Blade Air Mobility, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLDE, “Blade” or the “Company”), a technology-powered air mobility platform, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023.

“We are making exceptional progress on all fronts, resulting in our seventh consecutive quarter with financial results ahead of our expectations,” said Rob Wiesenthal, Blade’s Chief Executive Officer. “We continue to demonstrate our unique value proposition in Medical through the addition of new customers, while supporting added volume and transport distances amongst our existing customer base. In Passenger, our number one focus remains driving the business to profitability, providing our investors with an asset-light, manufacturer-agnostic play on urban air mobility that is without peer and well-positioned to generate free cash flow, while standing ready to benefit from broader adoption with the commercialization of Electric Vertical Aircraft (“EVA”).”

“We continue to demonstrate the leverage of our unique air mobility platform as year-over-year Flight Profit growth significantly exceeded the growth rate in Revenue and Adjusted Corporate Expense,” said Will Heyburn, Blade’s Chief Financial Officer. “We expect this trend to continue in the coming quarters, resulting in year-over-year Adjusted EBITDA improvement through the balance of the year. Our resilient, flexible and diversified business model, coupled with our strong liquidity position, puts us in a unique position to thrive in any macro environment, while preserving the majority of our capital for opportunistic acquisitions.”

“Heading into the busy summer season, we are pleased with our integration progress in Europe and are encouraged by the positive response from customers and partners in the region,” said Melissa Tomkiel, Blade’s President. “We continue to drive operational efficiencies across both our Passenger and Medical businesses, which will support our continued rapid growth, provide more redundant service for our customers and expand our Flight Profit margins.”

First Quarter Ended March 31, 2023 Financial Highlights

GAAP QUARTERLY FINANCIAL RESULTS
(in thousands except percentages, unaudited)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2023				2022			% Change
Revenue	$	45,271			$	26,630			70.0%
Cost of revenue		38,107				23,707			60.7%
Software development		1,123				835			34.5%
General and administrative		16,257				13,978			16.3%
Selling and marketing		2,611				1,800			45.1%
Total Operating Expenses		58,098				40,320			44.1%
Loss from operations		(12,827	)			(13,690	)		(6.3)%
Net loss	$	(10,192	)		$	(11,012	)		(7.4)%

 

NON-GAAP QUARTERLY FINANCIAL RESULTS
(in thousands except percentages, unaudited)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2023				2022			Change
GAAP Revenue	$	45,271			$	26,630			70.0%
GAAP Cost of revenue		38,107				23,707			60.7%
Flight Profit		7,164				2,923			145.1%
Flight Margin		15.8	%			11.0	%		+485bps
Adjusted Corporate Expense		14,888				10,650			39.8%
Adjusted Corporate Expense as a percentage of Revenue		32.9	%			40.0	%		-710bps
Adjusted EBITDA	$	(7,724	)		$	(7,727	)		—%
Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of Revenue		(17.1	)%			(29.0	)%		+1,190bps

• Total revenue increased 70.0% to $45.3 million in the current quarter versus $26.6 million in the prior year period. On a pro forma basis, assuming Blade had owned Blade Europe in the comparable prior year period, revenue for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023 would have increased approximately 43.0%⁽¹⁾ on a constant currency basis.
• Flight Profit⁽¹⁾ increased 145.1% to $7.2 million in the current quarter versus $2.9 million in the prior year period, driven by strong growth in our MediMobility Organ Transport business, growth in Blade Canada, and the contribution from our Blade Europe acquisitions.
• Flight Margin⁽¹⁾ improved to 15.8% in the current quarter from 11.0% in the prior year period, driven by improved profitability in Blade Canada, outsized growth in MediMobility Organ Transport, and the acquisition of Blade Europe, which has higher Flight Margins versus our historical company average, partially offset by the continued ramp of Blade Airport.
• Short Distance revenue increased 148.0% to $10.4 million in the current quarter versus $4.2 million in the prior year period. Growth was driven by our acquisition of Blade Europe, the continued rebound in passenger travel in Canada, and strong volume and pricing growth in our Blade Airport service. On a pro forma basis, assuming Blade had owned Blade Europe in the comparable prior year period, Short Distance revenue for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023 would have increased approximately 12.0%⁽¹⁾ on a constant currency basis.
• MediMobility Organ Transport revenue increased 111.2% to $26.8 million in the current quarter versus $12.7 million in the prior year period, driven by the addition of new transplant center customers, continued growth with existing customers, and strong market demand. Revenue increased 23.7% sequentially in Q1 2023 versus Q4 2022.   MediMobility Organ Transport growth was entirely organic given that Blade’s acquisition of Trinity Air Medical closed in September 2021.
• Jet and Other revenue decreased (17.2)% to $8.1 million in the current quarter versus $9.8 million in the prior year period, as expected, primarily due to a normalization in jet charter volume, as well as lower average price per charter trip.
• Net loss of $10.2 million in the quarter improved versus a net loss of $11.0 million in the prior year period.
• Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ was approximately flat at $(7.7) million in the current quarter versus $(7.7) million in the prior year period, and improved as a percentage of revenues to (17.1)% in the current quarter from (29.0)% in the prior year period. The improvement as a percentage of revenues versus the prior year period is attributable to the improvement in Flight Profit, which outpaced growth in Adjusted Corporate Expenses.

Business Highlights and Recent Updates

• Blade Airport, offering service between Manhattan and both John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport, has continued to show improvement, with the first quarter ended March 31, 2023 revenue increasing approximately 96% versus the prior year period.
• On March 30, 2023, Blade announced the expansion of its Board of Directors from seven to nine members, and the appointment of two new directors, Andrew Lauck of RedBird Capital Partners (“RedBird”) and John Borthwick, CEO of Betaworks. Mr. Lauck was previously named a board observer in January 2023, following the increase of RedBird’s ownership stake in Blade to more than 5%, and now serves as a member of the Audit Committee. Mr. Borthwick was previously a board member when Blade was private, and now serves on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

Conference Call

The Company will conduct a conference call starting at 8:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, May 11, 2023 to discuss the results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023.

A live audio-only webcast of the call may be accessed from the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at https://ir.blade.com/. An archived replay of the call will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website for one year.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information

Blade believes that the non-GAAP measures discussed below, viewed in addition to and not in lieu of our reported U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) results, provide useful information to investors by providing a more focused measure of operating results, enhance the overall understanding of past financial performance and future prospects, and allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in its financial and operational decision making. The non-GAAP measures presented herein may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA, Segment Adjusted EBITDA, Corporate Expenses, Adjusted Corporate Expenses, Flight Profit and Pro forma revenue have been reconciled to the nearest GAAP measure in the tables within this press release.

Adjusted EBITDA and Segment Adjusted EBITDA – Blade reports Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure. This measure excludes non-cash items or certain transactions that are not indicative of ongoing Company operating performance and / or items that management does not believe are reflective of our ongoing core operations (as shown in the table below). Blade defines Segment Adjusted EBITDA as segment net income (loss) excluding non-cash items or certain transactions that management does not believe are reflective of our ongoing core operations.

Constant currency – The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements included here are presented in U.S. dollars. However, Blade’s international operations give rise to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. To compare results between periods as if exchange rates had remained constant period-over-period and allow change in revenue to be evaluated without the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, Blade has included results in constant currency. These are calculated by applying the current period exchange rates to local currency reported results for both the current and prior year.

Corporate Expenses and Adjusted Corporate Expenses – Blade defines Corporate Expenses as total operating expenses excluding cost of revenue. Blade defines Adjusted Corporate Expenses as Corporate Expenses excluding non-cash items or certain transactions that are not indicative of ongoing Company operating performance and / or items that management does not believe are reflective of our ongoing core operations.

Flight Profit and Flight Margin – Blade defines Flight Profit as revenue less cost of revenue. Cost of revenue consists of flight costs paid to operators of aircraft and cars, landing fees, right-of-use (“ROU”) asset amortization and internal costs incurred in generating ground transportation revenue using the Company’s owned cars. Blade defines Flight Margin for a period as Flight Profit for the period divided by revenue for the same period. Blade believes that Flight Profit and Flight Margin provide a more accurate measure of the profitability of the Company’s flight and ground operations, as they focus solely on the direct costs associated with those operations.

Pro forma revenue – Pro forma revenue gives effect to revenue from acquisitions that occurred after the commensurate period of the prior year as if they had been acquired on the first day of the commensurate period of the prior year. Pro forma change in revenue is calculated as the difference between the current reported GAAP revenue and the comparative period pro forma revenue. Management believes that discussing pro forma revenue contributes to the understanding of Blade’s performance and trends, because it allows for comparisons of the current year period to that of prior years, normalized for the impact of acquisitions. Management believes that pro forma change in revenue assists in measuring the underlying revenue growth of our business as it stands as of the end of the current year period, which we believe provides insight into our then-current operations. Pro forma change in revenue does not represent organic revenue generated by our business as it stood at the beginning of the prior year period.

Financial Results

 

BLADE AIR MOBILITY, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share data, unaudited)

	March 31, 2023				December 31, 2022
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	41,739			$	43,296
Restricted cash		2,080				1,127
Accounts receivable		16,462				10,877
Short-term investments		135,209				150,740
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		13,708				12,086
Total current assets		209,198				218,126
Non-current assets:
Property and equipment, net		2,445				2,037
Investment in joint venture		390				390
Intangible assets, net		45,399				46,365
Goodwill		39,890				39,445
Operating right-of-use asset		24,092				17,692
Other non-current assets		1,018				970
Total assets	$	322,432			$	325,025
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	$	11,389			$	16,536
Deferred revenue		7,788				6,709
Operating lease liability, current		4,029				3,362
Total current liabilities		23,206				26,607
Non-current liabilities:
Warrant liability		6,517				7,083
Operating lease liability, long-term		20,792				14,970
Deferred tax liability		1,716				1,876
Total liabilities		52,231				50,536
Stockholders’ Equity
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 2,000,000 shares authorized at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022. No shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.		—				—
Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 400,000,000 authorized; 72,498,822 and 71,660,617 shares issued at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.		7				7
Additional paid in capital		380,852				375,873
Accumulated other comprehensive income		3,212				2,287
Accumulated deficit		(113,870	)			(103,678	)
Total stockholders’ equity		270,201				274,489
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	$	322,432			$	325,025

 

BLADE AIR MOBILITY, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except share and per share data, unaudited)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2023				2022
Revenue	$	45,271			$	26,630
Operating expenses
Cost of revenue		38,107				23,707
Software development		1,123				835
General and administrative		16,257				13,978
Selling and marketing		2,611				1,800
Total operating expenses		58,098				40,320
Loss from operations		(12,827	)			(13,690	)
Other non-operating income (expense)
Interest income, net		1,954				264
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities		566				2,550
Realized loss from sales of short-term investments		(81	)			(136	)
Total other non-operating income		2,439				2,678
Loss before income taxes		(10,388	)			(11,012	)
Income tax benefit		(196	)			—
Net loss	$	(10,192	)		$	(11,012	)
Net loss per share:
Basic	$	(0.14	)		$	(0.16	)
Diluted	$	(0.14	)		$	(0.16	)
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding:
Basic		71,992,771				70,774,138
Diluted		71,992,771				70,774,138

 

BLADE AIR MOBILITY, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands, unaudited)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2023				2022
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net loss	$	(10,192	)		$	(11,012	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash and restricted cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		1,652				1,145
Stock-based compensation		3,221				2,098
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities		(566	)			(2,550	)
Realized loss from sales of short-term investments		81				136
Realized foreign exchange (gain)/loss		5				(5	)
Accretion of interest income on held-to-maturity securities		(1,386	)			—
Deferred tax benefit		(196	)			—
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		(1,621	)			(1,705	)
Accounts receivable		(5,585	)			(465	)
Other non-current assets		(42	)			(648	)
Operating right-of-use assets/lease liabilities		77				1
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		(3,383	)			2,636
Deferred revenue		1,080				304
Net cash used in operating activities		(16,855	)			(10,065	)
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Purchase of property and equipment		(646	)			(437	)
Purchase of short-term investments		(121	)			(265	)
Proceeds from sales of short-term investments		16,000				11,699
Purchase of held-to-maturity investments		(130,145	)			—
Proceeds from maturities of held-to-maturity investments		131,187				—
Net cash provided by investing activities		16,275				10,997
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Proceeds from the exercise of common stock options		54				21
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards		(81	)			(5	)
Net cash (used in) / provided by financing activities		(27	)			16
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash balances		3				3
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash		(604	)			951
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash – beginning		44,423				3,225
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash – ending	$	43,819			$	4,176
Reconciliation to the unaudited interim condensed consolidated balance sheets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	41,739			$	2,496
Restricted cash		2,080				1,680
Total	$	43,819			$	4,176

 

Key Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Information

BLADE AIR MOBILITY, INC.
DISAGGREGATED REVENUE BY PRODUCT LINE
(in thousands, unaudited)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2023			2022
Passenger segment
Short Distance	$	10,425		$	4,203
Jet and Other(1)		8,079			9,752
Total	$	18,504		$	13,955
Medical segment
MediMobility Organ Transport(1)	$	26,767		$	12,675
Total	$	26,767		$	12,675
Total Revenue	$	45,271		$	26,630

__________
(1) Prior period amounts have been updated to conform to current period presentation.

 

BLADE AIR MOBILITY, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF REPORTED REVENUE TO PRO FORMA REVENUE
(in thousands except percentages, unaudited)

The following unaudited pro forma financial information presents what our revenue would have been if the Blade Europe business had been acquired on January 1, 2022. As a result, pro forma revenue includes revenue generated during periods when we did not yet own the acquired business. This unaudited pro forma financial information should not be relied upon as being indicative of the historical results that would have been obtained if the acquisition had occurred on that date, nor the results that may be obtained in the future.

Three months ended March 31, 2023
	Total				Short Distance				Jet and Other				MediMobility Organ Transport
Reported Revenue three months ended March 31, 2022	$	26,630			$	4,203			$	9,752			$	12,675
Impact of Blade Europe		5,294				5,294				—				—
Pro forma Revenue	$	31,924			$	9,497			$	9,752			$	12,675
Reported Revenue three months ended March 31, 2023	$	45,271			$	10,425			$	8,079			$	26,767
Pro forma change in revenue		42	%			10	%		(17		)%			111	%
Impact of foreign currency translation		(1	)%			(2	)%		**				**
Pro forma constant currency change in revenue		43	%			12	%		(17		)%			111	%
** Percentage not applicable

 

BLADE AIR MOBILITY, INC.
SEATS FLOWN – ALL PASSENGER FLIGHTS
(unaudited)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2023		2022
Seats flown – all passenger flights	28,550		18,494

 

BLADE AIR MOBILITY, INC.
REVENUE, FLIGHT PROFIT, FLIGHT MARGIN, ADJUSTED CORPORATE EXPENSES, ADJUSTED EBITDA
(in thousands except percentages, unaudited)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2023				2022
GAAP Revenue	$	45,271			$	26,630
GAAP Cost of Revenue		38,107				23,707
Flight Profit		7,164				2,923
Flight Margin		15.8	%			11.0	%
Adjusted Corporate Expense		14,888				10,650
Adjusted Corporate Expense as a percentage of Revenue		32.9	%			40.0	%
Adjusted EBITDA	$	(7,724	)		$	(7,727	)
Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of Revenue		(17.1	)%			(29.0	)%

 

BLADE AIR MOBILITY, INC.
SEGMENT INFORMATION: REVENUE, FLIGHT PROFIT, FLIGHT MARGIN, ADJUSTED EBITDA WITH RECONCILIATION TO TOTAL ADJUSTED EBITDA
(in thousands except percentages, unaudited)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2023				2022
Passenger	$	18,504			$	13,955
Medical		26,767				12,675
Total Revenue	$	45,271			$	26,630
Passenger	$	2,812			$	689
Medical		4,352				2,234
Total Flight Profit	$	7,164			$	2,923
Passenger		15.2	%			4.9	%
Medical		16.3	%			17.6	%
Total Flight Margin		15.8	%			11.0	%
Passenger	$	(3,055	)		$	(2,609	)
Medical		1,880				951
Total Segment Adjusted EBITDA		(1,175	)			(1,658	)
Adjusted unallocated corporate expenses and software development		(6,549	)			(6,069	)
Total Adjusted EBITDA	$	(7,724	)		$	(7,727	)

 

BLADE AIR MOBILITY, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF REVENUE LESS COST OF REVENUE TO FLIGHT PROFIT AND LOSS FROM OPERATIONS
(in thousands except percentages, unaudited)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2023				2022
Revenue	$	45,271			$	26,630
Cost of revenue (1)		(38,107	)			(23,707	)
Flight Profit	$	7,164			$	2,923
Flight Margin		15.8	%			11.0	%
Flight Profit	$	7,164			$	2,923
Reconciling items:
Software development		(1,123	)			(835	)
General and administrative		(16,257	)			(13,978	)
Selling and marketing		(2,611	)			(1,800	)
Loss from operations	$	(12,827	)		$	(13,690	)

__________
(1) Cost of revenue consists of flight costs paid to operators of aircraft and cars, landing fees, ROU asset amortization and internal costs incurred in generating organ ground transportation revenue using the Company’s owned cars.

 

BLADE AIR MOBILITY, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES TO ADJUSTED CORPORATE EXPENSES
(in thousands except percentages, unaudited)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2023				2022
Revenue	$	45,271			$	26,630
Total operating expenses		58,098				40,320
Subtract:
Cost of revenue		38,107				23,707
Corporate Expenses	$	19,991			$	16,613
Corporate Expenses as percentage of Revenue		44.2	%			62.4	%
Adjustments to reconcile Corporate Expenses to Adjusted Corporate Expenses
Subtract:
Depreciation and amortization		1,652				1,145
Stock-based compensation		3,221				2,098
Legal and regulatory advocacy fees (1)		423				1,747
Executive severance costs		146				—
Contingent consideration compensation (earn-out) (2)		(339	)			—
M&A transaction costs		—				973
Adjusted Corporate Expenses	$	14,888			$	10,650
Adjusted Corporate Expenses as percentage of Revenue		32.9	%			40.0	%

__________
(1) Represents certain legal and regulatory advocacy fees for matters (primarily the proposed restrictions at East Hampton Airport and the potential operational restrictions on large jet aircraft at Westchester Airport) that we do not consider representative of legal and regulatory advocacy costs that we will incur from time to time in the ordinary course of our business. It is worth noting that we do not anticipate incurring any further legal fees related to the Westchester litigation.
(2) Represents the credit recorded in connection with the settlement of the equity-based portion of Trinity’s contingent consideration that was paid in 2023 in respect of 2022 results.

BLADE AIR MOBILITY, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF NET LOSS TO ADJUSTED EBITDA
(in thousands except percentages, unaudited)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2023				2022
Net loss	$	(10,192	)		$	(11,012	)
Depreciation and amortization		1,652				1,145
Stock-based compensation		3,221				2,098
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities		(566	)			(2,550	)
Realized loss from sales of short-term investments		81				136
Interest income, net		(1,954	)			(264	)
Income tax benefit		(196	)			—
Legal and regulatory advocacy fees (1)		423				1,747
Executive severance costs		146				—
Contingent consideration compensation (earn-out) (2)		(339	)			—
M&A transaction costs		—				973
Adjusted EBITDA	$	(7,724	)		$	(7,727	)
Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of Revenue		(17.1	)%			(29.0	)%

 

BLADE AIR MOBILITY, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF SEGMENT NET INCOME (LOSS) TO SEGMENT ADJUSTED EBITDA
(in thousands, unaudited)

		Three Months Ended March 31, 2023												Three Months Ended March 31, 2022
		Passenger				Medical				Corporate expenses and software development				Passenger				Medical			Corporate expenses and software development
Segment net income (loss)		$	(5,118	)		$	1,637			$	(6,711	)		$	(5,516	)		$	522		$	(6,018	)
Reconciling items:
Depreciation and amortization			1,134				466				52				734				376			35
Stock-based compensation			360				116				2,745				426				53			1,619
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities			—				—				(566	)			—				—			(2,550	)
Realized loss from sales of short-term investments			—				—				81				—				—			136
Interest income, net			—				—				(1,954	)			—				—			(264	)
Income tax benefit			—				—				(196	)			—				—			—
Legal and regulatory advocacy fees (1)			423				—				—				1,747				—			—
Executive severance costs			146				—				—				—				—			—
Contingent consideration compensation (earn-out) (2)			—				(339	)			—				—				—			—
M&A transaction costs			—				—				—				—				—			973
Segment Adjusted EBITDA		$	(3,055	)		$	1,880			$	(6,549	)		$	(2,609	)		$	951		$	(6,069	)

__________
(1) Represents certain legal and regulatory advocacy fees for matters (primarily the proposed restrictions at East Hampton Airport and the potential operational restrictions on large jet aircraft at Westchester Airport) that we do not consider representative of legal and regulatory advocacy costs that we will incur from time to time in the ordinary course of our business. It is worth noting that we do not anticipate incurring any further legal fees related to the Westchester litigation.
(2) Represents the credit recorded in connection with the settlement of the equity-based portion of Trinity’s contingent consideration that was paid in 2023 in respect of 2022 results.

BLADE AIR MOBILITY, INC.
LAST TWELVE MONTHS DISAGGREGATED REVENUE BY PRODUCT LINE
(in thousands, unaudited)

					Three Months Ended
		Last Twelve Months			March 31, 2023			December 31, 2022			September 30, 2022			June 30, 2022
Product Line:
Short Distance		$	51,208		$	10,425		$	9,418		$	20,402		$	10,963
Jet and Other			27,682			8,079			7,081			5,101			7,421
MediMobility Organ Transport			85,871			26,767			21,636			20,219			17,249
Total Revenue		$	164,761		$	45,271		$	38,135		$	45,722		$	35,633