(Source: PRNewswire)PHOENIX, May 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mesa Air Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: MESA) (the "Company") announced today a second quarter pre- tax operating profit of $27.2 million from continuing operations and a net loss after tax of $37.3 million from continuing operations on operating revenues of $233.0 million. The significant after tax net loss is the result of recording $64.5 million income tax expense primarily driven by an IRC Section 382 tax provision affecting Net Operating Loss (NOL) carryforwards. Total operating revenues for the second quarter of 2009 decreased $87.3 million, or 27.3% primarily resulting from a year-over-year decrease in capacity and lower fuel revenue. The net loss of $37.3 million, or $0.43 per share on a diluted basis, compares to net gain from continuing operations of $17.5 million, or $0.51 per diluted share for the same period of fiscal 2008. Pro forma net loss for the quarter was $0.1 million or break even on a per diluted share basis compared to a loss of $4.1 million or $0.15 per diluted share for the same period of fiscal 2008. Pro forma net loss for the quarter includes adjustments for the following items on an after tax basis: $54.0 million adjustment to income tax expense, $1.7 million loss from equity method investments, $1.6 million costs associated with the Chinese joint venture, $1.1 million in lease return costs, a $1.1 million inventory write-down, $0.3 million in go! legal expenses, a $0.2 million impairment charge, and $0.1 million for loss on disposal. These losses were partially offset by a $22.9 million gain on extinguishment of debt.

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Total Available Seat Miles ("ASM's") for the second quarter of fiscal 2009 decreased 14.2% from the second quarter of 2008. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction in the number of aircraft flown from 178 as of March 31, 2008 to 151 as of March 31, 2009. At March 31, 2009 Mesa's operating fleet was comprised of 77 50-seat regional jets, 38 86-seat regional jets, 20 66-seat regional jets, and 16 37-seat turboprops. As of March 31, 2009, the Company operated 48 regional jets and six turboprops on a codeshare basis with US Airways, 46 regional jets and ten turboprops for United, 28 regional jets for Delta, and had eight operational spares. The Company also flew five regional jets in Hawaii, operating as go!

As of March 31, 2009, the Company's cash, marketable securities and restricted cash were approximately $57.1 million. In the third quarter of fiscal 2009 and similar to prior years, the Company will make aircraft lease payments that will impact our cash position.

Events during the second quarter included:

-- Bonds: The Company purchased certain senior convertible notes due in June 2023 and February 2024 at a substantial discount and recorded a net gain (after tax) on the extinguishment of debt of approximately $22.9 million.

-- Section 382 Limitation: Mesa issued 117,072,627 shares in the second quarter, which triggered a Section 382 limitation in relation to the Company's net operating loss carryforwards. Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code limits the amount of pre-change net operating loss carryforwards that can be utilized after an ownership change.

-- China Joint Venture: During the second quarter, Mesa Air Group divested its indirect interest in Kunpeng Airlines. The Company recorded an after tax loss on equity method investment of $2.7 million and $1.6 million of other expenses which includes a reserve for bad debt in the second quarter of 2009.

-- go!: Mesa continued to expand its Hawaiian inter-island operation, go!.

Available seat miles increased 16.0% in comparison to the same period in the prior fiscal year. Departures increased 13.7% and passengers carried increased 20.1% over the second quarter of 2008. go! also celebrated its 2,000,000th passenger on March 18, 2009. Additionally, Mesa terminated its code share agreement with Mokulele Airlines, and commenced a new code share agreement with Hawaii's Island Air.

Effective March 25, 2009 go! began marketing services to be flown by Island Air.

"We are pleased to have made progress during the second quarter.