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# SkyWest Earns $3.08 A Share As A Longer E175 Depreciation Life Offsets Doubled Fuel Bill
- URL: https://www.bullished.co/skywest-earns-3-08-a-share-as-a-longer-e175-depreciation-life-offsets-doubled-fuel-bill-5eaaddfa/
- Published: 2026-10-29T21:46:39.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-29T21:46:39.000Z
- Description: The regional airline's third-quarter profit edged up while fuel costs climbed and depreciation fell after it set a 30-year life for E175 jets.
- Author: Matteo Parrino
- Tags: Earnings, SKYW, Industry: Industrials

SkyWest, the regional airline that flies for United, Delta, American and Alaska, [earned $3.08 per diluted share](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000793733/000110465926120182/skyw-ex99d1.htm?ref=bullished.co) in the third quarter, up from $2.81 a year earlier, as a lower depreciation charge offset a much bigger fuel bill, the company said Thursday in an [8-K](https://www.bullished.co/learn/8-k-items-explained/) filing.

## Fuel up, depreciation down

Net income was [$120 million](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261029009572/en/SkyWest-Inc.-Announces-Third-Quarter-2026-Profit?ref=bullished.co), against $116 million a year earlier. Pre-tax income reached $159 million, compared with $157 million in the third quarter of 2025 and $139 million in the second quarter of 2026.

Revenue rose 6% to [$1.12 billion](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261029009572/en/SkyWest-Inc.-Announces-Third-Quarter-2026-Profit?ref=bullished.co), helped by a 5% increase in block hours (the time aircraft spend in flight operations). Operating expenses climbed 7% to $941 million. The aircraft fuel line rose to $66.3 million from $34.2 million, and SkyWest said higher fuel cost per gallon in its prorate business, where it keeps the ticket revenue, hurt results against both the prior year and the second quarter.

Depreciation fell to $76.3 million from $92.5 million after SkyWest revised the estimated useful life of its E175 fleet to 30 years. Passenger load factor slid to 81.0% from 84.0% a year earlier.

## Buybacks and a growing E175 fleet

SkyWest repurchased 738,000 shares for about $75 million in the quarter, leaving about $238 million available under its buyback program. Cash and marketable securities stood at $569 million at September 30, down from $707 million at December 31, 2025\. Total debt was $2.4 billion, flat from year-end.

Capital spending and aircraft deposits were $163 million for four new E175s, spare engines and other assets. CEO Chip Childs said the company is "well positioned to continue the growth of our E175 fleet in the coming years."

SkyWest, which as of December 31, 2025 had 637 aircraft and about 2,260 daily departures, expects more than 300 E175s in its fleet by the end of 2027.

## Delivery schedule through 2027

The company's delivery table, which it says is subject to change, shows 13 E175 deliveries anticipated in 2026, six of them already received in the first nine months, and 18 more in 2027\. SkyWest also holds delivery positions for 33 additional E175s from 2028 through 2031.

SkyWest's delivery table shows eight E175s still due for United in 2026, along with four for American, and 11 for Delta in 2027.

Learn

- [Item 2.02: results of operations →](https://www.bullished.co/learn/8-k-items-explained/#item-202-results-of-operations)  
From 8-K Items Explained: What Every Item Code From 1.01 To 9.01 Tells You, With Examples

### Sources

- [8-K Filing — SKYWEST INC (SKYW)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000793733/000110465926120182/skyw-20261029x8k.htm?ref=bullished.co) — SEC EDGAR
- [Exhibit skyw-ex99d1.htm — SKYWEST INC 8-K exhibit](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000793733/000110465926120182/skyw-ex99d1.htm?ref=bullished.co) — SEC EDGAR
- [SkyWest, Inc. Announces Third Quarter 2026 Profit](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261029009572/en/SkyWest-Inc.-Announces-Third-Quarter-2026-Profit?ref=bullished.co) — businesswire.com