Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte SAB de CV

BMV:OMAB

Greetings, and welcome to Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte Alma Fourth Quarter 2023 Earnings Conference Call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. A question-and-answer session will follow the formal presentation. [Operator Instructions]. It is now my pleasure to introduce your host, Emmanuel Camacho, Investor Relations Officer. Thank you. You may begin.

Thank you, Doug, and hello, everyone. Welcome to OMA's Fourth Quarter 2023 Earnings Conference Call. We're delighted to have you join us today as we discuss our company's performance and financial results for the past quarter. Participating today are CEO, Ricardo Duenas; and CFO, Ruffo Perez del Castillo.Please be reminded that certain statements made during the course of our discussion today may constitute forward-looking statements, which are based on current management expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including factors that may be beyond our control. And with that, I'll turn the call over to Ricardo Duenas for his opening remarks.

Thank you, Emmanuel. Good morning, everyone. We appreciate your presence on this call today. This morning, Ruffo and I will review our annual operational and financial results, and then we will be pleased to answer your questions.I will start by discussing our full year 2023 highlights, and then I will move on to our main fourth quarter results. OMA achieved another exceptional financial and operational performance setting new records for the full year 2023. We achieved record-breaking results in passenger traffic revenues, adjusted EBITDA with an impressive adjusted EBITDA margin of 78.4% and then consolidated net income. Our full year performance was propelled by a robust increase in both aeronautical and non-aeronautical revenues, underpinned by our successful cost control strategy.During 2023, the airport that contributed most to the growth of passenger traffic was Monterrey, which grew by almost 22% during the year. The performance of passenger traffic from Monterrey to the metropolitan area of Mexico City, including Mexico City AIFA and Toluca Airport is notable. During the year, traffic in the market represented 15% of our total passenger traffic and grew collectively by almost 600,000 passengers, an increase of 18% as compared to 2022. It is also important to highlight the positive performance on routes from Monterrey to Queretaro, Cancun, Guadalajara, Houston and Tijuana, which collectively add almost 700,000 passengers in the year and grew by 19%.As a result of our performance, 12-month passenger traffic stood at a new record level of 26.8 million passengers, which represents a 15% growth as compared to 2022. Regarding our financial performance, aeronautical and non-aeronautical revenues reached again record levels in 2023, growing 27% and 18%, respectively, versus 2022.As a result, our adjusted EBITDA for the year was MXN 9.1 billion, an increase of 28%, and we set a new record of our adjusted EBITDA margin at 78.4%. Consolidated net income for the year reached a record of MXN 5 billion, and increased by 28% compared to 2022. In reviewing the significant events of the past year, it is true that we face both challenges and opportunities. We have remained consistent in our commitment to transparency, sustainability and operational excellence, reflecting our dedication to generating long-term shareholder value.Throughout 2023, we achieved notable milestones, including the opening in June of Wing 1 in the Monterrey Airport as part of the major expansion project to enhance our capacity to serve passengers and accommodate growth in the airport. We also made significant investments in improving and expanding our diversification activities, such as the completion of the remodeling of the NH Terminal 2 Hotel at Mexico City Airport and the construction of 6 industrial warehouses at our industrial park in Monterrey, of which we have completed 2.In addition, we opened 3 new OMA Premium Lounge facilities at Tampico, Reynosa and Durango Airports. Furthermore, in 2023, we effectively managed regulatory adjustments as shown by our proactive approach and response to changes in our basis for tariff regulation. Despite challenges such as Hurricane Otis that impacted Acapulco Airport, we demonstrated agility and determination ensuring minimal disruption to our operations.As we move forward, we remain focused on delivering value to our shareholders while maintaining our commitment to sustainability and operational excellence. We are aware of the challenges posed by the capacity reductions in aircraft due to the Pratt & Whitney engine recall program affecting 2 of the most relevant Mexican airlines. However, opportunities persist, particularly in terms of near shoring in Northern Mexico and the potential for increased commercial revenue per passenger.I will now move on to our fourth quarter performance. OMA delivered another strong financial operational performance in the fourth quarter of 2023. Adjusted EBITDA grew 16% in the quarter to MXN 2.3 billion and adjusted EBITDA margin reached 77.7%, largely as a result of the increase in both aeronautical and non-aeronautical revenues as well as our continuous cost efficiencies. In the fourth quarter, OMA's passenger traffic reached 6.8 million, an increase of 5.2% versus the fourth quarter of '22.It is worth noting that excluding Acapulco, passenger growth in the quarter was 7.1%. Outstanding results in the quarter were guided by the performance in Monterrey, which contributed with 96% of OMA's total passenger growth as compared to the fourth quarter of '22. The routes from Monterrey that experienced the highest growth in terms of passenger volume were to Queretaro, Guanajuato, Tijuana, Mexicali Tapachula, Toluca and Cancun, which collectively accounted to 47% of the traffic growth during the quarter and grew by 20%, primarily as a result of the strong passenger traffic performance our aeronautical revenues grew by 13% in the quarter to MXN 2.2 billion.Commercial revenues increased 14% as compared to the fourth quarter of '22, driven by restaurants, parking and VIP lounges. The restaurant line-item benefit from the opening of new food and beverage shops across our airports as we have sought to optimize and increase the revenues from leased commercial space as well as from participation of sales. Additionally, as part of our strategy to directly operate and renovate our existing on OMA Premium Lounge facilities, we have also increased the number of lounges available at our airports.In the fourth quarter of '23, revenues benefit from 3 openings that occurred during the year. Today, we operate 12 lounges in 10 of our airports. Occupancy rate for commercial space stood at 95% at the end of the quarter. On the diversification front, revenues increased 15%. OMA cargo contributed most to this growth, mainly as a result of an increase in the number of tonnage handled, particularly for service related to storage and custody in both ground and air import cargo.In the fourth quarter of '23, occupancy rate of our Terminal 2 NH was 92%, while the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel had an occupancy rate of 68%. Regarding the Industrial Park in Monterrey, we have initiated the construction of 2 new warehouses for 6,000 and 9,000 square meters, respectively. These warehouses are projected to begin generating revenues in the second half of '24. With the addition of these warehouses, the lease area will expand to approximately 131,000 square meters, representing 95% of the total leasable capacity of the industrial park.On the capital expenditure front, total investments in the quarter, including MDP investments, major maintenance strategic investments were MXN 1 billion. During the quarter, some of the most relevant projects we are working on are the expansion or remodeling of the Monterrey Airport Terminal A building as well as the Ciudad Juárez, Torreon Culiacan and Durango terminal buildings. Reconfiguration of the Master Plan terminal buildings, major rehabilitation and reconfiguration of platforms and taxi ways in several airports and construction of 4 industrial warehouses.Finally, I'm delighted to share that we have achieved airport carbon accreditation level 2 certification in our 13 airports. This achievement signifies not only our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint, but also aligning with global sustainability goals and maintaining our role at either in the aviation industry efforts to combat climate change. I would now like to turn the call over to Ruffo Perez del, who will discuss our financial highlights for the quarter.

Thank you, Ricardo, and good morning, everyone. I will briefly review our financial results for the quarter, and then we will open the call for your questions.Turning to OMA's fourth quarter financial results. Analytical revenues increased 13.4% relative to 4Q '22 driven primarily by the 5.2% increase in passenger traffic and higher revenue per passenger. OMA's revenues increased 13.9% with commercial revenues increasing 14.3%, and the [indiscernible] with the highest growth were restaurants, car parking, VIP lounges and retail.Restaurants rose 38%, mainly due to the opening of spaces that Ricardo mentioned earlier, in the Monterrey and Tampico airports as well as higher revenue sharing. Parking increased 10.4% as a result of an increase in passengers and higher penetration in Monterrey, Culiacan, San Luis Potosi and Torreon Airports. VIP lounges increased 25.6% as a result of the increase in passenger traffic and the opening of the Durango launch during the quarter as well as the Tampico launch opened in May of 2023 and the Reynosa 1 opened in August of 2023.Diversification activities increased 14.9%, mainly due to higher revenues from OMA Carga hotel services. Total aeronautical and non-aeronautical revenues grew 13.5% to MXN 2.9 billion in the quarter. Construction revenues amounted to MXN 805 million in the fourth quarter, a decrease of 27% relative to the same quarter of last year as a result of lower MDP investments in the quarter. The cost of airport services and G&A expense remained flat relative to the fourth quarter of '22. We had a decline in payroll which decreased 10%, which was offset by an increase in other cost and expenses as a result primarily of higher information technology expenses in the quarter.Also, contracted services grew 13.7% due to the beginning of operations of Wing 1 in the Monterrey Airport and higher unit costs charged by third-party service suppliers for cleaning and other services. Major maintenance provision was MXN 95 million as compared to MXN 41 million last year. OMA's fourth quarter adjusted EBITDA was MXN 2.3 billion and the adjusted EBITDA margin reached 77.7%. Our financing expense was MXN 224 million, mainly due to a higher interest expense as a result of additional debt issuance during 2023 and the higher average cost of debt.Consolidated net income was MXN 1.3 billion in the quarter, an increase of 11% versus 4Q '22. Turning to our cash position. Cash generated from operating activities in the fourth quarter amounted to MXN 1.7 billion, and cash at the end of the quarter stood at MXN 2.6 billion. At the end of the quarter, total debt amounted to MXN 10.7 billion, and we ended the quarter with a healthy net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio of 0.9x. This concludes our prepared remarks. Doug, please open the call for your questions.

Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, at this time, we will be conducting a question-and-answer session. [Operator Instructions]. Our first question comes from the line of Rodolfo Ramos with Bradesco BBI.

Two questions on my side. The first one is more of a conceptual one. I'm just trying to understand what to expect from your MDP negotiation with this new tariff regulation and now having seen how [ VINCI ] MDP concluded? I mean do you expect that in given your circumstances and your situation that a similar CapEx increase would have to happen for you to see a tariff adjustment of that magnitude and whether you see the CapEx needs in your airports in the current airport infrastructure that you currently have. So that's my first question. I have a second one. I don't know if I should post both or?

Yes, please.

Okay. The second one is on this private Monterrey northern airport, not the OMA and the military intentions to operate commercial operations there. So we had a conversation with the operations staff there and they believe they can receive large narrow-body aircraft and that the approach routes don't necessarily conflict with your airport when it will certainly need investments on the terminal building side and a lot of the infrastructure investments. But what is your view on this? And how could it impact your Monterrey airport? And if given the time line, I don't know if this is something that perhaps will happen this year, but do you see you incorporating this in the potential impact of this on your MDP.

Thank you, Rodolfo, starting with the second part of the question. There's nothing official. That hasn't been an announcement. Most of the headlines actually with one headline at the end of the year was in the context of Mexicana. But there's no official announcement of a new airport being constructed. As you know, the Aeroportuario del Norte has been there for decades. It has been for private operations that was taken now by Serena. They would have to extend the runway. They would have to build a new terminal. They would have to acquire additional land. There's no budget allocation for an airport at this point in time. So we will be monitoring the situation, but there's nothing official on that front. Now the regulatory model allows you to obviously adjust your tariffs accordingly to the traffic that you would eventually lose, so that financial returns remain the same, but it's too early to assess. And regarding the MDP, we're still working. It's a 2 week -- as you know, we're presenting our MDP at the end of next year. So we have still 2 years work ahead. We're looking for an optimized CapEx. We're looking for efficiencies. The fact that VINCI is working very closely with us, he is going to help us have a very optimized MDP. But we're still working on it, it's too early to give some indication of where we believe it's going to end.

Our next question comes from the line of Guilherme Mendes with JPMorgan.

My first question is on the traffic front. So taking into account the Pratt & Whitney impact on the low-cost cares in Mexico, what is your current base case for traffic performance domestically, internationally during 2024? And the second question is related to the previous one in terms of tariffs. So we saw the discounts implemented during the fourth quarter and the understand is there shouldn't be any price increase in real terms until the next MDP? Just wanted to make clear that it is the case or if you have room to get closer to the 100% level of your current MDP before 2025. Thank you.

With respect to tariffs in 10 of our airports in the passenger charge, we implemented discounts starting November the first for November and December. In January, we applied inflationary increases to all of our tariffs, including those that were discounted. And we will also apply inflationary increases in January of 2025. And then we'll have to see what the impact is of the MDP negotiation, and we'll have to adjust our charges accordingly based on that outcome. With respect to traffic performance for 2024, yes, to our main airlines are subject to the recourse of Pratt & Whitney. I think based on what we know at this time, and we have a little visibility of what the recall calendar is going to be for the rest of the year, at this time, we would be expecting a flattish traffic as compared to last year.

Our next question comes from the line of Filipe Nielsen with Citi.

The first one was already answered. I'll keep only on the second one. To what extent do you see the government's new airline or new foreign airlines starting to service your airport installations? And how do you see that impacting your traffic going forward?

Filipe, at this time, the impact has been marginal. There are destinations served by Mexican planes to Acapulco, Zihuatanejo, Monterrey and one other destination. It started operating in the 26th of December. So last quarter, there were probably less than 500 passengers in total and the general recovery, the numbers are still not significant. But based on their plans for growth and acquisition of new planes, it could become a relevant player down the road. But at this time, it's a little contribution to our operations.

Our next question comes from the line of Andressa Varotto with UBS.

So my first question is just a follow-up on the tariffs. So you mentioned that you've implemented fully already the tour discounts in the fourth quarter. So just trying to understand if the tariffs that we saw in the first quarter already considers the discount for the whole quarter. And if you can assume just inflation from there. And my second question is regarding margins. I think that the company continues to show a positive efficiency gains and cost controls. What will be your margin expectations for 2024?

Regarding tariffs, discounts were implemented in November and December and in January, on the level of the discounted tariffs, we applied the inflationary increases.

The discounts were in 10 or 13 airports. So, it was a 10% discount. If you take away the 3 airports around an 8.9% for the whole OMA, and we added inflation starting January 1.

And regarding margin, I think based on our current expectation of traffic and the inflationary increases that Ricardo just mentioned applied starting January and the cost inflation pressures as well, we don't see an expansion opportunity for next year. And obviously, there will also be an impact related to the increased concession tax.

Our next question comes from the line of Pablo Ricalde with Santander.

I have 2 questions. The first one is on dividends. I don't know if you can provide some color on what are you expecting for dividends this year? And the second one is on labor costs. We saw a sharp decrease in labor cost. I know there was a provision last year, but just to understand how should we see labor costs going forward?

So with respect to dividends, we are still assessing the right amount considering the capacity and traffic outlook for the year, we still don't have a proposal, but that should be presented for soon at the end of March when we call for the shareholders' meeting for April. And with respect to labor costs, the levels that you see in the fourth quarter are reflective of the current levels that we are incurring and on top of that, you'll have to add wage adjustments for 2024.

Our next question comes from the line of Isabela Salazar with GBM.

I actually have 2. The first one is, I was wondering if you could shed some light on which airports you applied the 10% discount and from this discount, what is the current percentage of the maximum tariff that you are charging derived from that? And the second question is, if you have any new initiatives regarding your commercial segment as new projects in the horizon or anything new?

Can you repeat some your first question? We were not able to hear completely.

It looks like we lost her. So, the next question comes from the line of Gabriel Himelfarb with Scotiabank.

Quick question, I think it is a follow-up question about [indiscernible].

Gabriel we cannot hear you clearly would it possible if you can get closer to a microphone.

[indiscernible]

No.

We lost Gabriel. Our next question comes from the line of Fernanda Recchia with BTG Pactual.

My question is more regarding the ASM airport. We know that there have been some change in terms of the loss of the airlines. Also, there were some change regarding the passenger fee. So just wondering how do you see all these changes that have been going on at the airport impacting your airport? That's it from my side.

Which airport are you talking about Fernanda?

The Mexico City International Airport.

Yes. So, as you know starting in January of this this year hourly operations were reduced from 53 to 42 per hour and that has cost airlines to seek alternative routes. The Mexico City airport announced that they have shown a decline of 11% in the January numbers. Actually, in the routes for OMA it's about 9% decline in the month of January. And if you include the effects, the growth of Toluca and AIFA the total metropolitan market for January was about a 2% reduction in January so most of the reduction in the capacity of Mexico City is being captured either by Toluca and the AIFA and we also should expect -- although it's difficult to measure it some traffic that will be diverted to our Monterrey hub as well.

You're also starting to see an increase in load factors in the Mexico City Airport.

It's clear. And if I may, just a follow-up on the traffic projections. You mentioned that you're expecting a flattish figure for this year. But just wondering how do you see the normalization of Acapulco figures? When should we expect the airport to become positive in terms of growth trend?

We're currently at Acapulco operating around 50% of the levels of pre-pandemic. The recovery is really going to depend on the recovery of the city, which is slightly out of our control. The airport is already fully operational. We're still some works in the next couple of months, but we're already expecting some international flights coming in May and in June. But we'll have to see how the recovery of the city behaves.

Our next question comes from the line of Federico Galassi with TRG.

Two questions, quick questions more related with Monterrey. The first one is you continue to have at least with the numbers of November, December and January, well above the media of the other airports in Mexico.

We lost you also Federico.

Federico, could you repeat your question?

Now, your view in Monterrey airport after the numbers that you issued in December and January for the rest of the year, in particular, with the situation of Viva when we see the international traffic continued to grow at double digits.

So I think Monterrey Airport for 2024 will continue to be the driver of our results. Certainly, we see a lot of the effects of the near-shoring investment as underlying demand supporting long-term growth, certainly in the short run, capacity will have to take into consideration impact that may be the result of the P&W recall. But we do believe that Monterrey will continue to be above average the rest of our airports for this year.

Okay. And the second question in Monterrey, after all the new space that you are increasing the commercial space for this year and the change in cargo in particular. What do you expect for this year in the commercial side, again, in Monterrey in particular?

So in the commercial side, we'll see the benefit of the new spaces that are associated to the Wing 1, which was opened in June. So, this year, we'll have a full year effect on those new outlets. And also, as part of our commercial strategy, and not only generally for OMA not just for Monterrey, we are doing tenders of outlets that come to expiration and negotiate them in better commercial terms or with a better proportion of participation of sales. So, we are confident that the commercial revenue per pack will continue to grow this year. And particularly in the case of Monterrey, we'll see the benefit of the new areas that we are still under construction, probably starting to reflect until mid-2025 or beginning of 2016.

And in Carga, you finish all the change -- the remodelation that you build and it's working in place that is the reason of the result?

We finished the expansion of the one of the bonded warehouses in Monterrey, we have developed for this year a plan to target aggressively new clients and new cargo airlines to get to Monterrey. So yes, we are confident that Monterrey will also have growth in OMA Carga, not to the levels of the previous years, but still in the positive side.

Our next question comes from the line of Isabela Salazar with GBM.

Hello can you hear me? I am sorry my call fell through.

Yes we can hear you.

Perfect. So my question is if you could please shed some light on which airports you apply to 10% to a discount in introduced in November and from that discount, what is the current percentage of the maximum tariff that you are charging derived from that?

Sure. So all of the airports had they can accept for 3 airports and those 3 airports were Mazatlan, Zihuatanejo and Zacatecas. And for the full year of 2023, we ended at 97.5% of maximum tariff compliance for the whole of OMA.

There are no further questions in the queue. I'd like to hand the call back to management for closing remarks.

We would like to thank everyone for participating today in today's call. We appreciate your insightful questions, engagement and continued support. Ruffo, Emmanuel and I are always available should you have any further enquiries or require additional information. Thank you, once again, and have a great day.

Ladies and gentlemen, this does conclude today's teleconference. Thank you for your participation. You may disconnect your lines at this time, and have a wonderful day.