stockholders of record of our common stock. Securities held of record do not include shares held in securities position listings. The following table sets forth the range of high and low closing sales prices for our common stock, during the periods indicated.

 
  2010   2009  
Quarter
  High   Low   High   Low  

First

    17.28     13.86   $ 19.05   $ 8.19  

Second

    15.49     12.17     15.47     9.66  

Third

    14.05     11.48     18.04     10.28  

Fourth

    16.72     13.73     18.02     13.97  

        The transfer agent for our common stock is Zions First National Bank, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Dividends

        During 2010 and 2009, our Board of Directors declared regular quarterly dividends of $0.04 per share.

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

        The following table contains information regarding our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2010.

Plan Category
  Number of Securities to be
Issued upon Exercise of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights
  Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding
Options,
Warrants and
Rights
  Number of Securities
Remaining Available for
Future Issuance under
Equity Compensation
Plans (Excluding
Securities Reflected in
the First Column)
 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders(1)

    4,586,979   $ 19.96     7,062,916  

(1)
Consists of our Executive Stock Incentive Plan, our All Share Stock Option Plan, our SkyWest Inc. Long Term Incentive Plan, and our Employee Stock Purchase Plan. See Note 9 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, included in Item 8 of this Report, for additional information regarding these plans.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

        Our Board of Directors has adopted a stock repurchase program which authorizes us to repurchase shares of our common stock in the public market, from time to time, at prevailing prices. Our stock repurchase program currently authorizes the repurchase of up to 20,000,000 shares of our

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common stock. The following table summarizes our purchases under our stock repurchase program for the three months ended December 31, 2010.

Period
  Total Number of
Shares Purchased
  Average Price
Paid Per Share
  Total Number of Shares
Purchased as Part of a
Publicly Announced
Program(1)
  Maximum Number
of Shares that May
Yet Be Purchased
Under the Program
 

October 1 - October 31, 2010

    243,829   $ 14.20     243,829     6,592,688  

November 1 - November 30, 2010

    515,058     15.90     515,058     6,077,630  

December 1 - December 31, 2010

    355,156     16.44     355,156     5,722,474  
                   

Total

    1,114,043   $ 15.70     1,114,043     5,722,474  
                   

(1)
Under resolutions adopted in February 2007, November 2007, May 2009 and May 2010, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 20,000,000 shares of our common stock. Purchases are made at management's discretion based on market conditions and our financial resources. In addition, effective March 13, 2009, we entered into the SkyWest, Inc. Stock Repurchase Plan (the "Stock Repurchase Plan"). The Stock Repurchase Plan provides for the repurchase of up to 3,400,000 shares of our common stock (which are included within, and are not in addition to, the 20,000,000 shares of common stock described above) by an independent third party pursuant to trading parameters contemplated by the Stock Repurchase Plan. As of December 31, 2010, we had spent approximately $277.0 million to purchase and retire approximately 14,277,526 shares of the 20,000,000 shares of common stock designated for repurchase by our Board of Directors. The authorization of our Board of Directors does not have an expiration date. The Stock Repurchase Plan expires on March 13, 2011.

Stock Performance Graph

        The following Performance Graph and related information shall not be deemed "soliciting material" or "filed" with the Securities and Exchange Commission, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended, except to the extent we specifically incorporate it by reference into such filing.

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        The following graph compares the cumulative total shareholder return on our common stock over the five-year period ended December 31, 2010, with the cumulative total return during such period of the Nasdaq Stock Market (U.S. Companies) and a peer group index composed of regional and major passenger airlines with U.S operations that have equity securities traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market or the New York Stock Exchange, the members of which are identified below (the "Peer Group") for the same period. The following graph assumes an initial investment of $100.00 with dividends reinvested. The stock performance shown on the graph below represents historical stock performance and is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.


Comparison of Cumulative Five Year Total Return

GRAPHIC

 
  INDEXED RETURNS  
 
   
  Years Ending  
 
  Base
Period
Dec05
 
Company Name / Index
  Dec06   Dec07   Dec08   Dec09   Dec10  

SkyWest, Inc. 

    100     95.41     100.90     70.44     64.85     60.56  

NASDAQ Composite

    100     111.74     124.67     73.77     107.12     125.93  

Peer Group

    100     106.13     69.92     49.08     50.74     61.65  

        The Peer Group consists of regional and major passenger airlines with U.S operations that have equity securities traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market or the New York Stock Exchange. The members of the Peer Group are: AirTran Holdings, Inc.; Alaska Air Group, Inc.: Allegiant Travel Co.; AMR Corp/DE; Delta Air Lines, Inc.; Great Lakes Aviation, LTD.; Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.; JetBlue Airways, Corp.; Pinnacle Airlines, Corp.; Republic Airways, Holdings Inc.; SkyWest, Inc. Southwest Airlines, United Continental Holdings, Inc.; and US Airways Group, Inc .

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ITEM 6.    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

        The following selected financial and operating data should be read in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," and our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Report.

Selected Consolidated Financial Data (amounts in thousands, except per share data):

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010(2)   2009   2008   2007   2006  

Operating revenues

  $ 2,765,145   $ 2,613,614   $ 3,496,249   $ 3,374,332   $ 3,114,656  

Operating income

    201,826     212,195     255,231     344,524     339,160  

Net income

    96,350     83,658     112,929     159,192     145,806  

Net income per common share:

                               
 

Basic

  $ 1.73   $ 1.50   $ 1.95   $ 2.54   $ 2.33  
 

Diluted

  $ 1.70     1.47     1.93     2.49     2.30  

Weighted average shares:

                               
 

Basic

    55,610     55,854     57,790     62,710     62,474  
 

Diluted

    56,526     56,814     58,633     64,044     63,382  

Total assets

  $ 4,446,510   $ 4,310,802   $ 4,014,291   $ 3,990,525   $ 3,731,419  

Current assets

    1,369,565     1,254,099     1,220,668     1,210,139     1,095,454  

Current liabilities

    562,640     449,835     386,604     398,219     408,431  

Long-term debt, net of current maturities

    1,738,936     1,816,318     1,681,705     1,732,748     1,675,626  

Stockholders' equity

    1,420,923     1,352,219     1,275,521     1,246,007     1,178,293  

Return on average equity(1)

    6.9 %   6.4 %   9.0 %   13.1 %   13.9 %

Cash dividends declared per common share

  $ 0.16   $ 0.16   $ 0.13   $ 0.12   $ 0.12  

(1)
Calculated by dividing net income by the average of beginning and ending stockholders' equity for the year.

(2)
On November 12, 2010, we completed the ExpressJet Merger for $136.5 million in cash. Our 2010 consolidated operating revenues contain 50 days of additional revenue and expenses generated subsequent to the ExpressJet Merger.

Selected Operating Data

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008   2007   2006  

Block hours

    1,547,562     1,363,257     1,376,815     1,438,818     1,298,769  

Departures

    1,001,766     870,761     872,288     904,795     857,631  

Passengers carried

    40,411,089     34,544,772     33,461,819     34,392,755     31,465,552  

Revenue passenger miles (000)

    20,227,220     17,448,958     17,101,910     17,892,282     15,819,191  

Available seat miles (000)

    25,503,845     22,142,650     22,020,250     22,968,768     20,209,888  

Revenue per available seat mile

    10.8¢     11.8¢     15.9¢     14.7¢     15.4¢  

Cost per available seat mile

    10.4¢     11.2¢     15.2¢     13.7¢     14.3¢  

Average passenger trip length

    501     505     511     520     503  

Number of operating aircraft at end of year

    704     449     442     436     410  

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        The following terms used in this section and elsewhere in this Report have the meanings indicated below:

        "Revenue passenger miles" represents the number of miles flown by revenue passengers.

        "Available seat miles" represents the number of seats available for passengers multiplied by the number of miles those seats are flown.

        "Revenue per available seat mile" represents passenger revenue divided by available seat miles.

        "Cost per available seat mile" represents operating expenses plus interest divided by available seat miles.

ITEM 7.    MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

        The following discussion and analysis presents factors that had a material effect on our results of operations during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008. Also discussed is our financial position as of December 31, 2010 and 2009. You should read this discussion in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto, appearing elsewhere in this Report or incorporated herein by reference. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements. Please refer to the sections of this Report entitled "Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-looking Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors" for discussion of some of the uncertainties, risks and assumptions associated with these statements.

Overview

        Through SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet, we operate the largest regional airline in the United States. As of December 31, 2010, SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet offered scheduled passenger and air freight service with more than 4,000 total daily departures to destinations in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. As of December 31, 2010, we operated a combined fleet of 710 aircraft consisting of the following:

 
  CRJ 200   ERJ 145   CRJ700   CRJ 900   EMB 120   Total  

Delta

    150         55     31     10     246  

United

    99     35     70         38     242  

Continental

        206                 206  

AirTran

    4                     4  

Maintenance Spare

    3                     3  

Charter

        3                 3  

Subleased to an un-affiliated entity

    2                     2  

Subleased to an affiliated entity

                4         4  
                           

Total

    258     244     125     35     48     710  

        For the year ended December 31, 2010, approximately 47.5% of our aggregate capacity was operated under the United Express Agreements, approximately 46.5% was operated under the Delta Agreements, approximately 5.3% was operated under the Continental CPA and approximately 0.7% was operated under the AirTran code-share agreement.

        SkyWest Airlines has been a code-share partner with Delta in Salt Lake City and United in Los Angeles since 1987 and 1997, respectively. In 1998, SkyWest Airlines expanded its relationship with United to provide service in Portland, Seattle/Tacoma, San Francisco and additional Los Angeles

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markets. In 2004, SkyWest Airlines expanded its United Express operations to provide service in Chicago. In 2009, SkyWest Airlines entered into a code-share agreement with AirTran. As of December 31, 2010, SkyWest Airlines operated as a Delta Connection carrier in Salt Lake City, a United Express carrier in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Chicago and the Pacific Northwest, and an AirTran carrier in Milwaukee, operating more than 1,700 total daily flights.

        Atlantic Southeast has been a code-share partner with Delta in Atlanta since 1984 and United since February 2010. As of December 31, 2010, Atlantic Southeast operated as a Delta Connection carrier in Atlanta and Cincinnati and a United Express carrier in Chicago and Washington, D.C. (Dulles International Airport), operating approximately 900 daily flights.

        On November 12, 2010, we completed the ExpressJet Merger. At the effective time of the ExpressJet Merger, each issued and outstanding share of ExpressJet Holdings common stock (other than shares of ExpressJet Holdings common stock owned by ExpressJet Holdings as treasury stock or shares of ExpressJet Holdings common stock owned by SkyWest or any of its subsidiaries was converted into the right to receive $6.75 per share in cash, payable to the holder thereof, without interest. Based on the number of outstanding shares of ExpressJet Holdings common stock as of the effective time of the ExpressJet Merger, the aggregate value of the ExpressJet Merger consideration was $131.6 million. After taking into effect the number of shares acquired by SkyWest and its subsidiaries prior to the effective time of the ExpressJet Merger, the aggregate value of the ExpressJet Merger consideration was $136.5 million.

        ExpressJet provides regional jet service principally in the United States, primarily from hubs located in Cleveland, Newark, Houston, Chicago (O'Hare) and Washington Dulles. ExpressJet offered more than 1,300 daily scheduled departures as of December 31, 2010, of which approximately 1,050 were Continental Express flights and 250 were United Express flights. ExpressJet's fleet as of December 31, 2010 consisted of 244 ERJ145s, 206 of which were flown for Continental, 35 were flown for United and three were used in charter operations. ExpressJet's Continental and United code-share operations are conducted under the Continental CPA and the ExpressJet United Express Agreement, pursuant to which ExpressJet is paid by Continental or United, as applicable, primarily on a fee-per-completed block hour and departure basis, plus a margin based on performance incentives.

        Historically, multiple contractual relationships have enabled us to reduce reliance on any single major airline code and to enhance and stabilize operating results through a mix of contract flying and our controlled or "pro-rate" flying. For the year ended December 31, 2010, contract flying revenue and pro-rate revenue represented approximately 89% and 11%, respectively, of our total passenger revenues. On contract routes, the major airline partner controls scheduling, ticketing, pricing and seat inventories and we are compensated by the major airline partner at contracted rates based on the completed block hours, flight departures and other operating measures. On pro-rate flights, we control scheduling, ticketing, pricing and seat inventories and receive a pro-rated portion of passenger fares. For the year ended December 31, 2010, essentially all of our Brasilia turboprops flown for Delta were flown under pro-rate arrangements, while approximately 36% of our Brasilia turboprops flown in the United system were flown under contractual arrangements, with the remaining 64% flown under pro-rate arrangements. For the year ended December 31, 2010, approximately 89% of our CRJ200s flown in the United system were flown under contractual arrangements, with the remaining 11% flown under pro-rate arrangements. On November 4, 2009, SkyWest Airlines entered into a code-share agreement with AirTran. Under the terms of the AirTran code-share agreement, SkyWest Airlines has agreed to operate four CRJ200s for AirTran under a pro-rate arrangement.

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Financial Highlights

        We had revenues of $2.8 billion for the year ended December 31, 2010, a 5.8% increase, compared to revenues of $2.6 billion for the year ended December 31, 2009. We had net income of $96.4 million, or $1.70 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2010, an increase of 15.2%, compared to $83.7 million of net income, or $1.47 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2009.

        The significant items affecting our financial performance during the year ended December 31, 2010 are summarized below:

        Under the Delta Connection Agreements, Delta has the right to require that certain contractual rates under those agreements shall not exceed the average rate of all carriers within the Delta Connection Program. On October 23, 2009, Delta sent letters to SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast requiring them to either adjust the rates payable under their respective Delta Connection Agreements or accept termination of those agreements. Delta's letters also notified SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast of Delta's estimate of the average rates to be applied under those agreements. On October 28, 2009, SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast notified Delta of their election to adjust the rates payable under the Delta Connection Agreements; however, they also notified Delta of their disagreement with Delta's estimated rates and their belief that the methodology Delta used to calculate its estimated rates is inconsistent with the terms of the Delta Connection Agreements. SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast, on one hand, and Delta, on the other hand, exchanged subsequent correspondence, and in November 2010, the parties reached an agreement related to the average rate provisions applied under the Delta Connection Agreements.

        The Delta Connection Agreements also provide that, beginning with the fifth anniversary of the execution of the agreements (September 8, 2010), Delta has the right to require that certain contractual rates under those agreements shall not exceed the second lowest of all carriers within the Delta Connection Program. On September 8, 2010, Delta sent letters to SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast requiring them to either adjust the rates payable under their respective Delta Connection Agreements or accept termination of those agreements. Delta's letters also notified SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast of Delta's estimate of the second lowest rates to be applied under those agreements. On September 10, 2010, SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast notified Delta of their election to adjust the rates payable under the Delta Connection Agreements; however, they also notified Delta of their disagreement with Delta's estimated rates and their belief that the methodology Delta used to calculate its estimated rates is inconsistent with the terms of the Delta Connection Agreements. During the fourth quarter of 2010, SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast reached an agreement with Delta on contractual rates satisfying the second-lowest rate provision and agreed on rates through December 31, 2015. Delta additionally waived its right to require that the contractual rates payable under the Delta Connection Agreements under those agreements shall not exceed the second lowest of all carriers within the Delta Connection Program through December 31, 2015. As a result of finalizing contractual rates payable under the Delta Connection Agreements from September 8, 2008 through December 31, 2010, we recorded $10.3 million in additional revenue during the quarter ended December 31, 2010.

        Under the terms of the SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreements, Delta has agreed to compensate SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast for initiatives that directly result in pass through cost savings. Delta has agreed to share such savings on an equal basis for a twelve-month period. During the quarter ended December 31, 2010, Delta paid to SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast approximately $6.9 million in cost savings revenue.

        On November 12, 2010, we completed the ExpressJet Merger. At the effective time of the ExpressJet Merger, each issued and outstanding share of ExpressJet Holdings common stock (other than shares of ExpressJet Holdings common stock owned by ExpressJet Holdings as treasury stock or shares of ExpressJet Holdings common stock owned by SkyWest or any of its subsidiaries) was

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converted into the right to receive $6.75 per share in cash, payable to the holder thereof, without interest. Based on the number of outstanding shares of ExpressJet Holdings common stock as of the effective time of the Merger, the aggregate value of the ExpressJet Merger consideration was $131.6 million. After taking into effect the number of shares acquired by SkyWest and its subsidiaries, the aggregate value of the ExpressJet Merger consideration was $136.5 million. As part of the ExpressJet Merger, we recorded a purchase accounting gain of $15.6 million. This amount represents the difference between the consideration paid and the net fair value of ExpressJet Holdings' tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The fair value of the assets and liabilities acquired were more than purchase price.

        Under the SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast United Express Agreements, we recognize revenue in our consolidated statement of income at a fixed hourly rate for mature engine maintenance on regional jet engines and we recognize engine maintenance expense on our CRJ200 regional jet engines in our consolidated statement of income on an as-incurred basis as maintenance expense. During the year ended December 31, 2010, our CRJ200 engine expense under our SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast United Express Agreements and our AirTran code-share agreement increased $41.5 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase in CRJ 200 engine overhauls reimbursed at a fixed hourly rate was principally due to scheduled engine maintenance events. We anticipate the average quarterly number of scheduled engine maintenance events we experienced during the year ended December 31, 2010 will likely continue each quarter through 2011 and the first quarter of 2012.

        Total available seat miles ("ASMs") for the year ended December 31, 2010 increased 15.2%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2009, primarily due to the ExpressJet Merger, as well as SkyWest Airlines' acceptance of 18 new CRJ700s since April 1, 2009, and its incremental placement of those aircraft into service over that period. During the year ended December 31, 2010, we generated 25.5 billion ASMs, compared to 22.1 billion ASMs during the year ended December 31, 2009.

        On October 16, 2009, SkyWest Airlines extended to United a secured term loan in the amount of $80 million. The term loan bore interest at a rate of 11%, with a ten-year amortization period. The loan was secured by certain ground equipment and airport slot rights held by United. On August 11, 2010, United repaid the $80 million term loan.

        On September 29, 2010, we invested $7 million for a 30% ownership interest in Mekong Aviation Joint Stock Company, an airline operating in Vietnam ("Air Mekong"). We anticipate accounting for the investment using the equity method of accounting and intend to reflect our equity interest in Air Mekong's earnings on a one-quarter lag.


Outlook

        On January 4, 2011, we announced SkyWest Airlines' plans to acquire four additional regional jet aircraft during 2011. SkyWest Airlines plans to place these aircraft into operation under the SkyWest Airlines Delta Connection Agreement. Additionally, we have announced plans to lease eight used CRJ700s from another operator. SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast plan to operate the eight CRJ700s under the SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreements. On January 25, 2011, SkyWest Airlines agreed to operate five CRJ700s for Alaska Airlines. SkyWest Airlines plans to lease these aircraft from Alaska Airlines for a nominal amount.

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Critical Accounting Policies

        Our significant accounting policies are summarized in Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010, included in Item 8 of this Report. Critical accounting policies are those policies that are most important to the preparation of our consolidated financial statements and require management's subjective and complex judgments due to the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. Our critical accounting policies relate to revenue recognition, aircraft maintenance, aircraft leases, impairment of long-lived assets and intangibles, stock-based compensation expense and fair value as discussed below. The application of these accounting policies involves the exercise of judgment and the use of assumptions as to future uncertainties and, as a result, actual results will differ, and could differ materially from such estimates.

Revenue Recognition

        Passenger and ground handling revenues are recognized when service is provided. Under our contract and pro-rate flying agreements with our code-share partners, revenue is considered earned when the flight is completed. Our agreements with our code-share partners contain certain provisions pursuant to which the parties could terminate the respective agreement, subject to certain rights of the other party, if certain performance criteria are not maintained. Our revenues could be impacted by a number of factors, including changes to the code-share agreements, contract modifications resulting from contract renegotiations and our ability to earn incentive payments contemplated under applicable agreements. In the event contracted rates are not finalized at a quarterly or annual financial statement date, we record that period's revenues based on the lower of the prior period's approved rates adjusted for the current contract negotiations and our estimate of rates that will be implemented in accordance with revenue recognition guidelines. Also, in the event we have a reimbursement dispute with a major partner at a quarterly or annual financial statement date, we evaluate the dispute under established revenue recognition criteria and, provided the revenue recognition criteria have been met, we recognize revenue for that period based on our estimate of the resolution of the dispute. Accordingly, we are required to exercise judgment and use assumptions in the application of our revenue recognition policy.

Maintenance

        We use the direct-expense method of accounting for our regional jet aircraft engine overhaul costs. Under this method, the maintenance liability is not recorded until the maintenance services are performed. We use the "deferral method" of accounting for our Brasilia turboprop engine overhauls, which provides for engine overhaul costs to be capitalized and depreciated to the next estimated overhaul event or to the remaining useful life, whichever is shorter. For leased aircraft, we are subject to lease return provisions that require a minimum portion of the "life" of an overhaul be remaining on the engine at the lease return date. With respect to engine overhauls related to leased Brasilia turboprops to be returned, we adjust the estimated useful lives of the final engine overhauls based on the respective lease return dates. With respect to SkyWest Airlines, a third-party vendor provides our long-term engine services covering the scheduled and unscheduled repairs for engines on our CRJ700s operated under the SkyWest Airlines United Express Agreement. Under the terms of the vendor agreement, we pay a set dollar amount per engine hour flown on a monthly basis and the third-party vendor assumes the obligation to repair the engines at no additional cost to us, subject to certain specified exclusions. Thus, under the third-party vendor agreement, we expense the engine maintenance costs as flight hours are incurred on the engines and using the contractual rate set forth in the agreement.

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Aircraft Leases

        The majority of SkyWest Airlines' aircraft are leased from third parties, while Atlantic Southeast's aircraft are primarily debt-financed on a long-term basis and the majority of ExpressJet's aircraft are leased from Continental for a nominal amount. In order to determine the proper classification of our leased aircraft as either operating leases or capital leases, we must make certain estimates at the inception of the lease relating to the economic useful life and the fair value of an asset as well as select an appropriate discount rate to be used in discounting future lease payments. These estimates are utilized by management in making computations as required by existing accounting standards that determine whether the lease is classified as an operating lease or a capital lease. All of our aircraft leases have been classified as operating leases, which results in rental payments being charged to expense over the terms of the related leases. Additionally, operating leases are not reflected in our consolidated balance sheet and accordingly, neither a lease asset nor an obligation for future lease payments is reflected in our consolidated balance sheets.

Impairment of Long-Lived and Intangible Assets

        As of December 31, 2010, we had approximately $2.9 billion of property and equipment and related assets. Additionally, as of December 31, 2010, we had approximately $21.7 million in intangible assets. In accounting for these long-lived and intangible assets, we make estimates about the expected useful lives of the assets, the expected residual values of certain of these assets, and the potential for impairment based on the fair value of the assets and the cash flows they generate. We recorded an intangible of approximately $33.7 million relating to the acquisition of Atlantic Southeast. The intangible is being amortized over fifteen years under the straight-line method. As of December 31, 2010, we had recorded $12.0 million in accumulated amortization expense. Factors indicating potential impairment include, but are not limited to, significant decreases in the market value of the long-lived assets, a significant change in the condition of the long-lived assets and operating cash flow losses associated with the use of the long-lived assets. On a periodic basis, we evaluate whether the book value of our aircraft is impaired. Based on the results of the evaluations, our management concluded no impairment was necessary as of December 31, 2010. However, there is inherent risk in estimating the future cash flows used in the impairment test. If cash flows do not materialize as estimated, there is a risk the impairment charges recognized to date may be inaccurate, or further impairment charges may be necessary in the future.

Stock-Based Compensation Expense

        We estimate the fair value of stock options as of the grant date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. We use historical data to estimate option exercises and employee termination in the option pricing model. The expected term of options granted is derived from the output of the option pricing model and represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding. The expected volatilities are based on the historical volatility of our common stock and other factors.

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Fair value

        We hold certain assets that are required to be measured at fair value in accordance with United States GAAP. We determined fair value of these assets based on the following three levels of inputs:

  Level 1     Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 

Level 2

 


 

Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. Some of our marketable securities primarily utilize broker quotes in a non-active market for valuation of these securities.

 

Level 3

 


 

Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions.

        We utilize several valuation techniques in order to assess the fair value of our financial assets and liabilities. Our cash and cash equivalents primarily utilize quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

        We have valued non-auction rate marketable securities using quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. If a quoted price is not available, we utilize broker quotes in a non-active market for valuation of these securities. For auction-rate security instruments, quoted prices in active markets are no longer available. As a result, we have estimated the fair values of these securities utilizing a discounted cash flow.

Results of Operations

2010 Compared to 2009

        Operational Statistics.    The following table sets forth our major operational statistics and the associated percentages-of-change for the periods identified below.

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   % Change  

Revenue passenger miles (000)

    20,227,220     17,448,958     15.9 %

Available seat miles ("ASMs") (000)

    25,503,845     22,142,650     15.2 %

Block hours

    1,547,562     1,363,257     13.5 %

Departures

    1,001,766     870,761     15.0 %

Passengers carried

    40,411,089     34,544,772     17.0 %

Passenger load factor

    79.3 %   78.8 %   0.50 pts

Revenue per available seat mile

    10.8 ¢   11.8 ¢   (8.5 )%

Cost per available seat mile

    10.4 ¢   11.2 ¢   (7.1 )%

Fuel cost per available seat mile

    1.3 ¢   1.8 ¢   (27.8 )%

Average passenger trip length (miles)

    501     505     (0.8 )%

        Revenues.    Operating revenues increased $151.5 million, or 5.8%, during the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to the year ended December 31, 2009. We are reimbursed for our actual fuel costs by our major partners under our contract flying arrangements. For financial reporting purposes, we record these reimbursements as operating revenue. Under the SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreements and the Continental CPA, we are reimbursed for our engine overhaul expenses as incurred. We also record those engine overhaul reimbursements as operating revenue. The following table summarizes the amount of fuel and engine overhaul

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reimbursements included in our passenger revenues for the periods indicated (dollar amounts in thousands).

 
  For the year ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   $ Change   % Change  

Passenger revenues

  $ 2,724,276   $ 2,582,238   $ 142,038     5.5 %

Less: Fuel reimbursement from major partners

    258,523     360,309     (101,786 )   (28.2 )%

Less: Engine overhaul reimbursement from major partners

    106,241     112,556     (6,315 )   (5.6 )%
                     

Passenger revenue excluding fuel and engine overhauls reimbursements

  $ 2,359,512   $ 2,109,373   $ 250,139     11.9 %

        Passenger revenues.    Passenger revenues increased $142.0 million, or 5.5%, during the year ended December, 31 2010, compared to the year ended December 31, 2009. Our passenger revenues, excluding fuel and engine overhaul reimbursements from major partners, increased $250.1 million, or 11.9%, during the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase in passenger revenues, excluding fuel and engine overhaul reimbursements, was primarily due to four factors. First, Atlantic Southeast experienced an abnormally high number of flight cancellations, primarily due to weather problems in its Atlanta hub, during the year ended December 31, 2009. Additionally, on March 31, 2009, as a result of an internal audit, Atlantic Southeast grounded 60 CRJ200 aircraft in order to perform engine safety inspections in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. Consequently, Atlantic Southeast cancelled approximately 750 more flights than normal as a result of the severe weather and the aircraft grounding during the three months ended March 31, 2009.Those calculations contributed to an increase in passenger revenue of approximately $7.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to 2009. Second, our block hour production increased 13.5% during the year end December 31, 2010, compared to the year ended December 31, 2009.The increase in block hours was primarily due to SkyWest Airlines taking incremental delivery of 18 CRJ 700s since April 1, 2009 and the completion of ExpressJet Merger on November 12, 2010. Third, during the three months ended December 31, 2010, SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast finalized certain contractual rates from September 8, 2008 through December 31, 2010 with Delta. As a result, we recorded $10.3 million in additional revenue as a result of the finalization of contractual rates during the quarter ended December 31, 2010. Fourth, under the terms of the SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreements, Delta has agreed to compensate SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast for initiatives that directly result in pass through cost savings. Delta agreed to share such savings with SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast on an equal basis for a twelve-month period. During the three months ended December 31, 2010, Delta paid, and SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast recognized, approximately $6.9 million in cost savings revenue.

        Ground handling and other.    Total ground handling and other revenues increased $9.5 million, or 30.3%, during the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase was primarily related to aircraft rental revenue to other airlines. During the year ended December 31, 2010, we obtained leases for four CRJ900s and subleased the aircraft to Air Mekong. In addition, ExpressJet had approximately $4.3 million in ground handling and other revenue during 2010.

        Individual expense components are also expressed in the following table on the basis of cents per ASM. ASM is a common metric used in the airline industry to measure an airline's passenger capacity. ASMs reflect both the number of aircraft in an airline's fleet and the seat capacity for the aircraft in the fleet. As the size of our fleet is the underlying driver of our operating costs, the primary basis for

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our presentation of the following information on a cost per ASM basis is to discuss significant changes in our costs not proportionate to the relative changes in our fleet size (dollar amounts in thousands).

 
  For the year ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   $ Change   % Change    
   
 
 
  2010
Cents Per
ASM
  2009
Cents Per
ASM
 
 
  Amount   Amount   Amount   Percent  

Aircraft fuel

  $ 340,074   $ 390,739   $ (50,665 )   (13.0 )%   1.3     1.8  

Salaries, wages and benefits

    764,933     698,326     66,607     9.5 %   3.0     3.2  

Aircraft maintenance, materials and repairs

    487,466     436,039     51,427     11.8 %   1.9     2.0  

Aircraft rentals

    311,909     300,773     11,136     3.7 %   1.2     1.3  

Depreciation and amortization

    236,499     221,548     14,951     6.7 %   0.9     1.0  

Station rentals and landing fees

    129,537     116,312     13,225     11.4 %   0.5     0.5  

Ground handling services

    110,649     95,805     14,844     15.5 %   0.4     0.4  

Acquisition related costs

    8,815         8,815     N/A     0.1      

Other

    173,437     141,877     31,560     22.2 %   0.7     0.6  
                           

Total operating expenses

    2,563,319     2,401,419     161,900     6.7 %   10.0     10.8  

Interest

    86,517     86,330     187     0.2 %   0.4     0.4  
                           

Total airline expenses

  $ 2,649,836   $ 2,487,749     162,087     6.5 %   10.4     11.2  
                           

        Fuel.    Fuel costs decreased $50.7 million, or13.0%, during the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to the year ended December 31, 2009. The average cost per gallon of fuel increased to $2.74 per gallon during the year ended December 31, 2010, from $1.87 during the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase in the average cost per gallon was offset by Delta purchasing the majority of the fuel for our Delta Connection aircraft, commencing on June 1, 2009. United also purchased fuel directly from a fuel vendor for our United Express aircraft under contract flying operated out of Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Denver. Continental also purchases the majority of the fuel under the ExpressJet Continental CPA. The following table summarizes the gallons of fuel we purchased directly, and the change in fuel price per gallon on our fuel expense, for the periods indicated:

 
  For the year ended December,  
(in thousands, except per gallon amounts)
  2010   2009   % Change  

Fuel gallons purchased

    124,094     209,254     (40.7 )%

Average price per gallon

  $ 2.74   $ 1.87     46.5 %

Fuel expense

  $ 340,074   $ 390,739     (13.0 )%

        Salaries Wages and Employee Benefits.    Salaries, wages and employee benefits increased $66.6 million, or 9.5%, during the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase was primarily related to the completion of the ExpressJet Merger on November 12, 2010 and the related increase in production. The average number of full-time equivalent employees increased 5.7% to 13,363 for the year ended December 31, 2010, from 12,642 for the year ended December 31, 2009, due primarily to the completion of the ExpressJet Merger..

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        Aircraft maintenance, materials and repairs.    Maintenance costs increased $51.4 million, or 11.8%, during the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to the year ended December 31, 2009. The following table summarizes the amount of engine overhauls and engine overhaul reimbursements included in our aircraft maintenance expense for the periods indicated (dollar amounts in thousands).

 
  For the year ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   $ Change   % Change  

Aircraft maintenance, materials and repairs

  $ 487,466   $ 436,039   $ 51,427     11.8 %

Less: Engine overhaul reimbursed from major partners

    106,241     112,556     (6,315 )   (5.6 )%

Less: CRJ 200 engine overhauls reimbursed at fixed hourly rate

    75,706     34,176     41,530     121.5 %
                     

Aircraft maintenance excluding reimbursed engine overhauls and CRJ 200 engine overhauls reimbursed at fixed hourly rate

  $ 305,519   $ 289,307   $ 16,212     5.6 %
                     

        Aircraft maintenance expense excluding reimbursed engine overhauls and CRJ 200 engine overhauls reimbursed at fixed hourly rates, increased $16.2 million, or 5.6%, during the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase in maintenance excluding engine overhaul costs was principally due to the completion of the ExpressJet Merger.

        Under the SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast United Express Agreements, we recognize revenue in our consolidated statement of income at a fixed hourly rate for mature engine maintenance on regional jet engines and we recognize engine maintenance expense on our CRJ200 regional jet engines in our consolidated statement of income on an as-incurred basis as maintenance expense. During the year ended December 31, 2010, our CRJ200 engine expense under our SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast United Express Agreements and our AirTran code-share agreement increased $41.5 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase in CRJ 200 engine overhauls reimbursed at a fixed hourly rate was principally due to scheduled engine maintenance events. We anticipate the average number of scheduled engine maintenance events experienced during the year ended December 31, 2010 will likely continue each quarter through 2011 and the first quarter of 2012.

        Under our Delta Connection Agreements we are reimbursed for engine overhaul costs by Delta at the time the maintenance event occurs. Under our Continental CPA, we are also reimbursed for actual engine cost by Continental at the time the expense is incurred. Such reimbursements are reflected as passenger revenue in our consolidated statement of income.

        Aircraft rentals.    Aircraft rentals increased $11.1 million, or 3.7%, during the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase was primarily due to the following two factors: First, during the year ended December 31, 2010, we obtained leases for four CRJ900s and subleased the aircraft to Air Mekong. Second, we completed the ExpressJet Merger on November 12, 2010. ExpressJet incurred approximately $3.6 million in aircraft rental expense since the completion of the ExpressJet Merger.

        Depreciation and amortization.    Depreciation and amortization expense increased $15.0 million, or 6.7%, during the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase in depreciation expense was primarily due to SkyWest Airlines taking incremental delivery of 18 new CRJ700s since April 1, 2009. These aircraft were financed through long-term debt.

        Station rentals and landing fees.    Station rentals and landing fees expense increased $13.2 million, or 11.4%, during the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase in station rentals and landing fees expense was primarily due to the acquisition of ExpressJet on November 12, 2010 and related additional station rent.

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        Ground handling service.    Ground handling service expense increased $14.8 million, or 15.5%, during the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase in ground handling expense was due primarily to 16 new pro-rate stations SkyWest Airlines outsourced to other ground handlers since January 1, 2009.

        Acquisition-related costs.    During the year ended December 31, 2010, we incurred $8.8 million of direct severance, legal and advisor fees associated with the ExpressJet Merger.

        Other expenses.    Other expenses, primarily consisting of property taxes, hull and liability insurance, crew simulator training and crew hotel costs, increased $31.6 million, or 22.2%, during the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase in other expenses was primarily due to the completion of the ExpressJet Merger on November 12, 2010.

        Total Airline Expenses.    Total airline expenses (consisting of total operating and interest expenses) increased $162.1 million, or 6.5%, during the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to the year ended December 31, 2009. We are reimbursed for our actual fuel costs by our major partners under our contract flying arrangements. We record the amount of those reimbursements as revenue. Under the SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreements and the Continental CPA, we are reimbursed for our engine overhaul expense, which we record as revenue. The following table summarizes the amount of fuel and engine overhaul expenses which are included in our total airline expenses for the periods indicated (dollar amounts in thousands).

 
  For the year ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   $ Change   % Change  

Total airline expense

  $ 2,649,836   $ 2,487,749   $ 162,087     (6.5 )%

Less: Fuel expense

    340,074     390,739     (50,665 )   (13.0 )%

Less: Engine overhaul reimbursement from major partners

    106,241     112,556     (6,315 )   (5.6 )%

Less: CRJ 200 engine overhauls reimbursed at fixed hourly rate

    75,706     34,176     41,530     121.5 %
                     

Total airline expense excluding fuel and engine overhauls and CRJ 200 engine overhauls reimbursed at fixed hourly rate

  $ 2,127,815   $ 1,950,278   $ 177,537     9.1 %

        Excluding fuel and engine overhaul costs and CRJ 200 engine overhauls reimbursed at fixed hourly rates, our total airline expenses increased $177.5 million, or 9.1%, during the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to the year ended December 31, 2009. The percentage increase in total airline expenses excluding fuel and engine overhauls, was less than the percentage increase in ASMs, which was primarily due to the increased operating efficiencies obtained from operating larger regional jets.

        Impairment of marketable securities.    As a result of an ongoing valuation review of our marketable securities portfolio, we recognized a pre-tax charge of approximately $7.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2009 for certain marketable securities deemed to have other-than-temporary impairment. We did not experience a corresponding charge during the year ended December 31, 2010.

        Interest Income.    Interest income increased $3.3 million, or 29.3% during the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase in interest income was due primarily to the secured term loan SkyWest Airlines extended to United during the fourth quarter of 2009 in the amount of $80 million. The term loan bore interest at a rate of 11%, with a ten-year amortization period. SkyWest Airlines also agreed to defer $49 million otherwise payable to SkyWest Airlines under the SkyWest Airlines United Express Agreement. This amount accrues a deferral fee of 8% which is reported in our consolidated statement of income as interest income. On August 11, 2010, United repaid the $80 million term loan together with accrued interest.

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        Purchase Accounting Gain.    On November 12, 2010, we completed the ExpressJet Merger. As a result of the ExpressJet Merger, we recorded a purchase accounting gain of $15.6 million. This amount represents the difference between the consideration paid and the estimated net fair value of the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The estimated net fair value of the assets and liabilities acquired was more than the purchase price.

        Income Taxes.    The provision for income taxes, as a percentage of income before taxes, decreased to 34.0% in 2010 from 36.5% in 2009. The reduction of 2.5% reflects the impact of a purchase accounting gain that does not have a tax effect, resulting in a decrease in the rate of approximately 4.5%. This decrease was offset by an increase of approximately 2.0% resulting from a decrease in tax exempt interest income and an increase in expenses not deductible for tax purposes. We currently expects our 2011 effective tax rate to be approximately 38.5%.

        Net Income.    Primarily due to factors described above, net income increased to $96.4 million, or $1.70 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to $83.7 million, or $1.47 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2009.

2009 Compared to 2008

        Operational Statistics.    The following table sets forth our major operational statistics and the associated percentages-of-change for the periods identified below.

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2009   2008   % Change  

Revenue passenger miles (000)

    17,448,958     17,101,910     2.0  

Available seat miles ("ASMs") (000)

    22,142,650     22,020,250     0.6  

Block hours

    1,363,257     1,376,815     (1.0 )

Departures

    870,761     872,288     (0.2 )

Passengers carried

    34,544,772     33,461,819     3.2  

Passenger load factor

    78.8 %   77.7 %   1.1 pts

Revenue per available seat mile

    11.8 ¢   15.9 ¢   (25.8 )

Cost per available seat mile

    11.2 ¢   15.2 ¢   (26.3 )

Fuel cost per available seat mile

    1.8 ¢   5.5 ¢   (67.3 )

Average passenger trip length (miles)

    505     511     (1.2 )

        Revenues.    Operating revenues decreased $882.6 million, or 25.2%, during the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to the year ended December 31, 2008. We are reimbursed for our actual fuel costs by our major partners under our contract flying arrangements. For financial reporting purposes, we record these reimbursements as operating revenues. Under the SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreements, we are reimbursed for our engine overhaul expenses. We also record those engine overhaul reimbursements as operating revenue. The following table summarizes the amount of fuel and engine overhaul reimbursements included in our passenger revenues for the periods indicated (dollar amounts in thousands).

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2009   2008   $ Change   % Change  

Passenger revenues

  $ 2,582,238   $ 3,466,287   $ (884,049 )   (25.5 )%

Less: Fuel reimbursement from major partners

    360,309     1,185,201     (824,892 )   (69.6 )%

Less: Engine overhaul reimbursement from major partners

    112,556     120,101     (7,545 )   (6.3 )%
                     

Passenger revenue excluding fuel and engine overhaul reimbursements

  $ 2,109,373   $ 2,160,985   $ (51,612 )   (2.4 )%

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        Passenger revenues.    Passenger revenues decreased $884.0 million, or 25.5%, during the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to the year ended December 31, 2008. The decrease in passenger revenues was primarily due to a decrease in fuel reimbursements from our major partners. The fuel reimbursement from our major partners decreased $824.9 million or 69.6%, during the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to the year ended December 31, 2008. Our passenger revenues, excluding fuel and engine overhaul reimbursements from major partners, decreased $51.6 million, or 2.4%, during the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to the year ended December 31, 2008. The percentage decrease in passenger revenues, excluding fuel and engine overhaul reimbursements, was more than the percentage increase in ASMs, primarily due to three factors. First, Atlantic Southeast experienced an abnormally high number of flight cancellations in part due to significant weather related cancellations in its Atlanta hub during the three months ended March 31, 2009. Additionally, on March 31, 2009, as a result of an internal audit, Atlantic Southeast grounded 60 CRJ200s in order to perform engine safety inspections in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. Atlantic Southeast cancelled approximately 750 scheduled flights as a result of the severe weather and aircraft grounding during the first quarter of 2009. As a result, Atlantic Southeast experienced a negative impact on passenger revenues of approximately $7.6 million. Second, Delta transitioned ground handling services at 23 stations from SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast to other ground handlers during the second quarter of 2009. Revenue earned under ground handling contracts where we provide ground handling services for our own aircraft is presented in the "Passenger revenue" line in our consolidated statements of income. Third, on October 23, 2009, Delta sent letters to SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast requiring them to either adjust the rates payable under their respective Delta Connection Agreements or accept termination of those agreements Delta's letter also notified SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast of Delta's estimate of the average rates to be applied under those agreements. On October 28, 2009, SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast notified Delta of their election to adjust the rates payable under the Delta Connection Agreements; however, they also notified Delta of their disagreement with Delta's estimated rates and their belief that the methodology Delta used to calculate its estimated rates is inconsistent with the terms of the Delta Connection Agreements. Because SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast had not reached an agreement with Delta regarding the final contractual rates to be established under the Delta Connection Agreements as of December 31, 2009, we evaluated the method for calculating the average rate of the carriers within the Delta Connection Program under the revenue recognition accounting guidance and recorded revenue under those agreements based on management's understanding of the applicable terms in the Delta Connection Agreements and management's best estimate of the revenue that would ultimately be realized upon settlement of the contractual rates with Delta with respect to the year ended December 31, 2009. SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast reached an agreement with Delta related to the average rate provisions in November 2010.

        Ground handling and other.    Total ground handling and other revenues increased $1.4 million, or 4.7%, during the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to the year ended December 31, 2008. Revenue earned under other ground handling contracts where we provide ground handling services for other airlines is presented in the "Ground handling and other" line in our consolidated statements of income. The increase was primarily related to the higher volume of flights serviced under ground handling contracts with United and Delta during 2009, whereby we performed ground handling services for several other regional airlines.

        Individual expense components for the periods indicated are expressed in the following table on the basis of cents per ASM. ASM is a common metric used in the airline industry to measure an airline's passenger capacity. ASMs reflect both the number of aircraft in an airline's fleet and the seat capacity for the aircraft in the fleet. As the size of our fleet is the underlying driver of our operating costs, the primary basis for our presentation in this Item 7 is on a cost per ASM basis to discuss

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significant changes in our costs not proportionate to the relative changes in our fleet size (dollar amounts in thousands).

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2009   2008   $ Change   % Change    
   
 
 
  2009
Cents Per
ASM
  2008
Cents Per
ASM
 
 
  Amount   Amount   Amount   Percent  

Aircraft fuel

  $ 390,739   $ 1,220,618   $ (829,879 )   (68.0 )%   1.8     5.5  

Salaries, wages and benefits

    698,326     724,094     (25,768 )   (3.6 )%   3.2     3.3  

Aircraft maintenance, materials and repairs

    436,039     381,653     54,386     14.3 %   2.0     1.7  

Aircraft rentals

    300,773     295,784     4,989     1.7 %   1.3     1.4  

Depreciation and amortization

    221,548     220,195     1,353     0.6 %   1.0     1.0  

Station rentals and landing fees

    116,312     132,017     (15,705 )   (11.9 )%   0.5     0.6  

Ground handling services

    95,805     106,135     (10,330 )   (9.7 )%   0.4     0.5  

Other airline expense

    141,877     160,522     (18,645 )   (11.6 )%   0.6     0.7  
                           

Total operating expenses

    2,401,419     3,241,018     (839,599 )   (25.9 )%   10.8     14.7  

Interest

    86,330     106,064     (19,734 )   (18.6 )%   0.4     0.5  
                           

Total airline expenses

  $ 2,487,749   $ 3,347,082     (859,333 )   (25.7 )%   11.2     15.2  
                           

        Fuel.    Fuel costs decreased $829.9 million, or 68.0%, during the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to the year ended December 31, 2008. The average cost of fuel decreased to $1.87 per gallon during the year ended December 31, 2009, from $3.33 during the year ended December 31, 2008. In addition to the decrease in the average cost per gallon of fuel during the year ended December 31, 2009, United purchased fuel directly from a fuel vendor for our United Express aircraft under contract operated out of Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Denver; Midwest Airlines, Inc. ("Midwest") purchased all of the fuel for our Midwest aircraft directly from Midwest's fuel vendors and Delta purchased the majority of the fuel for our Delta aircraft under contract directly from its fuel vendors. These modifications reduced our total fuel costs, as well as our passenger revenues for the year ended December 31, 2009. During the year ended December 31, 2008, we purchased the fuel for all of our Delta Connection flights. The following table summarizes the gallons of fuel we purchased directly, and the percentage change in fuel price per gallon on our fuel expense, for the periods indicated:

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
(in thousands, except per gallon amounts)
  2009   2008   % Change  

Fuel gallons purchased

    209,254     366,540     (42.9 )%

Average price per gallon

  $ 1.87   $ 3.33     (43.8 )%

Fuel expense

  $ 390,739   $ 1,220,618     (68.0 )%

        Salaries wages and employee benefits.    Salaries, wages and employee benefits decreased $25.8 million, or 3.6%, during the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to the year ended December 31, 2008. The average number of full-time equivalent employees decreased 11.7% to 12,642 for the year ended December 31, 2009, from 14,315 for the year ended December 31, 2008. The decrease in number of employees was significantly due to a reduction in our customer service employees resulting from United transitioning 16 stations from SkyWest Airlines to other ground handlers during the second quarter of 2008 and Delta transitioning 23 stations from SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast to other ground handlers during the second quarter of 2009.

        Aircraft maintenance, materials and repairs.    Maintenance costs increased $54.4 million, or 14.3%, during the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to the year ended December 31, 2008. The

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following table summarizes the amount of engine overhauls and engine overhaul reimbursements included in our aircraft maintenance expense for the periods indicated (dollar amounts in thousands).

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2009   2008   $ Change   % Change  

Aircraft maintenance, materials and repairs

  $ 436,039   $ 381,653   $ 54,386     14.3 %

Less: Engine overhaul reimbursed from major partners

    112,556     120,101     (7,545 )   (6.3 )%

Less: CRJ 200 engine overhauls reimbursed at fixed hourly rate

    34,176     4,462     29,714     665.9 %
                     

Aircraft maintenance excluding reimbursed engine overhauls and CRJ 200 engine overhauls reimbursed at fixed hourly rate

  $ 289,307   $ 257,090   $ 32,217     12.5 %

        Aircraft maintenance expense excluding reimbursed engine overhauls and CRJ 200 engine overhauls reimbursed at fixed hourly rate, increased $32.2 million, or 12.5%, during the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to the year ended December 31, 2008. The increase in maintenance excluding engine overhaul costs was principally due to scheduled maintenance events on our aging CRJ200 and CRJ700 fleets.

        Under the SkyWest Airlines United Express Agreement (and pursuant to a Services Agreement with Midwest prior to its termination on January 1, 2010), we recognize revenue in our consolidated statement of income at a fixed hourly rate for mature engine maintenance on regional jet engines and we recognize engine maintenance expense on our CRJ200 regional jet engines in our consolidated statement of income on an as-incurred basis as maintenance expense. During the year ended December 31, 2009, our CRJ200 engine expense under our SkyWest Airlines United Express Agreement and the Midwest Services Agreement increased $29.7 million. Under our Delta Connection Agreements we were reimbursed for engine overhaul costs by Delta. Such reimbursements are reflected as passenger revenue in our consolidated statements of income.

        Aircraft rentals.    Aircraft rentals increased $5.0 million, or 1.7%, during the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to the year ended December 31, 2008. The increase in aircraft rents was primarily due to Atlantic Southeast taking delivery of ten CRJ900s during 2009. These aircraft were financed through long-term leases. This increase was partially offset by Atlantic Southeast returning 12 ATR-72 turboprops to the lessor and terminating the associated leases.

        Station rentals and landing fees.    Station rentals and landing fees expense decreased $15.7 million, or 11.9%, during the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to the year ended December 31, 2008. The decrease in station rentals and landing fees expense was primarily due to our major partners paying for certain station rents and landing fees directly to the airport.

        Ground handling service.    Ground handling service expense decreased $10.3 million, or 9.7%, during the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to the year ended December 31, 2008. The decrease in ground handling was primarily due to United transitioning 16 stations from SkyWest Airlines to other ground handlers during the second quarter of 2008 and Delta transitioning 23 stations from SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast to other ground handlers during the second quarter of 2009.

        Other airline expenses.    Other airline expenses, primarily consisting of property taxes, hull and liability insurance, crew simulator training and crew hotel costs, decreased $18.6 million, or 11.6%, during the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to the year ended December 31, 2008. The decrease in other airline expenses was primarily due to the decrease in crew simulator training and crew hotel costs.

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        Interest.    Interest expense decreased $19.7 million, or 18.6%, during the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to the year ended December 31, 2008. The decrease in interest expense was substantially due to a decrease in interest rates. At December 31, 2009, we had variable rate notes representing 38.6% of our total long-term debt. The majority of our variable rate notes are based on the three-month and six-month LIBOR rates. At December 31, 2009, the three-month and six-month LIBOR rates were 0.25% and 0.43%, respectively. At December 31, 2008, the three-month and six-month LIBOR rates were 1.43% and 1.75%, respectively.

        Interest income.    Interest income decreased $9.7 million, or 46.5% during the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to the year ended December 31, 2008. The decrease in interest income was substantially due to the decrease in interest rates discussed in the preceding paragraph.

        Total airline expenses.    Total airline expenses (consisting of total operating and interest expenses) decreased $859.3 million, or 25.7%, during the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to the year ended December 31, 2008. We are reimbursed for our actual fuel costs by our major partners under our contract flying arrangements. We record the amount of those reimbursements as revenue. Under the SkyWest, SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreements, we are reimbursed for our engine overhaul expense, which we record as revenue. The following table summarizes the amount of fuel and engine overhaul expenses which are included in our total airline expenses for the periods indicated (dollar amounts in thousands).

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2009   2008   $ Change   % Change  

Total airline expense

  $ 2,487,749   $ 3,347,082   $ (859,333 )   (25.7 )%

Less: Fuel expense

    390,739     1,220,618     (829,879 )   (68.0 )%

Less: Engine overhaul reimbursement from major partners

    112,556     120,101     (7,545 )   (6.3 )%

Less: CRJ 200 engine overhauls reimbursed at fixed hourly rate

    34,176     4,462     29,714     665.9 %
                     

Total airline expense excluding fuel and engine overhauls and CRJ 200 engine overhauls reimbursed at fixed hourly rate

  $ 1,950,278   $ 2,001,901   $ (51,623 )   (2.6 )%

        Excluding fuel and engine overhaul costs and CRJ 200 engine overhauls reimbursed at fixed hourly rates, our total airline expenses decreased $51.6 million, or 2.6%, during the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to the year ended December 31, 2008. The percentage decrease in total airline expenses excluding fuel and engine overhauls, was more than the percentage increase in ASMs, which was primarily due to the increased operating efficiencies obtained from increased stage lengths flown by our regional jets.

        Impairment of marketable securities.    As a result of an ongoing valuation review of our marketable securities portfolio, we recognized a pre-tax charge of approximately $7.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2009 for certain marketable securities deemed to have other-than-temporary impairment.

        Other income.    During the year ended December 31, 2008, we negotiated the principal terms of a prospective capacity purchase agreement with Continental, which was intended to become effective if we had successfully completed our proposed acquisition of the outstanding shares of capital stock of ExpressJet. During the course of those negotiations, Continental agreed it would pay us a break-up fee under certain circumstances in the event our efforts to acquire ExpressJet were not successful. In June 2008, ExpressJet reached terms directly with Continental on a new capacity purchase agreement, and accordingly, we were precluded from completing the acquisition of ExpressJet. As a result, we received

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the break-up fee from Continental in June 2008. The break-up fee, net of our direct transaction costs, was $6.3 million (pre-tax) and was recorded as other income during the year ended December 31, 2008.

        Income taxes.    The provision for income taxes, as a percentage of income before taxes, increased to 36.5% in 2009 from 35.9% in 2008. The lower 2008 rate includes the impact of a decrease to the effective state income tax rate as the result of state tax law changes in Utah and other states. The state effective tax rate also decreased slightly from 2008 to 2009 minimizing the increase of the effective tax rate from 2008 to 2009.

        Net Income.    Primarily due to factors described above, net income decreased to $83.7 million, or $1.47 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to $112.9 million, or $1.93 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Sources and Uses of Cash

        Cash Position and Liquidity.    The following table provides a summary of the net cash provided by (used in) our operating, investing and financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 and total cash and marketable securities position as of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 (in thousands).

 
  For the year ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   $ Change   % Change  

Net cash provided by operating activities

  $ 347,089   $ 362,865   $ (15,776 )   (4.3 )%

Net cash used in investing activities

    (177,376 )   (563,177 )   385,801     68.5 %

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

    (133,789 )   150,834     (284,623 )   (188.7 )%

 

 
  December 31,
2010
  December 31,
2009
  $ Change   % Change  

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 112,338   $ 76,414   $ 35,924     47.0 %

Restricted cash

    21,775     10,730     11,045     102.9 %

Marketable securities

    670,739     645,301     25,438     3.9 %
                     

Total

  $ 804,852   $ 732,445   $ 72,407     9.9 %
                     

Cash Flows from Operating Activities.

        Net cash provided by operating activities decreased $15.8 million or 4.3%, during the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to the year ended December 31, 2009. The decrease was primarily due to changes in accounts payable. During the year ended December 31, 2010, accounts payable and accrued aircraft rents increased $6.3 million as compared to an increase in accounts payable and accrued aircraft rents of $46.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2009. The decrease in the change in accounts payable was due primarily to the timing of our payments of engine overhaul expenses.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities.

        Net cash used in investing activities decreased $385.8 million or 68.5%, during the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to the year ended December 31, 2009. Our aircraft and rotable spare parts purchased decreased $250.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2010 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2009. The decrease in aircraft and rotable spares was primarily due to the

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acquisition of 14 CRJ 700s during the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to the acquisition of only four CRJ 700s during the year ended December 31, 2010. We also completed the ExpressJet Merger on November 12, 2010. Net of cash acquired, we paid $54.0 million. In addition, the decrease was due to the collection of scheduled payments and full repayment of our term loan to United. During the year ended December 31, 2010, we collected $79.3 million in outstanding principal payments from United.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities.

        Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities decreased $284.6 million or 188.7%, during the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to the year ended December 31, 2009. The decrease was primarily related to a decrease in proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt. During the year ended December 31, 2010 we received proceeds from long-term debt of $81.7 million, as compared to the proceeds of $300.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2009. During the year ended December 31, 2010, we financed four CRJ 700s with long-term debt. During the year ended December 31, 2009, we financed 14 CRJ 700s with long-term debt. In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2010 our principal payments on long term debt increased $38.3 million. During the three months ended December 31, 2010, we repaid $34.6 million of outstanding ExpressJet debt.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

        We believe that in the absence of unusual circumstances, the working capital currently available to us will be sufficient to meet our present financial requirements, including anticipated expansion, planned capital expenditures, and scheduled lease payments and debt service obligations for at least the next 12 months.

        At December 31, 2010, our total capital mix was 45.0% equity and 55.0% long-term debt, compared to 42.7% equity and 57.3% long-term debt at December 31, 2009.

        As of December 31, 2010, SkyWest Airlines had a $25 million line of credit. As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, SkyWest Airlines had no amount outstanding under the facility. The facility expires on March 31, 2011 and has a fixed interest rate of 4.50%.

        As of December 31, 2010, we had $58.0 million in letters of credit and surety bonds outstanding with various banks and surety institutions.

        As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, we classified $21.8 million and $10.7 million as restricted cash, respectively, related to our workers compensation policies.

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Significant Commitments and Obligations

General

        The following table summarizes our commitments and obligations as noted for each of the next five years and thereafter (in thousands):

 
  Total   2011   2012   2013   2014   2015   Thereafter  

Firm aircraft commitments

  $ 193,536   $ 193,536   $   $   $   $   $  

Operating lease payments for aircraft and facility obligations

    2,739,732     373,166     352,082     331,451     316,067     283,421     1,083,545  

Interest commitments

    582,014     82,171     76,202     69,279     62,995     56,378     234,989  

Principal maturities on long-term debt

    1,897,975     159,039     202,991     157,413     163,256     170,283     1,044,993  
                               

Total commitments and obligations

  $ 5,413,257   $ 807,912   $ 631,275   $ 558,143   $ 542,318   $ 510,082   $ 2,363,527  
                               

Purchase Commitments and Options

        On January 4, 2011, we announced SkyWest Airlines' plans to acquire four additional regional jet aircraft during 2011. SkyWest Airlines plans to place these aircraft into operation under the SkyWest Airlines Delta Connection Agreement. Additionally, we have announced plans to lease eight used CRJ700s from another operator. SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast plan to operate the eight CRJ700s under the SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreements. On January 25, 2011, SkyWest Airlines agreed to operate five CRJ700s for Alaska Airlines. SkyWest Airlines plans to lease these aircraft from Alaska Airlines for a nominal amount.

        Total expenditures for these aircraft and related flight equipment, including amounts for contractual price escalations, are estimated to be approximately $193.5 million through 2011.

        We have not historically funded a substantial portion of our aircraft acquisitions with working capital. Rather, we have generally funded our aircraft acquisitions through a combination of operating leases and long-term debt financing. At the time of each aircraft acquisition, we evaluate the financing alternatives available to us, and select one or more of these methods to fund the acquisition. In the event that alternative financing cannot be arranged at the time of delivery, Bombardier has typically financed our aircraft acquisitions until more permanent arrangements can be made. Subsequent to this initial acquisition of an aircraft, we may also refinance the aircraft or convert one form of financing to another (e.g., replacing debt financing with leveraged lease financing).

        At present, we intend to satisfy our 2010 firm aircraft purchase commitment, as well as our acquisition of any additional aircraft, through a combination of operating leases and debt financing, consistent with our historical practices. Based on current market conditions and discussions with prospective leasing organizations and financial institutions, we currently believe that we will be able to obtain financing for our committed acquisitions, as well as additional aircraft, without materially reducing the amount of working capital available for our operating activities. Nonetheless, recent disruptions in the credit markets have resulted in greater volatility, decreased liquidity and limited availability of capital, and there is no assurance that we will be able to obtain necessary funding or that, if we are able to obtain necessary capital, the corresponding terms will be favorable or acceptable to us.

Aircraft Lease and Facility Obligations

        We also have significant long-term lease obligations, primarily relating to our aircraft fleet. At December 31, 2010, we had 539 aircraft under lease with remaining terms ranging from one to

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17 years. Future minimum lease payments due under all long-term operating leases were approximately $2.7 billion at December 31, 2010. Assuming a 6.2% discount rate, which is the average rate used to approximate the implicit rates within the applicable aircraft leases, the present value of these lease obligations would have been equal to approximately $2.0 billion at December 31, 2010.

Long-term Debt Obligations

        As of December 31, 2010, we had $1,898.0 million of long term debt obligations, primarily related to the acquisition of Brasilia turboprop, CRJ200, CRJ700 and CRJ900 aircraft. The average effective interest rate on the debt related to the Brasilia turboprop and CRJ aircraft was approximately 4.4% at December 31, 2010.

Guarantees

        We have guaranteed the obligations of SkyWest Airlines under the SkyWest Airlines Delta Connection Agreement and the obligations of Atlantic Southeast under the Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreement and SkyWest and Atlantic Southeast have guaranteed the obligations of ExpressJet under the Continental CPA.

New Accounting Standards

        In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-06, Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements, an amendment to Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. This amendment requires an entity to: (i) disclose separately the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements and describe the reasons for the transfers, (ii) disclose separately the reasons for any transfers in and out of Level 3, and (iii) present separate information for Level 3 activity pertaining to gross purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements. ASU No. 2010-06 is effective for us for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, with one new disclosure effective after December 15, 2010. We adopted this guidance beginning with the interim period ended March 31, 2010. See Note 7 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements set forth in Item 8 of this Report.

        On September 23, 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") ratified Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2009-13 (formerly referred to as Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 08-1), Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables. ASU No. 2009-13 requires the allocation of consideration among separately identified deliverables contained within an arrangement, based on their related selling prices. ASU No. 2009-13 will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning January 1, 2011; however, it will be effective only for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. Early adoption is permitted. The Company has been evaluating the impact of ASU No. 2009-13 on its financial position, results of operations, cash flows, and disclosures. Based on our research to date, we do not believe the adoption of ASU No. 2009-13 will have a significant impact on our current accounting practices; however, we do expect to be required to provide additional financial disclosures due to the full adoption of the standard beginning in the first quarter of 2011.

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ITEM 7A.    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Aircraft Fuel

        In the past, we have not experienced difficulties with fuel availability and we currently expect to be able to obtain fuel at prevailing prices in quantities sufficient to meet our future needs. Pursuant to our contract flying arrangements, United and Continental have agreed to bear the economic risk of fuel price fluctuations on our contracted United Express and Continental Express flights. On our Delta Connection regional jet flights, Delta has agreed to bear the economic risk of fuel price fluctuations. We bear the economic risk of fuel price fluctuations on our pro-rate operations. As of December 31, 2010, essentially all of our Brasilia turboprops flown for Delta were flown under pro-rate arrangements while, approximately 64% of our Brasilia turboprops flown in the United system were flown under pro-rate arrangements. As of December 31, 2010, we operated 18 CRJ200s for United under a pro-rate agreement and four CRJ200s under a pro-rate agreement with AirTran. The average price per gallon of aircraft fuel increased 46.5% to $2.74 for the year ended December 31, 2010, from $1.87 for the year ended December 31, 2009. For illustrative purposes only, we have estimated the impact of the market risk of fuel on our pro-rate operations using a hypothetical increase of 25% in the price per gallon we purchase. Based on this hypothetical assumption, we would have incurred an additional $20.3 million in fuel expense for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Interest Rates

        Our earnings are affected by changes in interest rates due to the amounts of variable rate long-term debt and the amount of cash and securities held. The interest rates applicable to variable rate notes may rise and increase the amount of interest expense. We would also receive higher amounts of interest income on cash and securities held at the time; however, the market value of our available-for-sale securities would likely decline. At December 31, 2010, we had variable rate notes representing 36.0% of our total long-term debt compared to 38.6% of our long-term debt at December 31, 2009. For illustrative purposes only, we have estimated the impact of market risk using a hypothetical increase in interest rates of one percentage point for both variable rate long-term debt and cash and securities. Based on this hypothetical assumption, we would have incurred an additional $7.2 million in interest expense and received $7.7 million in additional interest income for the year ended December 31, 2010, and we would have incurred an additional $8.0 million in interest expense and received $7.4 million in additional interest income for the year ended December 31, 2009. However, under our contractual arrangement with our major partners, the majority of the increase in interest expense would be passed through and recorded as passenger revenue in our consolidated statements of income. If interest rates were to decline, our major partners would receive the principal benefit of the decline, since interest expense is generally passed through to our major partners, resulting in a reduction to passenger revenue in our consolidated statement of income.

        We currently intend to finance the acquisition of aircraft through manufacturer financing, third-party leases or long-term borrowings. Changes in interest rates may impact the actual cost to us to acquire these aircraft. To the extent we place these aircraft in service under our code-share agreements with Delta, United or Continental, our code-share agreements currently provide that reimbursement rates will be adjusted higher or lower to reflect changes in our aircraft rental rates.

Auction Rate Securities

        We have investments in auction rate securities, which are classified as available for sale securities and reflected at fair value. Due primarily to instability in credit markets over the past three years, we sold a portion of these investments. As of December 31, 2010, we had investments valued at a total of $4.0 million which were classified as Other assets on our consolidated balance sheet. For a more

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detailed discussion on auction rate securities, including our methodology for estimating their fair value, see Note 7 to our consolidated financial statements appearing in Item 8 of this Report.

ITEM 8.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

        The information set forth below should be read together with the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," appearing elsewhere herein.

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Stockholders
SkyWest, Inc.

        We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of SkyWest, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity and comprehensive income, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

        We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

        In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of SkyWest, Inc. and subsidiaries at December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

        We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), SkyWest, Inc. and subsidiaries' internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 25, 2011 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Salt Lake City, Utah
February 25, 2011

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SKYWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands)


ASSETS

 
  December 31,
2010
  December 31,
2009
 

CURRENT ASSETS:

             
 

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 112,338   $ 76,414  
 

Marketable securities

    670,739     645,301  
 

Restricted cash

    21,775     10,730  
 

Income tax receivable

    3,356     12,608  
 

Receivables, net

    110,207     111,902  
 

Inventories, net

    106,572     89,876  
 

Prepaid aircraft rents

    256,168     237,350  
 

Deferred tax assets

    56,102     45,197  
 

Other current assets

    32,308     24,721  
           
   

Total current assets

    1,369,565     1,254,099  
           

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:

             
 

Aircraft and rotable spares

    3,836,550     3,612,658  
 

Deposits on aircraft

    400     4,247  
 

Buildings and ground equipment

    278,665     240,438  
           

    4,115,615     3,857,343  
 

Less-accumulated depreciation and amortization

    (1,172,796 )   (977,637 )
           
   

Total property and equipment, net

    2,942,819     2,879,706  
           

OTHER ASSETS

             
   

Intangible assets, net

    21,747     23,997  
   

Other assets

    112,379     153,000  
           
   

Total other assets

    134,126     176,997  
           
   

Total assets

    4,446,510   $ 4,310,802  
           

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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SKYWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Continued)

(Dollars in thousands)


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 
  December 31,
2010
  December 31,
2009
 

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

             
 

Current maturities of long-term debt

  $ 159,039   $ 148,571  
 

Accounts payable

    206,490     165,825  
 

Accrued salaries, wages and benefits

    112,728     67,377  
 

Accrued aircraft rents

    16,780     17,661  
 

Taxes other than income taxes

    25,146     17,476  
 

Other current liabilities

    42,457     32,925  
           
   

Total current liabilities

    562,640     449,835  
           

OTHER LONG TERM LIABILITIES

    46,325     38,540  
           

LONG TERM DEBT, net of current maturities

    1,738,936     1,816,318  
           

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES PAYABLE

    569,847     536,540  
           

DEFERRED AIRCRAFT CREDITS

    107,839     117,350  
           

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 6)

             

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:

             
 

Preferred stock, 5,000,000 shares authorized; none issued

         
 

Common stock, no par value, 120,000,000 shares authorized; 75,244,553 and 74,626,660 shares issued, respectively

    589,610     578,153  
 

Retained earnings

    1,139,739     1,052,375  
 

Treasury stock, at cost, 21,071,582 and 19,017,645 shares, respectively

    (309,628 )   (279,619 )
 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (Note 1)

    1,202     1,310  
           
   

Total stockholders' equity

    1,420,923     1,352,219  
           
   

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

    4,446,510   $ 4,310,802  
           

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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SKYWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  

OPERATING REVENUES:

                   
 

Passenger

  $ 2,724,276   $ 2,582,238   $ 3,466,287  
 

Ground handling and other

    40,869     31,376     29,962  
               
   

Total operating revenues

    2,765,145     2,613,614     3,496,249  
               

OPERATING EXPENSES:

                   
 

Salaries, wages and benefits

    764,933     698,326     724,094  
 

Aircraft maintenance, materials and repairs

    487,466     436,039     381,653  
 

Aircraft fuel

    340,074     390,739     1,220,618  
 

Aircraft rentals

    311,909     300,773     295,784  
 

Depreciation and amortization

    236,499     221,548     220,195  
 

Station rentals and landing fees

    129,537     116,312     132,017  
 

Ground handling services

    110,649     95,805     106,135  
 

Acquisition related costs

    8,815          
 

Other, net

    173,437     141,877     160,522  
               
   

Total operating expenses

    2,563,319     2,401,419     3,241,018  
               

OPERATING INCOME

    201,826     212,195     255,231  
               

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):

                   
 

Interest income

    14,376     11,121     20,776  
 

Interest expense

    (86,517 )   (86,330 )   (106,064 )
 

Impairment on marketable securities

        (7,115 )    
 

Purchase accounting gain

    15,586          
 

Other

    630     1,862     6,240  
               
   

Total other expense, net

    (55,925 )   (80,462 )   (79,048 )

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

    145,901     131,733     176,183  

PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES

    49,551     48,075     63,254  
               

NET INCOME

  $ 96,350   $ 83,658   $ 112,929  
               

BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE

  $ 1.73   $ 1.50   $ 1.95  
               

DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE

  $ 1.70   $ 1.47   $ 1.93  
               

Weighted average common shares:

                   
 

Basic

    55,610     55,854     57,790  
 

Diluted

    56,526     56,814     58,633  

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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SKYWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(In thousands)

 
  Common Stock    
  Treasury Stock   Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
   
 
 
  Retained
Earnings
   
 
 
  Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount   Total  

Balance at December 31, 2007

    72,273   $ 533,545   $ 871,874     (11,794 ) $ (158,542 ) $ (870 ) $ 1,246,007  
 

Comprehensive income:

                                           
   

Net income

            112,929                 112,929  
   

Net unrealized depreciation on marketable securities net of tax of $1,573

                        (2,566 )   (2,566 )
                                           
     

Total comprehensive income

                                        110,363  
 

Exercise of common stock options

    439     6,135                     6,135  
 

Sale of common stock under employee stock purchase plan

    808     11,227                     11,227  
 

Stock based compensation expense related to the issuance of stock options and the employee stock purchase plan

        11,489                     11,489  
 

Tax deficiency from exercise of common stock options

        (1 )                   (1 )
 

Treasury stock purchases

                (5,357 )   (102,632 )       (102,632 )
 

Cash dividends declared ($0.13 per share)

            (7,067 )               (7,067 )
                               

Balance at December 31, 2008

    73,520   $ 562,395   $ 977,736     (17,151 ) $ (261,174 ) $ (3,436 ) $ 1,275,521  
 

Comprehensive income:

                                           
   

Net income

            83,658                 83,658  
   

Proportionate share of other companies foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax $596

                        972     972  
   

Net unrealized appreciation on marketable securities net of tax of $2,158

                        3,774     3,774  
                                           
     

Total comprehensive income

                                        88,404  
 

Exercise of common stock options and issuance of restricted stock

    271     215                     215  
 

Sale of common stock under employee stock purchase plan

    836     8,572                     8,572  
 

Stock based compensation expense related to the issuance of stock options

        7,944                     7,944  
 

Tax deficiency from exercise of common stock options

        (973 )                   (973 )
 

Treasury stock purchases

                (1,867 )   (18,445 )       (18,445 )
 

Cash dividends declared ($0.16 per share)

            (9,019 )               (9,019 )
                               

Balance at December 31, 2009

    74,627   $ 578,153   $ 1,052,375     (19,018 ) $ (279,619 ) $ 1,310   $ 1,352,219  
   

Net income

            96,350                 96,350  
   

Proportionate share of other companies foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax $390

                        637     637  
   

Net unrealized depreciation on marketable securities net of tax of $457

                        (745 )   (745 )
                                           
     

Total comprehensive income

                            96,242  
 

Exercise of common stock options and issuance of restricted stock

    261     83                     83  
 

Sale of common stock under employee stock purchase plan

    357     4,824                     4,824  
 

Stock based compensation expense related to the issuance of stock options

        6,428                     6,428  
 

Tax benefit from exercise of common stock options

        122                     122  
 

Treasury stock purchases

                (2,054 )   (30,009 )       (30,009 )
 

Cash dividends declared ($0.16 per share)

            (8,986 )               (8,986 )
                               

Balance at December 31, 2010

    75,245     589,610     1,1139,739     (21,072 )   (309,628 )   1,202     1,420,923  
                               

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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SKYWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

                   

Net income

  $ 96,350   $ 83,658   $ 112,929  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

                   
 

Depreciation and amortization

    236,499     221,548     220,195  
 

Stock based compensation expense

    6,428     7,944     11,489  
 

Loss (gain) on sale of property and equipment

    (16 )   (77 )   68  
 

Undistributed earnings of other companies

    (635 )   (1,785 )    
 

Brasilia engine overhauls

    (19,050 )   (26,635 )   (24,574 )
 

Purchase accounting gain

    (15,586 )        
 

Impairment on marketable securities

        7,115      
 

Net increase in deferred income taxes

    58,525     59,350     55,541  
 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

                   
   

Decrease (increase) in restricted cash

    4,971     (2 )   3,977  
   

Decrease (increase) in receivables

    2,818     (56,444 )   25,758  
   

Decrease in income tax receivable

    9,746     2,260     8,246  
   

Decrease (increase) in inventories

    (2,071 )   14,507     1,355  
   

Decrease (increase) in other current assets and prepaid aircraft rents

    (19,532 )   10,608     4,437  
   

Decrease in deferred aircraft credits

    (8,756 )   (3,658 )   (5,140 )
   

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued aircraft rents

    6,289     46,908     (23,666 )
   

Increase (decrease) in other current liabilities

    (8,891 )   (2,432 )   354  
               

NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

    347,089     362,865     390,969  
               

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

                   
 

Purchases of marketable securities

    (1,073,479 )   (854,715 )   (1,305,015 )
 

Sales of marketable securities

    1,047,553     772,616     1,254,574  
 

Issuance of United Air Lines note receivable

        (80,000 )    
 

Purchase of ExpressJet, net of cash acquired

    (54,018 )        
 

Payments received on note receivable from United Air Lines

    79,333     667      
 

Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment

    147     18,662     4,580  
 

Acquisition of property and equipment:

                   
   

Aircraft and rotable spare parts

    (141,474 )   (392,393 )   (169,615 )
   

Deposits on aircraft

    (400 )        
   

Buildings and ground equipment

    (9,391 )   (2,556 )   (37,627 )
   

Increase in other assets

    (25,647 )   (25,458 )   (6,559 )
               

NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES

    (177,376 )   (563,177 )   (259,662 )
               

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

                   
 

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

    81,698     300,716     80,361  
 

Principal payments on long-term debt

    (185,632 )   (147,315 )   (119,823 )
 

Return of deposits on aircraft and rotable spare parts

    4,247     16,143     3,458  
 

Tax benefit from exercise of common stock options

            9  
 

Net proceeds from issuance of common stock

    4,907     8,787     17,361  
 

Purchase of treasury stock

    (30,009 )   (18,445 )   (102,632 )
 

Payment of cash dividends

    (9,000 )   (9,052 )   (6,951 )
               

NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES

    (133,789 )   150,834     (128,217 )
               

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

    35,924     (49,478 )   3,090  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

    76,414     125,892     122,802  
               

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR

    112,338   $ 76,414   $ 125,892  
               

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

                   
 

Cash paid (received) during the year for:

                   
   

Interest, net of capitalized amounts

  $ 85,931   $ 90,572   $ 111,717  
   

Income taxes

  $ (16,895 ) $ 2,896   $ 23,876  

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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SKYWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2010

(1) Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

        SkyWest, Inc. (the "Company"), through its subsidiaries, SkyWest Airlines, Inc. ("SkyWest Airlines") Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Inc. ("Atlantic Southeast") and ExpressJet Airlines Inc. ("ExpressJet"), operates the largest regional airline in the United States. As of December 31, 2010, SkyWest, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet offered scheduled passenger and air freight service with approximately 4,000 total daily departures to different destinations in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Additionally, the Company provides ground handling services for other airlines throughout its system. As of December 31, 2010, the Company had combined fleet of 710 aircraft consisting of the following:

 
  CRJ 200   ERJ 145   CRJ700   CRJ 900   EMB 120   Total  

Delta

    150         55     31     10     246  

United

    99     35     70         38     242  

Continental

        206                 206  

AirTran

    4                     4  

Maintenance Spare

    3                     3  

Charter

        3                 3  

Subleased to an un-affiliated entity

    2                     2  

Subleased to an affiliated entity

                4         4  
                           

Total

    258     244     125     35     48     710  

        For the year ended December 31, 2010, approximately 47.5% of the Company's aggregate capacity was operated under United Express Agreements executed by SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet with United, approximately 46.5% was operated under Delta Connection Agreements executed by SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast with Delta, approximately 5.3% was operated under a capacity purchase agreement (the "Continental CPA") executed between ExpressJet and Continental and approximately 0.7%% was operated pursuant to a code-share agreement executed between SkyWest Airlines and AirTran Airways, Inc. ("AirTran").

        SkyWest Airlines has been a code-share partner with Delta in Salt Lake City and United in Los Angeles since 1987 and 1997, respectively. In 1998, SkyWest Airlines expanded its relationship with United to provide service in Portland, Seattle/Tacoma, San Francisco and additional Los Angeles markets. In 2004, SkyWest Airlines expanded its United Express operations to provide service in Chicago. On November 4, 2009, SkyWest Airlines entered into a code-share agreement with AirTran. As of December 31, 2010, SkyWest Airlines operated as a Delta Connection carrier in Salt Lake City, a United Express carrier in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Chicago and the Pacific Northwest, and an AirTran carrier in Milwaukee, operating more than 1,700 total daily flights.

        Atlantic Southeast has been a code-share partner with Delta in Atlanta since 1984 and United since February 2010. As of December 31, 2010, Atlantic Southeast operated as a Delta Connection carrier in Atlanta and Cincinnati and a United Express carrier in Chicago and Washington, D.C. (Dulles International Airport), operating approximately 900 daily flights.

        On February 10, 2010, Atlantic Southeast and United entered into a United Express Agreement, pursuant to which Atlantic Southeast agreed to operate 16 Bombardier Aerospace ("Bombardier") CRJ200 Regional Jets ("CRJ200s") as a United Express carrier. As of December 31, 2010, Atlantic

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

DECEMBER 31, 2010

(1) Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)


Southeast was operating those 16 CRJ200s under the Atlantic Southeast United Express Agreement. The Atlantic Southeast United Express Agreement is a capacity purchase agreement with a five-year term, and other terms which are generally consistent with the SkyWest Airlines United Express Agreement.

        On November 12, 2010, the Company completed the acquisition of ExpressJet via the merger of Express Delaware Merger Co., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Atlantic Southeast ("Merger Subsidiary"), with and into ExpressJet Holdings, Inc., the parent company of ExpressJet ("ExpressJet Holdings"), with ExpressJet Holdings continuing as the surviving company in the merger and becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Atlantic Southeast (the "ExpressJet Merger").

        At the effective time of the ExpressJet Merger, each issued and outstanding share of ExpressJet Holdings common stock (other than shares of ExpressJet Holdings common stock owned by ExpressJet Holdings as treasury stock or shares of ExpressJet Holdings common stock owned by the Company or any of its subsidiaries) was converted into the right to receive $6.75 per share in cash, payable to the holder thereof, without interest. Based on the number of outstanding shares of ExpressJet Holdings common stock as of the effective time of the ExpressJet Merger, the aggregate value of the ExpressJet Merger consideration was $131.6 million. After taking into effect the number of shares acquired by the Company, Merger Subsidiary and any other subsidiaries of the Company prior to the effective time of the ExpressJet Merger, the aggregate value of the Merger consideration was $136.5 million.

        ExpressJet provides regional jet service principally in the United States, primarily from hubs located in Cleveland, Newark, Houston, Chicago (O'Hare) and Washington D.C. (Dulles International Airport). ExpressJet offered more than 1,300 daily scheduled departures as of December 31, 2010, of which approximately 1,050 were Continental Express flights and 250 were United Express flights. ExpressJet's fleet as of December 31, 2010 consisted of 244 Embraer ERJ-145 regional jets ("ERJ145"), 206 of which were flown for Continental, 35 of which were flown for United and three of which were flown in charter operations. ExpressJet's Continental and United code-share operations are conducted under a Capacity Purchase Agreement executed between ExpressJet and Continental ("Continental CPA") and a United Express Agreement executed between ExpressJet and United ("the ExpressJet United Express Agreement") pursuant to which ExpressJet is paid by Continental or United, as applicable, primarily on a fee-per-completed block hour and departure basis, plus a margin based on performance incentives.

Basis of Presentation

        The Company's consolidated financial statements include the accounts of SkyWest, Inc. and its subsidiaries, including SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet, with all inter-company transactions and balances having been eliminated.

        In preparing the accompanying consolidated financial statements, the Company has reviewed, as determined necessary by the Company's management, events that have occurred after December 31, 2010, up until the filing of our annual report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

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SKYWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

DECEMBER 31, 2010

(1) Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

Reclassification

        Certain reclassifications have been made to the Company's December 31, 2009 and 2008 consolidated financial statements to conform to the presentation of the Company's December 31, 2010 consolidated financial statements.

Use of Estimates

        The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

        The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company classified $21.8 million and $10.7 million of cash as restricted cash as required by the Company's workers' compensation policy and classified it accordingly in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Marketable Securities

        The Company's investments in marketable debt and equity securities are deemed by management to be available for sale and are reported at fair market value with the net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders' equity. At the time of sale, any realized appreciation or depreciation, calculated by the specific identification method, is recognized in other income and expense. The Company's position in marketable securities as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 was as follows (in thousands):

 
  2010   2009  
Investment Types
  Cost   Market Value   Cost   Market Value  

Commercial paper

  $ 5,002   $ 4,998   $   $  

Bond and bond funds

    669,786     669,025     647,965     648,498  

Asset backed securities

    692     718     1,051     1,062  
                   

    675,480     674,741     649,016     649,560  

Unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

    (739 )       544      
                   

Total

    674,741     674,741   $ 649,560   $ 649,560  
                   

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SKYWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

DECEMBER 31, 2010

(1) Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

        Marketable securities had the following maturities as of December 31, 2010 (in thousands):

Maturities
  Amount  

Year 2011

  $ 296,051  

Years 2012 through 2015

    216,249  

Years 2016 through 2020

    2,710  

Thereafter

    159,731  

        As of December 31, 2010, the Company had classified $670.7 million of marketable securities as short-term since it has the intent to maintain a liquid portfolio and the ability to redeem the securities within one year. The Company has classified approximately $4.0 million of investments as non-current and has identified them as "Other assets" in the Company's consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2010 (see Note 7).

Inventories

        Inventories include expendable parts, fuel and supplies and are valued at cost (FIFO basis) less an allowance for obsolescence based on historical results and management's expectations of future operations. Expendable inventory parts are charged to expense as used. An obsolescence allowance for flight equipment expendable parts is accrued based on estimated lives of the corresponding fleet types and salvage values. The inventory allowance as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 was $7.5 million and $6.6 million, respectively. These allowances are based on management estimates, which are subject to change.

Property and Equipment

        Property and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated over their useful lives to their estimated residual values using the straight-line method as follows:

Assets
  Depreciable
Life
  Residual
Value
 

Aircraft and rotable spares

    10 - 18 years     0 - 30 %

Ground equipment

    5 - 10 years     0 %

Office equipment

    5 - 7 years     0 %

Leasehold improvements

    15 years or life of the lease     0 %

Buildings

    20 - 39.5 years     0 %

Change in Accounting Estimates

        During the first quarter of 2009, the Company changed its estimate of depreciable lives on ground equipment from five to seven years to five to ten years and maintained the residual value of zero percent. The impact of this change increased the Company's pre-tax income for the year ended December, 31 2010 and 2009 by $2.9 million and $4.0 million, respectively. The impact of this change, net of tax, increased the Company's net income for the year ended December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 by $1.7 million and $2.5 million ($.03 and $.05 per share Basic EPS and $.03 and $.04 per share Diluted EPS), respectively.

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SKYWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

DECEMBER 31, 2010

(1) Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

Impairment of Long Lived and Intangible Assets

        As of December 31, 2010, the Company had approximately $2.9 billion of property and equipment and related assets. Additionally, as of December 31, 2010, the Company had approximately $21.7 million in intangible assets. In accounting for these long-lived and intangible assets, the Company makes estimates about the expected useful lives of the assets, the expected residual values of certain of these assets, and the potential for impairment based on the fair value of the assets and the cash flows they generate. On September 7, 2005, the Company completed the acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Atlantic Southeast. The Company recorded an intangible asset of approximately $33.7 million relating to the acquisition of Atlantic Southeast. The intangible asset is being amortized over fifteen years under the straight-line method. As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company had $12.0 million and $9.7 million in accumulated amortization expense, respectively. Factors indicating potential impairment include, but are not limited to, significant decreases in the market value of the long-lived assets, a significant change in the condition of the long-lived assets and operating cash flow losses associated with the use of the long-lived assets. On a periodic basis (at least annually), the Company evaluates whether the book value of its aircraft is impaired. Based on the results of the evaluations, the Company's management concluded no impairment was necessary as of December 31, 2010.

Capitalized Interest

        Interest is capitalized on aircraft purchase deposits as a portion of the cost of the asset and is depreciated over the estimated useful life of the asset. During the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, the Company capitalized interest costs of approximately $5,000, $843,000, and $1.4 million, respectively.

Maintenance

        The Company operates under an FAA-approved continuous inspection and maintenance program. The Company uses the direct expense method of accounting for its regional jet engine overhauls wherein the expense is recorded when the overhaul event occurs. The Company has an engine services agreement with a third party vendor to provide long-term engine services covering the scheduled and unscheduled repairs for certain of its Bombardier CRJ700 Regional Jet ("CRJ700s")and ERJ145 regional jet aircraft. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company pays a set dollar amount per engine hour flown on a monthly basis and the third party vendor will assume the responsibility to repair the engines at no additional cost to the Company, subject to certain specified exclusions. Maintenance costs under these contracts are recognized when the engine hour is flown pursuant to the terms of the contract. The Company uses the "deferral method" of accounting for its Brasilia Turboprop engine overhauls wherein the overhaul costs are capitalized and depreciated to the next estimated overhaul event. The costs of maintenance for airframe and avionics components, landing gear and normal recurring maintenance are expensed as incurred. For leased aircraft, the Company is subject to lease return provisions that require a minimum portion of the "life" of an overhaul be remaining on the engine at the lease return date. For Brasilia Turboprop engine overhauls related to leased aircraft to be returned, the Company adjusts the estimated useful lives of the final engine overhauls based on the shorter of the remaining useful life or the respective lease return dates.

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(1) Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

Passenger and Ground Handling Revenues

        The Company recognizes passenger and ground handling revenues when the service is provided. Under the Company's contract and pro-rate flying agreements with Delta, United, Continental and AirTran, revenue is considered earned when the flight is completed. Revenue is recognized under the Company's pro-rate flying agreements based upon the portion of the pro-rate passenger fare the Company anticipates that it will receive.

Delta Connection Agreements

        SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast have each entered into a Delta Connection Agreement with Delta, pursuant to which SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast provide contract flight services for Delta. The Delta Connection Agreements provide for fifteen-year terms, subject to early termination by Delta, SkyWest Airlines or Atlantic Southeast, as applicable, upon the occurrence of certain events. Delta's termination rights include (i) cross-termination rights between the two Delta Connection Agreements, (ii) the right to terminate each of the Delta Connection Agreements upon the occurrence of certain force majeure events, including certain labor-related events, that prevent SkyWest Airlines or Atlantic Southeast from performance for certain periods, and (iii) the right to terminate each of the Delta Connection Agreements if SkyWest Airlines or Atlantic Southeast fails to maintain competitive base rate costs, subject to certain adjustment rights. The SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreements contain multi-year rate reset provisions beginning in 2010 and each 5th year thereafter. In addition to the termination rights, Delta has the right to extend the term of the Delta Connection Agreements upon the occurrence of certain events or at the expiration of the initial term. SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast have the right to terminate their respective Delta Connection Agreement upon the occurrence of certain breaches by Delta, including the failure to cure payment defaults. SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast also have cross-termination rights between the two Delta Connection Agreements.

        Under the terms of the SkyWest Airlines Delta Connection Agreement, Delta has agreed to compensate SkyWest Airlines for the direct costs associated with operating the Delta Connection flights, plus a payment based on block hours flown. Under the terms of the Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreement, Delta has agreed to compensate Atlantic Southeast for its direct costs associated with operating the Delta Connection flights, plus, if Atlantic Southeast completes a certain minimum percentage of its Delta Connection flights, an additional percentage of such costs. Additionally, Atlantic Southeast's Delta Connection Agreement provides for the payment of incentive compensation upon satisfaction of certain performance goals. The incentives are defined in the Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreement as being measured and determined on a monthly and quarterly basis. At the end of each quarter, the Company calculates the incentives achieved during the quarter and recognizes revenue accordingly. The parties to the Delta Connection Agreements made customary representations, warranties and covenants, including with respect to various operational, marketing and administrative matters.

        In the event that the contractual rates under the Delta Connection Agreements have not been finalized at quarterly or annual financial statement dates, the Company records revenues based on the lower of prior period's approved rates, as adjusted to reflect any contract negotiations and the Company's estimate of rates that will be implemented in accordance with revenue recognition

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guidelines. Among other provisions, the Delta Connection Agreements provide that, beginning with the third anniversary of the execution of the agreements (September 8, 2008), Delta has the right to require that certain contractual rates under those agreements shall not exceed the average rate of all carriers within the Delta Connection Program. On October 23, 2009, Delta sent letters to SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast requiring them to either adjust the rates payable under their respective Delta Connection Agreements or accept termination of those agreements. Delta's letters also notified SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast of Delta's estimate of the average rates to be applied under those agreements. On October 28, 2009, SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast notified Delta of their election to adjust the rates payable under the Delta Connection Agreements; however, they also notified Delta of their disagreement with Delta's estimated rates and their belief that the methodology Delta used to calculate its estimated rates is inconsistent with the terms of the Delta Connection Agreements. SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast, on one hand, and Delta, on the other hand, exchanged subsequent correspondence, and in November 2010, the parties reached an agreement related to the average rate provisions applied under the Delta Connection Agreements.

        The Delta Connection Agreements also provide that, beginning with the fifth anniversary of the execution of the agreements (September 8, 2010), Delta has the right to require that certain contractual rates under those agreements shall not exceed the second lowest of all carriers within the Delta Connection Program. On September 8, 2010, Delta sent letters to SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast requiring them to either adjust the rates payable under their respective Delta Connection Agreements or accept termination of those agreements. Delta's letters also notified SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast of Delta's estimate of the second lowest rates to be applied under those agreements. On September 10, 2010, SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast notified Delta of their election to adjust the rates payable under the Delta Connection Agreements; however, they also notified Delta of their disagreement with Delta's estimated rates and their belief that the methodology Delta used to calculate its estimated rates is inconsistent with the terms of the Delta Connection Agreements. During the fourth quarter of 2010, SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Airlines reached an agreement with Delta on contractual rates satisfying the 2010 rate reset provision and the second-lowest rate provision and agreed to rates through December 31, 2015. Delta additionally waived its right to require that the contractual rates payable under the Delta Connection Agreements shall not exceed the second-lowest rates of all carriers within the Delta Connection Program through December 31, 2015. As a result of finalizing contractual rates payable under the Delta Connection Agreements from September 8, 2008 through December 31, 2010, the Company recorded $10.3 million in additional revenue during the quarter ended December 31, 2010.

        Under the terms of the SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Delta Connection Agreements, Delta has agreed to compensate SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast for initiatives that directly result in pass through cost savings. Delta shall share such savings on an equal basis for a twelve month period. During the quarter ended December 31, 2010, Delta paid and SkyWest and Atlantic Southeast recognized approximately $6.9 million in cost savings revenue.

        In the event the Company has a reimbursement dispute with a major partner, the Company evaluates the dispute under its established revenue recognition criteria and, provided the revenue recognition criteria have been met, the Company recognizes revenue based on management's estimate of the resolution of the dispute. During the quarter ended December 31, 2007, Delta notified the

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Company, SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast of a dispute under the Delta Connection Agreements executed by Delta with SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast. The dispute relates to allocation of liability for certain irregular operations ("IROP") expenses that are paid by SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast to their passengers under certain situations. As a result, Delta withheld a combined total of approximately $25 million (pretax) from one of the weekly scheduled wire payments to SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast during December 2007. Delta continues to withhold a portion of the funds the Company believes are payable as weekly scheduled wire payments to SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast (See Note 6 for additional details).

United Express Agreements

        SkyWest Airlines and United have entered into a United Express Agreement, which sets forth the principal terms and conditions governing SkyWest Airlines' United Express operations. Under the terms of the United Express Agreement, SkyWest Airlines is compensated primarily on a fee-per-completed-block hour and departure basis and is reimbursed for fuel and other costs. Additionally, SkyWest Airlines is eligible for incentive compensation upon the achievement of certain performance criteria. The incentives are defined in the United Express Agreement as being measured and determined on a monthly basis. At the end of each month, the Company calculates the incentives achieved during the month and recognizes revenue accordingly.

        On February 10, 2010, Atlantic Southeast and United entered into a United Express Agreement, pursuant to which Atlantic Southeast agreed to operate 16CRJ200s as a United Express carrier. On February 11, 2010, Atlantic Southeast began operating as a United Express carrier. The Atlantic Southeast United Express Agreement is a capacity purchase agreement with a five-year term, and other terms which are generally consistent with the SkyWest Airlines United Express Agreement. During the three months ended December 31, 2010, Atlantic Southeast agreed to add two CRJ200s to the United Express Agreement on a short term basis. As of December 31, 2010, Atlantic Southeast was operating 16 CRJ 200s as a United Express carrier.

AirTran Code-Share Agreement

        On November 4, 2009, SkyWest Airlines entered into a code-share agreement with AirTran. Under the terms of the code-share agreement, SkyWest Airlines operates four CRJ200s for AirTran under a pro-rate arrangement. SkyWest Airlines commenced AirTran service in December 2009. The code-share agreement has a three-year term; however, after May 15, 2010, either party may terminate the agreement upon 120 days written notice.

ExpressJet Capacity Purchase Agreements

        Effective November 12, 2010, ExpressJet entered into the Continental CPA, whereby ExpressJet agreed to provide regional airline service in the Continental flight system. Under the terms of the Continental CPA, ExpressJet operates 206 aircraft in the Continental flight system and Continental has agreed to compensate ExpressJet on a monthly basis based on the block hours flown by ExpressJet and the weighted average number of aircraft operated by ExpressJet under the Continental CPA. Additionally, ExpressJet may earn incentive compensation for good operating performance, but is subject to financial penalties for poor operating performance. At the end of each month, the Company

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calculates the incentives achieved during the month under the Continental CPA and recognizes revenue accordingly.

        ExpressJet and United are parties to the ExpressJet United Express Agreement, which sets forth the principal terms and conditions governing ExpressJet's United Express operations. Under the terms of the United Express Agreement, ExpressJet is compensated primarily on a fee-per-completed-block hour and departure basis and is reimbursed for fuel and other costs. Additionally, ExpressJet is eligible for incentive compensation upon the achievement of certain performance criteria. The incentives are defined in the United Express Agreement as being measured and determined on a monthly basis. At the end of each month, the Company calculates the incentives achieved during the month and recognizes revenue accordingly.

Other Revenue Items

        Under the Company's code-share agreements with Delta, United and Continental, the Company earns revenue for an amount per aircraft designed to reimburse the Company for certain aircraft ownership costs. The Company has concluded that a component of its revenue under these agreements is rental income, inasmuch as the agreements identify 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 under the agreements for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 were $492.7 million, $490.1 million and $496.5 million, respectively. These amounts were recorded as passenger revenue on the Company's consolidated statements of income. Under the SkyWest Inc. Delta Connection Agreement and the SkyWest Airlines United Express Agreement, the Company receives a reimbursement for direct costs associated with placing each additional aircraft into service. The reimbursement is applicable to incremental costs specific to placing each additional aircraft into service. The Company recognizes the revenue associated with these reimbursement payments once the aircraft is placed into service.

        The Company's passenger and ground handling revenues could be impacted by a number of factors, including changes to the Company's code-share agreements with Delta, United, Continental or AirTran, integration of ExpressJet's operations as contemplated by the ExpressJet Merger contract modifications resulting from contract re-negotiations, the Company's ability to earn incentive payments contemplated under the Company's code-share agreements and settlement of reimbursement disputes with the Company's major partners.

Deferred Aircraft Credits

        The Company accounts for incentives provided by aircraft manufacturers as deferred credits. The deferred credits related to leased aircraft are amortized on a straight-line basis as a reduction to rent expense over the lease term. Credits related to owned aircraft reduce the purchase price of the aircraft, which has the effect of amortizing the credits on a straight-line basis as a reduction in depreciation expense over the life of the related aircraft. The incentives are credits that may be used to purchase spare parts and pay for training and other expenses.

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DECEMBER 31, 2010

(1) Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

Income Taxes

        The Company recognizes a liability or asset for the deferred tax consequences of all temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in future years when the reported amounts of the assets and liabilities are recovered or settled.

Net Income Per Common Share

        Basic net income per common share ("Basic EPS") excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per common share ("Diluted EPS") reflects the potential dilution that could occur if stock options or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock. The computation of Diluted EPS does not assume exercise or conversion of securities that would have an anti-dilutive effect on net income per common share. During the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, 4,183,000, 4,356,000 and 3,665,000 shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options were excluded from the computation of Diluted EPS respectively, as their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.

        The calculation of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for Basic EPS and Diluted EPS are as follows for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 (in thousands):

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  

Numerator:

                   

Numerator for earnings per share

  $ 96,350   $ 83,658   $ 112,929  

Denominator:

                   

Denominator for basic earnings per-share weighted average shares

    55,610     55,854     57,790  

Dilution due to stock options and restricted stock

    916     960     843  
               

Denominator for diluted earnings per-share weighted average shares

    56,526     56,814     58,633  

Basic earnings per-share

  $ 1.73   $ 1.50   $ 1.95  

Diluted earnings per-share

  $ 1.70   $ 1.47   $ 1.93  

Comprehensive Income

        Comprehensive income includes charges and credits to stockholders' equity that are not the result of transactions with shareholders. Also, comprehensive income consisted of net income plus changes in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on marketable securities and on the Company's proportionate

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share of the foreign currency translation adjustment related to the Company's equity investment in Trip Linhas Aereas ("Trip") (see note 8), net of tax, for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  

Net Income

  $ 96,350   $ 83,658   $ 112,929  

Proportionate share of other companies foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax

    637     972      

Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on marketable securities, net of tax

    (745 )   3,774     (2,566 )
               

Comprehensive income

    96,242   $ 88,404   $ 110,363  
               

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

        The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for receivables and accounts payable approximate fair values because of the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments. Marketable securities are reported at fair value based on market quoted prices in the consolidated balance sheets. However, due to recent events in credit markets, the auction events for some of these instruments held by the Company failed during the year ended December 31, 2010. Therefore, quoted prices in active markets are no longer available and the Company has estimated the fair values of these securities utilizing a discounted cash flow analysis as of December 31, 2010. These analyses consider, among other items, the collateralization underlying the security investments, the creditworthiness of the counterparty, the timing of expected future cash flows, and the expectation of the next time the security is expected to have a successful auction. The fair value of the Company's long-term debt is estimated based on current rates offered to the Company for similar debt and approximates $1,962.6 million as of December 31, 2010, as compared to the carrying amount of $1,898.0 million as of December 31, 2010. The Company's fair value of long-term debt as of December 31, 2009 was $2,095.6 million as compared to the carrying amount of $1,964.9 million as of December 31, 2009.

Segment Reporting

        The accounting guidance requires disclosures related to components of a company for which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the Company's chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. Management believes that the Company has only one reportable segment in accordance with accounting guidance because the Company's business consists of scheduled regional airline service.

New Accounting Standards

        In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-06, Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements an amendment to Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. This amendment requires an entity to: (i) disclose separately the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements and describe the reasons for the

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transfers, (ii) disclose separately the reasons for any transfers in and out of Level 3, and (iii) present separate information for Level 3 activity pertaining to gross purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements. ASU No. 2010-06 is effective for the Company for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, with one new disclosure effective after December 15, 2010. The Company adopted this guidance in full beginning with the interim period ended March 31, 2010. See Note 7.

        On September 23, 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") ratified Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2009-13 (formerly referred to as Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 08-1), Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables. ASU No. 2009-13 requires the allocation of consideration among separately identified deliverables contained within an arrangement, based on their related selling prices. ASU No. 2009-13 will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning January 1, 2011; however, it will be effective only for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. Early adoption is permitted. The Company has been evaluating the impact of ASU No. 2009-13 on its financial position, results of operations, cash flows, and disclosures. Based on the Company's research to date, it does not believe the adoption of ASU No. 2009-13 will have a significant impact on its current accounting; however, the Company does expect to be required to provide additional financial disclosures due to the full adoption of the standard beginning in the first quarter of 2011.

(2) ExpressJet Merger

        On November 12, 2010, the Company completed its acquisition of ExpressJet . As a result of the ExpressJet Merger, each issued and outstanding share of ExpressJet Holdings common stock (other than shares owned by ExpressJet Holdings as treasury stock or shares owned by the Company or any of its subsidiaries) was converted into the right to receive $6.75 per share in cash, payable to the holder thereof, without interest. Based on the number of outstanding shares of ExpressJet Holdings common stock as of the effective time of the ExpressJet Merger, the aggregate value of the Merger consideration was $131.6 million. After taking in effect the number of shares acquired by the Company and its subsidiaries prior to the effective time, the aggregate value of the ExpressJet Merger consideration was $136.5 million.

        In connection with the ExpressJet Merger, ExpressJet and Continental entered into the Continental CPA, whereby ExpressJet agreed to provide regional airline services in the Continental flight system. The Continental CPA became effective on November 12, 2010.

        The Company accounted for the ExpressJet Merger in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations, whereby the tangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed from ExpressJet Holdings are recorded based on their estimated fair values as of the closing date. The revenues of ExpressJet represented 4% of the Company's total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2010. The following table reflects the aggregate consideration and estimated fair values of the tangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed (including the attribution of ExpressJet Holdings liabilities to the

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(2) ExpressJet Merger (Continued)


purchase price, since those liabilities remained the obligation of ExpressJet Holdings post-closing) based on a preliminary valuation performed by a third party valuation advisor (in thousands):

Current assets, net

  $ 133,397  

Property, plant and equipment

    128,744  

Other non-current assets

    35,061  

Current liabilities

    (141,974 )

Long-term liabilities

    (3,173 )

Purchase accounting gain

    (15,586 )
       
 

Total consideration

  $ 136,469  

Less cash acquired

    (82,452 )
       
 

Net cash paid

  $ 54,017  

        The Company is currently in the process of completing a valuation of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in connection with the ExpressJet Merger, based on the results of a valuation performed by a third party valuation advisor and any final purchase adjustments are not expected to be material to the Company's consolidated financial statements. As of December 31, 2010, the Company had not identified any intangible assets as a result of the ExpressJet Merger.

        As part of the ExpressJet Merger, the Company recorded a purchase accounting gain of $15.6 million. This amount represents the difference between the consideration paid and the net fair value of ExpressJet Holdings' assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The net fair value of the assets and liabilities acquired in the ExpressJet Merger was more than the consideration paid.

        The following unaudited pro forma combined results of operations give effect to the ExpressJet Merger as if it had occurred at the beginning of the periods presented. The unaudited pro forma combined results of operations do not purport to represent the Company's consolidated results of operations had the ExpressJet Merger occurred on the dates assumed, nor are these results necessarily indicative of the Company's future consolidated results of operations. The Company expects to realize benefits from integrating the operations of Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet, as discussed above, and to incur certain one-time cash costs. The unaudited pro forma combined results of operations do not reflect these benefits or costs.

 
  Years ended
December 31,
 
 
  2010   2009  

Revenue

  $ 3,476,415   $ 3,301,872  

Net Income

  $ 59,264   $ 87,125  

Basic earnings per share

 
$

1.07
 
$

1.56
 

Diluted earnings per share

  $ 1.05   $ 1.53  

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(3) Long-term Debt

        Long-term debt consisted of the following as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands):

 
  December 31,
2010
  December 31,
2009
 

Notes payable to banks, due in semi-annual installments, variable interest based on LIBOR, or with interest rates ranging from 1.10% to 3.81% through 2012 to 2020, secured by aircraft

  $ 418,109   $ 469,663  

Notes payable to a financing company, due in semi-annual installments, variable interest based on LIBOR, or with interest rates ranging from 0.74% to 7.52% through 2011 to 2021, secured by aircraft

    518,070     557,293  

Notes payable to banks, due in semi-annual installments plus interest at 6.06% to 7.18% through 2021, secured by aircraft

    212,504     231,002  

Notes payable to a financing company, due in semi-annual installments plus interest at 5.78% to 6.23% through 2019, secured by aircraft

    61,087     67,963  

Notes payable to banks, due in monthly installments plus interest of 3.15% to 8.18% through 2025, secured by aircraft

    663,487     611,829  

Notes payable to banks, due in semi-annual installments, plus interest at 6.05% through 2020, secured by aircraft

    21,969     23,939  

Notes payable to banks, due in semi-annual installments, plus interest at 3.72% to 3.86%, net of the benefits of interest rate subsidies through the Brazilian Export financing program, through 2011, secured by aircraft

    360     3,200  

Notes payable to a financing company, due in semi-annual installments interest based on LIBOR secured by flight simulator equipment

    2,389      
           

Long-term debt

    1,897,975   $ 1,964,889  
           

Less current maturities

    (159,039 )   (148,571 )
           

Long-term debt, net of current maturities

    1,738,936   $ 1,816,318  
           

        At December 31, 2010, the three-month and six-month LIBOR rates were 0.30% and 0.46%, respectively.

        The aggregate amounts of principal maturities of long-term debt as of December 31, 2010 were as follows (in thousands):

2011

  $ 159,039  

2012

    202,991  

2013

    157,413  

2014

    163,256  

2015

    170,283  

Thereafter

    1,044,993  
       

  $ 1,897,975  
       

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(3) Long-term Debt (Continued)

        As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, SkyWest Airlines had a $25 million line of credit. As of December 31, 2010 and 2009 SkyWest Airlines had no amount outstanding under the facility. The facility expires on March 31, 2011 and has a fixed interest rate of 4.50%.

        As of December 31, 2010, the Company had $58.0 million in letters of credit and surety bonds outstanding with various banks and surety institutions.

        During 2010, the Company issued $81.7 million of long-term debt related to the purchase of four new CRJ 700s.

        Certain of the Company's long-term debt arrangements contain limitations on, among other things, the sale or lease of assets and ratio of long-term debt to tangible net worth. As of December 31, 2010, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants. Management believes that in the absence of unusual circumstances, the working capital available to the Company will be sufficient to meet the present financial requirements, including expansion, capital expenditures, lease payments and debt service obligations for at least the next 12 months.

(4) Note Receivable

        On October 16, 2009, SkyWest Airlines extended to United a secured term loan in the amount of $80 million. The term loan bears interest at a rate of 11%, with a ten-year amortization period. The loan was secured by certain ground equipment and certain airport slot rights held by United. On August 11, 2010, United repaid the $80 million term loan together with accrued interest.

        SkyWest Airlines also agreed to defer certain amounts otherwise payable to SkyWest Airlines under the existing United Express Agreement for a maximum period of 30 days. The maximum deferral amount is $49 million and any amounts deferred accrue a deferral fee of 8%, payable weekly. As of December 31, 2010, $49 million was deferred for 30 days. United's right to defer such payments continues through October 16, 2019, subject to certain conditions. As of December 31, 2010, the Company had classified $49.0 million as current and has identified the deferred amount as "Receivables, net" in its consolidated balance sheet.

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(5) Income Taxes

        The provision for income taxes includes the following components (in thousands):

 
  Year ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  

Current tax provision (benefit):

                   
 

Federal

  $ (1,600 ) $ (11,309 ) $ 5,360  
 

State

    451     110     (85 )
               

    (1,149 )   (11,199 )   5,275  
               

Deferred tax provision:

                   
 

Federal

    46,994     54,942     53,748  
 

State

    3,706     4,332     4,231  
               

    50,700     59,274     57,979  
               

Provision for income taxes

    49,551   $ 48,075   $ 63,254  
               

        The following is a reconciliation between the statutory Federal income tax rate of 35% and the effective rate which is derived by dividing the provision for income taxes by income before provision for income taxes (in thousands):

 
  Year ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  

Computed "expected" provision for income taxes at the statutory rates

  $ 52,888   $ 45,884   $ 60,324  

Increase (decrease) in income taxes resulting from:

                   
 

Purchase accounting gain

    (5,455 )        
 

State income taxes, net of Federal income tax benefit

    3,485     3,741     5,032  
 

Other, net

    (1,367 )   (1,550 )   (2,102 )
               

Provision for income taxes

    49,551   $ 48,075   $ 63,254  
               

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SKYWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

DECEMBER 31, 2010

(5) Income Taxes (Continued)

        The significant components of the net deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (in thousands):

 
  As of December 31,  
 
  2010   2009  

Deferred tax assets:

             
&nbs