Canadian freighter operator Cargojet registered a jump in revenues in the first quarter and has expanded the number of B777 conversions it has on order (see below).
The company reported a 45.7% increase in first-quarter revenues to $233.6m with strong growth in the all-in charter segment.
The company said the all-in Charter segment benefited from robust demand for global air cargo.
The Domestic network posted a 10.3% increase in revenues, ACMI posted 36.2% and the charter business posted 298% growth compared to the same period last year.
Domestic network revenue for the quarter accounted for less than 37% of total revenues compared with more than 47% for the same period in 2021.
The gross margin for the quarter was C$66.9m compared to the first quarter of 2021 gross margin of C$45.3m.
Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was C$83m compared with $64.2m last year.
Net loss for the quarter was C$56.4m (net income of C$30.4m excluding warrant valuation loss) compared to net income of C$89.4m in 2021 (net income of C$7.5m excluding warrant valuation gain).
“Ever since March 2020, we have been constantly adapting to the changing air cargo landscape. The recent geopolitical events have further added pressure on the already strained traditional supply chains but they are also creating new opportunities for air cargo,” said Ajay Virmani, president, and chief executive.
“We are acutely aware of the uncertainties and are well-positioned to not only tackle them but capitalize wherever new opportunities are emerging. The investments we made in aircraft acquisition, technology, and in attracting and retaining top talent are paying off, allowing us to scale up the business in a seamless manner.”
In March, DHL Express entered into a long-term agreement with Cargojet that could potentially see the express firm acquire shares in Cargojet. The five-year deal will see Cargojet provide an extra five B767 freighters in addition to the 12 freighters currently utilised by DHL Express.
Expanded B777 order
Cargojet was named as the launch customer for Mammoth Freighters’ B777-200LR freighter conversion programme in November 2021. The airline initially signed up for two B777-200LRMF freighters, with options for two -300ERMFs and two additional -200LRMFs.
In a management discussion and analysis document for the quarter it was confirmed that Cargojet has signed agreements for the purchase and conversion of four B777-200, with expected delivery dates of Q4 2023, Q1 2024, Q3 2024, and Q4 2024.
The document also confirmed that Cargojet has signed agreements for the purchase and conversion of four B777-300 aircraft with expected delivery dates of Q3 2024, Q3 2024, Q2 2025, and Q1 2026.
