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Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings Inc (AAWW)
Q4Â 2019 Earnings Call
Feb 20, 2020, 11:00 a.m. ET
Contents:
- Prepared Remarks
- Questions and Answers
- Call Participants
Prepared Remarks:
Operator
Thank you for standing by and welcome to the Fourth Quarter 2019 Earnings Call for Atlas Air Worldwide. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. After the speakers' presentation, there will be a question-and-answer session. [Operator Instructions] I'd now like to hand the conference over to your speaker today. Thank you. Atlas Air, you may begin.
Edward J. McGarvey -- Vice President, Treasurer
Thank you, Jessie and good morning everyone. I'm Ed McGarvey, Treasurer for Atlas Air Worldwide. Welcome to our fourth quarter 2019 results conference call. Today's call will be hosted by John Dietrich, our Chief Executive Officer and Spencer Schwartz, our Chief Financial Officer. Today's call is complemented by a slide presentation that can be viewed at atlasairworldwide.com under Presentations in the Investor Information section. As indicated on Slide 2, we'd like to remind you that our discussion about the company's performance today includes some forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to future events and expectations and they involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results or actions may differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements.
For information about risk factors related to our business, please refer to our 2018 Form 10-K as amended or supplemented by our subsequently filed SEC reports. Any references to non-GAAP measures are meant to provide meaningful insights and are reconciled with GAAP in today's press release and in the appendix that is attached to today's slides. During our question-and-answer period today, we'd like to ask participants to limit themselves to one principal question and one follow-up question so that we can accommodate as many participants as possible. After we have gone through the queue, we'll be happy to answer any additional questions as time permits. At this point, I'd like to draw your attention to Slide 3 and turn the call over to John Dietrich.
John W. Dietrich -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Thank you, Ed and good morning everyone. Thank you for joining. As many of you know, today is my first time speaking to you as CEO of Atlas Air Worldwide. I do so with great pride and with a strong sense of responsibility to our company, our customers, our employees, and, of course, our shareholders. I would first like to take this opportunity to thank Bill Flynn, who retired at year-end, for his many contributions to Atlas during his time as CEO. Bill is now Chairman of the Board and I look forward to continuing to work closely with him and our other Board members going forward.
As this is my first call with you, there are several themes that I want to emphasize. Air freight is and will continue to be a long-term growth industry that is a critical part of the global supply chain. Atlas is well-positioned with a formidable fleet of aircraft in its diversified portfolio and a long list of marquee customers. In light of recent market challenges and as we move the business forward, we are adjusting our business to manage our costs and best align our resources with our strategic priorities with a focus on growth customers and those opportunities that generate the best returns. And, subject to some of the uncertainties and potential opportunities associated with the unfortunate outbreak of the coronavirus, we anticipate that our financial performance in 2020 will be an improvement over 2019.
Let's please move to Slide 4. As I mentioned, air freight is vital in meeting the demands of growing global economy and the increasing demand for time-definite networks by domestic and international supply chains. Atlas will continue playing a key role in meeting the rising needs of businesses and consumers. Our fourth quarter and full-year 2019 adjusted results reflected the peak season that included a pickup in customer demand and improved yields compared with the middle of the year. It also reflected our team coming together to deliver the high quality services that our customers appreciate. As expected, our fourth quarter results also benefited from the peak season flying we do for express customers, an increase in military passenger and cargo flying, lower heavy maintenance expense, lower aircraft rent and depreciation, and a refund of excess aircraft rent paid in previous years. Our results however were also affected by the global air freight environment and macroeconomic conditions, which reflected the effects of tariffs, global trade tensions, and geopolitical unrest in certain countries in South America as well as certain labor-related service disruptions. These factors resulted in lower commercial cargo yields and utilization of our 747-400 ACMI and charter aircraft. As a result and in accordance with U.S. accounting standards, we recorded a non-cash special charge for the writedown of our 747-400 freighter fleet as well as the disposition of certain non-essential dry lease aircraft and engines. This resulted in lower aircraft rent and depreciation during the quarter and higher than anticipated adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income during the period. We also expect lower rent and depreciation to positively affect earnings in 2020 and beyond.
Turning to Slide 5, I have a few thoughts about the strength of our business and the future. They begin with the company's strategic principles. First and always, safety, security and compliance is our top corporate priority. We will continue to promote a safe and compliant operation in everything we do. In addition and as I mentioned earlier, we have a strong core of long-term marquee customers and we play a key role in their operating networks. These are customers that we value including DHL, Amazon, Asiana out of South Korea, Boeing, DSV Panalpina based in Denmark, FedEx, NCA out of Japan, Qantas in Australia, UPS, the U.S. military, and the NFL as well as many other airlines, freight forwarders, charter brokers, sports teams, and direct shippers. We have a modern and diversified fleet providing customers the biggest and broadest array of aircraft for domestic, regional, and international cargo and passenger operations. We are a major player in express, e-commerce, the U.S. military and fast growing markets. We are also a major player in the transpacific as well as the growing market between South America and the rest of the world in addition to our presence in the U.S. We are constantly focused on operating efficiencies, cost management, and the on-time performance that our customers expect. And as we have shown, we have a disciplined capital allocation strategy with a focus on balance sheet maintenance. And we do all that with a tremendous team of dedicated customer focused, highly experienced employees who bring diverse skill sets to help us move our business forward. So that is what has shaped where we are today and will continue to shape our future. Atlas is well positioned for continued success going forward. We are no doubt in volatile times with the ongoing trade wars, geopolitical unrest, and the coronavirus, but we will continue to manage through these challenges and they will pass and as history has taught us through other crisis, air freight will play a key role as the global supply chain rebalances.
One of our top priorities is also to complete a new joint collective bargaining agreement for our pilots. Our negotiating teams are meeting regularly and some significant progress has already been made. We have a defined path forward under the merger provisions of the two collective bargaining agreements and we have reached what are called tentative agreements for more than half of the sections in the new JCBA. We still need to receive a comprehensive economic proposal as well as an integrated seniority list from the union, both of which are required to complete and implement a new JCBA, but we are doing all we can to move the negotiations forward. We cannot say with certainty when this new agreement will be ultimately reached, but we remain committed to continuing to work together with union leaders to negotiate and complete the contract as soon as possible to provide our pilots with the contract they deserve. As I said earlier, we are taking steps to adjust our business and elevate Atlas. As I reviewed the range of our business activities, I have identified certain operations that are not generating acceptable levels of return. I will be focused on addressing those areas to ensure that our resources are put to the most profitable use.
Slide 6 highlights our framework for 2020. Just about every industry is experiencing the impacts of the unfortunate coronavirus outbreak. Air freight is no different. The full effects are yet to be determined and therefore, our visibility into the year ahead is evolving. In these unprecedented circumstances, we are playing a key role in our customers' operating networks as they navigate through this challenging time. We are also currently accommodating special charter demand and are well prepared for the anticipated surge of volumes once manufacturing resumes in full force. Based on global economic conditions and our current expectations and subject to the risks and potential opportunities associated with the coronavirus, we expect to fly approximately 325,000 block hours this year with revenue of about $2.8 billion. Including the impact in 2019 and the expected impact in 2020 from lower aircraft rent and depreciation, we anticipate that our adjusted EBITDA will grow by a mid-teens percentage in 2020 and that our adjusted net income will increase by a high '30s to low '40s percentage. Excluding the impact of lower aircraft rent and depreciation in both years, we anticipate that our adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income in 2020 will be comparable to or slightly higher than 2019 levels.
Our outlook reflects an expected refund in 2020 of excess aircraft rent paid in previous years, the impact in 2020 of an increase in amortization of deferred maintenance compared with 2019, the absence of return conditions income that we realized in the first quarter of 2019, improved operating efficiencies and cost savings, and a full-year adjusted effective income tax rate of approximately 21%. Our outlook also reflects that we have parked four less-efficient 747-400 converted freighters since the beginning of 2020. We also plan to return one 747 freighter to its lessor in the first half of this year and we have sold or expect to sell three non-essential aircraft in our dry lease portfolio. Similar to historical patterns, we anticipate that well over three-quarters of our adjusted net income in 2020 will occur in the second half of the year. In addition, our core capital expenditures, which exclude aircraft and engine purchases and which are mainly for parts and components for our fleet are projected to total approximately $90 million to $100 million in 2020, significantly lower than core capex of about $134 million in 2019.
Looking to the first quarter, which is also subject to the developments related to the coronavirus, we expect approximately 75,000 block hours, $640 million in revenue, $90 million of adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income ranging from approximately breakeven to a modest profit. This is a good time to ask Spencer to provide an overview of our fourth quarter 2019 results and after Spencer's remarks, I'll provide a few additional comments and then we'll be happy to answer your questions. Spencer?
Spencer Schwartz -- Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Thank you, John and hello everyone. Our fourth quarter results are highlighted on Slide 7. On an adjusted basis, EBITDA totaled $204.7 million and income from continuing operations, net of taxes, totaled $98.2 million. This included after tax benefits of $10.5 million, $7.6 million due to lower aircraft rent and $2.9 million due to lower depreciation. On a reported basis, we had a net loss of $410.2 million, which was primarily driven by a non-cash special charge of $485.2 million after tax. Our adjusted earnings in the fourth quarter included an effective income tax rate of 17.7%. For the full-year, we had an adjusted tax rate of 12.5%, In 2020, we expect our full-year adjusted income tax rate to be approximately 21%.
Looking at Slide 8, operating revenue totaled $747 million in the fourth quarter. ACMI revenue reflected a decline in 747-400 ACMI flying related to the global air freight environment and macroeconomic conditions partially offset by growth in 747-400, 777, and 737 CMI cargo flying. In charter, revenue was relatively in line with the fourth quarter of 2018 driven by increases in cargo and passenger flying that were mainly offset by a decline in commercial cargo yields excluding fuel. In dry leasing, revenue during the quarter primarily reflected the scheduled return of a 777 freighter in 2019. Moving to Slide 9, segment contribution totaled $186 million in the fourth quarter. ACMI earnings primarily reflected a reduction in heavy maintenance expense, a decrease in aircraft rent and depreciation, and growth in CMI cargo flying. Charter contribution during the period was primarily driven by a decrease in commercial cargo yields and lower 747 freighter utilization. This was partially offset by increased passenger and cargo flying for the military, a reduction in heavy maintenance expense, and lower aircraft rent and depreciation. In dry leasing, the change in contribution was similar to the change in revenue primarily driven by the scheduled return of the 777 freighter partially offset by lower interest expense and lower depreciation.
Turning to Slide 10, our net leverage ratio moved a bit lower in the fourth quarter as we continue to make debt payments. We ended the year at 4.4 times. We look for an improvement by the end of 2020 as we increased our cash balance and continue to make debt payments of approximately $70 million per quarter. We don't have any firm aircraft purchase commitments and we remain committed to a strong balance sheet. Earlier this month, we extended dry leases with a key customer for two 777 freighters, each for a period of 10 years from the end of the existing leases. In connection with the lease extensions, we refinanced two secured loans totaling $126 million on the aircraft that have balloon payments of $112 million due later in 2020 with two new 10-year term loans with fixed coupon rates averaging less than 3.3%. Now I'd like to turn it back to John.
John W. Dietrich -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Thank you. Spencer. Moving to Slide 11, I would like to revisit the themes that I started with today. Air freight is and will continue to be a long-term growth industry that is a critical part of the global supply chain. Atlas is well-positioned with a great fleet of aircraft and long list of marquee customers. As we move the business forward, we are adjusting our business to manage our costs and best align our resources with our strategic priorities again, with a focus on growth customers and those opportunities that generate the best returns and subject to some of the uncertainties and potential opportunities we've talked about, we anticipate that our financial performance in 2020 will be an improvement over 2019. With that operator, may we have our first question.
Questions and Answers:
Operator
[Operator Instructions] Your first question comes from Bob Labick with CJS Securities. Your line is open.
Lege Agoda -- CJS Securities -- Analyst
Hi, it's actually Lege Agoda [Phonetic] for Bob this morning, good morning.
John W. Dietrich -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Hi Lee.
Lege Agoda -- CJS Securities -- Analyst
So just starting with the fleet changes, can you give us some more color around the BCFs that you're retiring or parking and then the selling of the three non-essential aircraft from the standpoint of expected proceeds, potential uses of proceeds and things like that.
John W. Dietrich -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Sure, I'll start with the 747 parking of the converted freighters. As we talked about throughout the latter part of last year, demand has been softer and when in that environment, it's usually the least efficient aircraft logically that get parked first and frankly the demand has not been there for those aircraft. So we elected for the 747 converted freighter to be temporarily parked as we manage through the current period. They are available to us with appropriate lead times to return back to service, but they are generally because they are converted freighters, they're generally heavier, less efficient, more fuel burn, no nose load capability than the 747-400s. So that's kind of the reason behind the parking of those aircraft. With regard to the other -- what we describe as non-essential aircraft, we believe the market was right to monetize some of those aircraft and and collect the cash. We got [Phonetic] fair returns. We're pleased with the results of those disposition of assets and we look forward to some of our future investing activities. Spencer?
Spencer Schwartz -- Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
And Lege [Phonetic], this is Spencer, I'll just add that as far as use of proceeds, we intend to use those proceeds to shore up our balance sheet and to continue to focus on trying to lower our net leverage ratio.
Lege Agoda -- CJS Securities -- Analyst
Okay and then just a follow-up in terms of other opportunities, you have to either reduce costs, increase margins things of that nature without incremental aircraft additions.
John W. Dietrich -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Sure, we're looking at every aspect of the business. It includes optimizing things like our crew scheduling and bidding practices, leveraging technology to make us more efficient, updating and streamlining our heavy maintenance tasks. These cash [Phonetic] cards develop over time and we review them from time to time whether that work is required or not and there are ways to streamline those maintenance events to make it more efficient and less expensive and some of the other things you'd expect in a softer market, reducing non-essential travel, canceling certain conferences or meetings that can otherwise be leveraged through webcast, appropriately managing our headcount and the kind of other things you'd expect limiting outside services and contractors and it really runs the whole gamut of the whole organization contributing to keep our costs under control.
Lege Agoda -- CJS Securities -- Analyst
Great. I will hop back in queue, thanks.
John W. Dietrich -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Thanks, Lee.
Operator
Your next question comes from Helane Becker with Cowen. Your line is open.
Helane Becker -- Cowen and Company -- Analyst
Hi, thank you very much operator and for John, welcome on board, it's different for you now, right, instead of being just a listener, you get to participate more aggressively.
John W. Dietrich -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Yes, indeed, Helane.
Helane Becker -- Cowen and Company -- Analyst
So I'll try to not be so mean to you for your first conference call, but this is one of my questions, would your pilots agree that you're doing everything possible to get that agreement negotiated and that you're just waiting on them to provide you with stuff to move it forward?
John W. Dietrich -- President and Chief Executive Officer
I think many would agree, some may not. I think really where the proof lies is in the facts of what we're seeking to do. We announced our merger with Southern Air back in 2016 and since then, we have taken all steps to move this process forward. Fortunately for us, the two CBAs have pretty explicit provisions as to what is called for in the event of a merger and that process we've described in prior calls, requires the union to do certain things including giving us the integrated seniority list and that triggers a defined period of time of bargaining after which any unresolved issues should go to arbitration, if there are any unresolved issues, but to your question, the union leaders particularly have steadfastly refused to honor those terms, which has forced us to seek legal intervention. So while that has taken time, it does, in my opinion, fit into the bucket of us doing everything possible because we believe and the contract to provide an orderly, timely process to get this resolved. Nonetheless and notwithstanding some of the legal wrangling, you know, we continue to bargain. We have brought in, at the union's request, a third-party professional negotiator that both parties know and respect to help us close the gap. So I think from that standpoint, they would also view us as working together to make progress together because that's what it's going to require and so, yeah, I think it would be if you were to ask an individual crew member, you'd get mixed results, but we truly believe we're pressing as quickly as we can. Notably, the things I identified fit into the category of things we do require to make further progress. We are waiting on a comprehensive proposal. We're at that point in the bargaining where every section does have economic consequences. So we need to know what the total ask is as we allocate where the funds are best applied and we need the seniority list that even if we were to agree to a CBA, it really can't be implemented until we have the seniority list. So that's why we identify that the union has some responsibilities in this as well. So hopefully that answered your question.
Helane Becker -- Cowen and Company -- Analyst
Yeah, that's very good. Thank you very much, I appreciate that. My other question is with respect to what we're seeing in rates. So we've seen rates out of Asia double, you know, over the past couple of weeks because there's no belly space, there's no container shipping and obviously if there is any manufacturing, it has to go on air and I'm just kind of wondering if there are companies, I guess shippers that are contacting you to start reserving space for March, April and May, especially March and April as manufacturing starts to eventually ramp back up in China.
John W. Dietrich -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Absolutely, we're getting a lot of calls with some very experienced and knowledgeable shippers, freight forwarders, brokers who are anticipating while none of us knows for sure what's going to happen. There is a lot of uncertainty, but what we do know and with really the support of all the senior officials and government who are committed to keeping goods moving in the supply chains moving, it's going to return and we've been through crisis maybe not exactly like this before, but the kind of activity you're talking about is absolutely happening.
Helane Becker -- Cowen and Company -- Analyst
Okay and then just one really easy question. The 123 aircraft in the chart, does that include the four parked aircraft?
John W. Dietrich -- President and Chief Executive Officer
It does.
Helane Becker -- Cowen and Company -- Analyst
Okay, great, thanks very much guys.
John W. Dietrich -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Thank you, Helane.
Spencer Schwartz -- Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Thank you, Helane.
Operator
Your next question comes from Scott Group with Wolfe Research. Your line is open.
Scott Group -- Wolfe Research -- Analyst
Hey, thanks. Good morning, guys. So I just wanted to follow-up on Helane's coronavirus question. So can you just be clear like what have you assumed in the guidance, a net positive or negative in the first quarter and the year. I know Helane talked about rates doubling, is that in fact what you are seeing and then are there any limits we should be thinking about in terms of the number of charter flights you can actually fly?
Spencer Schwartz -- Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
I'll take the first part of that, Scott, it's Spencer. So I mean thus far, the coronavirus impact has been a negative one as you would imagine with Lunar New Year extended, factory workers not being able to get into the factories and so forth. So we've had flight cancellations, we've also had crew members who we were not able to get into position because the passenger airlines weren't operating appropriately. As Helane indicated, that really is starting to change quite dramatically now and now we're starting to really see the tremendous demand and the increase in yields and the factories to get back to work this week. Some of them not on full power. We expect that to continue to change and they will get on full power over the next -- we think about a week or week and a half. And so there is really going to be this kind of anticipated surge. So it's as John said earlier, our view is evolving. Right now, we've had some cancellations and negatives with regard to this. We expect that we are then going to have quite some positives and both of those are kind of built into our outlook, but again, as John said, it really is an evolving view given the uncertainties and then I'll let John address the rest of it.
John W. Dietrich -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Yeah and as I mentioned in my remarks, we are really well-positioned to take advantage of that upside. Significantly, we worked together with the union to enter into an memorandum of understanding. We are taking volunteers for any flying in and out of China and working together with the union, we have implemented some programs including premium pay for those segments into and out of China and been working very cooperatively with the pilots and the entire team and the union leadership. So my shout out to them. And taking advantage, as Spencer mentioned, there have been some cancellations in the interim period, but also those voids have been picked up by some of the charter activity, which we expect to continue, if not accelerate, when the surge happens.
Scott Group -- Wolfe Research -- Analyst
Just so I understand, so like the -- I know you [Indecipherable] implied second quarter reflects a meaningful benefit from this or not. I guess it's just not clear to me.
Spencer Schwartz -- Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
It's still evolving, Scott. So it's hard to know exactly what is going to mean. So I think it's fair to say that there is potentially downside if things get worse or change and I think it's fair to say that there is potentially quite a bit of upside if there is the surge that we anticipate.
John W. Dietrich -- President and Chief Executive Officer
And I would add to that, we've been careful not to take on too much risk on the upside until we get more visibility and things materialize that we're anticipating.
Scott Group -- Wolfe Research -- Analyst
Okay, makes sense. Just on the writedown of the 400 fleet, just so I understand, was this the entire fleet that you wrote down or just the ones you're parking and the 400s that are coming out, were these in ACMI or charter?
Spencer Schwartz -- Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Sure, so Scott, it was the 747-400 freighter fleet. So it is the entire fleet. It's together as one sort of asset group which includes owned and leased airframes and engines, ratable [Phonetic] parts, leasehold improvements. So it was all of our 747-400 freighter fleet and sorry, did you have another part of the question that I missed?
Scott Group -- Wolfe Research -- Analyst
Well, just with the ones that are coming out that are getting parked, where those in ACMI or were those in charter?
Spencer Schwartz -- Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Oh right. They were in charter.
Scott Group -- Wolfe Research -- Analyst
Okay, do you think with the writedown of the whole 400 fleet, we should be thinking about kind of parking more of the pure factory freighters over time?
John W. Dietrich -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Scott, we're not anticipating that. In fact, the 747, as I mentioned, is still a great airplane with its nose loading capability, more tonnage, it's an aircraft of choice for the military as well and very attractive aircraft in our charter business. Again it's parking the least efficient aircraft during this period, which we expect to be temporary, but the 747 freighters -- 400s are here to stay.
Spencer Schwartz -- Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
And I would just add that we just placed a 744 [Phonetic] in an ACMI arrangement with a new customer just a few weeks ago. It's an aircraft that's still in good demand.
Scott Group -- Wolfe Research -- Analyst
Okay. Last one, just real quick, the rent refund, how much in '20 in the guidance versus '19 and thanks for the time.
Spencer Schwartz -- Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Thank you, Scott. So we haven't said exactly how much that's going to be in '20. In '18, we had about $12.4 million; in '19, we had $27.6 million and then in 2020, we haven't yet said what that is, but something along those lines and we'll announce it as the year progresses.
Scott Group -- Wolfe Research -- Analyst
Thank you.
Spencer Schwartz -- Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Thank you.
Operator
Your next question comes from Chris Stathoulopoulos with Susquehanna. Your line is open.
Chris Stathoulopoulos -- Susquehanna -- Analyst
Good morning, thanks for taking my question. So if belly capacity to Mainland China and Hong Kong comes back in the say mid-2Q, how should we think about commercial charter or more specifically the overall supply demand balance for freighters. A few months ago before the virus, I got the sense that you know and I think you had suggested that some freighters might have to be parked and I know that there is a need for capacity into China but given how fluid the situation is, I'm curious what are you seeing in the market ex this region?
John W. Dietrich -- President and Chief Executive Officer
So my view on that, Chris, is that even when the commercial belly capacity comes in to the marketplace, there is still going to be a tremendous amount of demand given the significant setback that manufacturing has experienced and it's not going to change overnight when some of the commercial carriers resume service and looking ahead, I don't have all of the dates, but some of the commercial carriers have pushed into April before they'll resume service. So you're talking about that period of time before it even returns and that pent-up demand potentially building which favors main deck freighters. So while eventually it will balance and goods that have moved by surface will move by air -- previously moved by surface just because of the urgency to go to market. So we think that once the surge occurs, it's going to be a while and that the passenger belly capacity is not going to move the needle that much for a period of time.
Chris Stathoulopoulos -- Susquehanna -- Analyst
Okay, so we shouldn't necessarily think that your current block hour and EBITDA guide is anchored to whenever American, Delta and they kind of put capacity back online. It sounds like you're expecting a sort of a peak to follow [Phonetic] whenever that happens.
John W. Dietrich -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Yeah, my view is that forecast is independent of the commercial carriers and the belly capacity.
Chris Stathoulopoulos -- Susquehanna -- Analyst
Okay and then could you remind us where you are with respect to the Amazon warrants, specifically the 2016 tranche, the strike price and whether any have been exercised and when that tranche expires? Thanks.
Spencer Schwartz -- Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Sure, Chris. None of those warrants have expired, sorry -- yeah, none of them have expired, none of them have exercised. So we had a few different tranches. Warrant A and B had a strike price of $37.50 and Warrant C has a strike price of $52.90 and again, none of those have yet been exercised.
Chris Stathoulopoulos -- Susquehanna -- Analyst
Thank you.
Spencer Schwartz -- Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Thank you.
Operator
[Operator Instructions] Your next question comes from David Ross with Stifel. Your line is open.
David Ross -- Stifel -- Analyst
Yes, good morning gentlemen. Question on the labor side of things again. You mentioned in the fourth quarter there was labor-related service disruptions. It's been highlighted throughout the past year or so, was it any less in 4Q '19 than in prior quarters and how do you see that trending into 2020?
John W. Dietrich -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Yeah, it was less in the fourth quarter for a combination of factors including some of the steps that we took in management to ensure we had enough crews out in the workplace. For example, we planned for peak season to have crews available -- more crews available. They've for the most part completed vacation and training. So we have more crews generally available by design as well as there is instances where we'll close down the school house where we have qualified pilots who serve as instructors out on the line as additional coverage and frankly, the positive momentum with the labor discussions, our pilots stepped up and delivered the service that our customers come to expect and the reference in my remarks about the service disruptions are related to just generally in the labor environment we're in, we still see some instances of what we believe are labor-related service disruptions. So that hasn't gone away entirely, but the overwhelming majority of our pilots are stepping up and serving our customers and that's why it's not as much of a focus in the fourth quarter as it was in previous quarters.
David Ross -- Stifel -- Analyst
And going into 2020, do you expect this to be highlighted in the quarterly earnings again or is it close to minimal?
John W. Dietrich -- President and Chief Executive Officer
We're optimistic, we're focused on getting to a deal with our pilots. We want to get them to contract. The union has some responsibilities here as well as I've mentioned. Unfortunately, it's taken longer because of the litigations and the arbitrations that we've had to go through, but my view is our pilots want to go to work, they want to serve our customers and they want to do their jobs and they want their contract. So if we keep moving in that direction, which we have been, I'm optimistic we're going to continue to see improvements and I'm certainly hopeful of that.
David Ross -- Stifel -- Analyst
And I know you can't control what the union does, but do you have a goal for timing of resolution to the labor contract?
John W. Dietrich -- President and Chief Executive Officer
As soon as possible and I think there are levers that both sides could pull to make that happen. It's not going to happen overnight because there's still a lot to discuss, but there is nothing that prevents us from continuing to kind of accelerate the time periods. One of the things that I've shared publicly with the union, the current contract provisions call for the union to tender us the seniority list and after which there is a period of nine months of bargaining, after which any unresolved issues go to binding arbitration. As I mentioned, we also have a majority of these sections already agreed. That nine months contemplates that you're starting from scratch, from zero and we're not. So there are opportunities to accelerate if we can, but our view is that unless and until we get the seniority list and the integrated -- excuse me, the seniority list and the comprehensive economic proposal, it's difficult to make rapid progress. So both sides have a responsibility to move this forward.
David Ross -- Stifel -- Analyst
And then just one follow-up. I think you said earlier that there is a certain lead time to get the parked 747s back into service. What is that general lead time if you see the demand out there?
John W. Dietrich -- President and Chief Executive Officer
It could range anywhere from a week to 45 days depending on the status of the aircraft, depending [Phonetic] on the status of the engines, when it's due for certain maintenance. There is no single answer to that, but there are a couple of aircraft that we would hold out that could move pretty quickly back online if we need them and probably the other two, a little bit more lead time in that 30-day to 45-day time period.
David Ross -- Stifel -- Analyst
Thank you.
John W. Dietrich -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Thank you.
Operator
There are no further questions at this time. I turn the call back to presenters for any closing remarks.
John W. Dietrich -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Great, thank you operator. Spencer and I would like to thank all of you for your interest in Atlas Air Worldwide. We appreciate you sharing your time with us today and we look forward to speaking with you all again soon. Thank you very much. [Operator Closing Remarks]
Duration: 41 minutes
Call participants:
Edward J. McGarvey -- Vice President, Treasurer
John W. Dietrich -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Spencer Schwartz -- Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Lege Agoda -- CJS Securities -- Analyst
Helane Becker -- Cowen and Company -- Analyst
Scott Group -- Wolfe Research -- Analyst
Chris Stathoulopoulos -- Susquehanna -- Analyst
David Ross -- Stifel -- Analyst
