SkyWest Airlines 2006 Annual Report Download - page 77

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Reportof Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
TheBoard of Directors andStockholders
SkyWest, Inc.
We have audited management’s assessment, included in the accompanying Report of Management on
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, that SkyWest, Inc. maintained effective internalcontrol over
financialreporting as of December 31,2006, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated
Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of theTreadway Commission (the
COSO criteria). SkyWest, Inc.’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over
financialreportingand forits assessmentofthe effectivenessof internal control over financialreporting.
Our responsibility is to expressan opinion on management’s assessment and an opinion on the
effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted ouraudit in accordance with thestandards of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in
allmaterial respects. Our audit included obtaining an understandingof internal controlover financial
reporting, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating
effectiveness of internalcontrol, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the
circumstances. We believe thatour audit provides a reasonable basis for ouropinion.
Acompany’s internal control overfinancial reporting is a process designed to providereasonable
assurance regarding the reliabilityof financial reporting and thepreparation of financial statements for
external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Acompany’s internal
control overfinancial reportingincludes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to themaintenance
of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the
assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to
permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,
and that receipts and expenditures of thecompany are being made only in accordance with authorizations
of management and directors of the company; and (3)provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention
or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have
amaterial effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting maynot prevent or detect
misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periodsaresubject to the risk
that controls may become inadequatebecauseof changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance
with thepolicies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion,management’s assessment that SkyWest, Inc. maintained effective internal control
overfinancial reporting as of December 31, 2006, is fairly stated, in allmaterial respects, based on the
COSO criteria. Also, in our opinion,SkyWest, Inc. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal
control over financial reportingas of December 31, 2006, based on the COSO criteria.