EXHIBIT 99.1

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The #1 Airborne Healthcare Company
 
Air Methods Reports 1Q2008 Results and 2Q2008 Update
Fully-Diluted Earnings Per-Share of $0.18 In Line with Previously Announced Expectations

DENVER, CO., May 8, 2008 -- Air Methods Corporation (NasdaqGS: AIRM), the largest air medical transportation company in the world, reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2008 and provided an update on April 2008 flight volumes.  For the quarter, revenue increased 45.0% to $118.1 million from $81.5 million in the year-ago quarter.  Net income for the first quarter of 2008 was $2.3 million or $0.18 per diluted share, compared with net income of $3.7 million or $0.30 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2007.  Current quarter net income includes an after-tax gain of $0.8 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, generated from disposition of aircraft.
 
As previously announced, the decrease in net income was primarily attributed to decreases in community-based patient transports as a result of increased weather cancellations, and higher than anticipated maintenance and fuel expenditures.  Community-based patient transports for bases in operation greater than one year (Same-Base Transports) decreased by 577 transports, while weather cancellations for these same bases increased by 636, as compared with the prior-year quarter.  Same-Base Transports and weather cancellations exclude bases acquired from CJ Systems Aviation Group, Inc. (CJ) effective October 1, 2007.  Aircraft maintenance expense during the quarter, excluding aircraft acquired in the CJ acquisition and those added after March 31, 2007, increased 35.7% or $4.0 million as compared with the prior-year quarter.  Fuel expense per flight hour increased 44%, or approximately $1.1 million, as compared with the prior-year period.
 
Net revenue per community-based transport increased 2.8% from $6,443 in the prior-year quarter to $6,622 in the current-year quarter.  The current-year quarterly revenue per transport was slightly lower than anticipated due to inherent fluctuations in payer mix and differences between actual collections and previous estimates.  Total community-based patient transports were 10,570 in the current year quarter, compared to 8,284 in the first quarter of 2007.
 
For the first quarter, community-based revenue increased 29.8% to $69.3 million compared to $53.4 million in the prior year, while segment net income decreased 26.6% to $5.8 million from $7.9 million.  Hospital-based flight revenue increased 72.4% from $26.2 million to $45.2 million in the current-year period, while segment net income remained unchanged at $1.8 million for both current and prior periods.  The increase in revenue is primarily attributed to the acquisition of CJ, which occurred on October 1, 2007.  The decrease in segment net income for both divisions as a percentage of revenue is primarily attributed to the matters discussed above.
 
The Company also provided an update on April 2008 flight volume.  Total community-based transports were 3,722 during April 2008 compared with 3,071 in April 2007.  Same-Base Transports during the month of April decreased by 254 transports or 8.6% as compared with April 2007.  The decrease in transports was almost entirely attributed to an increase of 230 in weather cancellations for bases in operation greater than one year and excluding bases acquired from CJ.
 
Aaron Todd, CEO, stated, “As we had previously announced, the factors that affected our first quarter results are inherent within our operations.  Weather and maintenance fluctuations can vary widely from quarter-to-quarter and are not necessarily predictive of future quarters.  The variation in our community-based transport revenue is consistent with variations in recent quarters and is not attributed to any specific changes in reimbursement trends.  The increase in fuel prices does have direct relevance to future quarters.  As previously announced, the Company has increased its pricing for community-based patient transports by 7% effective May 1st to offset the expected impact of higher fuel prices.  The Company continues to expect healthy growth in year-over-year earnings per share dependent on more moderate weather cancellations and maintenance activities and consistent reimbursement trends for the remainder of the year.”

 
 

 

The Company will discuss these results in a conference call scheduled today at 4:15 p.m. Eastern.  Interested parties can access the call by dialing (888) 396-5640 (domestic) or (706) 643-0580 (international) or by accessing the web cast at www.airmethods.com. A replay of the call will be available at (800) 642-1687 (domestic) or (706) 645-9291 (international), access number 43095354, for 3 days following the call and the web cast can be accessed at www.airmethods.com for 30 days.
 
Air Methods Corporation (http://www.airmethods.com) is a leader in emergency air medical transportation and medical services. The Hospital Based Services Division is the largest provider of air medical transport services for hospitals. The Community Based Services Division is the largest community-based provider of air medical services. The Products Division specializes in the design and manufacture of aeromedical and aerospace technology. The Company's fleet of owned, leased or maintained aircraft features over 330 helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.

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Forward Looking Statements: This news release includes certain forward-looking statements, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, including but not limited to the integration of CJ into our existing operations, the size, structure and growth of the Company's air medical services and products markets; the collection rates for patient transports; the continuation and/or renewal of air medical service contracts; the acquisition of profitable Products Division contracts and other flight service operations; the successful expansion of the community-based operations; and other matters set forth in the Company's public filings.

 
CONTACTS:  Aaron D. Todd, Chief Executive Officer, (303) 792-7413 or Joe Dorame at Lytham Partners, LLC at (602) 889-9700. Please contact Christine Clarke at (303) 792-7579 to be included on the Company’s fax and/or mailing list.

 
– FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ATTACHED –

 
 

 

AIR METHODS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(Amounts in thousands)

   
March 31, 2008
   
December 31, 2007
 
             
             
ASSETS
           
             
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 12,510       5,134  
Trade receivables, net
    127,530       135,633  
Other current assets
    63,392       74,090  
                 
Total current assets
    203,432       214,857  
                 
Net property and equipment
    110,473       114,746  
Other assets, net
    42,704       39,949  
                 
Total assets
  $ 356,609       369,552  
                 
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
                 
Current liabilities:
               
Notes payable related to assets held for sale
  $ 12,549       24,203  
Current portion of indebtedness
    18,612       18,350  
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other
    57,104       59,546  
                 
Total current liabilities
    88,265       102,099  
                 
Long-term indebtedness
    74,829       76,751  
Other non-current liabilities
    48,108       48,682  
                 
Total liabilities
    211,202       227,532  
                 
Total stockholders' equity
    145,407       142,020  
                 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 356,609       369,552  

 
 

 

AIR METHODS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

   
Quarter Ended
 
   
March 31,
 
             
   
2008
   
2007
 
             
Revenue:
           
Flight operations
  $ 114,473       79,161  
Product operations
    3,626       2,297  
Total revenue
    118,099       81,458  
                 
Expenses:
               
Operating expenses
    91,979       58,493  
General and administrative
    17,146       12,151  
Depreciation and amortization
    4,098       3,411  
      113,223       74,055  
                 
Operating income
    4,876       7,403  
                 
Interest expense
    (1,567 )     (1,422 )
Other, net
    643       455  
                 
Income before income taxes
    3,952       6,436  
                 
Income tax expense
    (1,622 )     (2,738 )
                 
                 
Net income
  $ 2,330       3,698  
                 
Income per common share:
               
Basic
  $ 0.19       0.31  
Diluted
  $ 0.18       0.30  
                 
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic
    12,151,342       11,876,835  
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted
    12,623,358       12,362,198