American Airlines Group Inc. - Annual Report: 2020 (Form 10-K)
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
| FORM | 10-K | ||||
| ☒ | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | ||||
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2020
| ☐ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | ||||
For the Transition Period From to
Commission file number 1-8400
| American Airlines Group Inc. | ||||||||
| (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) | ||||||||
| Delaware | 75-1825172 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 Skyview Drive, | Fort Worth, | Texas | 76155 | (817) | 963-1234 | ||||||||||||||||||
| (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code) | Registrant’s telephone number, including area code | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||||||||
| Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share | AAL | The Nasdaq Global Select Market | ||||||||||||
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Commission file number 1-2691
| American Airlines, Inc. | ||||||||
| (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) | ||||||||
| Delaware | 13-1502798 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 Skyview Drive, | Fort Worth, | Texas | 76155 | (817) | 963-1234 | ||||||||||||||||||
| (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code) | Registrant’s telephone number, including area code | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
____________________________________________________
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
| American Airlines Group Inc. | Yes | ☒ | No | ☐ | |||||||||||||
| American Airlines, Inc. | Yes | ☒ | No | ☐ | |||||||||||||
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
| American Airlines Group Inc. | Yes | ☐ | No | ☒ | |||||||||||||
| American Airlines, Inc. | Yes | ☐ | No | ☒ | |||||||||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
| American Airlines Group Inc. | Yes | ☒ | No | ☐ | |||||||||||||
| American Airlines, Inc. | Yes | ☒ | No | ☐ | |||||||||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
| American Airlines Group Inc. | Yes | ☒ | No | ☐ | |||||||||||||
| American Airlines, Inc. | Yes | ☒ | No | ☐ | |||||||||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| American Airlines Group Inc. | ☒ | Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | Emerging growth company | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| American Airlines, Inc. | ☐ | Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☒ | Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | Emerging growth company | ||||||||||||||||||||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
| American Airlines Group Inc. | ☐ | |||||||
| American Airlines, Inc. | ☐ | |||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.
| American Airlines Group Inc. | Yes | ☒ | No | ☐ | |||||||||||||
| American Airlines, Inc. | Yes | ☒ | No | ☐ | |||||||||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
| American Airlines Group Inc. | Yes | ☐ | No | ☒ | |||||||||||||
| American Airlines, Inc. | Yes | ☐ | No | ☒ | |||||||||||||
As of February 12, 2021, there were 639,675,800 shares of American Airlines Group Inc. common stock outstanding. The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2020, was approximately $6.6 billion.
As of February 12, 2021, there were 1,000 shares of American Airlines, Inc. common stock outstanding, all of which were held by American Airlines Group Inc.
OMISSION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION
American Airlines Group Inc. and American Airlines, Inc. meet the conditions set forth in General Instruction I(1)(a) and (b) of Form 10-K and have therefore omitted the information otherwise called for by Items 10-13 of Form 10-K as allowed under General Instruction I(2)(c).
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the proxy statement related to American Airlines Group Inc.’s 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which proxy statement will be filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 within 120 days of the end of American Airlines Group Inc.’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
American Airlines Group Inc.
American Airlines, Inc.
Form 10-K
Year Ended December 31, 2020
Table of Contents
| Page | ||||||||
Item 7. | ||||||||
| Item 9B. | ||||||||
3
General
This report is filed by American Airlines Group Inc. (AAG) and its wholly-owned subsidiary American Airlines, Inc. (American). References in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” and similar terms refer to AAG and its consolidated subsidiaries. “AMR” or “AMR Corporation” refers to the Company during the period of time prior to its emergence from Chapter 11 and its acquisition of US Airways Group, Inc. (US Airways Group) on December 9, 2013 (the Merger). References to US Airways Group and US Airways, Inc., a subsidiary of US Airways Group (US Airways), represent the entities during the period of time prior to the dissolution of those entities in connection with AAG’s internal corporate restructuring on December 30, 2015. References in this report to “mainline” refer to the operations of American only and exclude regional operations.
Glossary of Terms
For the convenience of the reader, the definitions of certain industry and other terms used in this report have been consolidated into a glossary beginning on page 20.
Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Certain of the statements contained in this report should be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “continue,” “seek,” “target,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “if current trends continue,” “optimistic,” “forecast” and other similar words. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about our plans, objectives, expectations, intentions, estimates and strategies for the future, and other statements that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements are based on our current objectives, beliefs and expectations, and they are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results and financial position and timing of certain events to differ materially from the information in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described below under Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors, Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and other risks and uncertainties listed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC).
All of the forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors and elsewhere in this report. There may be other factors of which we are not currently aware that may affect matters discussed in the forward-looking statements and may also cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed. In particular, the consequences of the coronavirus outbreak to economic conditions and the travel industry in general and our financial position and operating results in particular have been material, are changing rapidly, and cannot be predicted. We do not assume any obligation to publicly update or supplement any forward-looking statement to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting such statements other than as required by law. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report or as of the dates indicated in the statements.
4
Summary Risk Factors
Our business is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may affect our business, results of operations and financial condition, or the trading price of our common stock or other securities. We caution the reader that these risk factors may not be exhaustive. We operate in a continually changing business environment, and new risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time. Management cannot predict such new risks and uncertainties, nor can it assess the extent to which any of the risk factors below or any such new risks and uncertainties, or any combination thereof, may impact our business. These risks are more fully described in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors These risks include, among others, the following:
Risks Related to our Business
•The outbreak and global spread of COVID-19 has resulted in a severe decline in demand for air travel which has and will continue to adversely impact our business, operating results, financial condition and liquidity.
•Downturns in economic conditions and related depressed demand for air travel could adversely affect our business.
•We will need to obtain sufficient financing or other capital to operate successfully.
•Our high level of debt and other obligations may limit our ability to fund general corporate requirements and obtain additional financing, may limit our flexibility in responding to competitive developments and cause our business to be vulnerable to adverse economic and industry conditions.
•We have significant pension and other postretirement benefit funding obligations, which may adversely affect our liquidity, results of operations and financial condition.
•The loss of key personnel upon whom we depend to operate our business or the inability to attract and develop additional qualified personnel could adversely affect our business.
•Our business has been and will continue to be affected by many changing economic and other conditions beyond our control, including global events that affect travel behavior, and our results of operations could be volatile and fluctuate due to seasonality.
•Union disputes, employee strikes and other labor-related disruptions, or our inability to otherwise maintain labor costs at competitive levels may adversely affect our operations and financial performance.
•If we encounter problems with any of our third-party regional operators or third-party service providers, our operations could be adversely affected by a resulting decline in revenue or negative public perception about our services.
•Any negative publicity stemming from any public incident involving our company, our people, our brand or any of our regional, codeshare or joint business operators or any damage to our reputation or brand image could adversely affect our business or financial results.
•Our intellectual property rights, particularly our branding rights, are valuable, and any inability to protect them may adversely affect our business and financial results.
•Our ability to utilize our NOL Carryforwards may be limited.
•We have a significant amount of goodwill, which is assessed for impairment at least annually. In addition, we may never realize the full value of our intangible assets or long-lived assets, causing us to record material impairment charges.
5
Risks Related to the Airline Industry
•The airline industry is intensely competitive and dynamic.
•The commercial relationships that we have with other airlines, including any related equity investment, may not produce the returns or results we expect.
•Our business is very dependent on the price and availability of aircraft fuel and continued periods of high volatility in fuel costs, increased fuel prices or significant disruptions in the supply of aircraft fuel could have a significant negative impact on consumer demand, our operating results and liquidity.
•Our business is subject to extensive government regulation, which may result in increases in our costs, disruptions to our operations, limits on our operating flexibility, reductions in the demand for air travel, and competitive disadvantages.
•We operate a global business with international operations that are subject to economic and political instability and have been, and in the future may continue to be, adversely affected by numerous events, circumstances or government actions beyond our control.
•We may be adversely affected by conflicts overseas or terrorist attacks; the travel industry continues to face ongoing security concerns.
•We are subject to risks associated with climate change, including increased regulation of our CO2 emissions, changing consumer preferences and the potential increased impacts of severe weather events on our operations and infrastructure.
•We depend on a limited number of suppliers for aircraft, aircraft engines and parts.
•Delays in scheduled aircraft deliveries or other loss of anticipated fleet capacity, and failure of new aircraft to perform as expected, may adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.
6
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Overview
American Airlines Group Inc. (AAG), a Delaware corporation, is a holding company and its principal, wholly-owned subsidiaries are American Airlines, Inc. (American), Envoy Aviation Group Inc. (Envoy), PSA Airlines, Inc. (PSA) and Piedmont Airlines, Inc. (Piedmont). AAG was formed in 1982 under the name AMR Corporation (AMR) as the parent company of American, which was founded in 1934.
AAG’s and American’s principal executive offices are located at 1 Skyview Drive, Fort Worth, Texas 76155 and their telephone number is 817-963-1234.
Airline Operations
Together with our wholly-owned regional airline subsidiaries and third-party regional carriers operating as American Eagle, our primary business activity is the operation of a major network air carrier, providing scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo through our hubs in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. and partner gateways, including in London, Madrid, Seattle/Tacoma, Sydney and Tokyo (among others).
Approximately 95 million passengers boarded our flights in 2020, a decrease from approximately 215 million passengers in 2019. During 2020, we experienced an unprecedented decline in the demand for air travel due to the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19). COVID-19 has been declared a global health pandemic by the World Health Organization and has surfaced in nearly all regions of the world, which has driven the implementation of significant, government-imposed measures to prevent or reduce its spread, including travel restrictions, testing regimes, closing of borders, “stay at home” orders and business closures. While the length and severity of the reduction in demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic is uncertain, our business, operations and financial condition in 2020 was severely impacted.
As of December 31, 2020, we operated 855 mainline aircraft supported by our regional airline subsidiaries and third-party regional carriers, which operated an additional 544 regional aircraft. See Part I, Item 2. Properties for further discussion on our mainline and regional aircraft and “Regional” below for further discussion on our regional operations.
American is a founding member of the oneworld® Alliance, which brings together a global network of 13 world-class member airlines and their affiliates, working together to provide a superior and seamless travel experience. See below for further discussion on the oneworld Alliance and other agreements with domestic and international airlines.
See Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations –“2020 Financial Overview,” “AAG’s Results of Operations” and “American’s Results of Operations” for further discussion of AAG’s and American’s operating results and operating performance. Also, see Note 14 to AAG’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8A and Note 12 to American’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8B for information regarding operating segments and see Note 1(l) to each of AAG’s and American’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Items 8A and 8B, respectively, for passenger revenue by geographic region.
Regional
Our regional carriers provide scheduled air transportation under the brand name “American Eagle.” The American Eagle carriers include our wholly-owned regional carriers Envoy, PSA and Piedmont, as well as third-party regional carriers including Republic Airways Inc. (Republic), SkyWest Airlines, Inc. (SkyWest), and Mesa Airlines, Inc. (Mesa). In addition, Compass Airlines, LLC operated regional jet aircraft for us during 2020; however, this arrangement ended in April 2020. Our regional carriers are an integral component of our operating network. We rely heavily on regional carriers to drive feeder traffic to our hubs from low-density markets that are not economical for us to serve with larger, mainline aircraft. In addition, regional carriers offer complementary service in many of our mainline markets. All American Eagle carriers use logos, service marks, aircraft paint schemes and uniforms similar to those of our mainline operations. In 2020, approximately 30 million passengers boarded our regional carriers’ planes, approximately 48% of whom connected to or from our mainline flights, a decrease from approximately 59 million passengers in 2019, due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
7
Substantially all of our regional carrier arrangements are in the form of capacity purchase agreements. The capacity purchase agreements provide that all revenues, including passenger, in-flight, ancillary, mail and freight revenues, go to us. We control marketing, scheduling, ticketing, pricing and seat inventories. In return, we agree to pay predetermined fees to these airlines for operating an agreed-upon number of aircraft, without regard to the number of passengers on board. In addition, these agreements provide that we either reimburse or pay 100% of certain variable costs, such as airport landing fees, fuel and passenger liability insurance.
Cargo
Our cargo division provides a wide range of freight and mail services, with facilities and interline connections available across the globe. In 2020, we expanded our cargo service and launched our first cargo-only flights since 1984 to transport critical goods, including the COVID-19 vaccine, between the U.S. and Europe, Asia and Latin America. We operated more than 5,200 cargo-only flights serving 41 destinations. These cargo-only flights have helped our customers move more than 167 million pounds of critical goods around the world amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Distribution and Marketing Agreements
Passengers can purchase tickets for travel on American through several distribution channels, including our website (www.aa.com), our mobile app, our reservations centers and third-party distribution channels, including those provided by or through global distribution systems (e.g., Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport), conventional travel agents, travel management companies and online travel agents (e.g., Expedia, including its booking sites Orbitz and Travelocity, and Booking Holdings, including its booking sites Kayak and Priceline). To remain competitive, we will need to manage our distribution costs and rights effectively, increase our distribution flexibility and improve the functionality of our proprietary and third-party distribution channels, while maintaining an industry-competitive cost structure. For more discussion, see Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors – “We rely on third-party distribution channels and must manage effectively the costs, rights and functionality of these channels.”
In general, beyond nonstop city pairs, carriers that have the greatest ability to seamlessly connect passengers to and from markets have a competitive advantage. In some cases, however, foreign governments limit U.S. air carriers’ rights to transport passengers beyond designated gateway cities in foreign countries. In order to improve access to domestic and foreign markets, we have arrangements with other airlines including through the oneworld Alliance, other cooperation agreements, joint business agreements, and marketing relationships, as further discussed below.
Member of oneworld Alliance
American is a founding member of the oneworld Alliance, which currently includes British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas Airways (Qantas), Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian, S7 Airlines and SriLankan Airlines. Fiji Airways is a oneworld connect partner and Alaska Airlines is a oneworld member elect, expected to join the oneworld Alliance in 2021. The oneworld Alliance links the networks of member carriers and their respective affiliates to enhance customer service and provide smooth connections to the destinations served by the alliance, including linking the carriers’ loyalty programs and providing access to the carriers’ airport lounge facilities.
Cooperation and Joint Business Agreements
American has established a transatlantic joint business with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia and Finnair, a transpacific joint business with Japan Airlines and a joint business relating to Australia and New Zealand with Qantas, each of which has been granted antitrust immunity. Joint business agreements enable the carriers involved to cooperate on flights between particular destinations and allow pooling and sharing of certain revenues and costs, enhanced loyalty program reciprocity and cooperation in other areas. American and its joint business partners received regulatory approval to enter into these cooperation agreements. Joint business agreements have become a common approach among major carriers to address key regulatory restrictions typically applicable to international airline service, including limitations on the foreign ownership of airlines and national laws prohibiting foreign airlines from carrying passengers beyond specific gateway cities. Our competitors, including Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, are party to similar arrangements.
The business relationship under the transatlantic joint business benefits from a grant of antitrust immunity from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and was reviewed by the European Commission (EC) in July 2010. In connection with this review, we provided certain commitments to the EC regarding, among other things, the availability of take-off and landing slots at London Heathrow (LHR) or London Gatwick (LGW) airports. The commitments accepted by the EC were binding for 10 years. In October 2018, in anticipation of the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union (EU),
8
commonly referred to as Brexit, and the expiry of the EC commitments in July 2020, the United Kingdom Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) opened an investigation into the transatlantic joint business. We continue to fully cooperate with the CMA and, in September 2020, the CMA adopted interim measures that effectively extend the EC commitments for an additional three years until March 2024 in light of the uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CMA plans to complete its investigation before the interim measures expire. In December 2020, the DOT issued its final approval for the inclusion of Aer Lingus, which is owned by the parent company of British Airways and Iberia, into the transatlantic joint business and granted antitrust immunity.
Marketing Relationships
To improve access to each other’s markets, various U.S. and foreign air carriers, including American, have established marketing agreements with other airlines. These marketing agreements generally provide enhanced customer choice by means of an expanded network with reciprocal loyalty program participation and joint sales cooperation. As of December 31, 2020, American had codeshare and/or loyalty program relationships with Aer Lingus, Air Tahiti Nui, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Cape Air, Cathay Pacific, China Southern Airlines Company Limited (China Southern Airlines), EL AL Israel Airlines, Etihad Airways, Fiji Airways, Finnair, GOL, Gulf Air, Hawaiian Airlines, Iberia, Interjet Airlines, Japan Airlines, Jetstar Airways, Jetstar Japan, JetBlue Airways Corporation (JetBlue), Korean Air Lines, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian, S7 Airlines, Seaborne Airlines, SriLankan Airlines and Vueling Airlines.
In 2020, we entered into an expanded marketing relationship with Alaska Airlines. This arrangement, once implemented, will expand our existing codeshare relationship, including codeshare on certain of our international routes from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and will provide for reciprocal loyalty program benefits and shared lounge access. Pursuant to federal law, American and Alaska Airlines submitted this proposed arrangement to the DOT for review. After the DOT allowed the review period to expire with no further actions, American and Alaska Airlines commenced implementation of this arrangement.
Also, in 2020, we announced our intention to enter into a marketing relationship with JetBlue. This arrangement, once implemented, will include an alliance agreement with reciprocal codesharing on domestic and international routes from New York (John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), La Guardia Airport (LGA), and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)) and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), and will provide for reciprocal loyalty program benefits. The arrangement does not include JetBlue’s future transatlantic flying. Pursuant to federal law, American and JetBlue submitted this proposed alliance arrangement to the DOT for review. After American, JetBlue and the DOT agreed to a series of commitments, the DOT terminated its review of the proposed alliance. The commitments include growth commitments to ensure capacity expansion, slot divestitures at JFK and at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) near Washington, D.C. and antitrust compliance measures. Beyond this agreement with the DOT, American and JetBlue will also be refraining from certain kinds of coordination on certain city pair markets. In addition to the DOT review, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the New York Attorney General, the Massachusetts Attorney General, and the Attorneys General of certain other state and local jurisdictions are investigating this proposed alliance, which remains ongoing. American and JetBlue intend to cooperate with those investigations, but are proceeding with plans to implement this alliance.
Loyalty Program
Our loyalty program, AAdvantage®, was established to develop passenger loyalty by offering awards to travelers for their continued patronage. AAdvantage was named Best Elite Program in the Americas for the ninth consecutive year at the 2020 Freddie Awards, which are annual awards that recognize the world’s most outstanding frequent travel programs. AAdvantage members earn mileage credits by flying on American, any oneworld Alliance airline or other partner airlines. For every dollar spent by flying on American, members earn five mileage credits, but Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum elite status holders earn additional bonus mileage credits of 40%, 60%, 80% and 120%, respectively. Members also earn mileage credits by using the services of over 1,000 program participants, such as the Citi and Barclaycard US co-branded credit cards, and certain hotels and car rental companies.
All travel on eligible tickets counts toward qualification for elite status in the AAdvantage program. Mileage credits can be redeemed for free or upgraded travel on American and participating airlines, membership to our Admirals Club® or for other non-flight awards from our program participants. Most travel awards are subject to capacity-controlled seating. A member’s mileage credit generally does not expire as long as that member has any type of qualifying activity at least once every 18 months. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we suspended the expiration of mileage credits through June 30, 2021 and eliminated mileage reinstatement fees for canceled award tickets. Elite members can enjoy additional
9
benefits of the AAdvantage program, including complimentary upgrades, checked bags, and Preferred and Main Cabin Extra seats, as well as priority check-in, security, boarding and baggage delivery. We also made it easier for top-tier customers to earn AAdvantage elite status in 2020 and 2021 and extended 2020 AAdvantage status into early 2022 for all members.
Under our agreements with AAdvantage members and program partners, we reserve the right to change the terms of the AAdvantage program at any time and without notice, and may end the program with six months’ notice. Program rules, partners, special offers, awards and requisite mileage levels for awards are subject to change.
During 2020, our members redeemed approximately 7 million awards, including travel redemptions for flights and upgrades on American and other air carriers, as well as redemption of car and hotel awards, club memberships and merchandise. Approximately 6% of our 2020 total revenue passenger miles flown were from award travel.
See Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” for more information on our loyalty program.
Industry Competition
Domestic
The markets in which we operate are highly competitive. On most of our domestic nonstop routes, we face competing service from other domestic airlines, including major network airlines, low-cost carriers and ultra-low-cost carriers such as Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines and United Airlines. Between cities that require a connection, where the major airlines compete via their respective hubs, competition is significant. In addition, we face competition on some of our connecting routes from airlines operating point-to-point service on such routes. We also compete with all-cargo and charter airlines and, particularly on shorter segments, ground and rail transportation.
On all of our routes, pricing decisions are affected, in large part, by the need to meet competition from other airlines. Price competition occurs on a market-by-market basis through price discounts, changes in pricing structures, fare matching, targeted promotions and loyalty program initiatives. Airlines typically use discounted fares and other promotions to stimulate traffic during normally weak travel periods, when they begin service to new cities, when they have excess capacity, to generate cash flow, to maximize revenue per available seat mile or to establish, increase or preserve market share. Most airlines will quickly match price reductions in a particular market, and we have often elected to match discounted or promotional fares initiated by other air carriers in certain markets in order to compete in those markets. In addition, so-called ultra-low-cost carriers, such as Allegiant Air, Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines, compete in many of the markets in which we operate, competition from these carriers is increasing and several new entrants have announced their intention to start up new ultra-low-cost carriers.
In addition to price competition, airlines compete for market share by increasing the size of their route system and the number of markets they serve. The American Eagle regional carriers increase the number of markets we serve by flying to smaller markets and providing connections at our hubs. Many of our competitors also own or have agreements with regional airlines that provide similar services at their hubs and other locations. We also compete on the basis of scheduling (frequency and flight times), availability of nonstop flights, on-time performance, type of equipment, cabin configuration, amenities provided to passengers, loyalty programs, the automation of travel agent reservation systems, onboard products, health and safety and other services.
International
In addition to our extensive domestic service, we provide international service to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Asia, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. In providing international air transportation, we compete with other U.S. airlines, foreign investor-owned airlines and foreign state-owned or state-affiliated airlines. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, competition had been increasing from foreign state-owned and state-affiliated airlines in the Gulf region. These carriers have large numbers of international widebody aircraft in service and on order and had been increasing service to the U.S. from locations both in and outside the Middle East. Service to and from locations outside of the Middle East was provided by some of these carriers under so-called “fifth freedom” rights permitted under international treaties which allow service to and from stopover points between an airline’s home country and the ultimate destination. Such flights, such as a stopover in Europe on flights to the United States, allow the carrier to sell tickets for travel between the stopover point and the United States in competition with service provided by us. We believe these state-owned and state-affiliated carriers in the Gulf region, including their affiliated carriers, benefit from significant government subsidies,
10
which have allowed them to grow quickly, reinvest in their product and expand their global presence. We expect this to continue after the COVID-19 pandemic subsides. Competition had also been increasing from low-cost airlines executing international long-haul expansion strategies, a trend we also expect to continue after the COVID-19 pandemic subsides and the delivery of planned, long-range narrowbody aircraft commences.
In order to increase our ability to compete for international air transportation service, which is subject to extensive government regulation, U.S. and foreign carriers have entered into bilateral and multilateral marketing relationships, alliances, cooperation agreements and joint business agreements to exchange traffic among each other’s flights and route networks. See “Distribution and Marketing Agreements” above for further discussion.
Our People
The airline business is labor intensive, and our team members are our most important asset. The operational complexity of our business requires a diverse team of personnel trained and experienced in a variety of technical areas such as flight operations, ground operations, safety and maintenance, customer service, and airline scheduling and planning. We believe that if we create an environment where our team members feel supported, they will take care of our customers and thereby support the success of our business. To do this, we must continue to build a diverse and inclusive environment, helping all team members reach their full potential and providing them with the right resources and support.
Talent Development
We give our team members the tools, training and resources they need to do their best work and stay true to our purpose – caring for people on life’s journey. We have a suite of programs aimed at helping our people develop the skills and experience to succeed in their roles and build rewarding, long-term careers within our company. Additionally, we’ve partnered with leading online learning platforms to make professional development available on-demand to all our team members.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Cultivating an environment that celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is a top priority for us, and we seek to create a workplace where diverse perspectives and experiences are welcomed and encouraged, where team members feel comfortable to be their authentic selves and where we are always learning from one another. In 2020, we:
•established the role of Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer and created the DEI office within our talent function so that hiring and development is viewed through the lens of equity and inclusion;
•formed a team member experience organization to listen to the concerns of team members;
•launched an Executive Sponsorship Program whereby a group of 15 Black leaders have been paired with an executive leader for a year-long mentorship program; this program will be scaled to an expanded audience starting in late 2021;
•created an implicit bias training program delivered to approximately 105,000 team members;
•launched an external community council composed of executives and a cross-section of Black community leaders to provide feedback on our company initiatives; and
•formed a specialized customer relations team to listen to, resolve and learn from customer complaints of discrimination.
Our DEI goals include:
•diversifying our leadership team by establishing specific objectives and laying out a plan to achieve them, including by enhancing our recruiting, development and mentoring programs;
•providing additional learning opportunities beyond implicit bias to generate further education and awareness of diversity and inclusion matters; and
•pledging to assist Black youth in developing job skills and expanding access to well-paying careers as part of our overall strategy to increase opportunities in our hub cities and Tulsa, Oklahoma, where our largest maintenance facility is based.
11
Competitive Pay and Comprehensive Benefits
We offer competitive pay and comprehensive benefits that support the physical, emotional and financial well-being of our team members. We’re committed to providing medical coverage that is both affordable and flexible along with health care navigation and support tools. Additionally, we launched a well-being program in 2020 to help team members and their families make lasting changes in four key areas: physical, emotional, financial and work.
Our internal recognition programs give team members and customers the opportunity to show their appreciation for a job well done. In 2019, our team members were recognized by customers, peers and company leaders more than 2.5 million times. Last year, we launched a new Nonstop Thanks program whereby team members award each other points for a job well done or as an expression of gratitude. Those points can be redeemed for items in an online catalog. Every quarter, hundreds of team members are nominated for the Chairman’s Award, the highest honor that we bestow upon our team members.
Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a severe decline in demand for our services. In 2020, we moved quickly to better align our costs with our reduced schedule. In addition to other cost reduction measures discussed below, we suspended all non-essential hiring, paused non-contractual pay rate increases, reduced executive and board of director compensation, implemented voluntary leave and early retirement programs and decreased our management and support staff team, including officers, by approximately 30%. In total, more than 20,000 team members opted for an early retirement or long-term partially paid leave.
Pursuant to the payroll support program (PSP1) established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, as amended (the CARES Act), the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) provided us with an aggregate of $6.0 billion of financial assistance in 2020. These funds were used to fund eligible salaries, wages and benefits of our team members. Due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, we involuntarily furloughed certain team members starting October 1, 2020.
Pursuant to the payroll support program (PSP2) established under Subtitle A of Title IV of Division N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (PSP Extension Law), Treasury is to provide us financial assistance to be paid in installments expected to total at least $3.0 billion in the aggregate, of which $1.5 billion was received on January 15, 2021. Using these funds, we recalled the involuntarily furloughed team members covered by PSP2 and provided them with back pay to December 1, 2020. PSP2 includes restrictions on involuntary furloughs and reductions in employee pay rates and benefits through March 31, 2021.
On February 5, 2021, we informed approximately 13,000 U.S.-based team members of the possibility of a workforce reduction at their work location. We expect that any workforce reductions will take effect on or after April 1, 2021. In connection with this notification, we announced the reopening of the voluntary early out and long-term leave of absence programs for team members of certain represented workgroups. Eligible team members must opt in by February 26, 2021 for the early out program and March 12, 2021 for the voluntary leave program.
Our future success depends in large part on our ability to attract, develop and retain highly qualified management, technical and other personnel. For more discussion, see Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors – “The loss of key personnel upon whom we depend to operate our business or the inability to attract and develop additional qualified personnel could adversely affect our business.”
Labor Relations
In 2020, salaries, wages and benefits were our largest expense and represented 45% of our total operating expenses. As of December 31, 2020, we had approximately 102,700 active full-time equivalent employees, approximately 84% of whom were represented by various labor unions responsible for negotiating the collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) governing their compensation and job duties, among other things.
12
Labor relations in the air transportation industry are regulated under the Railway Labor Act (RLA), which vests in the National Mediation Board (NMB) certain functions with respect to disputes between airlines and labor unions relating to union representation and CBAs. When an RLA CBA becomes amendable, if either party to the agreement wishes to modify its terms, it must notify the other party in the manner prescribed under the RLA and as agreed by the parties. Under the RLA, the parties must meet for direct negotiations, and, if no agreement is reached during direct negotiations between the parties, either party may request that the NMB appoint a federal mediator. The RLA prescribes no timetable for the direct negotiation and mediation processes, and it is not unusual for those processes to last for many months or even several years. If no agreement is reached in mediation, the NMB in its discretion may declare that an impasse exists and proffer binding arbitration to the parties. Either party may decline to submit to arbitration and if arbitration is rejected by either party, a 30-day “cooling off” period commences. During or after that period, a Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) may be established, which examines the parties’ positions and recommends a solution. The PEB process lasts for 30 days and is followed by another 30-day “cooling off” period. At the end of this “cooling off” period, unless an agreement is reached or action is taken by Congress, the labor organization may exercise “self-help,” such as a strike, and the airline may resort to its own “self-help,” including the imposition of any or all of its proposed amendments to the CBA and the hiring of new employees to replace any striking workers.
None of the unions representing our employees presently may lawfully engage in concerted slowdowns or refusals to work, such as strikes, sick-outs or other similar activity, against us. Nonetheless, there is a risk that employees, either with or without union involvement, could engage in one or more concerted refusals to work that could individually or collectively harm the operation of our airline and impair our financial performance.
The following table shows our domestic airline employee groups that are represented by unions:
| Union | Class or Craft | Employees (1) | Contract Amendable Date | |||||||||||||||||
| Mainline: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Allied Pilots Association (APA) | Pilots | 13,400 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||||
| Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) | Flight Attendants | 24,550 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||||
Airline Customer Service Employee Association – Communications Workers of America and International Brotherhood of Teamsters (CWA-IBT) | Passenger Service | 13,500 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||||
Transport Workers Union and International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (TWU-IAM Association) | Mechanics and Related | 12,300 | 2025 | |||||||||||||||||
| TWU-IAM Association | Fleet Service | 16,600 | 2025 | |||||||||||||||||
| TWU-IAM Association | Stock Clerks | 1,750 | 2025 | |||||||||||||||||
| TWU-IAM Association | Flight Simulator Engineers | 140 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||||
| TWU-IAM Association | Maintenance Control Technicians | 190 | 2025 | |||||||||||||||||
| TWU-IAM Association | Maintenance Training Instructors | 50 | 2025 | |||||||||||||||||
| Professional Airline Flight Control Association (PAFCA) | Dispatchers | 470 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||||
| Transport Workers Union (TWU) | Flight Crew Training Instructors | 350 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||||
| Envoy: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Air Line Pilots Associations (ALPA) | Pilots | 2,150 | 2024 | |||||||||||||||||
| Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) | Flight Attendants | 1,500 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||||
| TWU | Ground School Instructors | 10 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||||
| TWU | Mechanics and Related | 1,400 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||||
| TWU | Stock Clerks | 140 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||||
| TWU | Fleet Service | 3,800 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||||
| TWU | Dispatchers | 70 | 2025 | |||||||||||||||||
| Communications Workers of America (CWA) | Passenger Service | 4,850 | 2026 | |||||||||||||||||
13
| Union | Class or Craft | Employees (1) | Contract Amendable Date | |||||||||||||||||
| Piedmont: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ALPA | Pilots | 550 | 2024 | |||||||||||||||||
| AFA | Flight Attendants | 350 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||||
| International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) | Mechanics and Related | 450 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||||
| IBT | Stock Clerks | 60 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||||
| CWA | Fleet and Passenger Service | 5,950 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||||
| IBT | Dispatchers | 30 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||||
| ALPA | Flight Crew Training Instructors | 30 | 2024 | |||||||||||||||||
| PSA: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ALPA | Pilots | 1,750 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||||
| AFA | Flight Attendants | 1,150 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||||
International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAM) | Mechanics and Related | 800 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||||
| TWU | Dispatchers | 60 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||||
(1)Represents approximate number of active employees as well as employees who opted for a voluntary partially paid leave as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic as of December 31, 2020.
Joint collective bargaining agreements (JCBAs) have been reached with post-Merger employee groups, including a new five-year JCBA ratified on March 26, 2020 by the TWU-IAM Association, which represents the mechanics and related, fleet service, stock clerks, maintenance control technicians and maintenance training instructors. Additionally, the post-Merger JCBAs covering our pilots and flight attendants are now amendable. JCBAs covering passenger service employees and dispatchers are also amendable.
Among our wholly-owned regional subsidiaries, the Envoy flight attendants, Envoy mechanics and related, Envoy stock clerks, Envoy fleet service clerks, Piedmont flight attendants and Piedmont dispatchers have agreements that are now amendable and are engaged in traditional RLA negotiations.
For more discussion, see Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors – “Union disputes, employee strikes and other labor-related disruptions, or our inability to otherwise maintain labor costs at competitive levels may adversely affect our operations and financial performance.”
Aircraft Fuel
Our operations and financial results are materially affected by the availability and price of aircraft fuel, which represents one of the largest single cost items in our business. Based on our 2021 forecasted mainline and regional fuel consumption, we estimate that a one cent per gallon increase in the price of aircraft fuel would increase our 2021 annual fuel expense by $38 million.
The following table shows annual aircraft fuel consumption and costs, including taxes, for our mainline and regional operations for 2020 and 2019 (gallons and aircraft fuel expense in millions).
| Year | Gallons | Average Price per Gallon | Aircraft Fuel Expense | Percent of Total Operating Expenses | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2,297 | $1.48 | $3,402 | 12.3% | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | 4,537 | 2.07 | 9,395 | 22.0% | |||||||||||||||||||
As of December 31, 2020, we did not have any fuel hedging contracts outstanding to hedge our fuel consumption. We do not currently view the market opportunities to hedge fuel prices as attractive because, among other things, our future fuel needs remain unclear due to uncertainties regarding air travel demand and any hedging would potentially require significant capital or collateral to be placed at risk. As such, and assuming we do not enter into any future transactions to hedge our fuel consumption, we will continue to be fully exposed to fluctuations in aircraft fuel prices. Our current policy is not to enter into transactions to hedge our fuel consumption, although we review that policy from time to time based on market conditions and other factors.
14
Aircraft fuel prices have in the past, and may in the future, experience substantial volatility. We cannot predict the future availability, price volatility or cost of aircraft fuel. Natural disasters (including hurricanes or similar events in the U.S. Southeast and on the Gulf Coast where a significant portion of domestic refining capacity is located), political disruptions or wars involving oil-producing countries, economic sanctions imposed against oil-producing countries or specific industry participants, changes in fuel-related governmental policy, the strength of the U.S. dollar against foreign currencies, changes in the cost to transport or store petroleum products, changes in access to petroleum product pipelines and terminals, speculation in the energy futures markets, changes in aircraft fuel production capacity or competing demand for fuel from other transport industries, such as maritime shipping, environmental concerns and other unpredictable events may result in fuel supply shortages, distribution challenges, additional fuel price volatility and cost increases in the future. See Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors – “Our business is very dependent on the price and availability of aircraft fuel. Continued periods of high volatility in fuel costs, increased fuel prices or significant disruptions in the supply of aircraft fuel could have a significant negative impact on consumer demand, our operating results and liquidity.”
Seasonality and Other Factors
Due to the greater demand for air travel during the summer months, revenues in the airline industry in the second and third quarters of the year tend to be greater than revenues in the first and fourth quarters of the year. General economic conditions, fears of terrorism or war, fare initiatives, fluctuations in fuel prices, labor actions, weather, natural disasters, outbreaks of disease and other factors could impact this seasonal pattern. Therefore, our quarterly results of operations are not necessarily indicative of operating results for the entire year, and historical operating results in a quarterly or annual period are not necessarily indicative of future operating results.
The COVID-19 outbreak, along with the measures governments and private organizations worldwide have implemented in an attempt to contain the spread of this pandemic, has resulted in a severe decline in demand for air travel, which has adversely affected our business, operations and financial condition to an unprecedented extent, and affected the traditional seasonal trends of the airline business. Measures ranging from travel restrictions, including testing regimes, “stay at home” and quarantine orders, limitations on public gatherings to cancellation of public events and many others have resulted in a precipitous decline in demand for both domestic and international business and leisure travel.
Domestic and Global Regulatory Landscape
General
Airlines are subject to extensive domestic and international regulatory requirements. Domestically, the DOT and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) exercise significant regulatory authority over air carriers.
The DOT, among other things, oversees and regulates domestic and international codeshare agreements, international route authorities, competition and consumer protection matters such as advertising, denied boarding compensation and baggage liability. The Antitrust Division of the DOJ, along with the DOT in certain instances, have jurisdiction over airline antitrust matters.
The FAA similarly exercises safety oversight and regulates most operational matters of our business, including how we operate and maintain our aircraft. FAA requirements cover, among other things, required technology and necessary onboard equipment; systems, procedures and training necessary to ensure the continuous airworthiness of our fleet of aircraft; safety measures and equipment; crew scheduling limitations and experience requirements; and many other technical aspects of airline operations. Additionally, our pilots and other employees are subject to rigorous certification standards, and our pilots and other crew members must adhere to flight time and rest requirements. In 2021, the FAA is expected to issue a number of rules that will impact us, including regulations mandating certain rest requirements for flight attendants.
The FAA also controls the national airspace system, including operational rules and fees for air traffic control (ATC) services. The efficiency, reliability and capacity of the ATC network has a significant impact on our costs and on the timeliness of our operations.
The U.S. Postal Service has jurisdiction over certain aspects of the transportation of mail and related services.
15
Airport Access and Operations
Domestically, any U.S. airline authorized by the DOT is generally free to operate scheduled passenger service between any two points within the U.S. and its territories, with the exception of certain airports that require landing and take-off rights and authorizations (slots) and other facilities, and certain airports that impose geographic limitations on operations or curtail operations based on the time of day. Operations at three major domestic airports we serve (JFK and LGA in New York City, and DCA near Washington, D.C.) and many foreign airports we serve (including LHR) are regulated by governmental entities through allocations of slots or similar regulatory mechanisms that limit the rights of carriers to conduct operations at those airports. Each slot represents the authorization to land at or take off from the particular airport during a specified time period. In addition to slot restrictions, operations at DCA and LGA are also limited based on a so-called “perimeter rule” which generally limits the stage length of the flights that can be operated from those airports to 1,250 and 1,500 miles, respectively.
Our ability to provide service can also be impaired at airports, such as Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and LAX where the airport gate and other facilities are currently inadequate to accommodate all of the service that we would like to provide, or airports such as Dallas Love Field Airport where we have no access to gates at all.
Existing law also permits domestic local airport authorities to implement procedures and impose restrictions designed to abate noise, provided such procedures and restrictions do not unreasonably interfere with interstate or foreign commerce or the national transportation system. In some instances, these restrictions have caused curtailments in service or increases in operating costs.
Airline Fares, Taxes and User Fees
Airlines are permitted to establish their own domestic fares without governmental regulation. The DOT maintains authority over certain international fares, rates and charges, but only applies this authority on a limited basis. In addition, international fares and rates are sometimes subject to the jurisdiction of the governments of the foreign countries which we serve.
Airlines are obligated to collect a federal excise tax, commonly referred to as the “ticket tax,” on domestic and international air transportation, and to collect other taxes and charge other fees, such as foreign taxes, security fees and passenger facility charges. Although these taxes and fees are not our operating expenses, they represent an additional cost to our customers. These taxes and fees are subject to increase from time to time. The CARES Act provided for a temporary tax holiday from collecting and remitting certain government ticket taxes for tickets purchased between March 28, 2020 and December 31, 2020.
DOT Passenger Protection Rules
The DOT regulates airline interactions with passengers through the ticketing process, at the airport and on board the aircraft. Among other things, these regulations govern how our fares are displayed online, required customer disclosures, access by disabled passengers, handling of long onboard flight delays and reporting of mishandled bags. In 2021, the DOT is expected to implement a number of new regulations that will impact us, including disability rules for accessible lavatories and wheelchair assistance, and refunds for checked bag fees in the event of certain delays in delivery.
International
International air transportation is subject to extensive government regulation, including aviation agreements between the U.S. and other countries or governmental authorities, such as the EU and the United Kingdom. Moreover, our alliances with international carriers may be subject to the jurisdiction and regulations of various foreign agencies. The U.S. government has negotiated “open skies” agreements with 130 trading partners, which allow unrestricted route authority access between the U.S. and the foreign markets. While the U.S. has worked to increase the number of countries with which open skies agreements are in effect, a number of markets important to us, including China, do not have open skies agreements.
In addition, foreign countries impose passenger protection rules, which are analogous to, and often meet or exceed the requirements of, the DOT passenger protection rules discussed above. In cases where these foreign requirements exceed the DOT rules, we may bear additional burdens and liabilities. Further, various foreign airport authorities impose noise and curfew restrictions at their local airports.
16
Security
Since shortly after the events of September 11, 2001, substantially all aspects of civil aviation security in the U.S. or affecting U.S. carriers have been controlled or regulated by the federal government through the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Requirements include flight deck security; carriage of federal air marshals at no charge; enhanced security screening of passengers, baggage, cargo, mail, employees and vendors; fingerprint-based background checks of all employees and vendor employees with access to secure areas of airports; and the provision of certain passenger data to the federal government and other international border security authorities, for security and immigration controls. Funding for the TSA is provided by a combination of air carrier fees, passenger fees and taxpayer funds. Customs and Border Protection, which, like the TSA, is part of the Department of Homeland Security, also promulgates requirements, performs services and collects fees that impact our provision of services. Additionally, we have at times found it necessary or desirable to make significant expenditures to comply with security-related requirements while seeking to reduce their impact on our customers, such as expenditures for automated security screening lines at airports. Our international service further requires us to comply with the civil aviation security regimes imposed at the foreign airports we serve.
Environmental Matters
Environmental Regulation
The airline industry is subject to various laws and government regulations concerning environmental matters in the U.S. and other countries. U.S. federal laws that have a particular impact on our operations include the Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990, the Clean Air Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (Superfund Act). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other federal agencies have been authorized to promulgate regulations that have an impact on our operations. In addition to these federal activities, various states have been delegated certain authorities under the aforementioned federal statutes. Many state and local governments have adopted environmental laws and regulations which are similar to or stricter than federal requirements.
Revised underground storage tank regulations issued by the EPA in 2015 have affected certain airport fuel hydrant systems, with modifications of such systems needed in order to comply with applicable portions of the revised regulations. In addition, related to the EPA and state regulations pertaining to storm water management, several U.S. airport authorities are actively engaged in efforts to limit discharges of deicing fluid into the environment, often by requiring airlines to participate in the building or reconfiguring of airport deicing facilities.
The environmental laws to which we are subject include those related to responsibility for potential soil and groundwater contamination. We are conducting investigation and remediation activities to address soil and groundwater conditions at several sites, including airports and maintenance bases. We presently anticipate that the ongoing costs of such activities will not have a material impact on our operations. In addition, we have been named as a potentially responsible party (PRP) at certain Superfund sites. Our alleged volumetric contributions at such sites are relatively small in comparison to total contributions of all PRPs. Accordingly, we presently anticipate that any future payments of costs at such sites will not have a material impact on our operations.
We employ an environmental management system that provides a systematic approach for compliance with environmental regulations and management of a broad range of issues including air emissions, hazardous waste disposal, underground tanks, and aircraft water quality.
Aircraft Emissions and Climate Change Requirements
Efforts to transition to a low-carbon future have increased the focus by global, regional and national regulators on climate change and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We have taken a number of actions that mitigate the GHG emitted by our operations both en route and on the ground, such as:
•retiring older, less fuel-efficient aircraft and replacing them with new, more fuel-efficient aircraft, resulting in the youngest mainline fleet of any U.S. network carrier;
•reducing fuel consumption through operational initiatives such as single-engine taxi, optimal planned arrival fuel and our new flight planning system;
•entering into an agreement with a leading producer of renewable fuels to purchase nine million gallons of sustainable alternative aircraft fuel over three years;
17
•working with the FAA and vendors to facilitate efficient airspace procedures, which also reduces aircraft emissions;
•updating our fleet with lightweight interiors including seats and furnishings and replacing existing cargo containers with lighter weight versions;
•replacing older, inefficient ground support equipment with new, more fuel-efficient ground support equipment, including alternative-fuel and electric powered equipment;
•purchasing renewable electricity to reduce indirect emissions associated with the production of the power we consume; and
•obtaining certification of certain of our buildings to the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standard.
In addition, American is subject to the requirements of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), an international, market-based emissions reduction program adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in 2016. CORSIA is intended to achieve carbon-neutral growth in the international aviation sector from 2021 through 2035 by requiring airlines to compensate for the growth in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, relative to a predetermined baseline, of a significant majority of international flights through the purchase of carbon offsets or the use of low-carbon fuels. For each year from 2021 through 2029, CORSIA requires each airline to compensate for the rate of growth of the CO2 emissions of the aviation sector as a whole as determined by ICAO. Starting in 2030, CORSIA will require airlines to compensate for growth in CO2 emissions using a formula determined by ICAO that will combine the growth in aviation sector emissions and the growth in the individual airline’s emissions, with the proportion of the latter rising from at least 20 percent over the period 2030-2032 to at least 70 percent over the period 2033-2035.
ICAO originally defined the baseline as the average emissions from covered flights in 2019 and 2020. However, due to the impact of the pandemic on air travel, in June 2020 ICAO determined to remove 2020 from the baseline for the first few years of CORSIA implementation (2021-2023). Accordingly, we do not expect to be required to purchase offset credits over that period, unless the recovery in demand for international travel is unexpectedly strong and exceeds that of 2019 in those years.
At this time, the costs of complying with our future obligations under CORSIA are uncertain, primarily because of the difficulty in estimating the return of demand for international air travel in the recovery from the pandemic. There is also significant uncertainty with respect to the future supply and price of carbon offset credits and sustainable or lower carbon aircraft fuels that could allow us to reduce our emissions of CO2. In addition, as described above, we will not directly control our CORSIA compliance costs because our compliance obligations through 2029 are based on the growth in emissions of the global aviation sector and begin to incorporate a factor for individual airline operator emissions growth starting in 2030.
For more information on American’s approach to environmental, social and governance issues, see our 2019-2020 Environmental, Social and Governance Report at aa.com/esg. None of the information or contents of our 2019-2020 Environmental, Social and Governance Report is incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Impact of Regulatory Requirements on Our Business
Regulatory requirements, including but not limited to those discussed above, affect operations and increase operating costs for the airline industry, including our airline subsidiaries, and future regulatory developments may continue to do the same in the future. See Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors – “Evolving data security and privacy requirements could increase our costs, and any significant data security incident could disrupt our operations, harm our reputation, expose us to legal risks and otherwise materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition,” “If we are unable to obtain and maintain adequate facilities and infrastructure throughout our system and, at some airports, adequate slots, we may be unable to operate our existing flight schedule and to expand or change our route network in the future, which may have a material adverse impact on our operations,” “Our business is subject to extensive government regulation, which may result in increases in our costs, disruptions to our operations, limits on our operating flexibility, reductions in the demand for air travel, and competitive disadvantages,” “The airline industry is heavily taxed,” “We are subject to many forms of environmental and noise regulation and may incur substantial costs as a result,” and “We are subject to risks associated with climate change, including increased regulation of our CO2 emissions, changing consumer preferences and the potential increased impacts of severe weather events on our operations and infrastructure” for additional information.
18
Available Information
Use of Websites to Disclose Information
Our website is located at www.aa.com. We have made and expect in the future to make public disclosures to investors and the general public of information regarding AAG and its subsidiaries by means of the investor relations section of our website as well as through the use of our social media sites, including Facebook and Twitter. In order to receive notifications regarding new postings to our website, investors are encouraged to enroll on our website to receive automatic email alerts (see https://americanairlines.gcs-web.com/email-alerts), “follow” American (@AmericanAir) on Twitter and “like” American on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/AmericanAirlines). None of the information or contents of our website or social media postings is incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Availability of SEC Reports
A copy of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports are available free of charge on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. The SEC also maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at www.sec.gov.
19
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
“103-12 Investment Trust” means the 103-12 investment entity into which our pension plan master trust invests plan assets and which facilitates investing the plan assets of more than one unrelated employer.
“2013 Credit Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Credit and Guaranty Agreement dated as of May 21, 2015, among American, AAG, the lenders from time to time party thereto, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as administrative agent, and certain other parties thereto, as amended.
“2013 Credit Facilities” means the 2013 Revolving Facility and 2013 Term Loan Facility provided for by the 2013 Credit Agreement.
“2013 Framework” means the criteria for internal control over financial reporting as set forth in the Internal Control – Internal Framework by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
“2013 Plan” means the AAG 2013 Incentive Award Plan.
“2013 Revolving Facility” means the $750 million revolving credit facility provided for by the 2013 Credit Agreement.
“2013 Term Loan Facility” means the $1.9 billion term loan facility provided for under the 2013 Credit Agreement.
“2014 Credit Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of April 20, 2015, among American, AAG, the lenders from time to time party thereto, Citibank N.A., as administrative agent, and certain other parties thereto, as amended.
“2014 Credit Facilities” means the 2014 Revolving Facility and the 2014 Term Loan Facility provided for by the 2014 Credit Agreement.
“2014 Revolving Facility” means the $1.6 billion revolving credit facility provided for by the 2014 Credit Agreement.
“2014 Term Loan Facility” means the $1.2 billion term loan facility provided for by the 2014 Credit Agreement.
“2016 JFK Bonds” means special facility revenue bonds issued on behalf of American by NYTDC in June 2016.
“2019 Form 10-K” means AAG’s and American’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.
“2019-1 Aircraft” means the 35 aircraft financed by American under the 2019-1 Aircraft EETCs.
“2019-1 Aircraft EETCs” means the three pass-through trusts created by American in August 2019 that have issued approximately $1.1 billion aggregate face amount of Series 2019-1 Class AA, Class A and Class B EETCs.
“2019-1 Engine EETCs” means the $650 million in aggregate face amount of 2019-1 Engine EETCs.
“2020 JFK Bonds” means the approximately $360 million of special facility revenue bonds issued on behalf of American by NYTDC in June 2020.
“3.75% Senior Notes” mean 3.75% senior notes due 2025 with an aggregate principal amount of $500 million.
“5.000% Senior Notes” means the 5.000% senior notes due in 2022 with an aggregate principal amount of $750 million.
“10.75% Senior Secured Notes” means, collectively, the LGA/DCA Notes and the IP Notes.
“10.75% Senior Secured Notes Closing Date” means September 25, 2020.
“10.75% Senior Secured Notes Collateral” means the IP Collateral and LGA/DCA Collateral.
“10.75% Senior Secured Notes Indentures” means the IP Notes Indenture and the LGA/DCA Notes Indenture.
“10.75% Senior Secured Notes Trustee” means Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee with respect to the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes.
“11.75% Senior Secured Notes” means the 11.75% senior secured notes due in 2025 with an aggregate principal amount of $2.5 billion.
20
“11.75% Senior Secured Notes Collateral” means the First Lien 11.75% Senior Secured Notes Collateral and the Second Lien 11.75% Senior Secured Notes Collateral.
“11.75% Senior Secured Notes Indenture” means the indenture, dated as of June 30, 2020, by and among American, AAG and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee.
“11.75% Senior Secured Notes Trustee” means Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee with respect to the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes.
“AAdvantage” means the AAdvantage® frequent flyer program.
“AAG”, “we”, “us”, “our” and similar terms means American Airlines Group Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
“ABO” means accumulated benefit obligation.
“AFA” means Association of Flight Attendants-CWA.
“ALPA” means Air Line Pilots Association.
“American” means American Airlines, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of AAG.
“American Eagle” means our regional carriers, including our wholly-owned regional carriers Envoy, PSA and Piedmont, as well as third-party regional carriers including Mesa, Republic and SkyWest.
“AMR” or “AMR Corporation” means AMR Corporation and is used to reference AAG during the period of time prior to its emergence from Chapter 11 and the Merger.
“AMT” means alternative minimum tax.
“AOCI” means accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
“APA” means Allied Pilots Association.
“APFA” means Association of Professional Flight Attendants.
“April 2016 Credit Agreement” means the Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of April 29, 2016, among American, AAG, the lenders from time to time party thereto, Barclays Bank PLC, as administrative agent, and certain other parties thereto, as amended.
“April 2016 Credit Facilities” means the April 2016 Revolving Facility and April 2016 Term Loan Facility provided for by the 2016 Credit Agreement.
“April 2016 Revolving Facility” means the $450 million revolving credit facility provided for by the April 2016 Credit Agreement.
“April 2016 Term Loan Facility” means the $1,000 million term loan facility provided for by the April 2016 Credit Agreement.
“ASC” means the FASB Accounting Standards Codification.
“ASC 350” means the FASB Accounting Standards Codification relating to “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other.”
“ASC 360” means the FASB Accounting Standards Codification relating to “Property, Plant, and Equipment.”
“ASM” means available seat mile and is a basic measure of production. One ASM represents one seat flown one mile.
“ASU” means Accounting Standards Update.
“ATC” means air traffic control.
“ATC system” means the U.S. National Airspace System.
“Aviation Act” means subtitle VII of Title 49 of the United States Code, as amended.
21
“Bankruptcy Court” means the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.
“Base Indenture” means the indenture, dated as of June 25, 2020, between AAG and the Convertible Notes Trustee.
“Bylaws” means AAG’s Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended.
“CARES Act” means the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, as amended.
“CASM” means operating cost per available seat mile and is equal to operating expenses divided by ASMs.
“CBAs” means collective bargaining agreements.
“CEO” means Chief Executive Officer.
“CFO” means Chief Financial Officer.
“Chapter 11 Cases” means the voluntary petitions for relief filed on November 29, 2011 by the Debtors.
“China Southern Airlines” means China Southern Airlines Company Limited.
“CMA” means the United Kingdom Competition and Markets Authority.
“CO2” means carbon dioxide.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Company” means AAG and its consolidated subsidiaries.
“Convertible Notes” means AAG’s 6.50% convertible senior notes due 2025.
“Convertible Notes Indenture” means the Base Indenture and the Convertible Notes Supplemental Indenture.
“Convertible Notes Guarantee” means the full and unconditional guarantee of the Convertible Notes by American.
“Convertible Notes Supplemental Indenture” means the first supplemental indenture, dated as of June 25, 2020, among AAG, American and the Convertible Notes Trustee.
“Convertible Notes Trustee” means Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee with respect to the Convertible Notes.
“CORSIA” means the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation.
“COVID-19” means coronavirus.
“Credit Facilities” means, collectively, the 2013 Credit Facilities, 2014 Credit Facilities, April 2016 Credit Facilities and December 2016 Credit Facilities.
“CWA” means Communications Workers of America.
“CWA-IBT” means the Airline Employees Customer Service Association – Communications Workers of America and International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
“DCA” means Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
“DC Court” means the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia.
“Debtors” means AMR, American, and certain of AMR’s other direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries.
“December 2016 Credit Agreement” means the Credit and Guaranty Agreement dated as of December 15, 2016, among American, AAG, the lenders from time to time party thereto, Citibank N.A., as administrative agent, and certain other parties thereto, as amended.
“December 2016 Credit Facilities” means the revolving credit facility that may be established under the December 2016 Credit Agreement and the December 2016 Term Loan Facility provided for by the December 2016 Credit Agreement.
22
“December 2016 Term Loan Facility” means the $1.2 billion term loan facility provided for under the December 2016 Credit Agreement.
“Delayed Draw Term Loan Credit Facility” means the Credit and Guaranty Agreement dated as of March 18, 2020, among American, AAG, the lenders from time to time party thereto, Citibank N.A., as administrative agent, and certain other parties thereto, as amended.
“Disputed Claims Reserve” means a reserve established by the Bankruptcy Court, pursuant to the Plan, to hold shares of AAG common stock for issuance to disputed claimholders at the Effective Date.
“DOJ” means the U.S. Department of Justice.
“DOT” means the U.S. Department of Transportation.
“EC” means the European Commission.
“EETC” means enhanced equipment trust certificate.
“Effective Date” means December 9, 2013.
“Eighth Amendment” means the Eighth Amendment entered into in January 2020 to the 2014 Credit Agreement.
“Envoy” means Envoy Air Inc.
“EPA” means the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
“EPS” means earnings (loss) per common share.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“Ethics Standards” means AAG’s and American’s Standards of Business Conduct.
“ETS” means EU Emissions Trading Scheme.
“EU” means European Union.
"EWR" means Newark Liberty International Airport.
“Exchange Act” means Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“FAA” means Federal Aviation Administration.
“First Lien 11.75% Senior Secured Notes Collateral” means certain assets, rights and properties utilized by American in providing its scheduled air carrier services to and from certain airports in the United States and certain airports in Australia, Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, and Switzerland which are used to secure the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes on a first-lien basis.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S.
“GDSs” means global distribution systems.
“GHG” means greenhouse gas.
“GSPC” means S&P 500 Index.
“holdback” means an amount of cash held by our credit card processors in certain circumstances (including, with respect to certain agreements, our failure to maintain certain levels of liquidity).
“IAM” means International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers.
“IAM Pension Fund” means the IAM National Pension Fund.
“IBT” means International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
23
“ICAO” means International Civil Aviation Organization.
“IP Collateral” means certain intellectual property of American, including the “American Airlines” trademark and the “aa.com” domain name in the United States and certain foreign jurisdictions, to which American has given a first lien security interest to secure the IP Notes.
“IP Notes” means American’s $1.0 billion in initial principal amount of 10.75% senior secured IP notes.
“IP Notes Indenture” means the indenture, dated as of September 25, 2020, by and among American, AAG and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and as collateral trustee, pursuant to which the IP Notes were issued.
“Installment” means the financial assistance payment, in installments, by Treasury pursuant to the PSP2 Agreement.
“JCBA” means joint collective bargaining agreement.
“JetBlue” means JetBlue Airways Corporation.
“JFK” means John F. Kennedy International Airport.
“LAWA” means the Los Angeles World Airports.
“LAX” means Los Angeles International Airport.
“LEED” means U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
“LGA/DCA Collateral” means certain slots related to American’s operations at LGA and DCA and certain other assets that are used as (a) a first-lien security interest to secure the December 2016 Credit Facilities, (b) a first lien security interest to secure the LGA/DCA Notes and (c) a second lien security interest to secure the IP Notes.
“LGA/DCA Notes” means American’s $200 million in initial principal amount of 10.75% senior secured LGA/DCA notes.
“LGA/DCA Notes Indenture” means the indenture, dated as of September 25, 2020, by and among American, AAG and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and as collateral trustee, pursuant to which the LGA/DCA Notes were issued.
“LGA” means LaGuardia Airport.
“LGW” or “London Gatwick” means London Gatwick Airport.
“LHR” or “London Heathrow” means London Heathrow Airport.
“LIBOR” means the London interbank offered rate for deposits of U.S. dollars.
“Loyalty Program Revenues” means the revenues received by American and AAG from the AAdvantage loyalty program.
“LTV” means loan to value ratio.
“Mainline” means the operations of American and excludes regional operations.
“marketing component” means, with respect to the AAdvantage program, the use of intellectual property, including the American brand and access to loyalty program member lists, which is the predominant element in the co-branded credit card agreements, as well as advertising.
“Merger” means the merger of US Airways Group and AMR Corporation on December 9, 2013.
“Mesa” means Mesa Airlines, Inc.
“New Lease Standard” means ASU 2016-02: Leases (Topic 842)
“New Retirement Standard” means ASU 2017-07: Compensation – Retirement Benefits.
“New Revenue Standard” means ASU 2014-09: Revenue from Contracts with Customers.
“NMB” means National Mediation Board.
24
“NOL Carryforwards” means a deduction in any taxable year for net operating losses carried over from prior taxable years.
“NOLs” means net operating losses.
“NYSE” means the New York Stock Exchange.
“NYTDC” means the New York Transportation Development Corporation.
“ORD” means Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
“OTAs” means online travel agents.
“PAFCA” means Professional Airline Flight Control Association.
“Passenger load factor” means the percentage of available seats that are filled with revenue passengers.
“PCAOB” means the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in the U.S.
“PEB” means Presidential Emergency Board.
“Piedmont” means Piedmont Airlines, Inc.
“Plan” means the Debtors’ fourth amended joint plan of reorganization.
“PRASM” means passenger revenue per available seat mile and is equal to passenger revenues divided by ASMs.
“Proxy Statement” means American Airlines Group Inc.’s Proxy Statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of American Airlines Group Inc.
“PRP” means potentially responsible party.
“PSA” means PSA Airlines, Inc.
“PSP1” means the payroll support program established under the CARES Act.
“PSP1 Agreement” means the Payroll Support Program Agreement entered into by the Subsidiaries with Treasury on the PSP1 Closing Date.
“PSP1 Closing Date” means April 20, 2020.
"PSP1 Financial Assistance" means the portion of financial assistance received from Treasury pursuant to the PSP1 Agreement that is not allocated to the PSP1 Warrants or PSP1 Promissory Note.
“PSP1 Maturity Date” means the tenth anniversary of the PSP1 Closing Date.
“PSP1 Promissory Note” means the promissory note issued to Treasury in connection with PSP1.
“PSP1 Warrant Agreement” means the agreement entered into between AAG and Treasury in connection with the PSP1 Agreement, pursuant to which AAG issued PSP1 Warrants to Treasury to purchase up to an aggregate of approximately 14.1 million shares of AAG common stock.
“PSP1 Warrant Shares” means up to approximately 14.1 million shares of AAG common stock which Treasury will have the right to purchase pursuant to PSP1 Warrants issued by AAG in accordance with the PSP1 Warrant Agreement.
“PSP1 Warrants” means the warrants issued or to be issued to Treasury pursuant to the PSP1 Warrant Agreement.
“PSP2” means the payroll support program established under the PSP Extension Law.
“PSP2 Agreement” means the Payroll Support Program Extension Agreement entered into by the Subsidiaries with Treasury on the PSP2 Closing Date.
“PSP2 Closing Date” means January 15, 2021.
“PSP2 Maturity Date” means the tenth anniversary of the PSP2 Closing Date.
25
“PSP2 Promissory Note” means the promissory note issued to Treasury in connection with PSP2.
“PSP2 Warrant Agreement” means the agreement entered into between AAG and Treasury in connection with the PSP2 Agreement, pursuant to which AAG issued PSP2 Warrants to Treasury to purchase at least 5.7 million shares of AAG common stock.
“PSP2 Warrant Shares” means at least 5.7 million shares of AAG common stock which Treasury will have the right to purchase pursuant to PSP2 Warrants issued or to be issued by AAG in accordance with the PSP2 Warrant Agreement.
“PSP2 Warrants” means the warrants issued or to be issued to Treasury pursuant to the PSP2 Warrant Agreement.
“PSP Extension Law” means Subtitle A of Title IV of Division N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021.
“Rehabilitation Plan” means the rehabilitation plan adopted by the IAM Pension Fund on April 17, 2019.
“Republic” means Republic Airways Inc.
“Republic Holdings” means Republic Airways Holdings Inc., the parent company of Republic.
“RLA” means Railway Labor Act.
“ROU” means right-of-use.
“RPM” or “RPMs” means revenue passenger mile or miles and is a basic measure of sales volume. One RPM represents one passenger flown one mile.
“RSUs” means restricted stock units.
“S&P” means Standard and Poor’s Financial Services, LLC.
“SEA” means Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
“SEC” means Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Second Lien 11.75% Senior Secured Notes Collateral” means certain assets, rights and properties utilized by American in providing its scheduled air carrier services to and from certain airports in the United States and certain airports in the European Union and the United Kingdom which are used to secure the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes on a first-lien basis.
“Section 382” means Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code.
“Securities Act” means Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“SGRs” means slots, foreign gate leaseholds, and routine authorities.
“SkyWest” means SkyWest Airlines, Inc.
“slots” means landing and take-off rights and authorizations, as required by certain airports.
“SOFR” means the Secured Overnight Financing Rate.
“Subsidiaries” means American, Envoy, PSA and Piedmont, each a wholly-owned subsidiary of AAG.
“Superfund Act” means Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act.
“Terminal” means the passenger terminal facility used by American at JFK.
“TRASM” means the total revenue per available seat mile and is equal to the total revenues divided by total mainline and third-party regional carrier ASMs.
“Treasury” means the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
26
“Treasury Collateral” means American's rights under U.S. co-branded credit card agreements and certain other loyalty program partner participation agreements (including rights to receive cash flows thereunder), documents, deposit accounts, securities accounts, books and records and intellectual property related to American's AAdvantage loyalty program and all proceeds, accessions, rents or profits related to the foregoing.
“Treasury Loan Agreement” means the Loan and Guarantee Agreement, dated as of September 25, 2020, between AAG, American and Treasury which provides for the Treasury Term Loan Facility.
“Treasury Loan Closing Date” means September 25, 2020.
“Treasury Loan Restatement Agreement” means the Restatement Agreement, dated as of October 21, 2020, to the Treasury Loan Agreement.
“Treasury Loan Warrant Agreement” means the warrant agreement, dated as of September 25, 2020, between AAG and Treasury entered into in connection with the Treasury Loan Agreement, pursuant to which AAG will issue Treasury Loan Warrants to Treasury to purchase shares of AAG common stock.
“Treasury Loan Warrants” means the warrants issued or to be issued to Treasury pursuant to the Treasury Loan Warrant Agreement.
“Treasury Loan Warrant Shares” means shares of AAG common stock which Treasury will have the right to purchase pursuant to Treasury Loan Warrants issued by AAG in accordance with the Treasury Loan Warrant Agreement.
“Treasury Term Loan Facility” means the term loan facility provided for under the Treasury Loan Agreement.
“Treasury Term Loan Maturity Date” means June 30, 2025.
“TSA” means Transportation Security Administration.
“TWU” means Transport Workers Union.
“TWU-IAM Association” means Transport Workers Union and International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers.
“US Airways” means US Airways, Inc.
“US Airways Group” means US Airways Group, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
“USTR” means the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
“Withdrawal Agreement” means the agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community.
“WTO” means World Trade Organization.
“XAL” means NYSE ARCA Airline Index.
“Yield” means a measure of airline revenue derived by dividing passenger revenue by RPMs.
27
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Below are certain risk factors that may affect our business, results of operations and financial condition, or the trading price of our common stock or other securities. We caution the reader that these risk factors may not be exhaustive. We operate in a continually changing business environment, and new risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time. Management cannot predict such new risks and uncertainties, nor can it assess the extent to which any of the risk factors below or any such new risks and uncertainties, or any combination thereof, may impact our business.
Risks Related to our Business
The outbreak and global spread of COVID-19 has resulted in a severe decline in demand for air travel which has adversely impacted our business, operating results, financial condition and liquidity. The duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, and similar public health threats that we may face in the future, could result in additional adverse effects on our business, operating results, financial condition and liquidity.
The COVID-19 outbreak, along with the measures governments and private organizations worldwide have implemented in an attempt to contain the spread of this pandemic, has resulted in a severe decline in demand for air travel, which has adversely affected our business, operations and financial condition to an unprecedented extent. Measures ranging from travel restrictions, including testing regimes, “stay at home” and quarantine orders, limitations on public gatherings to cancellation of public events and many others have resulted in a precipitous decline in demand for both domestic and international business and leisure travel. In response to this material deterioration in demand, we have taken a number of aggressive actions to ameliorate our business, operations and financial condition. We have focused on reducing our capacity, making structural changes to our fleet, implementing cost reductions, preserving cash and improving our overall liquidity position. We have reduced our system-wide capacity and will continue to monitor conditions and to proactively evaluate and adjust our schedule to match demand. Additionally, we have retired certain mainline aircraft earlier than planned, including Airbus A330-200, Boeing 757, Boeing 767, Airbus A330-300 and Embraer 190 aircraft as well as regional aircraft, including certain Embraer 140 and Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft, which we expect will allow us to be more efficient by reducing the number of sub-fleets we operate, and we have also placed a number of Boeing 737-800 aircraft into temporary storage. We have moved quickly to attempt to better align our costs with our reduced schedule and made other cost-saving initiatives (including reductions in maintenance expense, marketing expense, event and training expense, airport facilities expense, salaries and benefits expense, and other volume-related expense reductions, including fuel). Nonetheless, we incurred significant negative operating cash flow in 2020, we continue to do so, and we expect to continue to do so until there is a significant recovery in demand for air travel. The duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic remain uncertain, and there can be no assurance that any of the mitigating actions we have taken will suffice to sustain our business and operations through this pandemic.
We have taken and will take additional actions to improve our financial position, including measures to improve liquidity, such as obtaining financial assistance under the CARES Act and the PSP Extension Law. In 2020, we received approximately $6.0 billion in financial assistance from Treasury through PSP1 established under the CARES Act. Pursuant to PSP2 established under the PSP Extension Law, Treasury is to provide us financial assistance to be paid in installments expected to total at least $3.0 billion in the aggregate, of which $1.5 billion was received in January 2021. In connection with the financial assistance we have received under PSP1 and PSP2, we are required to comply with certain provisions of the CARES Act and the PSP Extension Law, including the requirement that funds provided pursuant to PSP1 and PSP2 be used exclusively for the continuation of payment of eligible employee wages, salaries and benefits; the requirement against involuntary furloughs and reductions in employee pay rates and benefits through March 31, 2021; the requirement to recall employees involuntarily terminated or furloughed after September 30, 2020; the requirement that certain levels of commercial air service be maintained; provisions prohibiting the repurchase of AAG’s common stock and the payment of common stock dividends through at least March 31, 2022; and restrictions on the payment of certain executive compensation until October 1, 2022. Additionally, under PSP1 and PSP2, we and certain of our subsidiaries are subject to substantial and continuing reporting obligations. In addition, we have entered into the Treasury Loan Agreement and, as a result, the stock repurchase, dividend and executive compensation restrictions imposed by the Treasury Loan Agreement will remain in place through the date that is one year after the secured loan provided under the Treasury Loan Agreement is fully repaid even if the restrictions imposed by PSP1 and PSP2 had previously lapsed. The substance and duration of these restrictions may materially affect our operations, and we may not be successful in managing these impacts.
28
We intend to pursue the issuance of additional unsecured and secured debt securities, equity securities and equity-linked securities and/or the entry into additional bilateral and syndicated secured and/or unsecured credit facilities, among other items. There can be no assurance as to the timing of any such financing transactions, which may be in the near term, or that we will be able to obtain such additional financing on favorable terms, or at all. Any such actions could be conducted in the near term, may be material in nature, could result in the incurrence and issuance of significant additional indebtedness or equity and could impose significant covenants and restrictions to which we are not currently subject.
The measures we have taken to reduce our expenditures and to improve our liquidity, and any other strategic actions that we may take in the future in response to the COVID-19 pandemic may not be effective in offsetting decreased demand, and we may not be permitted to take certain strategic actions that we believe are beneficial if such strategic actions are in contravention of the requirements under the CARES Act, the PSP Extension Law or the Treasury loan program, which could result in a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.
The full extent of the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our longer-term operational and financial performance will depend on future developments, many of which are outside our control, including the effectiveness of the mitigation strategies discussed above; the duration and spread of COVID-19, including recurrence of the pandemic, and related travel advisories, restrictions and testing regimes; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on overall long-term demand for air travel; the impact on demand and capacity which could result from government mandates on air service (including, for instance, requirements for passengers to wear face coverings while traveling or have their temperature checked or have administered COVID-19 tests and other checks prior to or after entering an airport or boarding an airplane, or which would limit the number of seats that can be occupied on an aircraft to allow for social distancing); the impact of COVID-19 on our employees’ ability to work because they are quarantined or sickened as a result of exposure to COVID-19 or if they are subject to additional governmental COVID-19 curfews or "stay at home" health orders or similar restrictions; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the financial health and operations of our business partners and future governmental actions, all of which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted. At this time, we are also not able to predict whether the COVID-19 pandemic will result in permanent changes to our customers' behavior, with such changes including but not limited to a permanent reduction in business travel as a result of increased usage of "virtual" and "teleconferencing" products and more broadly a general reluctance to travel by consumers, each of which could have a material impact on our business.
In addition, an outbreak of another disease or similar public health threat, or fear of such an event, that affects travel demand, travel behavior or travel restrictions could adversely impact our business, financial condition and operating results. Outbreaks of other diseases could also result in increased government restrictions and regulation, such as those actions described above or otherwise, which could adversely affect our operations.
Downturns in economic conditions could adversely affect our business.
Due to the discretionary nature of business and leisure travel spending and the highly competitive nature of the airline industry, our revenues are heavily influenced by the condition of the U.S. economy and economies in other regions of the world. Unfavorable conditions in these broader economies have resulted, and may result in the future, in decreased passenger demand for air travel, changes in booking practices and related reactions by our competitors, all of which in turn have had, and may have in the future, a strong negative effect on our business. In particular, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and associated decline in economic activity and increase in unemployment levels are expected to have a severe and prolonged effect on the global economy generally and, in turn, is expected to depress demand for air travel into the foreseeable future. Due to the uncertainty surrounding the duration and severity of this pandemic, we can provide no assurance as to when and at what pace demand for air travel will return to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, if at all. Accordingly, we cannot predict the ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, financial condition and results of operations. See also “The outbreak and global spread of COVID-19 has resulted in a severe decline in demand for air travel which has adversely impacted our business, operating results, financial condition and liquidity. The duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, and similar public health threats that we may face in the future, could result in additional adverse effects on our business, operating results, financial condition and liquidity” and “The airline industry is intensely competitive and dynamic.”
We will need to obtain sufficient financing or other capital to operate successfully.
Our business plan contemplates continued significant investments related to modernizing our fleet, improving the experience of our customers and updating our facilities. Significant capital resources will be required to execute this plan. We estimate that, based on our commitments as of December 31, 2020, our planned aggregate expenditures for aircraft purchase commitments and certain engines on a consolidated basis for calendar years 2021-2025 would be
29
approximately $9.5 billion. We may also require financing to refinance maturing obligations and to provide liquidity to fund other corporate requirements, in particular, given the severe decline in revenue we have experienced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. If needed to meet our liquidity needs, it may be difficult for us to raise additional capital on acceptable terms, or at all, due to, among other factors: our substantial level of existing indebtedness, particularly following the additional liquidity transactions completed and contemplated in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; our non-investment grade credit rating; market conditions; the availability of assets to use as collateral for loans or other indebtedness, which has been reduced significantly as a result of certain financing transactions we have undertaken since the beginning of 2020 and may be further reduced as we continue to seek significant additional liquidity; and the effect the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the global economy generally and the air transportation industry in particular. Accordingly, we will need substantial financing or other capital resources to finance such aircraft and engines and meet such other liquidity needs. If we are unable to arrange such financing at customary advance rates and on terms and conditions acceptable to us, we may need to use cash from operations or cash on hand to purchase such aircraft and engines or may seek to negotiate deferrals for such aircraft and engines with the applicable aircraft and engine manufacturers or otherwise defer corporate obligations. Depending on numerous factors applicable at the time we seek capital, many of which are out of our control, such as the state of the domestic and global economies, the capital and credit markets’ view of our prospects and the airline industry in general, and the general availability of debt and equity capital, the financing or other capital resources that we will need may not be available to us, or may be available only on onerous terms and conditions. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in obtaining financing or other needed sources of capital to operate successfully. An inability to obtain necessary financing on acceptable terms would have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our high level of debt and other obligations may limit our ability to fund general corporate requirements and obtain additional financing, may limit our flexibility in responding to competitive developments and cause our business to be vulnerable to adverse economic and industry conditions.
We have significant amounts of indebtedness and other obligations, including pension obligations, obligations to make future payments on flight equipment and property leases related to airport and other facilities, and substantial non-cancelable obligations under aircraft and related spare engine purchase agreements. Moreover, currently a very significant portion of our assets are pledged to secure our indebtedness. Our substantial indebtedness and other obligations, which are generally greater than the indebtedness and other obligations of our competitors, could have important consequences. For example, they may:
•make it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations under our indebtedness;
•limit our ability to obtain additional funding for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, investments, integration costs and general corporate purposes, and adversely affect the terms on which such funding can be obtained;
•require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to payments on our indebtedness and other obligations, thereby reducing the funds available for other purposes;
•make us more vulnerable to economic downturns, industry conditions and catastrophic external events, particularly relative to competitors with lower relative levels of financial leverage;
•significantly constrain our ability to respond, or respond quickly, to unexpected disruptions in our own operations, the U.S. or global economies, or the businesses in which we operate, or to take advantage of opportunities that would improve our business, operations, or competitive position versus other airlines;
•limit our ability to withstand competitive pressures and reduce our flexibility in responding to changing business and economic conditions;
•contain covenants requiring us to maintain an aggregate of at least $2.0 billion of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and amounts available to be drawn under revolving credit facilities; and
•contain restrictive covenants that could, among other things:
◦limit our ability to merge, consolidate, sell assets, incur additional indebtedness, issue preferred stock, make investments and pay dividends; and
◦if breached, result in an event of default under our indebtedness.
30
In addition, in response to the travel restrictions, decreased demand and other effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had and is expected to have on our business, we have obtained and currently anticipate that it will be necessary to continue to obtain a significant amount of additional financing in the near term from a variety of sources. Such financing may include the issuance of additional unsecured or secured debt securities, equity securities and equity-linked securities as well as additional bilateral and syndicated secured and/or unsecured credit facilities, among other items. There can be no assurance as to the timing of any such financing transactions, which may be in the near term, or that we will be able to obtain such additional financing on favorable terms, or at all. Any such actions could be conducted in the near term, may be material in nature, could result in the incurrence and issuance of significant additional indebtedness or equity and could impose significant covenants and restrictions to which we are not currently subject. In particular, in connection with the financial assistance we have received through PSP1 and PSP2, we are required to comply with the relevant provisions of the CARES Act and the PSP Extension Law, including the requirement that funds provided pursuant to PSP1 and PSP2 be used exclusively for the continuation of payment of eligible employee wages, salaries and benefits; the requirement against involuntary furloughs and reductions in employee pay rates and benefits through March 31, 2021; provisions prohibiting the repurchase of AAG common stock and the payment of common stock dividends through at least March 31, 2022; and restrictions on the payment of certain executive compensation until October 1, 2022. In addition, we have entered into the Treasury Loan Agreement and, as a result, the stock repurchase, dividend and executive compensation restrictions imposed by the Treasury Loan Agreement will remain in place through the date that is one year after the secured loan provided under the Treasury Loan Agreement is fully repaid. Additionally, under PSP1 and PSP2, we and certain of our subsidiaries are subject to substantial and continuing reporting obligations. Moreover, as a result of the recent financing activities we have undertaken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of financings with respect to which such covenants and provisions apply has increased, thereby subjecting us to more substantial risk of cross-default and cross-acceleration in the event of breach, and additional covenants and provisions could become binding on us as we continue to seek additional liquidity.
The obligations discussed above, including those imposed as a result of the CARES Act, the PSP Extension Law and any additional financings we may be required to undertake as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, could also impact our ability to obtain additional financing, if needed, and our flexibility in the conduct of our business, and could materially adversely affect our liquidity, results of operations and financial condition.
Further, a substantial portion of our long-term indebtedness bears interest at fluctuating interest rates, primarily based on the London interbank offered rate (LIBOR) for deposits of U.S. dollars. LIBOR tends to fluctuate based on general short-term interest rates, rates set by the U.S. Federal Reserve and other central banks, the supply of and demand for credit in the London interbank market and general economic conditions. We have not hedged our interest rate exposure with respect to our floating rate debt. Accordingly, our interest expense for any particular period will fluctuate based on LIBOR and other variable interest rates. To the extent the interest rates applicable to our floating rate debt increase, our interest expense will increase, in which event we may have difficulties making interest payments and funding our other fixed costs, and our available cash flow for general corporate requirements may be adversely affected.
On July 27, 2017, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (the authority that regulates LIBOR) announced that it intends to stop compelling banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR after 2021. The discontinuation date for submission and publication of rates for certain tenors of USD LIBOR (1-month, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month) is currently under consultation by the ICE Benchmark Administration (the administrator of LIBOR) and may be extended until June 30, 2023. It is unclear whether new methods of calculating LIBOR will be established such that it continues to exist after 2021. Similarly, it is not possible to predict whether LIBOR will continue to be viewed as an acceptable market benchmark, what rate or rates may become acceptable alternatives to LIBOR, or what effect these changes in views or alternatives may have on financial markets for LIBOR-linked financial instruments. While the U.S. Federal Reserve, in conjunction with the Alternative Reference Rates Committee, has chosen the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) as the recommended risk-free reference rate for the U.S. (calculated based on repurchase agreements backed by treasury securities), we cannot currently predict the extent to which this index will gain widespread acceptance as a replacement for LIBOR. It is not possible to predict the effect of these changes, other reforms or the establishment of alternative reference rates in the United Kingdom, the United States or elsewhere. See also the discussion of interest rate risk in Part II, Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk – “Interest.”
We may in the future pursue amendments to our LIBOR-based debt transactions to provide for a transaction mechanism or other reference rate in anticipation of LIBOR’s discontinuation, but we may not be able to reach an agreement with our lenders on any such amendments. As of December 31, 2020, we had $12.8 billion of borrowings based on LIBOR. The replacement of LIBOR with a comparable or successor rate could cause the amount of interest payable on our long-term debt to be different or higher than expected.
31
We have significant pension and other postretirement benefit funding obligations, which may adversely affect our liquidity, results of operations and financial condition.
Our pension funding obligations are significant. The amount of these obligations will depend on the performance of investments held in trust by the pension plans, interest rates for determining liabilities and actuarial experience. The minimum funding obligation applicable to our pension plans was subject to favorable temporary funding rules that expired at the end of 2017 and, as a result, our minimum pension funding obligations increased materially beginning in 2019. Pursuant to the CARES Act, minimum required contributions to be made in calendar year 2020 can be deferred to January 1, 2021 with interest accruing from the original due date to the payment date. In January 2021, we made $241 million of required pension contributions, including the $130 million minimum contributions required for 2020. In addition, we have significant obligations for retiree medical and other postretirement benefits. Additionally, we participate in the IAM National Pension Fund (the IAM Pension Fund). The funding status of the IAM Pension Fund is subject to the risk that other employers may not meet their obligations, which under certain circumstances could cause our obligations to increase. Furthermore, if we were to withdraw from the IAM Pension Fund, if the IAM Pension fund were to terminate, or if the IAM Pension Fund were to undergo a mass withdrawal, we could be subject to liability as imposed by law.
If our financial condition worsens, provisions in our credit card processing and other commercial agreements may adversely affect our liquidity.
We have agreements with companies that process customer credit card transactions for the sale of air travel and other services. These agreements allow these credit card processing companies, under certain conditions (including, with respect to certain agreements, our failure to maintain certain levels of liquidity), to hold an amount of our cash (referred to as a holdback) equal to some or all of the advance ticket sales that have been processed by that credit card processor, but for which we have not yet provided the air transportation. Additionally, such credit card processing companies may require cash or other collateral reserves to be established. These credit card processing companies are not currently entitled to maintain any holdbacks pursuant to these requirements. These holdback requirements can be modified at the discretion of the credit card processing companies upon the occurrence of specific events, including material adverse changes in our financial condition or the triggering of a liquidity covenant. In light of the effect the COVID-19 pandemic is having on demand for air travel and, in turn, capacity, we have seen an increase in demand from consumers for refunds on their tickets, and we anticipate this will continue to be the case for the near future. Requests for refunds and the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our longer-term financial performance may reduce our liquidity and cause us to be forced to post cash or other collateral with the credit card processing companies in respect of advance ticket sales. The imposition of holdback requirements, up to and including 100% of relevant advanced ticket sales, would materially reduce our liquidity. Likewise, other of our commercial agreements contain provisions that allow other entities to impose less-favorable terms, including the acceleration of amounts due, in the event of material adverse changes in our financial condition. For example, we maintain certain letters of credit, insurance- and surety-related agreements under which counterparties may require collateral, including cash collateral.
The loss of key personnel upon whom we depend to operate our business or the inability to attract and develop additional qualified personnel could adversely affect our business.
We believe that our future success will depend in large part on our ability to attract, develop and retain highly qualified management, technical and other personnel. We may not be successful in attracting, developing or retaining key personnel or other highly qualified personnel. Among other things, the CARES Act, the PSP Extension Law and the Treasury Loan Agreement impose significant restrictions on executive compensation, which will remain in place through the date that is the later to occur of one year after the secured loan provided under the Treasury Loan Agreement is fully repaid and October 1, 2022. Such restrictions, over time, will likely result in lower executive compensation in the airline industry than is prevailing in other industries, which may create retention challenges in the case of executives presented with alternative, non-airline opportunities or with opportunities from airlines that are not subject to such restrictions because they never entered into such Treasury loans or have repaid their Treasury loans prior to us. Any inability to attract, develop and retain significant numbers of qualified management and other personnel would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
32
Our business has been and will continue to be affected by many changing economic and other conditions beyond our control, including global events that affect travel behavior, and our results of operations could be volatile and fluctuate due to seasonality.
Our business, results of operations and financial condition have been and will continue to be affected by many changing economic and other conditions beyond our control, including, among others:
•the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic;
•actual or potential changes in international, national, regional and local economic, business and financial conditions, including recession, inflation, higher interest rates, wars, terrorist attacks and political instability;
•changes in consumer preferences, perceptions, spending patterns and demographic trends;
•changes in the competitive environment due to industry consolidation, changes in airline alliance affiliations, and other factors;
•actual or potential disruptions to the U.S. National Airspace System (the ATC system);
•increases in costs of safety, security, and environmental measures;
•outbreaks of diseases that affect travel behavior; and
•weather and natural disasters, including increases in frequency, severity or duration of such disasters, and related costs caused by more severe weather due to climate change.
In particular, an outbreak of a contagious disease such as the Ebola virus, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, H1N1 influenza virus, avian flu, Zika virus, COVID-19 or any other similar illness, if it were to become associated with air travel or persist for an extended period, could materially affect the airline industry and us by reducing revenues and adversely impacting our operations and passengers’ travel behavior. See also "The outbreak and global spread of COVID-19 has resulted in a severe decline in demand for air travel which has adversely impacted our business, operating results, financial condition and liquidity. The duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, and similar public health threats that we may face in the future, could result in additional adverse effects on our business, operating results, financial condition and liquidity.” As a result of these or other conditions beyond our control, our results of operations could be volatile and subject to rapid and unexpected change. In addition, due to generally weaker demand for air travel during the winter, our revenues in the first and fourth quarters of the year could be weaker than revenues in the second and third quarters of the year.
Union disputes, employee strikes and other labor-related disruptions, or our inability to otherwise maintain labor costs at competitive levels may adversely affect our operations and financial performance.
Relations between air carriers and labor unions in the U.S. are governed by the RLA. Under the RLA, CBAs generally contain “amendable dates” rather than expiration dates, and the RLA requires that a carrier maintain the existing terms and conditions of employment following the amendable date through a multi-stage and usually lengthy series of bargaining processes overseen by the NMB. For the dates that the CBAs with our major work groups become amendable under the RLA, see Part I, Item 1. Business – “Employees and Labor Relations.”
In the case of a CBA that is amendable under the RLA, if no agreement is reached during direct negotiations between the parties, either party may request that the NMB appoint a federal mediator. The RLA prescribes no timetable for the direct negotiation and mediation processes, and it is not unusual for those processes to last for many months or even several years. If no agreement is reached in mediation, the NMB in its discretion may declare that an impasse exists and proffer binding arbitration to the parties. Either party may decline to submit to arbitration, and if arbitration is rejected by either party, a 30-day “cooling off” period commences. During or after that period, a PEB may be established, which examines the parties’ positions and recommends a solution. The PEB process lasts for 30 days and is followed by another 30-day “cooling off” period. At the end of this “cooling off” period, unless an agreement is reached or action is taken by Congress, the labor organization may exercise “self-help,” such as a strike, which could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
None of the unions representing our employees presently may lawfully engage in concerted slowdowns or refusals to work, such as strikes, sick-outs or other similar activity, against us. Nonetheless, there is a risk that employees, either with
33
or without union involvement, could engage in one or more concerted refusals to work that could individually or collectively harm the operation of our airline and impair our financial performance. Additionally, some of our unions have brought and may continue to bring grievances to binding arbitration, including those related to wages. If successful, there is a risk these arbitral avenues could result in material additional costs that we did not anticipate. See also Part I, Item 1. Business – “Employees and Labor Relations.”
As of December 31, 2020, approximately 84% of our employees were represented for collective bargaining purposes by labor unions. Currently, we believe our labor costs are generally competitive relative to the other large network carriers. However, we cannot provide assurance that labor costs going forward will remain competitive because we are in negotiations for several important new labor agreements now and other agreements are scheduled to become amendable, competitors may significantly reduce their labor costs or we may agree to higher-cost provisions unilaterally or in connection with our current or future labor negotiations.
If we encounter problems with any of our third-party regional operators or third-party service providers, our operations could be adversely affected by a resulting decline in revenue or negative public perception about our services.
A significant portion of our regional operations are conducted by third-party operators on our behalf, substantially all of which are provided for under capacity purchase agreements. Due to our reliance on third parties to provide these essential services, we are subject to the risk of disruptions to their operations, which has in the past and may in the future result from many of the same risk factors disclosed in this report, such as the impact of adverse economic conditions, the inability of third parties to hire or retain skilled personnel, including pilots and mechanics, and other risk factors, such as an out-of-court or bankruptcy restructuring of any of our regional operators. Several of these third-party regional operators provide significant regional capacity that we would be unable to replace in a short period of time should that operator fail to perform its obligations to us. Disruptions to capital markets, shortages of skilled personnel and adverse economic conditions in general have subjected certain of these third-party regional operators to significant financial pressures, which have in the past and may in the future lead to bankruptcies among these operators. In particular, the severe decline in demand for air travel resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and related governmental restrictions on travel have materially impacted demand for services provided by our regional carriers and, as a result, we have significantly reduced our regional capacity and expect to maintain these reduced levels of capacity for the foreseeable future. We expect the disruption to services resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic to continue to adversely affect our regional operators, some of whom may experience significant financial stress, declare bankruptcy or otherwise cease to operate. We may also experience disruption to our regional operations or incur financial damages if we terminate the capacity purchase agreement with one or more of our current operators or transition the services to another provider. Any significant disruption to our regional operations would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
In addition, our reliance upon others to provide essential services on behalf of our operations may result in our relative inability to control the efficiency and timeliness of contract services. We have entered into agreements with contractors to provide various facilities and services required for our operations, including distribution and sale of airline seat inventory, reservations, provision of information technology and services, regional operations, aircraft maintenance, ground services and facilities and baggage handling. Similar agreements may be entered into in any new markets we decide to serve. These agreements are generally subject to termination after notice by the third-party service provider. We are also at risk should one of these service providers cease operations, and there is no guarantee that we could replace these providers on a timely basis with comparably priced providers, or at all. Any material problems with the efficiency and timeliness of contract services, resulting from financial hardships or otherwise, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Any damage to our reputation or brand image could adversely affect our business or financial results.
Maintaining a good reputation globally is critical to our business. Our reputation or brand image could be adversely impacted by, among other things, any failure to maintain high ethical, social and environmental sustainability practices for all of our operations and activities, our impact on the environment, public pressure from investors or policy groups to change our policies, such as movements to institute a “living wage,” customer perceptions of our advertising campaigns, sponsorship arrangements or marketing programs, customer perceptions of our use of social media, or customer perceptions of statements made by us, our employees and executives, agents or other third parties. In addition, we operate in a highly visible industry that has significant exposure to social media. Negative publicity, including as a result of misconduct by our customers, vendors or employees, can spread rapidly through social media. Should we not respond in a timely and appropriate manner to address negative publicity, our brand and reputation may be significantly harmed.
34
Damage to our reputation or brand image or loss of customer confidence in our services could adversely affect our business and financial results, as well as require additional resources to rebuild our reputation.
Moreover, the outbreak and spread of COVID-19 have adversely impacted consumer perceptions of the health and safety of travel, and in particular airline travel, and these negative perceptions could continue even after the pandemic subsides. Actual or perceived risk of infection on our flights has had, and may continue to have, a material adverse effect on the public's perception of us, which has harmed, and may continue to harm, our reputation and business. We have taken various measures to reassure our team members and the traveling public of the safety of air travel, including requirements that passengers wear face coverings, the provision of protective equipment for team members and enhanced cleaning procedures onboard aircraft and in airports. We expect that we will continue to incur COVID-19 related costs as we sanitize aircraft, implement additional hygiene-related protocols and take other actions to limit the threat of infection among our employees and passengers. However, we cannot assure that these or any other actions we might take in response to the COVID-19 pandemic will be sufficient to restore the confidence of consumers in the safety of air travel.
We are at risk of losses and adverse publicity stemming from any public incident involving our company, our people or our brand, including any accident or other public incident involving our personnel or aircraft, or the personnel or aircraft of our regional, codeshare or joint business operators.
In a modern world where news can be captured and travel rapidly, we are at risk of adverse publicity stemming from any public incident involving our company, our people or our brand. Such an incident could involve the actual or alleged behavior of any of our employees. Further, if our personnel, one of our aircraft, a type of aircraft in our fleet, or personnel of, or an aircraft that is operated under our brand by, one of our regional operators or an airline with which we have a marketing alliance, joint business or codeshare relationship, were to be involved in a public incident, accident, catastrophe or regulatory enforcement action, we could be exposed to significant reputational harm and potential legal liability. The insurance we carry may be inapplicable or inadequate to cover any such incident, accident, catastrophe or action. In the event that our insurance is inapplicable or inadequate, we may be forced to bear substantial losses from an incident or accident. In addition, any such incident, accident, catastrophe or action involving our personnel, one of our aircraft (or personnel and aircraft of our regional operators and our codeshare partners), or a type of aircraft fleet could create an adverse public perception, which could harm our reputation, result in air travelers being reluctant to fly on our aircraft or those of our regional operators or codeshare partners, and adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We face challenges in integrating our computer, communications and other technology systems.
While we have to date successfully integrated many of our computer, communication and other technology systems in connection with the merger of US Airways and American, including our customer reservations system and our pilot, flight attendant and fleet scheduling system, we still have to complete several additional important system integration or replacement projects. In a number of prior airline mergers, the integration of these systems or deployment of replacement systems has taken longer, been more disruptive and cost more than originally forecasted. The implementation process to integrate or replace these various systems will involve a number of risks that could adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial condition. New systems will replace multiple legacy systems and the related implementations will be a complex and time-consuming project involving substantial expenditures for implementation consultants, system hardware, software and implementation activities, as well as the transformation of business and financial processes.
We cannot assure that our security measures, change control procedures or disaster recovery plans will be adequate to prevent disruptions or delays in connection with systems integration or replacement. Disruptions in or changes to these systems could result in a disruption to our business and the loss of important data. Any of the foregoing could result in a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Changes to our business model that are designed to increase revenues may not be successful and may cause operational difficulties or decreased demand.
We have recently instituted, and intend to institute in the future, changes to our business model designed to increase revenues and offset costs. These measures include further segmentation of the classes of services we offer, such as Premium Economy service and Basic Economy service, enhancements to our AAdvantage loyalty program, charging separately for services that had previously been included within the price of a ticket, changing (whether it be increasing, decreasing or eliminating) other pre-existing fees, reconfiguration of our aircraft cabins, and efforts to optimize our network including by focusing growth on a limited number of large hubs. For example, in 2020, we eliminated change fees for most
35
domestic and international tickets, which has reduced our change fee revenue, a trend which is expected to continue as demand for air travel recovers, assuming this change remains in place. We may introduce additional initiatives in the future; however, as time goes on, we expect that it will be more difficult to identify and implement additional initiatives. We cannot assure that these measures or any future initiatives will be successful in increasing our revenues. Additionally, the implementation of these initiatives may create logistical challenges that could harm the operational performance of our airline or result in decreased demand. Also, our implementation of any new or increased fees might reduce the demand for air travel on our airline or across the industry in general, particularly if weakened economic conditions make our customers more sensitive to increased travel costs or provide a significant competitive advantage to other carriers that determine not to institute similar charges.
Our intellectual property rights, particularly our branding rights, are valuable, and any inability to protect them may adversely affect our business and financial results.
We consider our intellectual property rights, particularly our branding rights such as our trademarks applicable to our airline and AAdvantage loyalty program, to be a significant and valuable aspect of our business. We protect our intellectual property rights through a combination of trademark, copyright and other forms of legal protection, contractual agreements and policing of third-party misuses of our intellectual property. Our failure to obtain or adequately protect our intellectual property or any change in law that lessens or removes the current legal protections of our intellectual property may diminish our competitiveness and adversely affect our business and financial results. Any litigation or disputes regarding intellectual property may be costly and time-consuming and may divert the attention of our management and key personnel from our business operations, either of which may adversely affect our business and financial results.
In addition, we have used certain of our branding and AAdvantage loyalty program intellectual property as collateral for various financings (including the Treasury Loan Agreement), which contain covenants that impose restrictions on the use of such intellectual property and, in the case of the Treasury Loan Agreement, on certain amendments or changes to our AAdvantage loyalty program. These covenants may have an adverse effect on our ability to use such intellectual property.
We may be a party to litigation in the normal course of business or otherwise, which could affect our financial position and liquidity.
From time to time, we are a party to or otherwise involved in legal proceedings, claims and government inspections or investigations and other legal matters, both inside and outside the United States, arising in the ordinary course of our business or otherwise. We are currently involved in various legal proceedings and claims that have not yet been fully resolved, and additional claims may arise in the future. Legal proceedings can be complex and take many months, or even years, to reach resolution, with the final outcome depending on a number of variables, some of which are not within our control. Litigation is subject to significant uncertainty and may be expensive, time-consuming, and disruptive to our operations. Although we will vigorously defend ourselves in such legal proceedings, their ultimate resolution and potential financial and other impacts on us are uncertain. For these and other reasons, we may choose to settle legal proceedings and claims, regardless of their actual merit. If a legal proceeding is resolved against us, it could result in significant compensatory damages, and in certain circumstances punitive or trebled damages, disgorgement of revenue or profits, remedial corporate measures or injunctive relief imposed on us. If our existing insurance does not cover the amount or types of damages awarded, or if other resolution or actions taken as a result of the legal proceeding were to restrain our ability to operate or market our services, our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows could be materially adversely affected. In addition, legal proceedings, and any adverse resolution thereof, can result in adverse publicity and damage to our reputation, which could adversely impact our business. Additional information regarding certain legal matters in which we are involved can be found in Note 12 to AAG’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8A and Note 10 to American’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8B.
Our ability to utilize our NOL Carryforwards may be limited.
Under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), a corporation is generally allowed a deduction for net operating losses (NOLs) carried over from prior taxable years (NOL Carryforwards). As of December 31, 2020, we had approximately $16.5 billion of federal NOLs available to reduce future federal taxable income, of which $8.5 billion will expire beginning in 2023 if unused and $8.0 billion can be carried forward indefinitely. We also had approximately $5.0 billion of NOL Carryforwards to reduce future state taxable income at December 31, 2020, which will expire in taxable years 2020 through 2040 if unused. Our NOL Carryforwards are subject to adjustment on audit by the Internal Revenue Service and the respective state taxing authorities. Additionally, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other economic factors, the NOL Carryforwards may expire before we can generate sufficient taxable income to use them.
36
Our ability to use our NOL Carryforwards will depend on the amount of taxable income generated in future periods. We presently have a $34 million valuation allowance on certain net deferred tax assets related to state NOL Carryforwards. If our financial results continue to be adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, there can be no assurance that an additional valuation allowance on our net deferred tax assets will not be required. Such valuation allowance could be material.
A corporation’s ability to deduct its federal NOL Carryforwards and to utilize certain other available tax attributes can be substantially constrained under the general annual limitation rules of Section 382 of the Code (Section 382) if it undergoes an “ownership change” as defined in Section 382 (generally where cumulative stock ownership changes among material stockholders exceed 50 percent during a rolling three-year period). In 2013, we experienced an ownership change in connection with our emergence from bankruptcy and US Airways Group experienced an ownership change in connection with the Merger. The general limitation rules for a debtor in a bankruptcy case are liberalized where the ownership change occurs upon emergence from bankruptcy. We elected to be covered by certain special rules for federal income tax purposes that permitted approximately $9.0 billion (with $7.0 billion of unlimited NOLs still remaining at December 31, 2020) of our federal NOL Carryforwards to be utilized without regard to the annual limitation generally imposed by Section 382. If the special rules are determined not to apply, our ability to utilize such federal NOL Carryforwards may be subject to limitation. In addition, under the loan program of the CARES Act, the Treasury’s acquisition of warrants, stock options, common or preferred stock or other equity acquired in relation to the program does not result in an ownership change for purposes of Section 382. This exception does not apply for companies issuing warrants, stock options, common or preferred stock or other equity pursuant to PSP1 and PSP2 and accordingly will not apply to the warrants issued by us under PSP1 and PSP2. Substantially all of our remaining federal NOL Carryforwards attributable to US Airways Group and its subsidiaries are subject to limitation under Section 382 as a result of the Merger; however, our ability to utilize such NOL Carryforwards is not anticipated to be effectively constrained as a result of such limitation. Similar limitations may apply for state income tax purposes.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, an ownership change subsequent to our emergence from bankruptcy may severely limit or effectively eliminate our ability to utilize our NOL Carryforwards and other tax attributes. To reduce the risk of a potential adverse effect on our ability to utilize our NOL Carryforwards, our Certificate of Incorporation contains transfer restrictions applicable to certain substantial stockholders. These restrictions may adversely affect the ability of certain holders of AAG common stock to dispose of or acquire shares of AAG common stock. Although the purpose of these transfer restrictions is to prevent an ownership change from occurring, no assurance can be given that an ownership change will not occur even with these restrictions in place. See also “Certain provisions of AAG’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws make it difficult for stockholders to change the composition of our Board of Directors and may discourage takeover attempts that some of our stockholders might consider beneficial.”
We have a significant amount of goodwill, which is assessed for impairment at least annually. In addition, we may never realize the full value of our intangible assets or long-lived assets, causing us to record material impairment charges.
Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized, but are assessed for impairment at least annually, or more frequently if conditions indicate that an impairment may have occurred. In accordance with applicable accounting standards, we first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative impairment test. In addition, we are required to assess certain of our other long-lived assets for impairment if conditions indicate that an impairment may have occurred.
Future impairment of goodwill or other long-lived assets could be recorded in results of operations as a result of changes in assumptions, estimates, or circumstances, some of which are beyond our control. There can be no assurance that a material impairment charge of goodwill or tangible or intangible assets will be avoided. The value of our aircraft could be impacted in future periods by changes in supply and demand for these aircraft. Such changes in supply and demand for certain aircraft types could result from grounding of aircraft by us or other airlines, including as a result of significant or prolonged declines in demand for air travel and corresponding reductions to capacity. In 2020, we recorded a $1.5 billion impairment charge associated with our decision to retire certain mainline aircraft, principally Airbus A330-200, Boeing 757, Boeing 767, Airbus A330-300 and Embraer 190 aircraft as well as regional aircraft, including certain Embraer 140 and Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft, earlier than previously planned as a result of the severe decline in demand for air travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We can provide no assurance that a material impairment loss of tangible or intangible assets will not occur in a future period, and the risk of future material impairments has been significantly heightened as result of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our flight schedules and business. Such impairment charges could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
37
Risks Related to the Airline Industry
The airline industry is intensely competitive and dynamic.
Our competitors include other major domestic airlines and foreign, regional and new entrant airlines, as well as joint ventures formed by some of these airlines, many of which have more financial or other resources and/or lower cost structures than ours, as well as other forms of transportation, including rail and private automobiles. In many of our markets, we compete with at least one low-cost carrier (including so-called ultra-low-cost carriers). Our revenues are sensitive to the actions of other carriers in many areas, including pricing, scheduling, capacity, fees (including cancellation, change and baggage fees), amenities, loyalty benefits and promotions, which can have a substantial adverse impact not only on our revenues, but on overall industry revenues. These factors may become even more significant in periods when the industry experiences large losses (such as the current one caused by the COVID-19 pandemic), as airlines under financial stress, or in bankruptcy, may institute pricing or fee structures intended to attract more customers to achieve near term survival at the expense of long-term viability.
Low-cost carriers (including so-called ultra-low-cost carriers) have a profound impact on industry revenues. Using the advantage of low unit costs, these carriers offer lower fares in order to shift demand from larger, more established airlines, and represent significant competitors, particularly for customers who fly infrequently, are price sensitive and therefore tend not to be loyal to any one particular carrier. A number of these low-cost carriers have announced growth strategies including commitments to acquire significant numbers of new aircraft for delivery in the next few years. These low-cost carriers are attempting to continue to increase their market share through growth and several new entrants have announced their intention to start up new ultra-low-cost carriers and, potentially, consolidation, and are expected to continue to have an impact on our revenues and overall performance. We and several other large network carriers have implemented “Basic Economy” fares designed to more effectively compete against low-cost carriers, but we cannot predict whether these initiatives will be successful. While historically these carriers have provided competition in domestic markets, we have recently experienced new competition from low-cost carriers on international routes, including low-cost airlines executing international long-haul expansion strategies, a trend likely to continue with the delivery of planned, long-range narrowbody aircraft. The actions of existing or future low-cost carriers, including those described above, could have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial performance.
We provide air travel internationally, directly as well as through joint businesses, alliances, codeshare and similar arrangements to which we are a party. While our network is comprehensive, compared to some of our key global competitors, we generally have somewhat greater relative exposure to certain regions (for example, Latin America) and somewhat lower relative exposure to others (for example, China). Our financial performance relative to our key competitors will therefore be influenced significantly by macro-economic conditions in particular regions around the world and the relative exposure of our network to the markets in those regions, including the duration of declines in demand for travel to specific regions as a result of the continuing outbreak of COVID-19 and the speed with which demand for travel to these regions returns.
In providing international air transportation, we compete to provide scheduled passenger and cargo service between the U.S. and various overseas locations with U.S. airlines, foreign investor-owned airlines and foreign state-owned or state-affiliated airlines. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, competition had been increasing from foreign state-owned and state-affiliated airlines in the Gulf region. These carriers have large numbers of international widebody aircraft in service and on order and had been increasing service to the U.S. from locations both in and outside the Middle East. Service to and from locations outside of the Middle East was provided by some of these carriers under so-called “fifth freedom” rights permitted under international treaties which allow service to and from stopover points between an airline’s home country and the ultimate destination. Such flights, such as a stopover in Europe on flights to the United States, allow the carrier to sell tickets for travel between the stopover point and the United States in competition with service provided by us. We believe these state-owned and state-affiliated carriers in the Gulf region, including their affiliated carriers, benefit from significant government subsidies, which have allowed them to grow quickly, reinvest in their product and expand their global presence. We expect this to continue after the COVID-19 pandemic subsides.
Our international service exposes us to foreign economies and the potential for reduced demand when any foreign country we serve suffers adverse local economic conditions or if governments restrict commercial air service to or from any of these markets. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a precipitous decline in demand for air travel, in particular international travel, in part as a result of the imposition by the U.S. and foreign governments of restrictions on travel from certain regions. In addition, open skies agreements, which are now in place with a substantial number of countries around the world, provide international airlines with open access to U.S. markets, potentially subjecting us to increased competition on our international routes. See also “Our business is subject to extensive government regulation,
38
which may result in increases in our costs, disruptions to our operations, limits on our operating flexibility, reductions in the demand for air travel, and competitive disadvantages.”
Certain airline alliances, joint ventures and joint businesses have been, or may in the future be, granted immunity from antitrust regulations by governmental authorities for specific areas of cooperation, such as joint pricing decisions. To the extent alliances formed by our competitors can undertake activities that are not available to us, our ability to effectively compete may be hindered. Our ability to attract and retain customers is dependent upon, among other things, our ability to offer our customers convenient access to desired markets. Our business could be adversely affected if we are unable to maintain or obtain alliance and marketing relationships with other air carriers in desired markets.
American has established a transatlantic joint business with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia and Finnair, a transpacific joint business with Japan Airlines and a joint business relating to Australia and New Zealand with Qantas, each of which has been granted antitrust immunity. The transatlantic joint business benefits from a grant of antitrust immunity from the DOT and was reviewed by the EC in July 2010. In connection with this review, we provided certain commitments to the EC regarding, among other things, the availability of take-off and landing slots at LHR or LGW airports. The commitments accepted by the EC were binding for 10 years. In October 2018, in anticipation of the exit of the United Kingdom from the EU, commonly referred to as Brexit, and the expiry of the EC commitments in July 2020, the CMA opened an investigation into the transatlantic joint business. We continue to fully cooperate with the CMA and, in September 2020, the CMA adopted interim measures that effectively extend the EC commitments for an additional three years until March 2024 in light of the uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CMA plans to complete its investigation before the interim measures expire. The foregoing arrangements are important aspects of our international network and we are dependent on the performance and continued cooperation of the other airlines party to those arrangements.
In 2020, we entered into an expanded marketing relationship with Alaska Airlines. This arrangement, once implemented, will expand our existing codeshare relationship, including codeshare on certain of our international routes from SEA and LAX, and will provide for reciprocal loyalty program benefits and shared lounge access. Pursuant to federal law, American and Alaska Airlines submitted this proposed arrangement to the DOT for review. After the DOT allowed the review period to expire with no further actions, American and Alaska Airlines commenced implementation of this arrangement.
Also, in 2020, we announced our intention to enter into a marketing relationship with JetBlue. This arrangement, once implemented, will include an alliance agreement with reciprocal codesharing on domestic and international routes from New York (JFK, LGA, and EWR) and BOS, and will provide for reciprocal loyalty program benefits. The arrangement does not include JetBlue’s future transatlantic flying. Pursuant to federal law, American and JetBlue submitted this proposed alliance arrangement to the DOT for review. After American, JetBlue and the DOT agreed to a series of commitments, the DOT terminated its review of the proposed alliance. The commitments include growth commitments to ensure capacity expansion, slot divestitures at JFK and at DCA near Washington, D.C. and antitrust compliance measures. Beyond this agreement with the DOT, American and JetBlue will also be refraining from certain kinds of coordination on certain city pair markets. In addition to the DOT review, the DOJ and the New York Attorney General, the Massachusetts Attorney General, and the Attorneys General of certain other state and local jurisdictions are investigating this proposed alliance, which remains ongoing. American and JetBlue intend to cooperate with those investigations, but are proceeding with plans to implement this alliance.
Notwithstanding the DOT’s termination of its reviews of the Alaska Airlines and JetBlue alliances, the DOT maintains authority to conduct investigations under the scope of its existing statutes and regulations, including conduct related to these alliances.
No assurances can be given as to any benefits that we may derive from any of the foregoing arrangements or any other arrangements that may ultimately be implemented, or whether or not regulators will, or if granted continue to, approve or impose material conditions on our business activities.
Additional mergers and other forms of industry consolidation, including antitrust immunity grants, may take place and may not involve us as a participant. Depending on which carriers combine and which assets, if any, are sold or otherwise transferred to other carriers in connection with any such combinations, our competitive position relative to the post-combination carriers or other carriers that acquire such assets could be harmed. In addition, as carriers combine through traditional mergers or antitrust immunity grants, their route networks will grow, and that growth will result in greater overlap with our network, which in turn could decrease our overall market share and revenues. Such consolidation is not limited to the U.S., but could include further consolidation among international carriers in Europe and elsewhere.
39
Additionally, our AAdvantage loyalty program, which is an important element of our sales and marketing programs, faces significant and increasing competition from the loyalty programs offered by other travel companies, as well as from similar loyalty benefits offered by banks and other financial services companies. Competition among loyalty programs is intense regarding the rewards, fees, required usage, and other terms and conditions of these programs. In addition, we have used certain assets from our AAdvantage loyalty program as collateral for the secured loan under the Treasury Loan Agreement, which contains covenants that impose restrictions on certain amendments or changes to our AAdvantage loyalty program. These competitive factors and covenants (to the extent applicable) may affect our ability to attract and retain customers, increase usage of our loyalty program and maximize the revenue generated by our loyalty program.
The commercial relationships that we have with other airlines, including any related equity investment, may not produce the returns or results we expect.
An important part of our strategy to expand our network has been to expand our commercial relationships with other airlines, such as by entering into global alliance, joint business and codeshare relationships, and, in one instance involving China Southern Airlines, by making a significant equity investment in another airline in connection with initiating such a commercial relationship. We may explore similar non-controlling investments in, and joint ventures and strategic alliances with, other carriers as part of our global business strategy. We face competition in forming and maintaining these commercial relationships since there are a limited number of potential arrangements and other airlines are looking to enter into similar relationships, and our inability to form or maintain these relationships or inability to form as many of these relationships as our competitors may have an adverse effect on our business. Any such existing or future investment could involve significant challenges and risks, including that we may not realize a satisfactory return on our investment or that they may not generate the expected revenue synergies. In addition, as a result of the global spread of COVID-19, the industry has experienced a precipitous decline in demand for air travel both internationally and domestically, which is expected to continue into the foreseeable future and could materially disrupt our partners’ abilities to provide air service, the timely execution of our strategic operating plans, including the finalization, approval and implementation of new strategic relationships or the expansion of existing relationships. These events could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our business is very dependent on the price and availability of aircraft fuel. Continued periods of high volatility in fuel costs, increased fuel prices or significant disruptions in the supply of aircraft fuel could have a significant negative impact on consumer demand, our operating results and liquidity.
Our operating results are materially impacted by changes in the availability, price volatility and cost of aircraft fuel, which represents one of the largest single cost items in our business and thus is a significant factor in the price of airline tickets. Market prices for aircraft fuel have fluctuated substantially over the past several years and prices continue to be highly volatile.
Because of the amount of fuel needed to operate our business, even a relatively small increase or decrease in the price of fuel can have a material effect on our operating results and liquidity. Due to the competitive nature of the airline industry and unpredictability of the market for air travel, we can offer no assurance that we may be able to increase our fares, impose fuel surcharges or otherwise increase revenues or decrease other operating costs sufficiently to offset fuel price increases. Similarly, we cannot predict actions that may be taken by our competitors in response to changes in fuel prices.
Although we are currently able to obtain adequate supplies of aircraft fuel, we cannot predict the future availability, price volatility or cost of aircraft fuel. Natural disasters (including hurricanes or similar events in the U.S. Southeast and on the Gulf Coast where a significant portion of domestic refining capacity is located), political disruptions or wars involving oil-producing countries, economic sanctions imposed against oil-producing countries or specific industry participants, changes in fuel-related governmental policy, the strength of the U.S. dollar against foreign currencies, changes in the cost to transport or store petroleum products, changes in access to petroleum product pipelines and terminals, speculation in the energy futures markets, changes in aircraft fuel production capacity, environmental concerns and other unpredictable events may result in fuel supply shortages, distribution challenges, additional fuel price volatility and cost increases in the future. For instance, effective January 1, 2020, rules adopted by the International Maritime Organization restrict the sulfur content allowable in marine fuels from 3.5% to 0.5%, which is expected to cause increased demand by maritime shipping companies for low-sulfur fuel and potentially lead to increased costs of aircraft fuel. Any of these factors or events could cause a disruption in or increased demands on oil production, refinery operations, pipeline capacity or terminal access and possibly result in significant increases in the price of aircraft fuel and diminished availability of aircraft fuel supply.
40
Our aviation fuel purchase contracts generally do not provide meaningful price protection against increases in fuel costs. Our current policy is not to enter into transactions to hedge our fuel consumption, although we review this policy from time to time based on market conditions and other factors. We do not currently view the market opportunities to hedge fuel prices as attractive because, among other things, our future fuel needs remain unclear due to uncertainties regarding air travel demand and any hedging would potentially require significant capital or collateral to be placed at risk. Accordingly, as of December 31, 2020, we did not have any fuel hedging contracts outstanding to hedge our fuel consumption. As such, and assuming we do not enter into any future transactions to hedge our fuel consumption, we will continue to be fully exposed to fluctuations in fuel prices. See also the discussion in Part II, Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk – “Aircraft Fuel.”
Our business is subject to extensive government regulation, which may result in increases in our costs, disruptions to our operations, limits on our operating flexibility, reductions in the demand for air travel, and competitive disadvantages.
Airlines are subject to extensive domestic and international regulatory requirements. In the last several years, Congress and state and local governments have passed laws and regulatory initiatives, and the DOT, the FAA, the TSA and several of their respective international counterparts have issued regulations and a number of other directives, that affect the airline industry. These requirements impose substantial costs on us and restrict the ways we may conduct our business.
For example, the FAA from time to time issues directives and other regulations relating to the maintenance and operation of aircraft that require significant expenditures or operational restrictions. These requirements can be issued with little or no notice, or can otherwise impact our ability to efficiently or fully utilize our aircraft, and in some instances have resulted in the temporary and prolonged grounding of aircraft types altogether (including, for example, the March 2019 grounding of all Boeing 737 MAX Family aircraft, which remained in place for over a year and was not lifted in the United States until November 2020), or otherwise caused substantial disruption and resulted in material costs to us and lost revenues. The FAA also exercises comprehensive regulatory authority over nearly all technical aspects of our operations. Our failure to comply with such requirements has in the past and may in the future result in fines and other enforcement actions by the FAA or other regulators. In the future, any new regulatory requirements, particularly requirements that limit our ability to operate or price our products, could have a material adverse effect on us and the industry. In 2021, the FAA is expected to issue a number of rules that will impact us, including regulations mandating certain rest requirements for flight attendants.
DOT consumer rules, and rules promulgated by certain analogous agencies in other countries we serve, dictate procedures for customer handling during long onboard delays, further regulate airline interactions with passengers, including passengers with disabilities, through the ticketing process, at the airport, and onboard the aircraft, and require disclosures concerning airline fares and ancillary fees such as baggage fees. Other DOT rules apply to post-ticket purchase price increases and an expansion of tarmac delay regulations to international airlines. In 2021, the DOT is expected to implement a number of new regulations that will impact us, including disability rules for accessible lavatories and wheelchair assistance, and refunds for checked bag fees in the event of certain delays in delivery.
The Aviation and Transportation Security Act mandates the federalization of certain airport security procedures and imposes additional security requirements on airports and airlines, most of which are funded by a per-ticket tax on passengers and a tax on airlines. Present and potential future security requirements can have the effect of imposing costs and inconvenience on travelers, potentially reducing the demand for air travel.
Similarly, there are a number of legislative and regulatory initiatives and reforms at the state and local levels. These initiatives include increasingly stringent laws to protect the environment, wage/hour requirements, mandatory paid sick or family leave, and health care mandates. These laws could affect our relationship with our workforce and the vendors that serve our airlines and cause our expenses to increase without an ability to pass through these costs. In recent years, the airline industry has experienced an increase in litigation over the application of state and local employment laws, particularly in California. Application of these laws may result in operational disruption, increased litigation risk and impact our negotiated labor agreements.
The results of our operations, demand for air travel, and the manner in which we conduct business each may be affected by changes in law and future actions taken by governmental agencies, including:
•changes in law that affect the services that can be offered by airlines in particular markets and at particular airports, or the types of fares offered or fees that can be charged to passengers;
41
•the granting and timing of certain governmental approvals (including antitrust or foreign government approvals) needed for codesharing alliances, joint businesses and other arrangements with other airlines;
•restrictions on competitive practices (for example, court orders, or agency regulations or orders, that would curtail an airline’s ability to respond to a competitor);
•the adoption of new passenger security standards or regulations that impact customer service standards;
•restrictions on airport operations, such as restrictions on the use of slots at airports or the auction or reallocation of slot rights currently held by us;
•the adoption of more restrictive locally-imposed noise restrictions; and
•restrictions on travel or special guidelines regarding aircraft occupancy or hygiene related to COVID-19, including the imposition of preflight testing regimes which have to date and may in the future have the effect of reducing demand for air travel in the markets where such requirements are imposed.
Each additional regulation or other form of regulatory oversight increases costs and adds greater complexity to airline operations and, in some cases, may reduce the demand for air travel. There can be no assurance that the increased costs or greater complexity associated with our compliance with new rules, anticipated rules or other forms of regulatory oversight will not have a material adverse effect on us.
Any significant reduction in air traffic capacity at and in the airspace serving key airports in the U.S. or overseas could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, the ATC system is not successfully modernizing to meet the growing demand for U.S. air travel. Air traffic controllers rely on outdated procedures and technologies that routinely compel airlines, including ourselves, to fly inefficient routes or take significant delays on the ground. The ATC system’s inability to manage existing travel demand has led government agencies to implement short-term capacity constraints during peak travel periods or adverse weather conditions in certain markets, resulting in delays and disruptions of air traffic. The outdated technologies also cause the ATC system to be less resilient in the event of a failure. For example, an automation failure and an evacuation, in 2015 and 2017, respectively, at the Washington Air Route Control Center resulted in cancellations and delays of hundreds of flights traversing the greater Washington, D.C. airspace.
In the early 2000s, the FAA embarked on a path to modernize the national airspace system, including migration from the current radar-based ATC system to a GPS-based system. This modernization of the ATC system, generally referred to as “NextGen,” has been plagued by delays and cost overruns, and it remains uncertain when the full array of benefits expected from this modernization will be available to the public and the airlines, including ourselves. Failure to update the ATC system and the substantial costs that may be imposed on airlines, including ourselves, to fund a modernized ATC system may have a material adverse effect on our business.
Further, our business has been adversely impacted when government agencies have ceased to operate as expected including due to partial shut-downs, sequestrations or similar events and the COVID-19 pandemic. These events have resulted in, among other things, reduced demand for air travel, an actual or perceived reduction in ATC and security screening resources and related travel delays, as well as disruption in the ability of the FAA to grant required regulatory approvals, such as those that are involved when a new aircraft is first placed into service.
Our operating authority in international markets is subject to aviation agreements between the U.S. and the respective countries or governmental authorities, such as the EU, and in some cases, fares and schedules require the approval of the DOT and/or the relevant foreign governments. Moreover, alliances with international carriers may be subject to the jurisdiction and regulations of various foreign agencies. The U.S. government has negotiated “open skies” agreements with 130 trading partners, which agreements allow unrestricted route authority access between the U.S. and the foreign markets. While the U.S. has worked to increase the number of countries with which open skies agreements are in effect, a number of markets important to us, including China, do not have open skies agreements. For example, the open skies air services agreement between the U.S. and the EU, which took effect in March 2008, provides airlines from the U.S. and EU member states open access to each other’s markets, with freedom of pricing and unlimited rights to fly from the U.S. to any airport in the EU. As a result of the agreement and a subsequent open skies agreement involving the U.S. and the United Kingdom, which was agreed in anticipation of Brexit, we face increased competition in these markets, including LHR. Bilateral and multilateral agreements among the U.S. and various foreign governments of countries we serve but which are not covered by an open skies treaty are subject to periodic renegotiation. We currently operate a number of international routes under government arrangements that limit the number of airlines permitted to operate on the route, the
42
capacity of the airlines providing services on the route, or the number of airlines allowed access to particular airports. If an open skies policy were to be adopted for any of these markets, it could have a material adverse impact on us and could result in the impairment of material amounts of our related tangible and intangible assets. In addition, competition from foreign airlines, revenue-sharing joint ventures, joint business agreements, and other alliance arrangements by and among other airlines could impair the value of our business and assets on the open skies routes.
Brexit occurred on January 31, 2020 under the terms of the agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the EU and the European Atomic Energy Community (the Withdrawal Agreement). The Withdrawal Agreement provided for a transition period that ended on December 31, 2020. Prior to the end of the transition period, on December 24, 2020, EU and United Kingdom negotiators agreed to a new trade and cooperation agreement (the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement). Provisional application of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement between January 1 and February 28, 2021 has been approved by the European Commission, the European Council and the United Kingdom Parliament to allow sufficient time for the formal ratification of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. We face risks associated with Brexit, notably given the extent of our passenger and cargo traffic and that of our joint business partners that flows through LHR in the United Kingdom. The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement includes provisions in relation to commercial air service that we expect to be sufficient to sustain our current services under the transatlantic joint business. However, the scope of traffic rights under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement is less extensive than before Brexit and therefore the impact of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement is uncertain at this stage pending ratification and eventual implementation. As a result, the continuation of our current services, and those of our partners could be disrupted. This could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. More generally, changes in U.S. or foreign government aviation policies could result in the alteration or termination of such agreements, diminish the value of route authorities, slots or other assets located abroad, or otherwise adversely affect our international operations.
We operate a global business with international operations that are subject to economic and political instability and have been, and in the future may continue to be, adversely affected by numerous events, circumstances or government actions beyond our control.
We operate a global business with significant operations outside of the U.S. Our current international activities and prospects have been and in the future could be adversely affected by government policies, reversals or delays in the opening of foreign markets, increased competition in international markets, the performance of our alliance, joint business and codeshare partners in a given market, exchange controls or other restrictions on repatriation of funds, currency and political risks (including changes in exchange rates and currency devaluations), environmental regulation, increases in taxes and fees and changes in international government regulation of our operations, including the inability to obtain or retain needed route authorities and/or slots. In particular, the outbreak and global spread of COVID-19 have severely impacted the demand for international travel and have resulted in the imposition of significant governmental restrictions on commercial air service to or from certain regions. We have responded by suspending a significant portion of our international flights through the summer of 2021 and delaying the introduction of certain new international routes. We can provide no assurance as to when such restrictions will be eased or lifted, when demand for international travel will return to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, if at all, or whether certain international destinations we previously served will be economical in the future.
More generally, our industry may be affected by any deterioration in global trade relations, including shifts in the trade policies of individual nations. For example, much of the demand for international air travel is the result of business travel in support of global trade. Should protectionist governmental policies, such as increased tariff or other trade barriers, travel limitations and other regulatory actions, have the effect of reducing global commercial activity, the result could be a material decrease in the demand for international air travel. Additionally, certain of the products and services that we purchase, including certain of our aircraft and related parts, are sourced from suppliers located in foreign countries, and the imposition of new tariffs, or any increase in existing tariffs, by the U.S. government in respect of the importation of such products could materially increase the amounts we pay for them. In particular, on October 2, 2019, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), as part of an ongoing dispute with the EU before the World Trade Organization (WTO) concerning, among other things, aircraft subsidies, was authorized by an arbitration tribunal of the WTO to impose up to $7.5 billion per year in import tariffs on certain goods originating from the EU. In October 2019, the USTR imposed tariffs on certain imports from the EU, including on certain Airbus aircraft that we previously contracted to purchase; these aircraft were initially subject to an ad valorem duty of 10% that was subsequently increased to 15% in March 2020. In January 2021, the USTR expanded the scope of the 15% tariff to apply to certain imported aircraft parts in addition to imported aircraft. While the scope and rate of these tariffs remain subject to further changes, if and to the extent any of
43
these tariffs are imposed on us without any available means for us to mitigate or pass on the burden of these tariffs to Airbus, the effective cost of new Airbus aircraft required to implement our fleet plan would increase.
Brexit occurred on January 31, 2020 under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement. The Withdrawal Agreement provided for a transition period that ended on December 31, 2020. Prior to the end of the transition period, on December 24, 2020, EU and United Kingdom negotiators agreed to the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Provisional application of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement between January 1 and February 28, 2021 has been approved by the European Commission, the European Council and the United Kingdom Parliament to allow sufficient time for the formal ratification of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. We face risks associated with Brexit, notably given the extent of our passenger and cargo traffic and that of our joint business partners that flows through LHR in the United Kingdom. The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement includes provisions in relation to commercial air service that we expect to be sufficient to sustain our current services under the transatlantic joint business. However, the scope of traffic rights under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement is less extensive than before Brexit and therefore the impact of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement is uncertain at this stage pending ratification and eventual implementation. As a result, the continuation of our current services, and those of our partners could be disrupted. This could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Moreover, Brexit could adversely affect European or worldwide economic or market conditions and could contribute to further instability in global financial markets. In addition, Brexit has created uncertainty as to the future trade relationship between the EU and the United Kingdom, including air traffic services. LHR is presently a very important element of our international network, however it may become less desirable as a destination or as a hub location after Brexit when compared to other airports in Europe. Brexit could also lead to legal and regulatory uncertainty such as the identity of the relevant regulators, new regulatory action and/or potentially divergent treaties, laws and regulations as the United Kingdom determines which EU treaties, laws and regulations to replace or replicate, including those governing aviation, labor, environmental, data protection/privacy, competition and other matters applicable to the provision of air transportation services by us or our alliance, joint business or codeshare partners. For example, in October 2018, in anticipation of Brexit and the expiry of the EC commitments in July 2020, the CMA opened an investigation into the transatlantic joint business. We continue to fully cooperate with the CMA and, in September 2020, the CMA adopted interim measures that effectively extend the EC commitments for an additional three years until March 2024 in light of the uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CMA plans to complete its investigation before the interim measures expire. The impact on our business of any treaties, laws and regulations that replace the existing EU counterparts, or other governmental or regulatory actions taken by the United Kingdom or the EU in connection with or subsequent to Brexit, cannot be predicted, including whether or not regulators will continue to approve or impose material conditions on our business activities. Any of these effects, and others we cannot anticipate, could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Additionally, fluctuations in foreign currencies, including devaluations, exchange controls and other restrictions on the repatriation of funds, have significantly affected and may continue to significantly affect our operating performance, liquidity and the value of any cash held outside the U.S. in local currency. Such fluctuations in foreign currencies, including devaluations, cannot be predicted by us and can significantly affect the value of our assets located outside the United States. These conditions, as well as any further delays, devaluations or imposition of more stringent repatriation restrictions, may materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We may be adversely affected by conflicts overseas or terrorist attacks; the travel industry continues to face ongoing security concerns.
Acts of terrorism or fear of such attacks, including elevated national threat warnings, wars or other military conflicts, may depress air travel, particularly on international routes, and cause declines in revenues and increases in costs. The attacks of September 11, 2001 and continuing terrorist threats, attacks and attempted attacks materially impacted and continue to impact air travel. Increased security procedures introduced at airports since the attacks of September 11, 2001 and any other such measures that may be introduced in the future generate higher operating costs for airlines. The Aviation and Transportation Security Act mandated improved flight deck security, deployment of federal air marshals on board flights, improved airport perimeter access security, airline crew security training, enhanced security screening of passengers, baggage, cargo, mail, employees and vendors, enhanced training and qualifications of security screening personnel, additional provision of passenger data to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency and enhanced background checks. A concurrent increase in airport security charges and procedures, such as restrictions on carry-on baggage, has also had and may continue to have a disproportionate impact on short-haul travel, which constitutes a significant portion of our flying and revenue. Implementation of and compliance with increasingly-complex security and customs requirements will continue to result in increased costs for us and our passengers, and have caused and likely will
44
continue to cause periodic service disruptions and delays. We have at times found it necessary or desirable to make significant expenditures to comply with security-related requirements while seeking to reduce their impact on our customers, such as expenditures for automated security screening lines at airports. As a result of competitive pressure, and the need to improve security screening throughput to support the pace of our operations, it is unlikely that we will be able to capture all security-related costs through increased fares. In addition, we cannot forecast what new security requirements may be imposed in the future, or their impact on our business.
We are subject to risks associated with climate change, including increased regulation of our CO2 emissions, changing consumer preferences and the potential increased impacts of severe weather events on our operations and infrastructure.
Efforts to transition to a low-carbon future have increased the focus by global, regional and national regulators on climate change and GHG emissions, including CO2 emissions. In particular, ICAO has adopted rules to implement CORSIA, which will require American to address the growth in CO2 emissions of a significant majority of our international flights. For more information on CORSIA, see “Aircraft Emissions and Climate Change Requirements” under Item 1. Business – Domestic and Global Regulatory Landscape – Environmental Matters.
At this time, the costs of complying with our future obligations under CORSIA are uncertain, primarily because it is difficult to estimate the return of demand for international air travel during and in the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. There is also significant uncertainty with respect to the future supply and price of carbon offset credits and sustainable or lower carbon aircraft fuels that could allow us to reduce our emissions of CO2. In addition, we will not directly control our CORSIA compliance costs through 2029 because those obligations are based on the growth in emissions of the global aviation sector and begin to incorporate a factor for individual airline operator emissions growth beginning in 2030. Due to the competitive nature of the airline industry and unpredictability of the market for air travel, we can offer no assurance that we may be able to increase our fares, impose surcharges or otherwise increase revenues or decrease other operating costs sufficiently to offset our costs of meeting obligations under CORSIA.
In the event that CORSIA does not come into force as expected, American and other airlines could become subject to an unpredictable and inconsistent array of national or regional emissions restrictions, creating a patchwork of complex regulatory requirements that could affect global competitors differently without offering meaningful aviation environmental improvements. Concerns over climate change are likely to result in continued attempts by municipal, state, regional, and federal agencies to adopt requirements or change business environments related to aviation that, if successful, may result in increased costs to the airline industry and us. In addition, several countries and U.S. states have adopted or are considering adopting programs, including new taxes, to regulate domestic GHG emissions. Finally, certain airports have adopted, and others could in the future adopt, GHG emission or climate-related goals that could impact our operations or require us to make changes or investments in our infrastructure.
All such climate change-related regulatory activity and developments may adversely affect our business and financial results by requiring us to reduce our emissions, make capital investments to purchase specific types of equipment or technologies, purchase carbon offset credits, or otherwise incur additional costs related to our emissions. Such activity may also impact us indirectly by increasing our operating costs, including fuel costs.
Growing recognition among consumers of the dangers of climate change may mean some customers choose to fly less frequently or fly on an airline they perceive as operating in a manner that is more sustainable to the climate. Business customers may choose to use alternatives to travel, such as virtual meetings and workspaces. Greater development of high-speed rail in markets now served by short-haul flights could provide passengers with lower-carbon alternatives to flying with us. Our collateral to secure loans, in the form of aircraft, spare parts and airport slots, could lose value as customer demand shifts and economies move to low-carbon alternatives, which may increase our financing cost.
Finally, the potential acute and chronic physical effects of climate change, such as increased frequency and severity of storms, floods, fires, sea-level rise, excessive heat, longer-term changes in weather patterns and other climate-related events, could affect our operations, infrastructure and financial results. Operational impacts, such as the canceling of flights, could result in loss of revenue. We could incur significant costs to improve the climate resiliency of our infrastructure and otherwise prepare for, respond to, and mitigate such physical effects of climate change. We are not able to predict accurately the materiality of any potential losses or costs associated with the physical effects of climate change.
45
We are subject to many forms of environmental and noise regulation and may incur substantial costs as a result.
We are subject to a number of increasingly stringent federal, state, local and foreign laws, regulations and ordinances relating to the protection of the environment and noise reduction, including those relating to emissions to the air, discharges to surface and subsurface waters, safe drinking water, and the management of hazardous substances, oils and waste materials. Compliance with environmental laws and regulations can require significant expenditures, and violations can lead to significant fines and penalties.
We are also subject to other environmental laws and regulations, including those that require us to investigate and remediate soil or groundwater to meet certain remediation standards. Under federal law, generators of waste materials, and current and former owners or operators of facilities, can be subject to liability for investigation and remediation costs at locations that have been identified as requiring response actions. Liability under these laws may be strict, joint and several, meaning that we could be liable for the costs of cleaning up environmental contamination regardless of fault or the amount of waste directly attributable to us. We have liability for investigation and remediation costs at various sites, although such costs currently are not expected to have a material adverse effect on our business.
We have various leases and agreements with respect to real property, tanks and pipelines with airports and other operators. Under these leases and agreements, we have agreed to indemnify the lessor or operator against environmental liabilities associated with the real property or operations described under the agreement, even in certain cases where we are not the party responsible for the initial event that caused the environmental damage. We also participate in leases with other airlines in fuel consortiums and fuel committees at airports, and such indemnities are generally joint and several among the participating airlines.
Governmental authorities in several U.S. and foreign cities are also considering, or have already implemented, aircraft noise reduction programs, including the imposition of nighttime curfews and limitations on daytime take offs and landings. We have been able to accommodate local noise restrictions imposed to date, but our operations could be adversely affected if locally-imposed regulations become more restrictive or widespread.
We depend on a limited number of suppliers for aircraft, aircraft engines and parts.
We depend on a limited number of suppliers for aircraft, aircraft engines and many aircraft and engine parts. For example, as of the end of 2020 all of our mainline aircraft were manufactured by either Airbus or Boeing and all of our regional aircraft were manufactured by either Bombardier or Embraer. Further, our supplier base continues to consolidate as evidenced by the recent acquisition of Rockwell Collins by United Technologies, the recent transactions involving Airbus and Bombardier and Bombardier and Mitsubishi. Due to the limited number of these suppliers, we are vulnerable to any problems associated with the performance of their obligation to supply key aircraft, parts and engines, including design defects, mechanical problems, contractual performance by suppliers, adverse perception by the public that would result in customer avoidance of any of our aircraft or any action by the FAA or any other regulatory authority resulting in an inability to operate our aircraft, even temporarily. For instance, in March 2019, the FAA ordered the grounding of all Boeing 737 MAX Family aircraft, which remained in place for over a year and was not lifted in the United States until November 2020. The limited number of these suppliers may also result in reduced competition and potentially higher prices than if the supplier base was less concentrated.
Delays in scheduled aircraft deliveries or other loss of anticipated fleet capacity, and failure of new aircraft to perform as expected, may adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The success of our business depends on, among other things, effectively managing the number and types of aircraft we operate. If, for any reason, we are unable to accept or secure deliveries of new aircraft on contractually scheduled delivery dates, this could have negative impacts on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Our failure to integrate newly purchased aircraft into our fleet as planned might require us to seek extensions of the terms for some leased aircraft or otherwise delay the exit of certain aircraft from our fleet. Such unanticipated extensions or delays may require us to operate existing aircraft beyond the point at which it is economically optimal to retire them, resulting in increased maintenance costs, or reductions to our schedule, thereby reducing revenues. If new aircraft orders are not filled on a timely basis, we could face higher financing and operating costs than planned. In addition, if the aircraft we receive do not meet expected performance or quality standards, including with respect to fuel efficiency, safety and reliability, we could face higher financing and operating costs than planned and our business, results of operations and financial condition could be adversely impacted. For instance, in March 2019, the FAA grounded all Boeing 737 MAX Family aircraft, including the 24 aircraft in our fleet at the time of the grounding, and which caused us to be unable to take delivery of the Boeing 737 MAX Family aircraft we had on order from Boeing.
46
We rely heavily on technology and automated systems to operate our business, and any failure of these technologies or systems could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We are highly dependent on existing and emerging technology and automated systems to operate our business. These technologies and systems include our computerized airline reservation system, flight operations systems, financial planning, management and accounting systems, telecommunications systems, website, maintenance systems and check-in kiosks. In order for our operations to work efficiently, our website and reservation system must be able to accommodate a high volume of traffic, maintain secure information and deliver flight information, as well as issue electronic tickets and process critical financial information in a timely manner. Substantially all of our tickets are issued to passengers as electronic tickets. We depend on our reservation system, which is hosted and maintained under a long-term contract by a third-party service provider, to be able to issue, track and accept these electronic tickets. If our technologies or automated systems are not functioning or if our third-party service providers were to fail to adequately provide technical support, system maintenance or timely software upgrades for any one of our key existing systems, we could experience service disruptions or delays, which could harm our business and result in the loss of important data, increase our expenses and decrease our revenues. In the event that one or more of our primary technology or systems vendors goes into bankruptcy, ceases operations or fails to perform as promised, replacement services may not be readily available on a timely basis, at competitive rates or at all, and any transition time to a new system may be significant.
Our technologies and automated systems cannot be completely protected against events that are beyond our control, including natural disasters, power failures, terrorist attacks, cyber-attacks, data theft, equipment and software failures, computer viruses or telecommunications failures. Substantial or sustained system failures could cause service delays or failures and result in our customers purchasing tickets from other airlines. We cannot assure that our security measures, change control procedures or disaster recovery plans are adequate to prevent disruptions or delays. Disruption in or changes to these technologies or systems could result in a disruption to our business and the loss of important data. Any of the foregoing could result in a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Evolving data security and privacy requirements could increase our costs, and any significant data security incident could disrupt our operations, harm our reputation, expose us to legal risks and otherwise materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our business requires the secure processing and storage of sensitive information relating to our customers, employees, business partners and others. However, like any global enterprise operating in today’s digital business environment, we are subject to threats to the security of our networks and data, including threats potentially involving criminal hackers, hacktivists, state-sponsored actors, corporate espionage, employee malfeasance, and human or technological error. These threats continue to increase as the frequency, intensity and sophistication of attempted attacks and intrusions increase around the world. We have been the target of cybersecurity attacks in the past and expect that we will continue to be in the future.
Furthermore, in response to these threats there has been heightened legislative and regulatory focus on data privacy and cybersecurity in the U.S., the EU and elsewhere, particularly with respect to critical infrastructure providers, including those in the transportation sector. As a result, we must comply with a proliferating and fast-evolving set of legal requirements in this area, including substantive cybersecurity standards as well as requirements for notifying regulators and affected individuals in the event of a data security incident. This regulatory environment is increasingly challenging and may present material obligations and risks to our business, including significantly expanded compliance burdens, costs and enforcement risks. For example, in May 2018, the EU’s new General Data Protection Regulation, commonly referred to as GDPR, came into effect, which imposes a host of new data privacy and security requirements, imposing significant costs on us and carrying substantial penalties for non-compliance.
In addition, many of our commercial partners, including credit card companies, have imposed data security standards that we must meet. In particular, we are required by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council, founded by the credit card companies, to comply with their highest level of data security standards. While we continue our efforts to meet these standards, new and revised standards may be imposed that may be difficult for us to meet and could increase our costs.
A significant cybersecurity incident could result in a range of potentially material negative consequences for us, including unauthorized access to, disclosure, modification, misuse, loss or destruction of company systems or data; theft of sensitive, regulated or confidential data, such as personal identifying information or our intellectual property; the loss of functionality of critical systems through ransomware, denial of service or other attacks; a deterioration in our relationships with business partners and other third parties; and business delays, service or system disruptions, damage to equipment and injury to persons or property. The methods used to obtain unauthorized access, disable or degrade service or
47
sabotage systems are constantly evolving and may be difficult to anticipate or to detect for long periods of time. The constantly changing nature of the threats means that we may not be able to prevent all data security breaches or misuse of data. Similarly, we depend on the ability of our key commercial partners, including our regional carriers, distribution partners and technology vendors, to conduct their businesses in a manner that complies with applicable security standards and assures their ability to perform on a timely basis. A security failure, including a failure to meet relevant payment security standards, breach or other significant cybersecurity incident affecting one of our partners could result in potentially material negative consequences for us.
In addition, the costs and operational consequences of defending against, preparing for, responding to and remediating an incident of cybersecurity breach may be substantial. As cybersecurity threats become more frequent, intense and sophisticated, costs of proactive defense measures are increasing. Further, we could be exposed to litigation, regulatory enforcement or other legal action as a result of an incident, carrying the potential for damages, fines, sanctions or other penalties, as well as injunctive relief and enforcement actions requiring costly compliance measures. A significant number of recent privacy and data security incidents, including those involving other large airlines, have resulted in very substantial adverse financial consequences to those companies. A cybersecurity incident could also impact our brand, harm our reputation and adversely impact our relationship with our customers, employees and stockholders. Accordingly, failure to appropriately address these issues could result in material financial and other liabilities and cause significant reputational harm to our company.
We rely on third-party distribution channels and must manage effectively the costs, rights and functionality of these channels.
We rely on third-party distribution channels, including those provided by or through global distribution systems (GDSs) (e.g., Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport), conventional travel agents, travel management companies and online travel agents (OTAs) (e.g., Expedia, including its booking sites Orbitz and Travelocity, and Booking Holdings, including its booking sites Kayak and Priceline), to distribute a significant portion of our airline tickets, and we expect in the future to continue to rely on these channels. We are also dependent upon the ability and willingness of these distribution channels to expand their ability to distribute and collect revenues for ancillary products (e.g., fees for selective seating). These distribution channels are more expensive and at present have less functionality in respect of ancillary product offerings than those we operate ourselves, such as our website at www.aa.com. Certain of these distribution channels also effectively restrict the manner in which we distribute our products generally. To remain competitive, we will need to manage successfully our distribution costs and rights, increase our distribution flexibility and improve the functionality of our distribution channels, while maintaining an industry-competitive cost structure. Further, as distribution technology changes we will need to continue to update our technology by acquiring new technology from third parties, building the functionality ourselves, or a combination, which in any event will likely entail significant technological and commercial risk and involve potentially material investments. These imperatives may affect our relationships with conventional travel agents, travel management companies, GDSs and OTAs, including if consolidation of conventional travel agents, travel management companies, GDSs or OTAs continues, or should any of these parties seek to acquire other technology providers thereby potentially limiting our technology alternatives. Any inability to manage our third-party distribution costs, rights and functionality at a competitive level or any material diminishment or disruption in the distribution of our tickets could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
If we are unable to obtain and maintain adequate facilities and infrastructure throughout our system and, at some airports, adequate slots, we may be unable to operate our existing flight schedule and to expand or change our route network in the future, which may have a material adverse impact on our operations.
In order to operate our existing and proposed flight schedule and, where desirable, add service along new or existing routes, we must be able to maintain and/or obtain adequate gates, check-in counters, operations areas, operations control facilities and administrative support space. As airports around the world become more congested, it may not be possible for us to ensure that our plans for new service can be implemented in a commercially viable manner, given operating constraints at airports throughout our network, including those imposed by inadequate facilities at desirable airports.
In light of constraints on existing facilities, there is presently a significant amount of capital spending underway at major airports in the United States, including large projects underway at a number of airports where we have significant operations, such as ORD, LAX, LGA and DCA. This spending is expected to result in increased costs to airlines and the traveling public that use those facilities as the airports seek to recover their investments through increased rental, landing and other facility costs. In some circumstances, such costs could be imposed by the relevant airport authority without our approval. Accordingly, our operating costs are expected to increase significantly at many airports at which we operate,
48
including a number of our hubs and gateways, as a result of capital spending projects currently underway and additional projects that we expect to commence over the next several years.
In addition, operations at three major domestic airports, certain smaller domestic airports and many foreign airports we serve are regulated by governmental entities through allocations of slots or similar regulatory mechanisms that limit the rights of carriers to conduct operations at those airports. Each slot represents the authorization to land at or take off from the particular airport during a specified time period and may have other operational restrictions as well. In the U.S., the DOT and the FAA currently regulate the allocation of slots or slot exemptions at DCA and two New York City airports: JFK and LGA. Our operations at these airports generally require the allocation of slots or similar regulatory authority. In addition to slot restrictions, operations at DCA and LGA are also limited based on a so-called “perimeter rule” which generally limits the stage length of the flights that can be operated from those airports to 1,250 and 1,500 miles, respectively. Similarly, our operations at LHR, international airports in Beijing, Frankfurt, Paris, Tokyo and other airports outside the U.S. are regulated by local slot authorities pursuant to the International Airline Trade Association Worldwide Scheduling Guidelines and/or applicable local law. Termination of slot controls at some or all of the foregoing airports could affect our operational performance and competitive position. We currently have sufficient slots or analogous authorizations to operate our existing flights and we have generally, but not always, been able to obtain the rights to expand our operations and to change our schedules. However, there is no assurance that we will be able to obtain sufficient slots or analogous authorizations in the future or as to the cost of acquiring such rights because, among other reasons, such allocations are often sought after by other airlines and are subject to changes in governmental policies. Due to the dramatic reduction in air travel resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, we are in many instances relying on exemptions granted by applicable authorities from the requirement that we continuously use certain slots, gates and routes or risk having such operating rights revoked, and we cannot predict whether such exemptions will continue to be granted or whether we ultimately could be at risk of losing valuable operating rights. We cannot provide any assurance that regulatory changes resulting in changes in the application of slot controls or the allocation of or any reallocation of existing slots, the continued enforcement or termination of a perimeter rule or similar regulatory regime will not have a material adverse impact on our operations.
Our ability to provide service can also be impaired at airports, such as LAX and ORD where the airport gate and other facilities are currently inadequate to accommodate all of the service that we would like to provide, or airports such as Dallas Love Field Airport where we have no access to gates at all.
Any limitation on our ability to acquire or maintain adequate gates, ticketing facilities, operations areas, operations control facilities, slots (where applicable), or office space could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Interruptions or disruptions in service at one of our key facilities could have a material adverse impact on our operations.
We operate principally through our hubs in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. and partner gateways including in London Heathrow (among others). Substantially all of our flights either originate at or fly into one of these locations. A significant interruption or disruption in service at one of our hubs, gateways or other airports where we have a significant presence, resulting from ATC delays, weather conditions, natural disasters, growth constraints, performance by third-party service providers (such as electric utility or telecommunications providers), failure of computer systems, disruptions at airport facilities or other key facilities used by us to manage our operations (such as occurred in the United Kingdom at LGW on December 20, 2018 and LHR on January 8, 2019 due to unauthorized drone activity), labor relations, power supplies, fuel supplies, terrorist activities, or otherwise could result in the cancellation or delay of a significant portion of our flights and, as a result, could have a severe impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition. We have limited control, particularly in the short term, over the operation, quality or maintenance of many of the services on which our operations depend and over whether vendors of such services will improve or continue to provide services that are essential to our business.
A higher than normal number of pilot retirements, more stringent duty time regulations, increased flight hour requirement for commercial airline pilots, reductions in the number of military pilots entering the commercial workforce, increased training requirements and other factors have caused a shortage of pilots that could materially adversely affect our business.
We currently have a higher than normal number of pilots eligible for retirement. Large numbers of pilots in the industry are approaching the FAA’s mandatory retirement age of 65. Our pilots and other employees are subject to rigorous certification standards, and our pilots and other crew members must adhere to flight time and rest requirements.
49
Commencing in 2013, the minimum flight hour requirement to achieve a commercial pilot’s license in the United States increased from 250 to 1,500 hours, thereby significantly increasing the time and cost commitment required to become licensed to fly commercial aircraft. Additionally, the number of military pilots being trained by the U.S. armed forces and available as commercial pilots upon their retirement from military service has been decreasing. These and other factors have contributed to a shortage of qualified, entry-level pilots and increased compensation costs, particularly for our regional subsidiaries and our other regional partners who are being required by market conditions to pay significantly increased wages and large signing bonuses to their pilots in an attempt to achieve desired staffing levels. The foregoing factors have also led to increased competition from large, mainline carriers attempting to meet their hiring needs. We believe that this industry-wide pilot shortage is becoming an increasing problem for airlines in the United States. Our regional partners have recently been unable to hire adequate numbers of pilots to meet their needs, resulting in a reduction in the number of flights offered, disruptions, increased costs of operations, financial difficulties and other adverse effects, and these circumstances may become more severe in the future and thereby cause a material adverse effect on our business.
Increases in insurance costs or reductions in insurance coverage may adversely impact our operations and financial results.
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 led to a significant increase in insurance premiums and a decrease in the insurance coverage available to commercial air carriers. Accordingly, our insurance costs increased significantly, and our ability to continue to obtain insurance even at current prices remains uncertain. If we are unable to maintain adequate insurance coverage, our business could be materially and adversely affected. Additionally, severe disruptions in the domestic and global financial markets could adversely impact the claims paying ability of some insurers. Future downgrades in the ratings of enough insurers could adversely impact both the availability of appropriate insurance coverage and its cost. Because of competitive pressures in our industry, our ability to pass along additional insurance costs to passengers is limited. As a result, further increases in insurance costs or reductions in available insurance coverage could have an adverse impact on our financial results.
The airline industry is heavily taxed.
The airline industry is subject to extensive government fees and taxation that negatively impact our revenue and profitability. The U.S. airline industry is one of the most heavily taxed of all industries. These fees and taxes have grown significantly in the past decade for domestic flights, and various U.S. fees and taxes also are assessed on international flights. For example, as permitted by federal legislation, most major U.S. airports impose a per-passenger facility charge on us. In addition, the governments of foreign countries in which we operate impose on U.S. airlines, including us, various fees and taxes, and these assessments have been increasing in number and amount in recent years. Moreover, we are obligated to collect a federal excise tax, commonly referred to as the “ticket tax,” on domestic and international air transportation. We collect the excise tax, along with certain other U.S. and foreign taxes and user fees on air transportation (such as passenger security fees), and pass along the collected amounts to the appropriate governmental agencies. Although these taxes and fees are not our operating expenses, they represent an additional cost to our customers. There are continuing efforts in Congress and in other countries to raise different portions of the various taxes, fees, and charges imposed on airlines and their passengers, including the passenger facility charge, and we may not be able to recover all of these charges from our customers. Increases in such taxes, fees and charges could negatively impact our business, results of operations and financial condition. The CARES Act provided for a temporary tax holiday from collecting and remitting certain government ticket taxes for tickets purchased between March 28, 2020 and December 31, 2020.
Under DOT regulations, all governmental taxes and fees must be included in the prices we quote or advertise to our customers. Due to the competitive revenue environment, many increases in these fees and taxes have been absorbed by the airline industry rather than being passed on to the customer. Further increases in fees and taxes may reduce demand for air travel, and thus our revenues.
Risks Related to Ownership of AAG Common Stock and Convertible Notes
The price of AAG common stock has been and may in the future be volatile.
The market price of AAG common stock has fluctuated substantially in the past, and may fluctuate substantially in the future, due to a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control, including:
•the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business or the U.S. and global economies;
50
•macro-economic conditions, including the price of fuel;
•changes in market values of airline companies as well as general market conditions;
•our operating and financial results failing to meet the expectations of securities analysts or investors;
•changes in financial estimates or recommendations by securities analysts;
•changes in our level of outstanding indebtedness and other obligations;
•changes in our credit ratings;
•material announcements by us or our competitors;
•expectations regarding our capital deployment program, including any existing or potential future share repurchase programs and any future dividend payments that may be declared by our Board of Directors, or any determination to cease repurchasing stock or paying dividends (which we have suspended for an indefinite period in accordance with the applicable requirements under the CARES Act and the PSP Extension Law);
•new regulatory pronouncements and changes in regulatory guidelines;
•general and industry-specific economic conditions;
•changes in our key personnel;
•public or private sales of a substantial number of shares of AAG common stock or issuances of AAG common stock upon the exercise or conversion of restricted stock unit awards, stock appreciation rights, or other securities that may be issued from time to time, including warrants we have or will issue in connection with our receipt of funds under the CARES Act and the PSP Extension Law;
•increases or decreases in reported holdings by insiders or other significant stockholders;
•fluctuations in trading volume; and
•technical factors in the public trading market for our stock that may produce price movements that may or may not comport with macro, industry or company-specific fundamentals, including, without limitation, the sentiment of retail investors (including as may be expressed on financial trading and other social media sites), the amount and status of short interest in our securities, access to margin debt, trading in options and other derivatives on our common stock and any related hedging and other technical trading factors.
The closing price of our common stock on Nasdaq varied from $9.04 to $30.47 during 2020 and $15.00 to $18.10 during 2021 year-to-date through February 12, 2021. At times during this period, fluctuations in our stock price have been rapid, imposing risks on investors due to the possibility of significant, short-term price volatility. While we believe that this wide range of trading prices is broadly indicative of the changing prospects for a large airline facing the challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, we also believe, based in part on the commentary of market analysts, that the trading price of our common stock has at times been influenced by the technical trading factors discussed in the last bullet above. On some occasions, market analysts have explained fluctuations in our stock price by reference to purported “short squeeze” activity. A “short squeeze” is a technical market condition that occurs when the price of a stock increases substantially, forcing market participants who had taken a position that its price would fall (i.e., who had sold the stock “short”), to buy it, which in turn may create significant, short-term demand for the stock not for fundamental reasons, but rather due to the need for such market participants to acquire the stock in order to forestall the risk of even greater losses. A “short squeeze” condition in the market for a stock can lead to short-term conditions involving very high volatility and trading that may or may not track fundamental valuation models.
We have ceased making repurchases of our common stock and paying dividends on our common stock as required by the CARES Act and the PSP Extension Law. Following the end of those restrictions, if we do decide to make repurchases of or pay dividends on our common stock, we cannot guarantee that we will continue to do so or that our capital deployment program will enhance long-term stockholder value.
In connection with our receipt of financial assistance under PSP1 and PSP2, we agreed not to repurchase shares of AAG common stock through at least March 31, 2022. In addition, we have entered into the Treasury Loan Agreement and,
51
as a result, we are further prohibited from repurchasing shares of AAG common stock through the date that is one year after the secured loan provided under the Treasury Loan Agreement is fully repaid. If we determine to make any share repurchases in the future, such repurchases under our repurchase programs may be made through a variety of methods, which may include open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, block trades or accelerated share repurchase transactions. These share repurchase programs do not obligate us to acquire any specific number of shares or to repurchase any specific number of shares for any fixed period, and may be suspended again at any time at our discretion and without prior notice. The timing and amount of repurchases, if any, will be subject to market and economic conditions, applicable legal requirements, such as the requirements of the CARES Act, the PSP Extension Law and other relevant factors. Our repurchase of AAG common stock may be limited, suspended or discontinued at any time at our discretion and without prior notice.
In connection with our receipt of financial assistance under PSP1 and PSP2, we agreed not to pay dividends on AAG common stock through at least March 31, 2022. In addition, we have entered into the Treasury Loan Agreement, and as a result, we are further prohibited from paying dividends on AAG common stock through the date that is one year after the secured loan provided under the Treasury Loan Agreement is fully repaid. If we determine to make any dividends in the future, such dividends that may be declared and paid from time to time will be subject to market and economic conditions, applicable legal requirements and other relevant factors. We are not obligated to continue a dividend for any fixed period, and the payment of dividends may be suspended or discontinued again at any time at our discretion and without prior notice. We will continue to retain future earnings to develop our business, as opportunities arise, and evaluate on a quarterly basis the amount and timing of future dividends based on our operating results, financial condition, capital requirements and general business conditions. The amount and timing of any future dividends may vary, and the payment of any dividend does not assure that we will pay dividends in the future.
In addition, any future repurchases of AAG common stock or payment of dividends, or any determination to cease repurchasing stock or paying dividends, could affect our stock price and increase its volatility. The existence of a share repurchase program and any future dividends could cause our stock price to be higher than it would otherwise be and could potentially reduce the market liquidity for our stock. Additionally, any future repurchases of AAG common stock or payment of dividends will diminish our cash reserves, which may impact our ability to finance future growth and to pursue possible future strategic opportunities and acquisitions. Further, our repurchase of AAG common stock may fluctuate such that our cash flow may be insufficient to fully cover our share repurchases. Although our share repurchase programs are intended to enhance long-term stockholder value, there is no assurance that they will do so.
AAG’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws include provisions that limit voting and acquisition and disposition of our equity interests.
Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws include significant provisions that limit voting and ownership and disposition of our equity interests, as described in Part II, Item 5. Market for American Airlines Group’s Common Stock, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities - “Ownership Restrictions” and AAG’s Description of the Registrants’ Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which is filed as Exhibit 4.1 hereto. These restrictions may adversely affect the ability of certain holders of AAG common stock and our other equity interests to vote such interests and adversely affect the ability of persons to acquire shares of AAG common stock and our other equity interests.
Certain provisions of AAG’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws make it difficult for stockholders to change the composition of our Board of Directors and may discourage takeover attempts that some of our stockholders might consider beneficial.
Certain provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, as currently in effect, may have the effect of delaying or preventing changes in control if our Board of Directors determines that such changes in control are not in our best interest and the best interest of our stockholders. These provisions include, among other things, the following:
•advance notice procedures for stockholder proposals to be considered at stockholders’ meetings;
•the ability of our Board of Directors to fill vacancies on the board;
•a prohibition against stockholders taking action by written consent;
•stockholders are restricted from calling a special meeting unless they hold at least 20% of our outstanding shares and follow the procedures provided for in the amended Bylaws;
52
•a requirement that holders of at least 80% of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors approve any amendment of our Bylaws submitted to stockholders for approval; and
•super-majority voting requirements to modify or amend specified provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation.
These provisions are not intended to prevent a takeover, but are intended to protect and maximize the value of the interests of our stockholders. While these provisions have the effect of encouraging persons seeking to acquire control of our company to negotiate with our Board of Directors, they could enable our Board of Directors to prevent a transaction that some, or a majority, of our stockholders might believe to be in their best interest and, in that case, may prevent or discourage attempts to remove and replace incumbent directors. In addition, we are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which prohibits business combinations with interested stockholders. Interested stockholders do not include stockholders whose acquisition of our securities is approved by the Board of Directors prior to the investment under Section 203.
The issuance or sale of shares of our common stock, rights to acquire shares of our common stock, or warrants issued to Treasury under the CARES Act, the PSP Extension Law, PSP1, PSP2 and in connection with the loan under the CARES Act, could depress the trading price of our common stock and the Convertible Notes.
We may conduct future offerings of material amounts of our common stock, preferred stock or other securities that are convertible into or exercisable for our common stock to finance our operations, to fund acquisitions, or for any other purposes at any time and from time to time (including as compensation to the U.S. Government for the proceeds received pursuant to PSP1, PSP2 and the secured loan provided under the Treasury Loan Agreement). If these additional shares or securities are issued or sold, or if it is perceived that they will be sold, into the public market or otherwise, the price of our common stock and Convertible Notes could decline substantially. If we issue additional shares of our common stock or rights to acquire shares of our common stock, if any of our existing stockholders sells a substantial amount of our common stock, or if the market perceives that such issuances or sales may occur, then the trading price of our common stock and Convertible Notes could decline substantially.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
We had no unresolved Securities and Exchange Commission staff comments that were issued 180 days or more preceding December 31, 2020.
53
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Flight Equipment and Fleet Renewal
As of December 31, 2020, American operated a mainline fleet of 855 aircraft and American Eagle operated 544 regional aircraft. During 2020, American accepted delivery of 30 and 17 mainline and regional aircraft, respectively, and retired 95 and 63 mainline and regional aircraft, respectively. Additionally, during 2020, American temporarily parked 22 and 15 mainline and regional aircraft, respectively. To better align our network with lower passenger demand due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, during 2020, we accelerated the retirement of Airbus A330-200, Boeing 757, Boeing 767, Airbus A330-300 and Embraer 190 fleets as well as certain regional aircraft, including certain Embraer 140 and Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft. These retirements remove complexity from our operation and bring forward cost savings and efficiencies associated with operating fewer aircraft types. See Note 1(g) to each of AAG’s and American’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Items 8A and 8B, respectively, for further information on the accounting for our fleet retirements.
Mainline
As of December 31, 2020, American’s mainline fleet consisted of the following aircraft:
| Average Seating Capacity | Average Age (Years) | Owned | Leased | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Airbus A319 | 128 | 16.7 | 21 | 112 | 133 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Airbus A320 | 150 | 19.7 | 10 | 38 | 48 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Airbus A321 | 179 | 8.4 | 164 | 54 | 218 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Airbus A321neo | 196 | 0.8 | 9 | 19 | 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Boeing 737-800 (1) | 168 | 10.3 | 111 | 171 | 282 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Boeing 737-8 MAX (2) | 172 | 1.7 | 9 | 25 | 34 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boeing 777-200ER | 273 | 20.0 | 44 | 3 | 47 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boeing 777-300ER | 304 | 6.8 | 18 | 2 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boeing 787-8 | 234 | 4.5 | 20 | 3 | 23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boeing 787-9 | 285 | 3.2 | 17 | 5 | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 10.8 | 423 | 432 | 855 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Excluded from the total operating aircraft count above are 21 owned and one leased Boeing 737-800 that are being held in temporary storage.
(2)On November 18, 2020, a directive from the FAA cleared the U.S.-registered Boeing 737 MAX Family aircraft to return to service following its grounding in March 2019. We resumed scheduled service on December 29, 2020 and gradually phased more Boeing 737 MAX Family aircraft into service throughout January 2021 and beyond.
54
Regional
As of December 31, 2020, the fleet of our wholly-owned and third-party regional carriers operating as American Eagle consisted of the following aircraft:
| Average Seating Capacity | Owned | Leased | Owned or Leased by Third Party Regional Carrier | Total | Operating Regional Carrier | Number of Aircraft Operated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bombardier CRJ 700 | 65 | 54 | 7 | 65 | 126 | SkyWest | 65 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PSA | 61 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 126 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bombardier CRJ 900 | 77 | 69 | — | 54 | 123 | PSA | 69 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mesa | 54 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 123 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Embraer 175 (1) | 76 | 91 | — | 82 | 173 | Envoy | 91 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Republic | 82 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 173 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Embraer 140 (1) | 44 | 8 | — | — | 8 | Envoy | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Embraer 145 (1) | 50 | 114 | — | — | 114 | Piedmont | 57 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Envoy | 57 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 114 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 336 | 7 | 201 | 544 | 544 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Excluded from the total operating aircraft count above are 27 regional aircraft that are being held in temporary storage as follows: 18 owned Embraer 140s, seven owned Embraer 175s and two owned Embraer 145s.
See Note 12 to AAG’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8A and Note 10 to American’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8B for additional information on our capacity purchase agreements with third-party regional carriers.
Aircraft and Engine Purchase Commitments
As of December 31, 2020, we had definitive purchase agreements for the acquisition of the following aircraft (1):
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 and Thereafter | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Airbus | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A320neo Family (2) | 16 | 26 | 5 | 18 | 22 | 5 | 92 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boeing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
737 MAX Family (3) | 9 | 10 | 7 | — | 20 | 20 | 66 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 787 Family | 19 | — | 6 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 44 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 44 | 36 | 18 | 24 | 50 | 30 | 202 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Delivery schedule represents our best estimate as of the date of this report. Actual delivery dates are subject to change based on various potential factors including production delays by the manufacturer and, where applicable, our decision to exercise rights to defer certain deliveries.
(2)In October 2019, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced a 10% tariff on new Airbus aircraft imported from Europe. Effective March 18, 2020, this tariff rate increased to 15%, and effective January 12, 2021, the scope of the 15% tariff was expanded to include certain imported aircraft parts in addition to aircraft. We continue to endeavor to mitigate the effect of these tariffs on our Airbus deliveries. See Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors - “We operate a global business with international operations that are subject to economic and political instability and have been, and in the future may continue to be, adversely affected by numerous events, circumstances or government actions beyond our
55
control.” Additionally, as of February 16, 2021, we had accepted delivery of one of the 16 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft presently scheduled for delivery in 2021.
(3)On March 13, 2019, a directive from the FAA grounded all U.S.-registered Boeing 737 MAX Family aircraft and, as a result, all deliveries of Boeing 737 MAX Family aircraft were suspended. Since the time of the FAA recertification of the Boeing 737 MAX Family aircraft on November 18, 2020, deliveries have resumed and we had accepted delivery of 10 Boeing 737 MAX Family aircraft during the period between the date of recertification and December 31, 2020. Additionally, as of February 16, 2021, we had accepted delivery of six of the nine Boeing 737 MAX Family aircraft presently scheduled for delivery in 2021.
We also have agreements for 29 spare engines to be delivered in 2021 and beyond.
We currently have financing commitments in place for 43 aircraft scheduled to be delivered in 2021: 19 Boeing 787 Family aircraft, 16 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft and eight Boeing 737 MAX Family aircraft. Our ability to draw on the financing commitments we have in place is subject to (1) the satisfaction of various terms and conditions, including in some cases, on our acquisition of the aircraft by a certain date and (2) the performance by the counterparty providing such financing commitments of its obligations thereunder. We do not have financing commitments in place for one of the Boeing 737 MAX Family aircraft scheduled to be delivered in 2021, however, we do have rights to defer this Boeing 737 MAX Family aircraft from 2021 to 2023. In addition, we also have rights to defer to 2023-2024 the 10 Boeing 737 MAX Family aircraft currently scheduled to be delivered in 2022. See Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors –“We will need to obtain sufficient financing or other capital to operate successfully” for additional discussion.
See Note 12 to AAG’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8A and Note 10 to American’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8B for additional information on aircraft and engine acquisition commitments.
Ground Properties
At each airport where we conduct flight operations, we have agreements, generally with a governmental unit or authority, for the use of passenger, operations and baggage handling space as well as runways and taxiways. These agreements, particularly in the U.S., often contain provisions for periodic adjustments to rates and charges applicable under such agreements. These rates and charges also vary with our level of operations and the operations of the airport. Additionally, at our hub locations and in certain other cities we serve, we lease administrative offices, catering, cargo, training, maintenance and other facilities.
We lease or have built on leased property our headquarters and training facilities in Fort Worth, Texas, our principal overhaul and maintenance base in Tulsa, Oklahoma, our regional reservation offices, and administrative offices throughout the U.S. and abroad.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
See Note 12 to AAG’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8A and Note 10 to American’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8B for information on legal proceedings.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not Applicable.
56
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR AMERICAN AIRLINES GROUP’S COMMON STOCK, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Stock Exchange Listing
Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the trading symbol “AAL.” There is no trading market for the common stock of American, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AAG.
As of February 12, 2021, the closing price of our common stock was $17.27 and there were 12,527 holders of record. However, because many of the shares of our common stock are held by brokers and other institutions on behalf of stockholders, we believe there are substantially more beneficial holders of our common stock than record holders.
Information on securities authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans will be set forth in our Proxy Statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of American Airlines Group Inc. (the Proxy Statement) under the caption “Equity Compensation Plan Information” and is incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Dividends on Common Stock
The total cash payment for dividends during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 was $43 million and $178 million, respectively. In connection with our receipt of financial assistance under PSP1 and PSP2, we agreed not to pay dividends on AAG common stock through at least March 31, 2022. In addition, we have entered into the Treasury Loan Agreement, and as a result, we are further prohibited from paying dividends on AAG common stock through the date that is one year after the secured loan provided under the Treasury Loan Agreement is fully repaid. If we determine to make any dividends in the future, such dividends that may be declared and paid from time to time will be subject to market and economic conditions, applicable legal requirements and other relevant factors. We are not obligated to continue a dividend for any fixed period, and the payment of dividends may be suspended or discontinued again at any time at our discretion and without prior notice.
Stock Performance Graph
The following stock performance graph and related information shall not be deemed “soliciting material” or “filed” with the Securities and Exchange Commission, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future filings under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, each as amended, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference into such filing.
The following stock performance graph compares the cumulative total stockholder returns during the period from December 31, 2015 to December 31, 2020 of our common stock to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) ARCA Airline Index and the Standard and Poor’s Financial Services, LLC (S&P) 500 Stock Index. The comparison assumes $100 was invested on December 31, 2015 in our common stock and in each of the foregoing indices and assumes that all dividends were reinvested. The stock performance shown on the following graph represents historical stock performance and is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.
57
| 12/31/2015 | 12/31/2016 | 12/31/2017 | 12/31/2018 | 12/31/2019 | 12/31/2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| American Airlines Group Inc. (AAL) | $ | 100 | $ | 111 | $ | 125 | $ | 78 | $ | 71 | $ | 39 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| NYSE ARCA Airline Index (XAL) | 100 | 128 | 134 | 104 | 126 | 95 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| S&P 500 Index (GSPC) | 100 | 110 | 131 | 123 | 158 | 184 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
Since July 2014, as part of our capital deployment program, our Board of Directors had approved seven share repurchase programs aggregating $13.0 billion of authority. The $420 million of remaining authority to repurchase shares under our most recent $2.0 billion share repurchase program expired on December 31, 2020. In connection with our receipt of financial assistance under PSP1 and PSP2, we agreed not to repurchase shares of AAG common stock through at least March 31, 2022. In addition, we have entered into the Treasury Loan Agreement and, as a result, we are further prohibited from repurchasing shares of AAG common stock through the date that is one year after the secured loan provided under the Treasury Loan Agreement is fully repaid.
In 2020, we repurchased 6.4 million shares of AAG common stock for $145 million at a weighted average cost per share of $22.77, all of which were purchased in the first quarter of 2020. In 2019, we repurchased 33.8 million shares of AAG common stock for $1.1 billion at a weighted average cost per share of $32.09.
If we determine to make any share repurchases in the future, such repurchases under our repurchase programs may be made through a variety of methods, which may include open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, block trades or accelerated share repurchase transactions. These share repurchase programs do not obligate us to acquire any specific number of shares or to repurchase any specific number of shares for any fixed period, and may be suspended again at any time at our discretion and without prior notice. The timing and amount of repurchases, if any, will be subject to market and economic conditions, applicable legal requirements, such as the requirements of the CARES Act, the PSP Extension Law and other relevant factors. Our repurchase of AAG common stock may be limited, suspended or discontinued at any time at our discretion and without prior notice.
See Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors – “We have ceased making repurchases of our common stock and paying dividends on our common stock as required by the CARES Act and the PSP Extension Law. Following the end of those restrictions, if we do decide to make repurchases of or pay dividends on our common stock, we cannot guarantee that we will continue to do so or that our capital deployment program will enhance long-term stockholder value.”
58
Ownership Restrictions
AAG’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws provide that, consistent with the requirements of Subtitle VII of Title 49 of the United States Code, as amended (the Aviation Act), any persons or entities who are not a “citizen of the United States” (as defined under the Aviation Act and administrative interpretations issued by the DOT, its predecessors and successors, from time to time), including any agent, trustee or representative of such persons or entities (a non-citizen), shall not, in the aggregate, own (beneficially or of record) and/or control more than (a) 24.9% of the aggregate votes of all of our outstanding equity securities or (b) 49.0% of our outstanding equity securities. Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws further specify that it is the duty of each stockholder who is a non-citizen to register his, her or its equity securities on our foreign stock record and provide for remedies applicable to stockholders that exceed the voting and ownership caps described above.
In addition, to reduce the risk of a potential adverse effect on our ability to use our NOL Carryforwards and certain other tax attributes for federal income tax purposes, our Certificate of Incorporation contains certain restrictions on the acquisition and disposition of our common stock by substantial stockholders (generally holders of more than 4.75%). This provision is currently scheduled to expire by its terms in December 2021.
See Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors – “AAG’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws include provisions that limit voting and acquisition and disposition of our equity interests.” Also see AAG’s Certification of Incorporation and Bylaws, which are filed as Exhibits 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 hereto, for the full text of the foregoing restrictions and AAG’s Description of the Registrants’ Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which is filed as Exhibit 4.1 hereto, for a more detailed description.
59
ITEM 6. SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
We adopted three new accounting standards as of January 1, 2018: Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-02: Leases (Topic 842) (the New Lease Standard), ASU 2014-09: Revenue from Contracts with Customers (the New Revenue Standard) and ASU 2017-07: Compensation - Retirement Benefits (the New Retirement Standard). The 2017 and 2016 financial information presented within this Item 6. Selected Consolidated Financial Data has been recast to reflect the impact of the adoption of the New Revenue Standard and the New Retirement Standard. The New Lease Standard did not require the recast of prior periods. See Note 1(b) to each of AAG’s and American’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Items 8A and 8B, respectively, of AAG’s and American’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, for further information on the impacts of these new accounting standards.
Selected Consolidated Financial Data of AAG
The selected consolidated financial data presented below under the captions “Consolidated Statements of Operations data” and “Consolidated Balance Sheet data” for the years ended and as of December 31, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016, are derived from AAG’s audited consolidated financial statements.
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions, except share and per share amounts) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Consolidated Statements of Operations data: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating revenues | $ | 17,337 | $ | 45,768 | $ | 44,541 | $ | 42,622 | $ | 40,142 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 27,758 | 42,703 | 41,885 | 38,391 | 35,082 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | (10,421) | 3,065 | 2,656 | 4,231 | 5,060 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | (8,885) | 1,686 | 1,412 | 1,282 | 2,584 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Earnings (loss) per common share: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | (18.36) | $ | 3.80 | $ | 3.04 | $ | 2.62 | $ | 4.68 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Diluted | (18.36) | 3.79 | 3.03 | 2.61 | 4.65 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares used for computation (in thousands): | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 483,888 | 443,363 | 464,236 | 489,164 | 552,308 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Diluted | 483,888 | 444,269 | 465,660 | 491,692 | 556,099 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash dividends declared per common share | $ | 0.10 | $ | 0.40 | $ | 0.40 | $ | 0.40 | $ | 0.40 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Consolidated Balance Sheet data (at end of period): | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 62,008 | $ | 59,995 | $ | 60,580 | $ | 52,785 | $ | 53,610 | |||||||||||||||||||
Debt and finance leases | 32,593 | 24,315 | 24,473 | 25,065 | 24,344 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pension and postretirement obligations (1) | 7,131 | 6,081 | 6,937 | 7,596 | 7,946 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities | 8,428 | 9,129 | 9,556 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stockholders’ deficit | (6,867) | (118) | (169) | (780) | (286) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Substantially all defined benefit pension plans were frozen effective November 1, 2012. See Note 10 to AAG's Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8A for further information on pension and postretirement benefits.
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We sometimes use financial measures that are derived from the consolidated financial statements but that are not presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (GAAP) to understand and evaluate our current operating performance and to allow for period-to-period comparisons. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures may also provide useful information to investors and others. These non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly titled non-GAAP measures of other companies, and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for or superior to, any measure of performance, cash flow or liquidity prepared in accordance with GAAP. We are providing a reconciliation of reported non-GAAP financial measures to their comparable financial measures on a GAAP basis.
60
The following table presents the components of our total net special items and the reconciliation of pre-tax income (loss) and net income (loss) (GAAP measures) to pre-tax income (loss) excluding net special items and net income (loss) excluding net special items (non-GAAP measures). Management uses pre-tax income (loss) excluding net special items and net income (loss) excluding net special items to evaluate our current operating performance and to allow for period-to-period comparisons. As net special items may vary from period-to-period in nature and amount, the adjustment to exclude net special items allows management an additional tool to understand our core operating performance.
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
| (In millions) | |||||||||||
Components of Total Special Items, Net: (1) | |||||||||||
PSP1 Financial Assistance (2) | $ | (3,710) | $ | — | |||||||
Fleet impairment (3) | 1,484 | 213 | |||||||||
Severance expenses (4) | 1,408 | 11 | |||||||||
Labor contract expenses (5) | 228 | — | |||||||||
Mark-to-market adjustments on bankruptcy obligations, net (6) | (49) | (11) | |||||||||
Fleet restructuring expenses (7) | — | 271 | |||||||||
Merger integration expenses (8) | — | 191 | |||||||||
| Litigation reserve adjustments | — | (53) | |||||||||
| Other operating special items, net | (18) | 13 | |||||||||
| Mainline operating special items, net | (657) | 635 | |||||||||
PSP1 Financial Assistance (2) | (444) | — | |||||||||
Fleet impairment (3) | 117 | — | |||||||||
Severance expenses (4) | 18 | — | |||||||||
| Other operating special items, net | — | 6 | |||||||||
| Regional operating special items, net | (309) | 6 | |||||||||
| Operating special items, net | (966) | 641 | |||||||||
Mark-to-market adjustments on equity and other investments, net (9) | 135 | (5) | |||||||||
| Debt refinancing, extinguishment and other, net | 35 | 8 | |||||||||
| Nonoperating special items, net | 170 | 3 | |||||||||
| Pre-tax special items, net | (796) | 644 | |||||||||
| Total special items, net | $ | (796) | $ | 644 | |||||||
| Reconciliation of Pre-Tax Income (Loss) Excluding Net Special Items: | |||||||||||
| Pre-tax income (loss) – GAAP | $ | (11,453) | $ | 2,256 | |||||||
| Adjusted for: Pre-tax special items, net | (796) | 644 | |||||||||
| Pre-tax income (loss) excluding net special items | $ | (12,249) | $ | 2,900 | |||||||
| Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) Excluding Net Special Items: | |||||||||||
| Net income (loss) – GAAP | $ | (8,885) | $ | 1,686 | |||||||
| Adjusted for: Total special items, net | (796) | 644 | |||||||||
| Adjusted for: Net tax effect of net special items | 170 | (151) | |||||||||
| Net income (loss) excluding net special items | $ | (9,511) | $ | 2,179 | |||||||
(1)See Note 2 to AAG’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8A for further information on net special items.
(2)PSP1 Financial Assistance represents recognition of financial assistance received from Treasury pursuant to the PSP1 Agreement. See Note 1(b) to AAG’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8A for further information.
61
(3)The 2020 fleet impairment resulted from our decision to retire certain aircraft earlier than planned driven by the severe decline in air travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Aircraft retired include Airbus A330-200, Boeing 757, Boeing 767, Airbus A330-300, Embraer 190, certain Embraer 140 and Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft. This included a $1.5 billion non-cash write-down of mainline and regional aircraft and spare parts and $109 million in cash charges primarily for impairment of right-of-use (ROU) assets and lease return costs. See Note 1(g) to AAG’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8A for further information related to these charges.
The 2019 fleet impairment principally included a non-cash write-down of aircraft related to the retirement of our Embraer 190 fleet.
(4)The 2020 severance expenses included salary and medical costs primarily associated with certain team members who opted in to voluntary early retirement programs offered as a result of reductions to our operation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cash payments related to these charges for the year ended December 31, 2020 were approximately $365 million.
The 2019 severance expenses primarily included costs associated with reductions of management and support staff team members.
(5)Labor contract expenses primarily related to one-time charges resulting from the ratification of a new contract with the TWU-IAM Association for our maintenance and fleet service team members, including signing bonuses and adjustments to vacation accruals resulting from pay rate increases.
(6)Bankruptcy obligations that will be settled in shares of AAG common stock are marked-to-market based on AAG’s stock price.
(7)Fleet restructuring expenses principally included accelerated depreciation and rent expense for aircraft and related equipment expected to be retired earlier than planned.
(8)Merger integration expenses included costs associated with integration projects, principally our technical operations, flight attendant, human resources and payroll systems.
(9)Mark-to-market adjustments on equity and other investments, net primarily related to net unrealized gains and losses associated with our equity investment in China Southern Airlines and certain treasury rate lock derivative instruments.
62
Additionally, the table below presents the reconciliation of total operating expenses (GAAP measure) to total operating costs excluding net special items and fuel (non-GAAP measure). Management uses total operating costs excluding net special items and aircraft fuel to evaluate our current operating performance and for period-to-period comparisons. The price of fuel, over which we have no control, impacts the comparability of period-to-period financial performance. The adjustment to exclude aircraft fuel and net special items allows management an additional tool to understand and analyze our non-fuel costs and core operating performance. Amounts may not recalculate due to rounding.
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
| Reconciliation of Total Operating Costs per Available Seat Mile (CASM) Excluding Net Special Items and Fuel: | |||||||||||
| (In millions) | |||||||||||
| Total operating expenses – GAAP | $ | 27,758 | $ | 42,703 | |||||||
Operating net special items (1): | |||||||||||
Mainline operating special items, net | 657 | (635) | |||||||||
Regional operating special items, net | 309 | (6) | |||||||||
| Fuel: | |||||||||||
| Aircraft fuel and related taxes – mainline | (2,581) | (7,526) | |||||||||
| Aircraft fuel and related taxes – regional | (821) | (1,869) | |||||||||
| Total operating expenses, excluding net special items and fuel | $ | 25,322 | $ | 32,667 | |||||||
| (In millions) | |||||||||||
| Total Available Seat Miles (ASM) | 143,167 | 285,088 | |||||||||
| (In cents) | |||||||||||
| Total operating CASM | 19.39 | 14.98 | |||||||||
Operating net special items per ASM (1): | |||||||||||
| Mainline operating special items, net | 0.46 | (0.22) | |||||||||
| Regional operating special items, net | 0.22 | — | |||||||||
| Fuel per ASM: | |||||||||||
| Aircraft fuel and related taxes – mainline | (1.80) | (2.64) | |||||||||
| Aircraft fuel and related taxes – regional | (0.57) | (0.66) | |||||||||
| Total operating CASM, excluding net special items and fuel | 17.69 | 11.46 | |||||||||
(1)See Note 2 to AAG’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8A for further information on net special items.
63
Selected Consolidated Financial Data of American
The selected consolidated financial data presented below under the captions “Consolidated Statements of Operations data” and “Consolidated Balance Sheet data” for the years ended and as of December 31, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016 are derived from American’s audited consolidated financial statements.
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Consolidated Statements of Operations data: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating revenues | $ | 17,335 | $ | 45,761 | $ | 44,530 | $ | 42,610 | $ | 40,125 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 27,559 | 42,714 | 41,807 | 38,405 | 35,045 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | (10,224) | 3,047 | 2,723 | 4,205 | 5,080 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | (8,450) | 1,972 | 1,658 | 1,285 | 2,689 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Consolidated Balance Sheet data (at end of period): | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 69,215 | $ | 71,890 | $ | 70,878 | $ | 61,401 | $ | 60,428 | |||||||||||||||||||
Debt and finance leases | 28,982 | 23,042 | 23,197 | 23,294 | 22,577 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pension and postretirement obligations (1) | 7,089 | 6,037 | 6,893 | 7,550 | 7,904 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities | 8,380 | 9,083 | 9,496 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stockholder’s equity | 4,348 | 13,422 | 11,770 | 9,888 | 8,578 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Substantially all defined benefit pension plans were frozen effective November 1, 2012. See Note 8 to American's Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8B for further information on pension and postretirement benefits.
64
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
2020 Financial Overview
Impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19)
COVID-19 has been declared a global health pandemic by the World Health Organization. COVID-19 has surfaced in nearly all regions of the world, which has driven the implementation of significant, government-imposed measures to prevent or reduce its spread, including travel restrictions, testing regimes, closing of borders, “stay at home” orders and business closures. As a result, we have experienced an unprecedented decline in the demand for air travel, which has resulted in a material deterioration in our revenues. While our business performed largely as expected in January and February of 2020, a severe reduction in air travel starting in March 2020 resulted in our total operating revenues decreasing approximately 62% in 2020 as compared to 2019. While the length and severity of the reduction in demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic is uncertain, we expect our results of operations for 2021 to be severely impacted.
We have taken aggressive actions to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business including deep capacity reductions, structural changes to our fleet, cost reductions, and steps to preserve cash and improve our overall liquidity position. We remain extremely focused on taking all self-help measures available to manage our business during this unprecedented time, consistent with the terms of the financial assistance we have received from the U.S. Government under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) and Subtitle A of Title IV of Division N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (PSP Extension Law).
Capacity Reductions
We have significantly reduced our capacity (as measured by available seat miles), with 2020 flying decreasing by 50% year-over-year. Domestic capacity in 2020 was down 41% year-over-year while international capacity was down 68% year-over-year.
We also reset our international capacity and network for 2021 in response to the severe decline in demand. We have exited 19 international routes from six hubs. These changes will allow us to operate more efficiently when demand returns.
We currently expect our first quarter 2021 system capacity to decrease by 45% as compared to the first quarter of 2019. The demand environment continues to be uncertain as COVID-19 cases have continued to fluctuate in jurisdictions to which we fly and travel restrictions have generally remained in place. Due to this uncertainty, we will continue to adjust our future capacity to match observed booking trends for future travel and make further adjustments to our capacity as needed.
Fleet
To better align our network with lower passenger demand, we accelerated the retirement of Airbus A330-200, Boeing 757, Boeing 767, Airbus A330-300 and Embraer 190 fleets as well as certain regional aircraft, including certain Embraer 140 and Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft. These retirements remove complexity from our operation and bring forward cost savings and efficiencies associated with operating fewer aircraft types. See Note 1(g) to AAG’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8A for further information on the accounting for our fleet retirements. Due to the inherent uncertainties of the current operating environment, we will continue to evaluate our current fleet and may decide to permanently retire additional aircraft. In addition, we have placed a number of Boeing 737-800 and certain regional aircraft into temporary storage.
Cost Reductions
We moved quickly to better align our costs with our reduced schedule. In aggregate, we estimate that we reduced our 2020 operating and capital expenditures by more than $17 billion. These savings were achieved primarily through capacity reductions. In addition, we implemented a series of actions, including the accelerated fleet retirements discussed above as well as reductions in maintenance expense and $700 million in non-aircraft capital expenditures through less fleet modification work, the elimination of ground service equipment purchases and pausing non-critical facility investments and information technology projects. We also suspended all non-essential hiring, paused non-contractual pay rate increases, reduced executive and board of director compensation, implemented voluntary leave and early retirement programs and decreased our management and support staff team, including officers, by approximately 30%. In total, more than 20,000 team members have opted for an early retirement or long-term partially paid leave. Additionally, we have made reductions in marketing, contractor, event and training expenses as well as consolidated space at airport facilities.
65
Due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, we involuntarily furloughed certain team members starting October 1, 2020, and subsequently recalled the team members covered by the PSP2 financial assistance effective December 1, 2020 (see Note 18 to AAG’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8A for further information).
On February 5, 2021, we informed approximately 13,000 U.S.-based team members of the possibility of a workforce reduction at their work location. We expect that any workforce reductions will take effect on or after April 1, 2021. In connection with this notification, we announced the reopening of the voluntary early out and long-term leave of absence programs for team members of certain represented workgroups. Eligible team members must opt in by February 26, 2021 for the early out program and March 12, 2021 for the voluntary leave program.
Liquidity
As of December 31, 2020, we had $14.3 billion in total available liquidity, consisting of $6.9 billion in unrestricted cash and short-term investments, $7.0 billion in an undrawn term loan facility under the CARES Act and a total of $446 million in undrawn short-term revolving and other facilities.
During 2020, we completed the following financing transactions (see Note 5 to AAG’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8A for further information):
•refinanced the $1.2 billion 2014 Term Loan Facility at a lower interest rate and extended the maturity from 2021 to 2027;
•issued $500 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.75% unsecured senior notes due 2025;
•raised $1.0 billion from the senior secured delayed draw term loan credit facility (Delayed Draw Term Loan Credit Facility);
•borrowed $750 million under the 2013 Revolving Facility, $1.6 billion under the 2014 Revolving Facility and $450 million under the April 2016 Revolving Facility;
•issued $1.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of 6.50% convertible senior notes due 2025;
•issued 85.2 million shares of AAG common stock at a price of $13.50 per share and 44.3 million shares of AAG common stock at a price of $12.975 per share pursuant to two underwritten public offerings of common stock for aggregate net proceeds of $1.7 billion;
•issued $2.5 billion in aggregate principal amount of 11.75% senior secured notes due 2025 and used the proceeds thereof, in part, to repay the $1.0 billion Delayed Draw Term Loan Credit Facility that we borrowed in March 2020;
•issued approximately $360 million in special facility revenue bonds, of which $47 million was used to fund the redemption of certain outstanding bonds;
•entered into a $7.5 billion secured term loan facility with the U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) (the Treasury Loan Agreement), of which we borrowed $550 million;
•issued $1.2 billion in aggregate principal amount of two series of 10.75% senior secured notes due 2026 secured by various collateral;
•issued 68.6 million shares of AAG common stock at an average price of $12.87 per share pursuant to an at-the-market offering for net proceeds of $869 million (see Note 18 to AAG’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8A for further information);
•raised $665 million principally from aircraft sale-leaseback transactions as well as $351 million from asset sales primarily related to previously parked aircraft; and
•received approximately $600 million of proceeds from enhanced equipment trust certificates (EETCs) and other aircraft and flight equipment financings, of which $17 million was used to repay existing indebtedness.
66
In addition to the foregoing financings, we received an aggregate of $6.0 billion in financial assistance through PSP1 established under the CARES Act, all of which was received by the end of September 2020. In connection with our receipt of this financial assistance, AAG issued a promissory note (the PSP1 Promissory Note) to Treasury for $1.8 billion in aggregate principal amount and warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of approximately 14.1 million shares (the PSP1 Warrant Shares) of AAG common stock. See Note 1(b) to AAG’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8A for further discussion on PSP1.
In January 2021, we received $1.5 billion (of an expected total of at least $3.0 billion) in financial assistance through PSP2 established under the PSP Extension Law. In connection with our receipt of this financial assistance, AAG issued a promissory note (the PSP2 Promissory Note) to Treasury for an initial principal sum of approximately $433 million and warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of approximately 2.8 million shares (the PSP2 Warrant Shares) of AAG common stock. See Note 18 to AAG’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8A for further discussion on PSP2.
Also, we are permitted to, and have, deferred payment of the employer portion of Social Security taxes through the end of 2020 (with 50% of the deferred amount due December 31, 2021 and the remaining 50% due December 31, 2022). This deferral provided approximately $350 million in additional liquidity during 2020. Additionally, we have suspended our capital return program, including share repurchases and the payment of future dividends for at least the period that the restrictions imposed by the CARES Act and the PSP Extension Law are applicable.
We continue to evaluate future financing opportunities and work with third-party appraisers on valuations of our remaining unencumbered assets.
A significant portion of our debt financing agreements contain covenants requiring us to maintain an aggregate of at least $2.0 billion of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and amounts available to be drawn under revolving credit facilities and/or contain loan to value, collateral coverage and/or debt service coverage ratio covenants.
Given the above actions and our current assumptions about the future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on travel demand, which could be materially different due to the inherent uncertainties of the current operating environment, we expect to meet our cash obligations as well as remain in compliance with the debt covenants in our existing financing agreements for the next 12 months based on our current level of unrestricted cash and short-term investments, our anticipated access to liquidity (including via proceeds from financings and funds from government assistance obtained pursuant to the CARES Act and the PSP Extension Law) and projected cash flows from operations.
See Note 5 to AAG’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8A for additional information on our debt obligations.
67
AAG’s 2020 Results
The selected financial data presented below is derived from AAG’s audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8A of this report and should be read in conjunction with those financial statements and the related notes thereto.
| Year Ended December 31, | Increase (Decrease) | Percent Increase (Decrease) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions, except percentage changes) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Passenger revenue | $ | 14,518 | $ | 42,010 | $ | (27,492) | (65.4) | ||||||||||||||||
| Cargo revenue | 769 | 863 | (94) | (10.8) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other operating revenue | 2,050 | 2,895 | (845) | (29.2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating revenues | 17,337 | 45,768 | (28,431) | (62.1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Mainline and regional aircraft fuel and related taxes | 3,402 | 9,395 | (5,993) | (63.8) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Salaries, wages and benefits | 10,960 | 12,609 | (1,649) | (13.1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 27,758 | 42,703 | (14,945) | (35.0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | (10,421) | 3,065 | (13,486) | nm (2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Pre-tax income (loss) | (11,453) | 2,256 | (13,709) | nm | |||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax provision (benefit) | (2,568) | 570 | (3,138) | nm | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | (8,885) | 1,686 | (10,571) | nm | |||||||||||||||||||
| Pre-tax income (loss) – GAAP | $ | (11,453) | $ | 2,256 | $ | (13,709) | nm | ||||||||||||||||
Adjusted for: Pre-tax net special items (1) | (796) | 644 | (1,440) | nm | |||||||||||||||||||
| Pre-tax income (loss) excluding net special items | $ | (12,249) | $ | 2,900 | $ | (15,149) | nm | ||||||||||||||||
(1)See Part II, Item 6. Selected Consolidated Financial Data – “Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and Note 2 to AAG’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8A for details on the components of net special items.
(2)Not meaningful or greater than 100% change.
Pre-Tax Income (Loss) and Net Income (Loss)
Pre-tax loss and net loss were $11.5 billion and $8.9 billion, respectively, in 2020. This compares to 2019 pre-tax income and net income of $2.3 billion and $1.7 billion, respectively. The year-over-year decrease in our pre-tax income was principally driven by lower revenues as a result of a severe decline in passenger demand and government travel restrictions related to the outbreak and spread of COVID-19. This decline in revenues was offset in part by a decrease in expenses due to our reduced schedule and cost reduction actions described above. Additionally, we recognized $796 million of net special credits in 2020 driven principally by the PSP1 financial assistance (the PSP1 Financial Assistance), offset in part by severance expenses and fleet impairment charges. See Notes 1 and 2 to AAG’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8A for further information on the PSP1 Financial Assistance and net special items, respectively.
Excluding the effects of pre-tax net special items, pre-tax loss was $12.2 billion in 2020 and pre-tax income was $2.9 billion in 2019. The year-over-year decrease in our pre-tax income excluding pre-tax net special items was principally driven by lower revenues and decreased expenses due to our reduced schedule and cost reduction actions as described above.
Revenue
In 2020, we reported total operating revenues of $17.3 billion, a decrease of $28.4 billion, or 62.1%, as compared to 2019. Passenger revenue was $14.5 billion, a decrease of $27.5 billion, or 65.4%, as compared to 2019. The decrease in passenger revenue in 2020 was due to a severe decline in passenger demand and government travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a 61.9% decrease in revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and a 20.5 point decrease in passenger load factor.
68
In 2020, cargo revenue was $769 million, a decrease of $94 million, or 10.8%, as compared to 2019, primarily due to a 44.4% decrease in cargo ton miles reflecting declines in freight volumes, principally as a result of international schedule reductions, which was offset in part by a 60.5% increase in yield as a result of rate increases.
Other operating revenue decreased $845 million, or 29.2%, in 2020 as compared to 2019, driven primarily by lower revenue associated with our loyalty program and airport clubs.
Our total revenue per available seat mile (TRASM) was 12.11 cents in 2020, a 24.6% decrease as compared to 16.05 cents in 2019.
Fuel
Our mainline and regional fuel expense totaled $3.4 billion in 2020, which was $6.0 billion, or 63.8%, lower compared to 2019. This decrease was primarily driven by a 49.4% decrease in gallons of fuel consumed as a result of lower capacity and a 28.5% decrease in the average price per gallon of aircraft fuel including related taxes to $1.48 in 2020 from $2.07 in 2019.
As of December 31, 2020, we did not have any fuel hedging contracts outstanding to hedge our fuel consumption. Our current policy is not to enter into transactions to hedge our fuel consumption, although we review that policy from time to time based on market conditions and other factors. We do not currently view the market opportunities to hedge fuel prices as attractive because, among other things, our future fuel needs remain unclear due to uncertainties regarding air travel demand and any hedging would potentially require significant capital or collateral to be placed at risk. As such, and assuming we do not enter into any future transactions to hedge our fuel consumption, we will continue to be fully exposed to fluctuations in fuel prices.
Other Costs
We remain committed to actively managing our cost structure, which we believe is necessary in an industry whose economic prospects are heavily dependent upon two variables we cannot control: general economic conditions and the price of fuel. In particular, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a very rapid deterioration in general economic conditions, particularly as applicable to the travel industry.
Our 2020 total cost per available seat mile (CASM) was 19.39 cents, an increase of 29.4%, from 14.98 cents in 2019. Lower than planned capacity in 2020 due to decreased passenger demand and government travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic drove the increase in our CASM, offset in part by the PSP1 Financial Assistance recognized in 2020.
Our 2020 CASM excluding net special items and fuel was 17.69 cents, an increase of 54.4%, from 11.46 cents in 2019. The increase was primarily driven by lower capacity in 2020 as described above.
For a reconciliation of total operating CASM to total operating CASM excluding net special items and fuel, see Part II, Item 6. Selected Consolidated Financial Data – “Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”
69
AAG’s Results of Operations
As discussed above, our results of operations for 2020 were significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the comparison of our 2020 operating statistics and financial results to 2019 are largely not meaningful. Refer to the "2020 Financial Overview" above for discussion of our 2020 financial results and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business.
For a comparison of the 2019 to 2018 reporting periods, see Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – “AAG’s Results of Operations – 2019 Compared to 2018” of our 2019 Form 10-K.
Operating Statistics
The table below sets forth selected operating data for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.
| Year Ended December 31, | Increase (Decrease) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||
Revenue passenger miles (millions) (a) | 91,825 | 241,252 | (61.9)% | ||||||||||||||
Available seat miles (millions) (b) | 143,167 | 285,088 | (49.8)% | ||||||||||||||
Passenger load factor (percent) (c) | 64.1 | 84.6 | (20.5)pts | ||||||||||||||
Yield (cents) (d) | 15.81 | 17.41 | (9.2)% | ||||||||||||||
Passenger revenue per available seat mile (cents) (e) | 10.14 | 14.74 | (31.2)% | ||||||||||||||
Total revenue per available seat mile (cents) (f) | 12.11 | 16.05 | (24.6)% | ||||||||||||||
Aircraft at end of period (g) | 1,399 | 1,547 | (9.6)% | ||||||||||||||
| Fuel consumption (gallons in millions) | 2,297 | 4,537 | (49.4)% | ||||||||||||||
Average aircraft fuel price including related taxes (dollars per gallon) | 1.48 | 2.07 | (28.5)% | ||||||||||||||
| Full-time equivalent employees at end of period | 102,700 | 133,700 | (23.2)% | ||||||||||||||
Operating cost per available seat mile (cents) (h) | 19.39 | 14.98 | 29.4% | ||||||||||||||
(a)Revenue passenger mile (RPM) – A basic measure of sales volume. One RPM represents one passenger flown one mile.
(b)Available seat mile (ASM) – A basic measure of production. One ASM represents one seat flown one mile.
(c)Passenger load factor – The percentage of available seats that are filled with revenue passengers.
(d)Yield – A measure of airline revenue derived by dividing passenger revenue by RPMs.
(e)Passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) – Passenger revenue divided by ASMs.
(f)Total revenue per available seat mile (TRASM) – Total revenues divided by ASMs.
(g)Includes aircraft owned and leased by American as well as aircraft operated by third-party regional carriers under capacity purchase agreements. Excludes 22 mainline and 27 regional aircraft that are in temporary storage as follows: 22 Boeing 737-800, 18 Embraer 140, seven Embraer 175 and two Embraer 145.
(h)Operating cost per available seat mile (CASM) – Operating expenses divided by ASMs.
70
Operating Revenues
| Year Ended December 31, | Decrease | Percent Decrease | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions, except percentage changes) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Passenger | $ | 14,518 | $ | 42,010 | $ | (27,492) | (65.4) | ||||||||||||||||
| Cargo | 769 | 863 | (94) | (10.8) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other | 2,050 | 2,895 | (845) | (29.2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating revenues | $ | 17,337 | $ | 45,768 | $ | (28,431) | (62.1) | ||||||||||||||||
This table presents our passenger revenue and the year-over-year change in certain operating statistics:
| Decrease vs. Year Ended December 31, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year Ended December 31, 2020 | Passenger Revenue | RPMs | ASMs | Load Factor | Passenger Yield | PRASM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Passenger revenue | $ | 14,518 | (65.4)% | (61.9)% | (49.8)% | (20.5)pts | (9.2)% | (31.2)% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total operating revenues in 2020 decreased $28.4 billion, or 62.1%, from 2019, primarily due to a severe decline in passenger demand and government travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Operating Expenses
| Year Ended December 31, | Increase (Decrease) | Percent Increase (Decrease) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions, except percentage changes) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aircraft fuel and related taxes | $ | 2,581 | $ | 7,526 | $ | (4,945) | (65.7) | ||||||||||||||||
| Salaries, wages and benefits | 10,960 | 12,609 | (1,649) | (13.1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Maintenance, materials and repairs | 1,583 | 2,380 | (797) | (33.5) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other rent and landing fees | 1,536 | 2,055 | (519) | (25.3) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Aircraft rent | 1,341 | 1,326 | 15 | 1.1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Selling expenses | 513 | 1,602 | (1,089) | (68.0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 2,040 | 1,982 | 58 | 3.0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Mainline operating special items, net | (657) | 635 | (1,292) | nm | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other | 2,969 | 5,087 | (2,118) | (41.6) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Regional expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aircraft fuel and related taxes | 821 | 1,869 | (1,048) | (56.1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other | 4,071 | 5,632 | (1,561) | (27.7) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | $ | 27,758 | $ | 42,703 | $ | (14,945) | (35.0) | ||||||||||||||||
Total operating expenses decreased $14.9 billion, or 35.0%, in 2020 from 2019 due to our reduced schedule and cost reduction actions as described in the "2020 Financial Overview" above.
Depreciation and amortization increased $58 million, or 3.0%, in 2020 from 2019 due in part to accelerated depreciation for certain aircraft and related equipment expected to be retired earlier than planned. Depreciation associated with facility improvements also contributed to the increase.
71
Operating Special Items, Net
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
| (In millions) | |||||||||||
PSP1 Financial Assistance (1) | $ | (3,710) | $ | — | |||||||
Fleet impairment (2) | 1,484 | 213 | |||||||||
Severance expenses (3) | 1,408 | 11 | |||||||||
Labor contract expenses (4) | 228 | — | |||||||||
Mark-to-market adjustments on bankruptcy obligations, net (5) | (49) | (11) | |||||||||
Fleet restructuring expenses (6) | — | 271 | |||||||||
Merger integration expenses (7) | — | 191 | |||||||||
| Litigation reserve adjustments | — | (53) | |||||||||
| Other operating special items, net | (18) | 13 | |||||||||
| Mainline operating special items, net | (657) | 635 | |||||||||
PSP1 Financial Assistance (1) | (444) | — | |||||||||
Fleet impairment (2) | 117 | — | |||||||||
Severance expenses (3) | 18 | — | |||||||||
| Other operating special items, net | — | 6 | |||||||||
| Regional operating special items, net | (309) | 6 | |||||||||
| Operating special items, net | $ | (966) | $ | 641 | |||||||
(1)PSP1 Financial Assistance represents recognition of financial assistance received from Treasury pursuant to the PSP1 Agreement. See Note 1(b) to AAG’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8A for further information.
(2)The 2020 fleet impairment resulted from our decision to retire certain aircraft earlier than planned driven by the severe decline in air travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Aircraft retired include Airbus A330-200, Boeing 757, Boeing 767, Airbus A330-300, Embraer 190, certain Embraer 140 and Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft. This included a $1.5 billion non-cash write-down of mainline and regional aircraft and spare parts and $109 million in cash charges primarily for impairment of right-of-use (ROU) assets and lease return costs. See Note 1(g) to AAG’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8A for further information related to these charges.
The 2019 fleet impairment principally included a non-cash write-down of aircraft related to the retirement of our Embraer 190 fleet.
(3)The 2020 severance expenses included salary and medical costs primarily associated with certain team members who opted in to voluntary early retirement programs offered as a result of reductions to our operation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cash payments related to these charges for the year ended December 31, 2020 were approximately $365 million.
The 2019 severance expenses primarily included costs associated with reductions of management and support staff team members.
(4)Labor contract expenses primarily related to one-time charges resulting from the ratification of a new contract with the TWU-IAM Association for our maintenance and fleet service team members, including signing bonuses and adjustments to vacation accruals resulting from pay rate increases.
(5)Bankruptcy obligations that will be settled in shares of AAG common stock are marked-to-market based on AAG’s stock price.
(6)Fleet restructuring expenses principally included accelerated depreciation and rent expense for aircraft and related equipment expected to be retired earlier than planned.
72
(7)Merger integration expenses included costs associated with integration projects, principally our technical operations, flight attendant, human resources and payroll systems.
Nonoperating Results
| Year Ended December 31, | Increase (Decrease) | Percent Increase (Decrease) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions, except percentage changes) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest income | $ | 41 | $ | 127 | $ | (86) | (67.7) | ||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | (1,227) | (1,095) | (132) | 12.0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other income, net | 154 | 159 | (5) | (3.2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total nonoperating expense, net | $ | (1,032) | $ | (809) | $ | (223) | 27.5 | ||||||||||||||||
Interest income decreased in 2020 compared to 2019 primarily as a result of lower returns on our short-term investments. Interest expense, net increased in 2020 compared to 2019 primarily due to the issuance of debt and lower capitalized interest offset in part by lower interest expense on our variable-rate debt.
In 2020, other nonoperating income, net included $329 million of non-service related pension and other postretirement benefit plan income. This income was offset in part by $170 million of net special charges principally for mark-to-market unrealized losses associated with our equity investment in China Southern Airlines and certain treasury rate lock derivative instruments and $24 million of net foreign currency losses, primarily associated with losses from Latin American currencies.
In 2019, other nonoperating income, net principally included $183 million of non-service related pension and other postretirement benefit plan income. This income was offset in part by $32 million of net foreign currency losses, primarily associated with losses from Latin American currencies.
The increase in non-service related pension and other postretirement benefit plan income in 2020 as compared to 2019 is principally due to an increase in the expected return on pension plan assets.
Income Taxes
In 2020, we recorded an income tax benefit of $2.6 billion at an effective rate of approximately 22%. Substantially all of our income or loss before income taxes is attributable to the United States. At December 31, 2020, we had approximately $16.5 billion of federal NOLs available to reduce future federal taxable income, of which $8.5 billion will expire beginning in 2023 if unused and $8.0 billion can be carried forward indefinitely. We also had approximately $5.0 billion of NOL Carryforwards to reduce future state taxable income at December 31, 2020, which will expire in taxable years 2020 through 2040 if unused.
In 2019, we recorded an income tax provision of $570 million at an effective rate of approximately 25%, which was substantially non-cash.
See Note 7 to AAG’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8A for additional information on income taxes.
American’s Results of Operations
As discussed above, American’s results of operations for 2020 were significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the comparison of American’s 2020 financial results to 2019 are largely not meaningful. Refer to the "2020 Financial Overview" above for discussion of American’s 2020 financial results and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on American’s business.
For a comparison of the 2019 to 2018 reporting periods, see Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – “American’s Results of Operations – 2019 Compared to 2018” of American’s 2019 Form 10-K.
73
Operating Revenues
| Year Ended December 31, | Decrease | Percent Decrease | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions, except percentage changes) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Passenger | $ | 14,518 | $ | 42,010 | $ | (27,492) | (65.4) | ||||||||||||||||
| Cargo | 769 | 863 | (94) | (10.8) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other | 2,048 | 2,888 | (840) | (29.1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating revenues | $ | 17,335 | $ | 45,761 | $ | (28,426) | (62.1) | ||||||||||||||||
Total operating revenues in 2020 decreased $28.4 billion, or 62.1%, from 2019, primarily due to a severe decline in passenger demand and government travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Operating Expenses
| Year Ended December 31, | Increase (Decrease) | Percent Increase (Decrease) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions, except percentage changes) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aircraft fuel and related taxes | $ | 2,581 | $ | 7,526 | $ | (4,945) | (65.7) | ||||||||||||||||
| Salaries, wages and benefits | 10,955 | 12,600 | (1,645) | (13.1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Maintenance, materials and repairs | 1,583 | 2,380 | (797) | (33.5) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other rent and landing fees | 1,536 | 2,055 | (519) | (25.3) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Aircraft rent | 1,341 | 1,326 | 15 | 1.1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Selling expenses | 513 | 1,602 | (1,089) | (68.0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 2,040 | 1,982 | 58 | 3.0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Mainline operating special items, net | (657) | 635 | (1,292) | nm | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other | 2,991 | 5,090 | (2,099) | (41.3) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Regional expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aircraft fuel and related taxes | 821 | 1,869 | (1,048) | (56.1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other | 3,855 | 5,649 | (1,794) | (31.8) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | $ | 27,559 | $ | 42,714 | $ | (15,155) | (35.5) | ||||||||||||||||
Total operating expenses decreased $15.2 billion, or 35.5%, in 2020 from 2019 due to American's reduced schedule and cost reduction actions as described in the "2020 Financial Overview" above.
Depreciation and amortization increased $58 million, or 3.0%, in 2020 from 2019 due in part to accelerated depreciation for certain aircraft and related equipment expected to be retired earlier than planned. Depreciation associated with facility improvements also contributed to the increase.
74
Operating Special Items, Net
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
| (In millions) | |||||||||||
PSP1 Financial Assistance (1) | $ | (3,710) | $ | — | |||||||
Fleet impairment (2) | 1,484 | 213 | |||||||||
Severance expenses (3) | 1,408 | 11 | |||||||||
Labor contract expenses (4) | 228 | — | |||||||||
Mark-to-market adjustments on bankruptcy obligations, net (5) | (49) | (11) | |||||||||
Fleet restructuring expenses (6) | — | 271 | |||||||||
Merger integration expenses (7) | — | 191 | |||||||||
| Litigation reserve adjustments | — | (53) | |||||||||
| Other operating special items, net | (18) | 13 | |||||||||
| Mainline operating special items, net | (657) | 635 | |||||||||
PSP1 Financial Assistance (1) | (444) | — | |||||||||
Fleet impairment (2) | 106 | — | |||||||||
| Regional operating special items, net | (338) | — | |||||||||
| Operating special items, net | $ | (995) | $ | 635 | |||||||
(1)PSP1 Financial Assistance represents recognition of financial assistance received from Treasury pursuant to the PSP1 Agreement. See Note 1(b) to American’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8B for further information.
(2)The 2020 fleet impairment resulted from American's decision to retire certain aircraft earlier than planned driven by the severe decline in air travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Aircraft retired include Airbus A330-200, Boeing 757, Boeing 767, Airbus A330-300, Embraer 190, certain Embraer 140 and Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft. This included a $1.5 billion non-cash write-down of mainline and regional aircraft and spare parts and $109 million in cash charges primarily for impairment of ROU assets and lease return costs. See Note 1(g) to American’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8B for further information related to these charges.
The 2019 fleet impairment principally included a non-cash write-down of aircraft related to the retirement of American’s Embraer 190 fleet.
(3)The 2020 severance expenses included salary and medical costs primarily associated with certain team members who opted in to voluntary early retirement programs offered as a result of reductions to American's operation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cash payments related to these charges for the year ended December 31, 2020 were approximately $365 million.
The 2019 severance expenses primarily included costs associated with reductions of management and support staff team members.
(4)Labor contract expenses primarily related to one-time charges resulting from the ratification of a new contract with the TWU-IAM Association for American's maintenance and fleet service team members, including signing bonuses and adjustments to vacation accruals resulting from pay rate increases.
(5)Bankruptcy obligations that will be settled in shares of AAG common stock are marked-to-market based on AAG’s stock price.
(6)Fleet restructuring expenses principally included accelerated depreciation and rent expense for aircraft and related equipment expected to be retired earlier than planned.
(7)Merger integration expenses included costs associated with integration projects, principally American’s technical operations, flight attendant, human resources and payroll systems.
75
Nonoperating Results
| Year Ended December 31, | Increase (Decrease) | Percent Increase (Decrease) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions, except percentage changes) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest income | $ | 337 | $ | 515 | $ | (178) | (34.7) | ||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | (1,171) | (1,109) | (62) | 5.6 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other income, net | 155 | 152 | 3 | 2.3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total nonoperating expense, net | $ | (679) | $ | (442) | $ | (237) | 53.7 | ||||||||||||||||
Interest income decreased in 2020 compared to 2019 primarily as a result of lower returns on American's short-term investments and lower interest-bearing related party receivables from American's parent company, AAG. Interest expense, net increased in 2020 compared to 2019 primarily due to the issuance of debt and lower capitalized interest offset in part by lower interest expense on American's variable-rate debt.
In 2020, other nonoperating income, net included $329 million of non-service related pension and other postretirement benefit plan income. This income was offset in part by $170 million of net special charges principally for mark-to-market unrealized losses associated with American’s equity investment in China Southern Airlines and certain treasury rate lock derivative instruments and $24 million of net foreign currency losses, primarily associated with losses from Latin American currencies.
In 2019, other nonoperating income, net principally included $183 million of non-service related pension and other postretirement benefit plan income. This income was offset in part by $32 million of net foreign currency losses, primarily associated with losses from Latin American currencies.
The increase in non-service related pension and other postretirement benefit plan income in 2020 as compared to 2019 is principally due to an increase in the expected return on pension plan assets.
Income Taxes
American is a member of AAG’s consolidated federal and certain state income tax returns.
In 2020, American recorded an income tax benefit of $2.5 billion at an effective rate of approximately 22%. Substantially all of American’s income or loss before income taxes is attributable to the United States. At December 31, 2020, American had approximately $16.5 billion of federal NOLs available to reduce future federal taxable income, of which $8.9 billion will expire beginning in 2023 if unused and $7.6 billion can be carried forward indefinitely. American also had approximately $5.0 billion of NOL Carryforwards to reduce future state taxable income at December 31, 2020, which will expire in taxable years 2020 through 2040 if unused.
In 2019, American recorded an income tax provision of $633 million at an effective rate of approximately 24%, which was substantially non-cash.
See Note 5 to American’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8B for additional information on income taxes.
76
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity
At December 31, 2020, AAG had $14.3 billion in total available liquidity and $609 million in restricted cash and short-term investments. Additional detail regarding our available liquidity is provided in the table below (in millions):
| AAG | American | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, | December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash | $ | 245 | $ | 280 | $ | 231 | $ | 267 | |||||||||||||||
| Short-term investments | 6,619 | 3,546 | 6,617 | 3,543 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Undrawn facilities | 7,396 | 3,243 | 7,396 | 3,243 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total available liquidity | $ | 14,260 | $ | 7,069 | $ | 14,244 | $ | 7,053 | |||||||||||||||
Given the actions we have taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and our assumptions about its future impact on travel demand, which could be materially different due to the current inherent uncertainties of the current operating environment, we expect to meet our cash obligations as well as remain in compliance with the debt covenants in our existing financing agreements for the next 12 months based on our current level of unrestricted cash and short-term investments, our anticipated access to liquidity (including via proceeds from financings and funds from government assistance obtained pursuant to the CARES Act and the PSP Extension Law) and projected cash flows from operations.
Share Repurchase Programs and Cash Dividends
In 2020, we repurchased 6.4 million shares of AAG common stock for $145 million at a weighted average cost per share of $22.77, all of which were purchased in the first quarter of 2020.
In January 2020, our Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.10 per share for stockholders of record as of February 5, 2020 and paid on February 19, 2020, totaling $43 million.
We have suspended our capital return program, including share repurchases and the payment of future dividends. In connection with our receipt of financial assistance under PSP1 and PSP2, we agreed not to repurchase shares of or make dividend payments in respect of AAG common stock through at least March 31, 2022. In addition, we have entered into the Treasury Loan Agreement, and, as a result, we are further prohibited from repurchasing shares of AAG common stock and paying dividends on AAG common stock through the date that is one year after the secured loan provided under the Treasury Loan Agreement is fully repaid.
Certain Covenants
Certain of our debt financing agreements (including our secured notes, term loans, revolving credit facilities and spare engine EETCs) contain loan to value (LTV) or collateral coverage ratio covenants and require us to appraise the related collateral annually or semiannually. Pursuant to such agreements, if the LTV or collateral coverage ratio exceeds a specified threshold or if the value of the appraised collateral fails to meet a specified threshold, as the case may be, we are required, as applicable, to pledge additional qualifying collateral (which in some cases may include cash or investment securities), or pay down such financing, in whole or in part, or the interest rate for the financing under such agreements will be increased. As of the most recent applicable measurement dates, we were in compliance with each of the foregoing collateral coverage tests. Additionally, a significant portion of our debt financing agreements contain covenants requiring us to maintain an aggregate of at least $2.0 billion of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and amounts available to be drawn under revolving credit facilities, and our Treasury Term Loan Facility contains a debt service coverage ratio, pursuant to which failure to comply with a certain threshold may result in mandatory prepayment of the Treasury Term Loan Facility. For further information regarding our debt covenants, see Note 5 to AAG’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8A and Note 3 to American’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8B.
77
Sources and Uses of Cash
For a comparison of the 2019 and 2018 reporting periods, see Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – “Sources and Uses of Cash” of our 2019 Form 10-K.
AAG
Operating Activities
Our net cash used in operating activities was $6.5 billion in 2020 as compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $3.8 billion in 2019. The $10.4 billion year-over-year decrease in operating cash flows was primarily due to a net loss in 2020. The net loss was driven by lower revenues as a result of a severe decline in passenger demand and government travel restrictions related to the outbreak and spread of COVID-19, offset in part by a decrease in expenses due to our reduced schedule and cost reduction actions. Additionally, we received cash proceeds of $4.2 billion in 2020 associated with the PSP1 Financial Assistance. In 2020, we also recorded a $1.4 billion special charge for salary and medical costs primarily associated with certain team members who opted in to voluntary early retirement programs. Approximately $365 million of this charge has been paid to team members in 2020. We expect cash payments under these programs of approximately $600 million in 2021 with the remaining payments in 2022 and beyond.
Investing Activities
Our net cash used in investing activities was $4.3 billion and $2.2 billion in 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Our principal investing activities in 2020 included $3.1 billion in net purchases of short-term investments, expenditures of $2.0 billion for property and equipment, including 16 Airbus A321neo aircraft, eight Embraer 175 aircraft, three Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft and the harmonization of interior configurations across the mainline fleet as well as a $308 million increase in restricted short-term investments primarily related to cash proceeds from special facility revenue bonds. These cash outflows were offset in part by $665 million of proceeds primarily from aircraft sale-leaseback transactions, $351 million of proceeds from the sale of property and equipment and $90 million of proceeds from a vendor.
Our principal investing activities in 2019 included expenditures of $4.3 billion for property and equipment, including 21 Embraer 175 aircraft, 12 Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft, 12 Airbus A321neo aircraft, four Boeing 737 MAX Family aircraft and two Boeing 787 Family aircraft. These cash outflows were offset in part by $960 million in net sales of short-term investments, $850 million of proceeds primarily from aircraft sale-leaseback transactions and $250 million in proceeds from a vendor.
Financing Activities
Our net cash provided by financing activities was $11.0 billion in 2020 as compared to net cash used in financing activities of $1.6 billion in 2019.
Our principal financing activities in 2020 included $11.8 billion in proceeds from the issuance of debt and $3.0 billion in proceeds from the issuance of equity. These proceeds principally include $2.8 billion borrowed under the 2014 Revolving Facility, the 2013 Revolving Facility and the April 2016 Revolving Facility, $2.5 billion in aggregate principal amount of 11.75% senior secured notes, $1.8 billion in aggregate principal amount under the PSP1 Promissory Note, $1.2 billion in aggregate principal amount of two series of 10.75% senior secured notes due 2026, $1.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of AAG’s 6.50% convertible senior notes, $1.0 billion under the Delayed Draw Term Loan Credit Facility, $600 million in connection with the issuance of equipment notes related to EETCs and the financing of certain aircraft, $550 million under the Treasury Term Loan Facility, $500 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.75% unsecured senior notes due 2025 and the $360 million issuance of special facility revenue bonds as well as $1.7 billion of net proceeds from two underwritten public offerings of common stock and $869 million of net proceeds from an at-the-market offering of common stock. These cash inflows were offset in part by $3.5 billion in debt repayments, consisting of approximately $2.5 billion in scheduled debt repayments, including repayment of $500 million of 4.625% senior notes, and the prepayment of the $1.0 billion Delayed Draw Term Loan Credit Facility, as well as $216 million in share repurchases and dividend payments (which occurred in the first quarter of 2020).
78
Our principal financing activities in 2019 included $4.2 billion in debt repayments, consisting of $2.9 billion in scheduled debt repayments and the prepayment of $1.3 billion of secured loans. We also had $1.1 billion in share repurchases and $178 million in dividend payments. These cash outflows were offset in part by $4.0 billion in proceeds from the issuance of debt, consisting of $3.2 billion in connection with the issuance of equipment notes related to EETCs and the financing of certain aircraft and other flight equipment, as well as the issuance of $750 million aggregate principal amount of 5.000% senior notes.
American
Operating Activities
American’s net cash used in operating activities was $1.4 billion in 2020 as compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $2.4 billion in 2019. The $3.9 billion year-over-year decrease in operating cash flows was primarily due to a net loss in 2020, offset in part by intercompany cash receipts from AAG's financing transactions. The net loss was driven by lower revenues as a result of a severe decline in passenger demand and government travel restrictions related to the outbreak and spread of COVID-19, offset in part by a decrease in expenses due to American's reduced schedule and cost reduction actions. Additionally, American received cash proceeds of $3.7 billion in 2020 associated with the PSP1 Financial Assistance. In 2020, American also recorded a $1.4 billion special charge for salary and medical costs primarily associated with certain team members who opted in to voluntary early retirement programs. Approximately $365 million of this charge has been paid to team members in 2020. American expects cash payments under these programs of approximately $600 million in 2021 with the remaining payments in 2022 and beyond.
Investing Activities
American’s net cash used in investing activities was $4.3 billion and $2.1 billion in 2020 and 2019, respectively.
American’s principal investing activities in 2020 included $3.1 billion in net purchases of short-term investments, expenditures of $1.9 billion for property and equipment, including 16 Airbus A321neo aircraft, eight Embraer 175 aircraft, three Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft and the harmonization of interior configurations across the mainline fleet as well as a $308 million increase in restricted short-term investments primarily related to cash proceeds from special facility revenue bonds. These cash outflows were offset in part by $665 million of proceeds primarily from aircraft sale-leaseback transactions, $351 million of proceeds from the sale of property and equipment and $90 million of proceeds from a vendor.
American’s principal investing activities in 2019 included expenditures of $4.2 billion for property and equipment, including 21 Embraer 175 aircraft, 12 Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft, 12 Airbus A321neo aircraft, four Boeing 737 MAX Family aircraft and two Boeing 787 Family aircraft. These cash outflows were offset in part by $960 million in net sales of short-term investments, $850 million of proceeds primarily from aircraft sale-leaseback transactions and $250 million in proceeds from a vendor.
Financing Activities
American’s net cash provided by financing activities was $5.8 billion in 2020 as compared to net cash used in financing activities of $282 million in 2019.
American’s principal financing activities in 2020 included $9.0 billion in proceeds from the issuance of debt, including $2.8 billion borrowed under the 2014 Revolving Facility, the 2013 Revolving Facility and the April 2016 Revolving Facility, $2.5 billion in aggregate principal amount of 11.75% senior secured notes, $1.2 billion in aggregate principal amount of two series of 10.75% senior secured notes due 2026, $1.0 billion under the Delayed Draw Term Loan Credit Facility, $600 million in connection with the issuance of equipment notes related to EETCs and the financing of certain aircraft, $550 million under the Treasury Term Loan Facility and the $360 million issuance of special facility revenue bonds. These cash inflows were offset in part by $3.0 billion in debt repayments, consisting of approximately $2.0 billion in scheduled debt repayments and the prepayment of the $1.0 billion Delayed Draw Term Loan Credit Facility.
American’s principal financing activities in 2019 included $3.4 billion in debt repayments, consisting of $2.1 billion in scheduled debt repayments and the prepayment of $1.3 billion of secured loans. These cash outflows were offset in part by $3.2 billion in proceeds from the issuance of debt for equipment notes related to EETCs and the financing of certain aircraft and other flight equipment.
79
Commitments
For further information regarding our commitments, see the Notes to AAG’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8A and the Notes to American’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8B at the referenced footnotes below.
| AAG | American | ||||||||||
| Long-term debt and debt covenants | Note 5 | Note 3 | |||||||||
| Leases | Note 6 | Note 4 | |||||||||
| Employee benefit plans | Note 10 | Note 8 | |||||||||
| Commitments, contingencies and guarantees | Note 12 | Note 10 | |||||||||
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
An off-balance sheet arrangement is any transaction, agreement or other contractual arrangement involving an unconsolidated entity under which a company has (1) made guarantees, (2) a retained or a contingent interest in transferred assets, (3) an obligation under derivative instruments classified as equity or (4) any obligation arising out of a material variable interest in an unconsolidated entity that provides financing, liquidity, market risk or credit risk support to us, or that engages in leasing, hedging or research and development arrangements with us.
We have no off-balance sheet arrangements of the types described in the first three categories above that we believe may have a material current or future effect on financial condition, liquidity or results of operations.
Pass-Through Trusts
American currently operates 350 owned aircraft and 24 leased aircraft, and owns 62 spare aircraft engines, which in each case were financed with EETCs issued by pass-through trusts. These trusts are off-balance sheet entities, the primary purpose of which is to finance the acquisition of flight equipment or to permit issuance of debt backed by existing flight equipment. In the case of aircraft EETCs, rather than finance each aircraft separately when such aircraft is purchased, delivered or refinanced, these trusts allow American to raise the financing for a number of aircraft at one time and, if applicable, place such funds in escrow pending a future purchase, delivery or refinancing of the relevant aircraft. Similarly, in the case of the spare engine EETCs, the trusts allow American to use its existing pool of spare engines to raise financing under a single facility. The trusts have also been structured to provide for certain credit enhancements, such as liquidity facilities to cover certain interest payments, that reduce the risks to the purchasers of the trust certificates and, as a result, reduce the cost of aircraft financing to American.
Each trust covers a set number of aircraft or spare engines scheduled to be delivered, financed or refinanced upon the issuance of the EETC or within a specific period of time thereafter. At the time of each covered aircraft or spare engine financing, the relevant trust used the proceeds of the issuance of the EETC (which may have been available at the time of issuance thereof or held in escrow until financing of the applicable aircraft following its delivery) to purchase equipment notes relating to the financed aircraft or engines. The equipment notes are issued, at American’s election, in connection with a mortgage financing of the aircraft or spare engines or, in certain cases, by a separate owner trust in connection with a leveraged lease financing of the aircraft. In the case of a leveraged lease financing, the owner trust then leases the aircraft to American. In both cases, the equipment notes are secured by a security interest in the aircraft or engines, as applicable. The pass-through trust certificates are not direct obligations of, nor are they guaranteed by, AAG or American. However, in the case of mortgage financings, the equipment notes issued to the trusts are direct obligations of American and, in certain instances, have been guaranteed by AAG. As of December 31, 2020, $11.0 billion associated with these mortgage financings is reflected as debt in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.
With respect to leveraged leases, American evaluated whether the leases had characteristics of a variable interest entity. American concluded the leasing entities met the criteria for variable interest entities; however, American concluded it is not the primary beneficiary under these leasing arrangements and accounts for the majority of its EETC leveraged lease financings as operating leases. American’s total future payments to the trusts of each of the relevant EETCs under these leveraged lease financings are $78 million as of December 31, 2020, which are reflected in the operating lease obligations in Note 6 to AAG’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8A and Note 4 to American’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8B.
80
Letters of Credit and Other
We provide financial assurance, such as letters of credit, surety bonds or restricted cash and investments, primarily to support projected workers’ compensation obligations and airport commitments. As of December 31, 2020, we had $476 million of letters of credit and surety bonds securing various obligations, of which $110 million is collateralized with our restricted cash. The letters of credit and surety bonds that are subject to expiration will expire on various dates through 2024.
Contractual Obligations
The following table provides details of our future cash contractual obligations as of December 31, 2020 (in millions). Except to the extent set forth in the applicable accompanying footnotes, the table does not include commitments that are contingent on events or other factors that are uncertain or unknown at this time.
| Payments Due by Period | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 and Thereafter | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
American (a) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Principal amount (b), (d) (See Note 3) | $ | 2,749 | $ | 1,672 | $ | 4,162 | $ | 4,401 | $ | 6,421 | $ | 9,326 | $ | 28,731 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest obligations (c), (d) | 1,161 | 1,065 | 997 | 900 | 767 | 800 | 5,690 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Finance lease obligations (See Note 4) | 131 | 136 | 114 | 120 | 85 | 89 | 675 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aircraft and engine purchase commitments (e) (See Note 10(a)) | 527 | 1,661 | 1,592 | 2,377 | 3,381 | 1,742 | 11,280 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating lease commitments (See Note 4) | 2,036 | 1,932 | 1,743 | 1,352 | 975 | 4,194 | 12,232 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Regional capacity purchase agreements (f) (See Note 10(b)) | 1,120 | 1,666 | 1,685 | 1,663 | 1,511 | 3,646 | 11,291 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minimum pension obligations (g) (See Note 8) | 694 | 553 | 552 | 580 | 264 | 31 | 2,674 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Retiree medical and other postretirement benefits (See Note 8) | 75 | 71 | 68 | 66 | 63 | 269 | 612 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other purchase obligations (h) (See Note 10(a)) | 2,278 | 1,282 | 1,184 | 242 | 163 | 1,047 | 6,196 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total American Contractual Obligations | $ | 10,771 | $ | 10,038 | $ | 12,097 | $ | 11,701 | $ | 13,630 | $ | 21,144 | $ | 79,381 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
AAG Parent and Other AAG Subsidiaries (a) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Principal amount (b) (See Note 5) | $ | 2 | $ | 752 | $ | 2 | $ | 2 | $ | 1,503 | $ | 1,778 | $ | 4,039 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest obligations (c) | 142 | 122 | 103 | 102 | 109 | 274 | 852 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating lease commitments (See Note 6) | 14 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 4 | 16 | 66 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minimum pension obligations (g) (See Note 10) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total AAG Contractual Obligations | $ | 10,932 | $ | 10,928 | $ | 12,216 | $ | 11,816 | $ | 15,249 | $ | 23,217 | $ | 84,358 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(a)For additional information, see the Notes to AAG’s and American’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Items 8A and 8B, respectively, referenced in the table above.
(b)Amounts represent contractual amounts due. Excludes $321 million and $428 million of unamortized debt discount, premium and issuance costs as of December 31, 2020 for American and AAG Parent, respectively.
(c)For variable-rate debt, future interest obligations are estimated using the current forward rates at December 31, 2020.
(d)Includes $11.0 billion of future principal payments and $1.9 billion of future interest payments as of December 31, 2020, related to EETCs associated with mortgage financings of certain aircraft and spare engines.
(e)See Part I, Item 2. Properties – “Aircraft and Engine Purchase Commitments” for additional information about the firm commitment aircraft delivery schedule, in particular the footnotes to the table thereunder as to potential changes to such delivery schedule. Due to uncertainty surrounding the timing of delivery of certain aircraft, the amounts in the
81
table represent our current best estimate; however, the actual delivery schedule may differ from the table above, potentially materially. Additionally, the amounts in the table exclude 19 Boeing 787-8 aircraft to be delivered in 2021 for which we have obtained committed lease financing. This financing is reflected in the operating lease commitments line above.
(f)Represents minimum payments under capacity purchase agreements with third-party regional carriers. These commitments are estimates of costs based on assumed minimum levels of flying under the capacity purchase agreements and our actual payments could differ materially. Rental payments under operating leases for certain aircraft flown under these capacity purchase agreements are reflected in the operating lease commitments line above.
(g)Includes minimum pension contributions based on actuarially determined estimates as of December 31, 2020 and is based on estimated payments through 2030. Pursuant to the CARES Act passed in March 2020, minimum required pension contributions to be made in the calendar year 2020 can be deferred to January 1, 2021, with interest accruing from the original due date to the new payment date. In January 2021, we made $241 million of required pension contributions, including the $130 million minimum contributions required for 2020.
(h)Includes purchase commitments for aircraft fuel, flight equipment maintenance, construction projects and information technology support.
Capital Raising Activity and Other Possible Actions
In light of the cash needs imposed by the current operating losses due to reduced demand in response to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as our significant financial commitments related to, among other things, new flight equipment, the servicing and amortization of existing debt and equipment leasing arrangements, and pension funding obligations, we and our subsidiaries will regularly consider, and enter into negotiations related to, capital raising and liability management activity, which may include the entry into leasing transactions and future issuances of, and transactions designed to manage the timing and amount of, secured or unsecured debt obligations or additional equity securities in public or private offerings or otherwise. The cash available from operations (if any) and these sources, however, may not be sufficient to cover our cash obligations because economic factors may reduce the amount of cash generated by operations or increase costs. For instance, an economic downturn or general global instability caused by military actions, terrorism, disease outbreaks (in particular the ongoing global outbreak of COVID-19), natural disasters or other causes could reduce the demand for air travel, which would reduce the amount of cash generated by operations. See Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors – "The outbreak and global spread of COVID-19 has resulted in a severe decline in demand for air travel which has adversely impacted our business, operating results, financial condition and liquidity. The duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, and similar public health threats that we may face in the future, could result in additional adverse effects on our business, operating results, financial condition and liquidity" for additional discussion. An increase in costs, either due to an increase in borrowing costs caused by a reduction in credit ratings or a general increase in interest rates, or due to an increase in the cost of fuel, maintenance, aircraft, aircraft engines or parts, could decrease the amount of cash available to cover cash contractual obligations. Moreover, certain of our financing arrangements contain significant minimum cash balance or similar liquidity requirements. As a result, we cannot use all of our available cash to fund operations, capital expenditures and cash obligations without violating these requirements. See Note 5 to AAG’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8A and Note 3 to American’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8B for information regarding our financing arrangements.
In the past, we have from time to time refinanced, redeemed or repurchased our debt and taken other steps to reduce or otherwise manage the aggregate amount and cost of our debt, lease and other obligations or otherwise improve our balance sheet. Going forward, depending on market conditions, our cash position and other considerations, we may continue to take such actions.
OTHER INFORMATION
Basis of Presentation
See Note 1 to AAG’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8A and Note 1 to American’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8B for information regarding the basis of presentation.
82
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. We believe our estimates and assumptions are reasonable; however, actual results could differ from those estimates. Critical accounting policies are defined as those that are reflective of significant judgments and uncertainties and could potentially result in materially different results under different assumptions and conditions. We have identified the following critical accounting policies that impact the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. See the “Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” included in Note 1 to each of AAG’s and American’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8A and 8B, respectively, for additional discussion of the application of these estimates and other accounting policies.
Passenger Revenue
We recognize all revenues generated from transportation on American and our regional flights operated under the brand name American Eagle, including associated baggage fees and other inflight services, as passenger revenue when transportation is provided. Ticket and other related sales for transportation that has not yet been provided are initially deferred and recorded as air traffic liability on our consolidated balance sheets. The air traffic liability principally represents tickets sold for future travel on American and partner airlines, as well as estimated future refunds and exchanges of tickets sold for past travel.
The majority of tickets sold are nonrefundable. A small percentage of tickets, some of which are partially used tickets, expire unused. Due to complex pricing structures, refund and exchange policies, and interline agreements with other airlines, certain amounts are recognized in passenger revenue using estimates regarding both the timing of the revenue recognition and the amount of revenue to be recognized. These estimates are generally based on the analysis of our historical data. We have consistently applied this accounting method to estimate revenue from unused tickets at the date of travel. Estimated future refunds and exchanges included in the air traffic liability are routinely evaluated based on subsequent activity to validate the accuracy of our estimates. Any adjustments resulting from periodic evaluations of the estimated air traffic liability are included in passenger revenue during the period in which the evaluations are completed. While the contract duration of passenger tickets is generally one year, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we extended the contract duration for certain tickets to December 31, 2021, principally those with travel scheduled from March 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. Additionally, we have eliminated change fees for most domestic and international tickets. As of December 31, 2020, the air traffic liability included approximately $2.6 billion of travel credits related to these unused tickets for travel prior to December 31, 2020. Accordingly, any revenue associated with these tickets will be recognized within the next 12 months. Given this change in contract duration and uncertainty surrounding the future demand for air travel, our estimates of revenue that will be recognized from the air traffic liability for future flown or unused tickets as well as our estimates of refunds may be subject to variability and differ from historical experience.
Various taxes and fees assessed on the sale of tickets to end customers are collected by us as an agent and remitted to taxing authorities. These taxes and fees have been presented on a net basis in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and recorded as a liability until remitted to the appropriate taxing authority. The CARES Act provided for a temporary tax holiday from collecting and remitting certain government ticket taxes for tickets purchased between March 28, 2020 and December 31, 2020.
Loyalty Revenue
We currently operate the loyalty program, AAdvantage. This program awards mileage credits to passengers who fly on American, any oneworld airline or other partner airlines, or by using the services of other program participants, such as the Citi and Barclaycard US co-branded credit cards, and certain hotels and car rental companies. Mileage credits can be redeemed for travel on American and other participating partner airlines, as well as other non-air travel awards such as hotels and rental cars. For mileage credits earned by AAdvantage loyalty program members, we apply the deferred revenue method. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we suspended the expiration of mileage credits through June 30, 2021 and eliminated mileage reinstatement fees for canceled award tickets.
Mileage credits earned through travel
For mileage credits earned through travel, we apply a relative selling price approach whereby the total amount collected from each passenger ticket sale is allocated between the air transportation and the mileage credits earned. The portion of each passenger ticket sale attributable to mileage credits earned is initially deferred and then recognized in passenger revenue when mileage credits are redeemed and transportation is provided. The estimated selling price of
83
mileage credits is determined using an equivalent ticket value approach, which uses historical data, including award redemption patterns by geographic region and class of service, as well as similar fares as those used to settle award redemptions. The estimated selling price of miles is adjusted for an estimate of the miles that will not be redeemed using statistical models based on historical redemption patterns to develop an estimate of the likelihood of future redemption. Given the inherent uncertainty of the current operating environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will continue to monitor redemption patterns and may adjust our estimates in the future. For the year ended December 31, 2020, a hypothetical 10% increase in the estimated selling price of miles would have decreased revenues by approximately $40 million as a result of additional amounts deferred from passenger ticket sales to be recognized in future periods.
Mileage credits sold to co-branded credit cards and other partners
We sell mileage credits to participating airline partners and non-airline business partners, including our co-branded credit card partners, under contracts with terms extending generally for one to seven years. Consideration received from the sale of mileage credits is variable and payment terms typically are within 30 days subsequent to the month of mileage sale. Sales of mileage credits to non-airline business partners are comprised of two components, transportation and marketing. We allocate the consideration received from these sales of mileage credits based on the relative selling price of each product or service delivered.
Our most significant partner agreements are our co-branded credit card agreements with Citi and Barclaycard US. We identified the following revenue elements in these co-branded credit card agreements: the transportation component; and the use of intellectual property, including the American brand and access to loyalty program member lists, which is the predominant element in the agreements, as well as advertising (collectively, the marketing component). Accordingly, we recognize the marketing component in other revenue in the period of the mileage sale following the sales-based royalty method.
The transportation component represents the estimated selling price of future travel awards and is determined using the same equivalent ticket value approach described above. The portion of each mileage credit sold attributable to transportation is initially deferred and then recognized in passenger revenue when mileage credits are redeemed and transportation is provided.
For the portion of our outstanding mileage credits that we estimate will not be redeemed, we recognize the associated value proportionally as the remaining mileage credits are redeemed. Our estimates use statistical models based on historical redemption patterns to develop an estimate of the likelihood of future redemption. For the year ended December 31, 2020, a hypothetical 10% increase in our estimate of miles not expected to be redeemed would have increased revenues by approximately $35 million.
Long-lived Assets
Long-lived assets consist of owned flight and ground equipment, ROU assets and definite-lived intangible assets such as certain domestic airport slots and gate leasehold rights, customer relationships and marketing agreements. In addition to the original cost, the recorded value of our fixed assets is impacted by a number of estimates made, including estimated useful lives, salvage values and our determination as to whether aircraft are temporarily or permanently grounded. The majority of our aircraft fleet types are depreciated over 25-30 years. It is possible that the ultimate useful lives of our aircraft will be significantly different than the current estimate due to unforeseen events in the future that impact our fleet plan. Definite-lived intangible assets are originally recorded at their acquired fair values and are subsequently amortized over their estimated useful lives.
Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 360 – Property, Plant and Equipment (ASC 360) requires long-lived assets to be assessed for impairment when events and circumstances indicate that the assets may be impaired. An impairment of a long-lived asset or group of long-lived assets exists only when the sum of the estimated undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated directly by the assets are less than the carrying value of the assets. We group assets principally by fleet-type when estimating future cash flows, which is generally the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows exist. Estimates of future cash flows are based on historical results adjusted to reflect management’s best estimate of future market and operating conditions, including our current fleet plan. If such assets are impaired, the impairment charge recognized is the amount by which the carrying value of the assets exceeds their fair value. Fair value reflects management’s best estimate including inputs from published pricing guides and bids from third parties as well as contracted sales agreements when applicable.
84
In 2020, our operations, liquidity and stock price were significantly impacted by decreased passenger demand and government travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, we decided to retire certain mainline aircraft earlier than planned, including Airbus A330-200, Boeing 757, Boeing 767, Airbus A330-300 and Embraer 190 aircraft as well as regional aircraft, including certain Embraer 140 and Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft. As a result of these events and circumstances, we performed impairment tests for our long-lived assets in the first three quarters of 2020.
As a result of the impairment tests performed on our long-lived assets, we determined the sum of the estimated undiscounted future cash flows exceeded the carrying value for our long-lived assets except for the aircraft being retired earlier than planned as discussed above. For those aircraft and certain related spare parts, we recorded impairment charges reflecting the difference between the carrying values of these assets and their fair values of $1.5 billion for the year ended December 31, 2020. Due to the inherent uncertainties of the current operating environment, we will continue to evaluate our current fleet (including aircraft in temporary storage) and may decide to permanently retire additional aircraft.
Goodwill and Indefinite-lived Assets
Goodwill represents the purchase price in excess of the fair value of the net assets acquired and liabilities assumed in connection with the merger with US Airways Group. We have one reporting unit. Indefinite-lived intangible assets other than goodwill consist of certain domestic airport slots and international slots and route authorities. ASC 350 – Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (ASC 350) requires goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets to be assessed for impairment annually or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that the fair values of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets may be lower than their carrying values. Our annual assessment date is October 1.
Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are assessed for impairment by initially performing a qualitative assessment. Under the qualitative approach, we analyze the following factors, among others, to determine if events or circumstances have affected the fair value of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets: (1) negative trends in our market capitalization, (2) an increase in fuel prices, (3) declining per mile passenger yields, (4) lower passenger demand as a result of a weakened U.S. and global economy and (5) changes to the regulatory environment. If we determine that it is more likely than not that our goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible assets may be impaired, we use a quantitative approach to assess the asset’s fair value and the amount of the impairment, if any.
In addition to our annual impairment assessment, we performed interim impairment tests in 2020 on our goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets as a result of the events and circumstances previously discussed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business. For goodwill, we performed a quantitative analysis by using a market approach. Under the market approach, the fair value of the reporting unit was determined based on quoted market prices for equity and the fair value of debt as described in Note 9 to AAG’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8A and Note 7 to American’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8B. The fair value exceeded the carrying value of the reporting unit, and our $4.1 billion of goodwill was not impaired.
We performed qualitative impairment tests on our $1.8 billion of indefinite-lived intangible assets and determined there was no material impairment.
As discussed above, due to the inherent uncertainties of the current operating environment, we will continue to evaluate our goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for events or circumstances that indicate that their fair values may be lower than their carrying values.
Pensions and Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits
We recognize the funded status (i.e., the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the projected benefit obligations) of our pension and retiree medical and other postretirement benefits plans in the consolidated balance sheets with a corresponding adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
85
Our pension and retiree medical and other postretirement benefits costs and liabilities are calculated using various actuarial assumptions and methodologies. We use certain assumptions including, but not limited to, the selection of the: (1) discount rate and (2) expected return on plan assets (as discussed below). These assumptions as of December 31 were:
| 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
Pension weighted average discount rate (1) | 2.7 | % | 3.4 | % | |||||||
Retiree medical and other postretirement benefits weighted average discount rate (1) | 2.4 | % | 3.3 | % | |||||||
Expected rate of return on plan assets (2) | 8.0 | % | 8.0 | % | |||||||
(1)When establishing our discount rate to measure our obligations, we match high quality corporate bonds available in the marketplace whose cash flows approximate our projected benefit disbursements. Lowering the discount rate by 50 basis points as of December 31, 2020 would increase our pension and retiree medical and other postretirement benefits obligations by approximately $1.4 billion and $45 million, respectively, decrease estimated 2021 pension expense by approximately $15 million and increase estimated 2021 retiree medical and other postretirement benefits expense by less than $1 million.
(2)The expected rate of return on plan assets is based upon an evaluation of our historical trends and experience, taking into account current and expected market conditions and our target asset allocation of 30% fixed income securities, 24% U.S. stocks, 22% alternative (private) investments, 16% developed international stocks and 8% emerging market stocks. The expected rate of return on plan assets component of our net periodic benefit cost is calculated based on the fair value of plan assets and our target asset allocation. Lowering the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets by 50 basis points as of December 31, 2020 would increase estimated 2021 pension expense and retiree medical and other postretirement benefits expense by approximately $70 million and $1 million, respectively.
During 2020, we reviewed and revised certain economic and demographic assumptions including the pension and retiree medical and other postretirement benefits discount rates and health care cost trend rates. The net effect of changing these assumptions for the pension plans resulted in an increase of $1.7 billion in the projected benefit obligation at December 31, 2020. The net effect of changing these assumptions for retiree medical and other postretirement benefits plans resulted in an increase of $80 million in the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation at December 31, 2020. We also revised our mortality assumptions to incorporate the new improvement scale issued by the Society of Actuaries. This resulted in a decrease in our pension and retiree medical and other postretirement benefit obligations by $140 million and $1 million, respectively.
See Note 10 to AAG’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8A and Note 8 to American’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8B for additional information regarding our employee benefit plans.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded net as noncurrent deferred income taxes.
Our ability to use our NOL Carryforwards depends on the amount of taxable income generated in future periods. We provide a valuation allowance for our deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that some portion, or all of our deferred tax assets, will not be realized. We consider all available positive and negative evidence and make certain assumptions in evaluating the realizability of our deferred tax assets. Many factors are considered that impact our assessment of future profitability, including conditions which are beyond our control, such as the health of the economy, the availability and price volatility of aircraft fuel and travel demand.
We presently have a $34 million valuation allowance on certain net deferred tax assets related to state NOL Carryforwards. There can be no assurance that an additional valuation allowance on our net deferred tax assets will not be required. Such valuation allowance could be material.
86
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
ASU 2016-13: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments
This ASU requires the use of an expected loss model for certain types of financial instruments and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to calculate credit loss estimates. For trade receivables, loans and held-to-maturity debt securities, an estimate of lifetime expected credit losses is required. For available-for-sale debt securities, an allowance for credit losses will be required rather than a reduction to the carrying value of the asset. We adopted this accounting standard prospectively as of January 1, 2020, and it did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2020-06: Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts In An Entity's Own Equity (the New Convertible Debt Standard)
The New Convertible Debt Standard simplifies the accounting for certain convertible instruments by removing the separation models for convertible debt with a cash conversion feature and for convertible instruments with a beneficial conversion feature. As a result, more convertible debt instruments will be reported as a single liability instrument with no separate accounting for embedded conversion features. Additionally, the New Convertible Debt Standard amends the diluted earnings per share calculation for convertible instruments by requiring the use of the if-converted method. The treasury stock method is no longer available. Entities may adopt the New Convertible Debt Standard using either a full or modified retrospective approach, and it is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2021. Early adoption is permitted for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020. The New Convertible Debt Standard is applicable to our 6.50% convertible senior notes due 2025. We early adopted the New Convertible Debt Standard as of January 1, 2021 using the modified retrospective method to recognize our 6.50% convertible senior notes as a single liability instrument. As of January 1, 2021, we recorded a $415 million ($320 million net of tax) reduction to additional paid-in capital to remove the equity component of the 6.50% convertible senior notes from our balance sheet and a $19 million cumulative effect adjustment credit, net of tax, to retained deficit related to non-cash debt discount amortization recognized in periods prior to adoption resulting in a corresponding reduction of $389 million to the debt discount associated with the 6.50% convertible senior notes. See Note 5(h) to AAG’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8A for additional information on our 6.50% convertible senior notes.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The risk inherent in our market risk sensitive instruments and positions is the potential loss arising from adverse changes in the price of fuel, foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates as discussed below. The sensitivity analyses presented do not consider the effects that such adverse changes may have on overall economic activity, nor do they consider additional actions we may take to mitigate our exposure to such changes. Therefore, actual results may differ. See Note 8 to AAG’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8A and Note 6 to American’s Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8B for additional discussion regarding risk management matters.
Aircraft Fuel
Our operating results are materially impacted by changes in the availability, price volatility and cost of aircraft fuel, which represents one of the largest single cost items in our business. Because of the amount of fuel needed to operate our business, even a relatively small increase or decrease in the price of aircraft fuel can have a material effect on our operating results and liquidity. Market prices for aircraft fuel can be volatile, with market spot prices ranging from a low of approximately $0.37 per gallon to a high of approximately $2.35 per gallon during the period from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2020.
As of December 31, 2020, we did not have any fuel hedging contracts outstanding to hedge our fuel consumption. We do not currently view the market opportunities to hedge fuel prices as attractive because, among other things, our future fuel needs remain unclear due to uncertainties regarding air travel demand and any hedging would potentially require significant capital or collateral to be placed at risk. As such, and assuming we do not enter into any future transactions to hedge our fuel consumption, we will continue to be fully exposed to fluctuations in fuel prices. Our current policy is not to enter into transactions to hedge our fuel consumption, although we review that policy from time to time based on market conditions and other factors. Based on our 2021 forecasted fuel consumption, we estimate that a one cent per gallon increase in the price of aircraft fuel would increase our 2021 annual fuel expense by $38 million.
87
Foreign Currency
We are exposed to the effect of foreign exchange rate fluctuations on the U.S. dollar value of foreign currency-denominated transactions. Our largest exposure comes from the British pound sterling, Euro, Canadian dollar and various Latin American currencies, primarily the Brazilian real. We do not currently have a foreign currency hedge program. We estimate a uniform 10% strengthening in the value of the U.S. dollar from 2020 levels relative to each of the currencies in which we have foreign currency exposure would have resulted in a decrease in pre-tax income of approximately $56 million for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Generally, fluctuations in foreign currencies, including devaluations, cannot be predicted by us and can significantly affect the value of our assets located outside the United States. These conditions, as well as any further delays, devaluations or imposition of more stringent repatriation restrictions, may materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. See Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors – “We operate a global business with international operations that are subject to economic and political instability and have been, and in the future may continue to be, adversely affected by numerous events, circumstances or government actions beyond our control” for additional discussion of this and other currency risks.
Interest
Our earnings and cash flow are affected by changes in interest rates due to the impact those changes have on our interest expense from variable-rate debt instruments and our interest income from short-term, interest-bearing investments.
Our largest exposure with respect to variable-rate debt comes from changes in LIBOR. We had variable-rate debt instruments representing approximately 40% of our total long-term debt at December 31, 2020. We currently do not have an interest rate hedge program to hedge our exposure to floating interest rates on our variable-rate debt obligations. If annual interest rates increase 100 basis points, based on our December 31, 2020 variable-rate debt and short-term investments balances, annual interest expense on variable-rate debt would increase by approximately $130 million and annual interest income on short-term investments would increase by approximately $70 million. Additionally, the fair value of fixed-rate debt would have decreased by approximately $590 million for AAG and $450 million for American.
On July 27, 2017, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (the authority that regulates LIBOR) announced that it intends to stop compelling banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR after 2021. The discontinuation date for submission and publication of rates for certain tenors of USD LIBOR (1-month, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month) is currently under consultation by the ICE Benchmark Administration (the administrator of LIBOR) and may be extended until June 30, 2023. It is unclear whether new methods of calculating LIBOR will be established such that it continues to exist after 2021. Similarly, it is not possible to predict whether LIBOR will continue to be viewed as an acceptable market benchmark, what rate or rates may become acceptable alternatives to LIBOR, or what effect these changes in views or alternatives may have on financial markets for LIBOR-linked financial instruments. While the U.S. Federal Reserve, in conjunction with the Alternative Reference Rates Committee, has chosen SOFR as the recommended risk-free reference rate for the U.S. (calculated based on repurchase agreements backed by treasury securities), we cannot currently predict the extent to which this index will gain widespread acceptance as a replacement for LIBOR. It is not possible to predict the effect of these changes, other reforms or the establishment of alternative reference rates in the United Kingdom, the United States or elsewhere.
We may in the future pursue amendments to our LIBOR-based debt transactions to provide for a transaction mechanism or other reference rate in anticipation of LIBOR’s discontinuation, but we may not be able to reach agreement with our lenders on any such amendments. As of December 31, 2020, we had $12.8 billion of borrowings based on LIBOR. The replacement of LIBOR with a comparable or successor rate could cause the amount of interest payable on our long-term debt to be different or higher than expected.
88
ITEM 8A. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA OF AMERICAN AIRLINES GROUP INC.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors
American Airlines Group Inc.:
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of American Airlines Group Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), cash flows, and stockholders’ equity (deficit) for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and our report dated February 17, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
89
Estimate of mileage credits not expected to be redeemed
As discussed in Note 1(l) to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s loyalty program awards mileage credits to passengers for flights on the Company’s airline, flights on partner airlines, or for using the services of other program participants. The Company accounts for such mileage credits earned using the deferred revenue method, which includes an estimate for mileage credits not expected to be redeemed. The Company’s loyalty program liability was $9.2 billion as of December 31, 2020 and the associated passenger revenue for mileage credits redeemed for travel was $1.1 billion for the year ended December 31, 2020.
We identified the assessment of the estimated number of mileage credits not expected to be redeemed as a critical audit matter. A high degree of auditor judgment was required to evaluate the applicability of historical data used to develop the estimate.
The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls over the Company’s loyalty program accounting process, including controls related to the estimation of mileage credits not expected to be redeemed. We assessed the Company’s methodology used to evaluate this estimate and determined it was consistent with historical periods. We developed an independent expectation of mileage credits not expected to be redeemed, which included consideration of industry and historical information. We compared the results of our independent expectation to the Company’s recorded amount of loyalty program liability and the associated passenger revenue.
Sufficiency of audit evidence over realizability of operating loss carryforwards
As discussed in Notes 1(i) and 7 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company had $4.0 billion of operating loss carryforwards, which are recorded as deferred tax assets at December 31, 2020. Deferred tax assets are recognized related to operating loss carryforwards that will reduce future taxable income. The Company provides a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that some portion, or all the deferred tax assets, will not be realized. In evaluating the need for a valuation allowance, management considers the weighting of all available positive and negative evidence, which includes, among other things, the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative taxable income or losses, as well as future projections of profitability.
We identified the evaluation of the sufficiency of audit evidence over the realizability of operating loss carryforwards as a critical audit matter. Evaluating the sufficiency of audit evidence required subjective auditor judgment, and the involvement of tax professionals in order to assess the nature and extent of procedures performed in assessing the realizability of the operating loss carryforwards.
The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We performed risk assessment procedures and applied auditor judgment to determine the nature and extent of procedures to be performed over the income tax accounts and disclosures. We evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls over the Company’s deferred tax asset valuation allowance process, including controls related to the realizability of operating loss carryforwards. We evaluated positive and negative evidence used in assessing whether the deferred tax assets were more-likely-than-not to be realized in the future, including evaluating the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative taxable income or losses, as well as future projections of profitability. We evaluated the reasonableness of management’s future projections of profitability considering (i) historical profitability of the Company, (ii) consistency with industry data and economic trends, and (iii) whether these assumptions were consistent with evidence obtained in other areas of the audit. We involved tax professionals who assisted in the evaluation of the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative taxable income or losses. Further, we assessed the sufficiency of audit evidence obtained over the realizability of the operating loss carryforwards by evaluating the cumulative results of the audit procedures, qualitative aspects of the Company’s accounting practices, and potential bias in the accounting estimate.
/s/ KPMG LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2014.
Dallas, Texas
February 17, 2021
90
AMERICAN AIRLINES GROUP INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In millions, except share and per share amounts)
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Operating revenues: | |||||||||||||||||
| Passenger | $ | 14,518 | $ | 42,010 | $ | 40,676 | |||||||||||
| Cargo | 769 | 863 | 1,013 | ||||||||||||||
| Other | 2,050 | 2,895 | 2,852 | ||||||||||||||
| Total operating revenues | 17,337 | 45,768 | 44,541 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||||
| Aircraft fuel and related taxes | 2,581 | 7,526 | 8,053 | ||||||||||||||
| Salaries, wages and benefits | 10,960 | 12,609 | 12,251 | ||||||||||||||
| Regional expenses | 4,892 | 7,501 | 7,133 | ||||||||||||||
| Maintenance, materials and repairs | 1,583 | 2,380 | 2,050 | ||||||||||||||
| Other rent and landing fees | 1,536 | 2,055 | 1,900 | ||||||||||||||
| Aircraft rent | 1,341 | 1,326 | 1,264 | ||||||||||||||
| Selling expenses | 513 | 1,602 | 1,520 | ||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 2,040 | 1,982 | 1,839 | ||||||||||||||
| Special items, net | (657) | 635 | 787 | ||||||||||||||
| Other | 2,969 | 5,087 | 5,088 | ||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 27,758 | 42,703 | 41,885 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | (10,421) | 3,065 | 2,656 | ||||||||||||||
| Nonoperating income (expense): | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest income | 41 | 127 | 118 | ||||||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | (1,227) | (1,095) | (1,056) | ||||||||||||||
| Other income, net | 154 | 159 | 166 | ||||||||||||||
| Total nonoperating expense, net | (1,032) | (809) | (772) | ||||||||||||||
| Income (loss) before income taxes | (11,453) | 2,256 | 1,884 | ||||||||||||||
| Income tax provision (benefit) | (2,568) | 570 | 472 | ||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (8,885) | $ | 1,686 | $ | 1,412 | |||||||||||
| Earnings (loss) per common share: | |||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | (18.36) | $ | 3.80 | $ | 3.04 | |||||||||||
| Diluted | $ | (18.36) | $ | 3.79 | $ | 3.03 | |||||||||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding (in thousands): | |||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 483,888 | 443,363 | 464,236 | ||||||||||||||
| Diluted | 483,888 | 444,269 | 465,660 | ||||||||||||||
| Cash dividends declared per common share | $ | 0.10 | $ | 0.40 | $ | 0.40 | |||||||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
91
AMERICAN AIRLINES GROUP INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(In millions)
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (8,885) | $ | 1,686 | $ | 1,412 | |||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: | |||||||||||||||||
| Pension, retiree medical and other postretirement benefits | (772) | (438) | (117) | ||||||||||||||
| Investments | — | 3 | (3) | ||||||||||||||
| Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax | (772) | (435) | (120) | ||||||||||||||
| Total comprehensive income (loss) | $ | (9,657) | $ | 1,251 | $ | 1,292 | |||||||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
92
AMERICAN AIRLINES GROUP INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In millions, except share and par value)
| December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
| ASSETS | |||||||||||
| Current assets | |||||||||||
| Cash | $ | 245 | $ | 280 | |||||||
| Short-term investments | 6,619 | 3,546 | |||||||||
| Restricted cash and short-term investments | 609 | 158 | |||||||||
| Accounts receivable, net | 1,342 | 1,750 | |||||||||
| Aircraft fuel, spare parts and supplies, net | 1,614 | 1,851 | |||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other | 666 | 621 | |||||||||
| Total current assets | 11,095 | 8,206 | |||||||||
| Operating property and equipment | |||||||||||
| Flight equipment | 37,816 | 42,537 | |||||||||
| Ground property and equipment | 9,194 | 9,443 | |||||||||
| Equipment purchase deposits | 1,446 | 1,674 | |||||||||
| Total property and equipment, at cost | 48,456 | 53,654 | |||||||||
| Less accumulated depreciation and amortization | (16,757) | (18,659) | |||||||||
| Total property and equipment, net | 31,699 | 34,995 | |||||||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets | 8,039 | 8,737 | |||||||||
| Other assets | |||||||||||
| Goodwill | 4,091 | 4,091 | |||||||||
Intangibles, net of accumulated amortization of $745 and $704, respectively | 2,029 | 2,084 | |||||||||
| Deferred tax asset | 3,239 | 645 | |||||||||
| Other assets | 1,816 | 1,237 | |||||||||
| Total other assets | 11,175 | 8,057 | |||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 62,008 | $ | 59,995 | |||||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT) | |||||||||||
| Current liabilities | |||||||||||
| Current maturities of long-term debt and finance leases | $ | 2,797 | $ | 2,861 | |||||||
| Accounts payable | 1,196 | 2,062 | |||||||||
| Accrued salaries and wages | 1,716 | 1,541 | |||||||||
| Air traffic liability | 4,757 | 4,808 | |||||||||
| Loyalty program liability | 2,033 | 3,193 | |||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities | 1,651 | 1,708 | |||||||||
| Other accrued liabilities | 2,419 | 2,138 | |||||||||
| Total current liabilities | 16,569 | 18,311 | |||||||||
| Noncurrent liabilities | |||||||||||
| Long-term debt and finance leases, net of current maturities | 29,796 | 21,454 | |||||||||
| Pension and postretirement benefits | 7,069 | 6,052 | |||||||||
| Loyalty program liability | 7,162 | 5,422 | |||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities | 6,777 | 7,421 | |||||||||
| Other liabilities | 1,502 | 1,453 | |||||||||
| Total noncurrent liabilities | 52,306 | 41,802 | |||||||||
| Commitments and contingencies (Note 12) | |||||||||||
| Stockholders' equity (deficit) | |||||||||||
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 1,750,000,000 shares authorized, 621,479,522 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2020; 428,202,506 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2019 | 6 | 4 | |||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 6,894 | 3,945 | |||||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (7,103) | (6,331) | |||||||||
| Retained earnings (deficit) | (6,664) | 2,264 | |||||||||
| Total stockholders' deficit | (6,867) | (118) | |||||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity (deficit) | $ | 62,008 | $ | 59,995 | |||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
93
AMERICAN AIRLINES GROUP INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In millions)
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (8,885) | $ | 1,686 | $ | 1,412 | |||||||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 2,370 | 2,318 | 2,159 | ||||||||||||||
| Net gains from sale of property and equipment and sale-leaseback transactions | (95) | (112) | (59) | ||||||||||||||
| Special items, net non-cash | 1,599 | 376 | 458 | ||||||||||||||
| Pension and postretirement | (319) | (178) | (300) | ||||||||||||||
| Deferred income tax provision (benefit) | (2,568) | 560 | 440 | ||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation | 91 | 94 | 86 | ||||||||||||||
| Other, net | 47 | (62) | (97) | ||||||||||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Decrease in accounts receivable | 538 | 73 | 222 | ||||||||||||||
| Increase in other assets | (38) | (373) | (390) | ||||||||||||||
| Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities | (626) | 327 | (147) | ||||||||||||||
| Increase (decrease) in air traffic liability | (51) | 469 | 297 | ||||||||||||||
| Increase (decrease) in loyalty program liability | 580 | 76 | (283) | ||||||||||||||
| Contributions to pension plans | (9) | (1,230) | (475) | ||||||||||||||
| Increase (decrease) in other liabilities | 823 | (209) | 210 | ||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | (6,543) | 3,815 | 3,533 | ||||||||||||||
| Cash flows from investing activities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures and aircraft purchase deposits | (1,958) | (4,268) | (3,745) | ||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions | 665 | 850 | 1,096 | ||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from sale of property and equipment | 351 | 54 | 111 | ||||||||||||||
| Purchases of short-term investments | (5,873) | (3,184) | (3,412) | ||||||||||||||
| Sales of short-term investments | 2,803 | 4,144 | 3,705 | ||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from vendor | 90 | 250 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Decrease (increase) in restricted short-term investments | (308) | (3) | 72 | ||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from sale of investments | 41 | — | 207 | ||||||||||||||
| Other investing activities | (153) | (86) | (7) | ||||||||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (4,342) | (2,243) | (1,973) | ||||||||||||||
| Cash flows from financing activities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt | 11,780 | 3,960 | 2,354 | ||||||||||||||
| Payments on long-term debt and finance leases | (3,535) | (4,190) | (2,941) | ||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from issuance of equity | 2,970 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Deferred financing costs | (93) | (61) | (59) | ||||||||||||||
| Treasury stock repurchases and shares withheld for taxes pursuant to employee stock plans | (173) | (1,097) | (837) | ||||||||||||||
| Dividend payments | (43) | (178) | (186) | ||||||||||||||
| Other financing activities | 88 | (2) | (3) | ||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 10,994 | (1,568) | (1,672) | ||||||||||||||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and restricted cash | 109 | 4 | (112) | ||||||||||||||
| Cash and restricted cash at beginning of year | 290 | 286 | 398 | ||||||||||||||
Cash and restricted cash at end of year (a) | $ | 399 | $ | 290 | $ | 286 | |||||||||||
(a) The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and restricted cash to amounts reported within the consolidated balance sheets:
| Cash | $ | 245 | $ | 280 | $ | 275 | |||||||||||
| Restricted cash included in restricted cash and short-term investments | 154 | 10 | 11 | ||||||||||||||
| Total cash and restricted cash | $ | 399 | $ | 290 | $ | 286 | |||||||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
94
AMERICAN AIRLINES GROUP INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)
(In millions, except share amounts)
| Common Stock | Additional Paid-in Capital | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | Retained Earnings (Deficit) | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2017 | $ | 5 | $ | 5,714 | $ | (5,776) | $ | (723) | $ | (780) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | — | — | — | 1,412 | 1,412 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss, net | — | — | (120) | — | (120) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of 1,709,140 shares of AAG common stock pursuant to employee stock plans net of shares withheld for cash taxes | — | (37) | — | — | (37) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Purchase and retirement of 16,606,157 shares of AAG common stock | — | (799) | — | — | (799) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends declared on AAG common stock ($0.40 per share) | — | — | — | (188) | (188) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation expense | — | 86 | — | — | 86 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Impact of adoption of Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-01 related to financial instruments | — | — | — | 60 | 60 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Impact of adoption of ASU 2016-02 related to leases | — | — | — | 197 | 197 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2018 | 5 | 4,964 | (5,896) | 758 | (169) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | — | — | — | 1,686 | 1,686 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss, net | — | — | (435) | — | (435) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of 1,682,202 shares of AAG common stock pursuant to employee stock plans net of shares withheld for cash taxes | — | (25) | — | — | (25) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Purchase and retirement of 34,090,566 shares of AAG common stock | (1) | (1,095) | — | — | (1,096) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends declared on AAG common stock ($0.40 per share) | — | — | — | (180) | (180) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Settlement of single-dip unsecured claims held in Disputed Claims Reserve | — | 7 | — | — | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation expense | — | 94 | — | — | 94 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2019 | 4 | 3,945 | (6,331) | 2,264 | (118) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | — | — | — | (8,885) | (8,885) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss, net | — | — | (772) | — | (772) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of PSP1 Warrants (see Note 1(b)) | — | 63 | — | — | 63 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of Treasury Loan Warrants (see Note 1(b)) | — | 25 | — | — | 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of 1,603,554 shares of AAG common stock pursuant to employee stock plans net of shares withheld for cash taxes | — | (15) | — | — | (15) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of 129,490,000 shares of AAG common stock pursuant to public stock offerings, net of offering costs | 1 | 1,686 | — | — | 1,687 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of 68,561,487 shares of AAG common stock pursuant to an at-the-market offering, net of offering costs | 1 | 868 | — | — | 869 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity component of convertible debt issued, net of tax and offering costs | — | 320 | — | — | 320 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Purchase and retirement of 6,378,025 shares of AAG common stock | — | (145) | — | — | (145) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends declared on AAG common stock ($0.10 per share) | — | — | — | (43) | (43) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Settlement of single-dip unsecured claims held in Disputed Claims Reserve | — | 56 | — | — | 56 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation expense | — | 91 | — | — | 91 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2020 | $ | 6 | $ | 6,894 | $ | (7,103) | $ | (6,664) | $ | (6,867) | |||||||||||||||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
95
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF AMERICAN AIRLINES GROUP INC.
1. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
(a) Basis of Presentation
American Airlines Group Inc. (we, us, our and similar terms, or AAG), a Delaware corporation, is a holding company whose primary business activity is the operation of a major network air carrier, providing scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo through its mainline operating subsidiary, American Airlines, Inc. (American) and its wholly-owned regional airline subsidiaries, Envoy Aviation Group Inc., PSA Airlines, Inc. and Piedmont Airlines, Inc. that operate under the brand American Eagle. On December 9, 2013, a subsidiary of AMR Corporation (AMR) merged with and into US Airways Group, Inc. (US Airways Group), a Delaware corporation, which survived as a wholly-owned subsidiary of AAG, and AAG emerged from Chapter 11 (the Merger). Upon closing of the Merger and emergence from Chapter 11, AMR changed its name to American Airlines Group Inc. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated.
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The most significant areas of judgment relate to passenger revenue recognition, impairment of goodwill, impairment of long-lived and intangible assets, the loyalty program, as well as pension and retiree medical and other postretirement benefits.
(b) Impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19)
COVID-19 has been declared a global health pandemic by the World Health Organization. COVID-19 has surfaced in nearly all regions of the world, which has driven the implementation of significant, government-imposed measures to prevent or reduce its spread, including travel restrictions, testing regimes, closing of borders, “stay at home” orders and business closures. As a result, we have experienced an unprecedented decline in the demand for air travel, which has resulted in a material deterioration in our revenues. While our business performed largely as expected in January and February of 2020, a severe reduction in air travel starting in March 2020 resulted in our total operating revenues decreasing approximately 62% in 2020 as compared to 2019. While the length and severity of the reduction in demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic is uncertain, our business, operations and financial condition in 2020 were severely impacted.
We have taken aggressive actions to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business including deep capacity reductions, structural changes to our fleet, cost reductions, and steps to preserve cash and improve our overall liquidity position. We remain extremely focused on taking all self-help measures available to manage our business during this unprecedented time, consistent with the terms of the financial assistance we have received from the U.S. Government under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
Capacity Reductions
We have significantly reduced our capacity (as measured by available seat miles), with 2020 flying decreasing by 50% year-over-year. Domestic capacity in 2020 was down 41% year-over-year while international capacity was down 68% year-over-year. The demand environment continues to be uncertain as COVID-19 cases have continued to fluctuate in jurisdictions to which we fly and travel restrictions have generally remained in place. Due to this uncertainty, we will continue to adjust our future capacity to match observed booking trends for future travel and make further adjustments to our capacity as needed.
Fleet
To better align our network with lower passenger demand, we accelerated the retirement of Airbus A330-200, Boeing 757, Boeing 767, Airbus A330-300 and Embraer 190 fleets as well as certain regional aircraft, including certain Embraer 140 and Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft. These retirements remove complexity from our operation and bring forward cost savings and efficiencies associated with operating fewer aircraft types. See Note 1(g) below for further information on the accounting for our fleet retirements. Due to the inherent uncertainties of the current operating environment, we will continue to evaluate our current fleet and may decide to permanently retire additional aircraft. In addition, we have placed a number of Boeing 737-800 and certain regional aircraft into temporary storage.
96
Cost Reductions
We moved quickly to better align our costs with our reduced schedule. In aggregate, we estimate that we reduced our 2020 operating and capital expenditures by more than $17 billion. These savings were achieved primarily through capacity reductions. In addition, we implemented a series of actions, including the accelerated fleet retirements discussed above as well as reductions in maintenance expense and $700 million in non-aircraft capital expenditures through less fleet modification work, the elimination of ground service equipment purchases and pausing non-critical facility investments and information technology projects. We also suspended all non-essential hiring, paused non-contractual pay rate increases, reduced executive and board of director compensation, implemented voluntary leave and early retirement programs and decreased our management and support staff team, including officers, by approximately 30%. In total, more than 20,000 team members have opted for an early retirement or long-term partially paid leave. Additionally, we have made reductions in marketing, contractor, event and training expenses as well as consolidated space at airport facilities.
Due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, we involuntarily furloughed certain team members starting October 1, 2020, and subsequently recalled the team members effective December 1, 2020 covered by the financial assistance provided pursuant to the payroll support program (PSP2) established under Subtitle A of Title IV of Division N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (PSP Extension Law) (see Note 18 for further information).
Liquidity
As of December 31, 2020, we had $14.3 billion in total available liquidity, consisting of $6.9 billion in unrestricted cash and short-term investments, $7.0 billion in an undrawn term loan facility under the CARES Act and a total of $446 million in undrawn short-term revolving and other facilities.
During 2020, we completed the following financing transactions (see Note 5 for further information):
•refinanced the $1.2 billion 2014 Term Loan Facility at a lower interest rate and extended the maturity from 2021 to 2027;
•issued $500 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.75% unsecured senior notes due 2025;
•raised $1.0 billion from the senior secured delayed draw term loan credit facility (Delayed Draw Term Loan Credit Facility);
•borrowed $750 million under the 2013 Revolving Facility, $1.6 billion under the 2014 Revolving Facility and $450 million under the April 2016 Revolving Facility;
•issued $1.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of 6.50% convertible senior notes due 2025;
•issued 85.2 million shares of AAG common stock at a price of $13.50 per share and 44.3 million shares of AAG common stock at a price of $12.975 per share pursuant to two underwritten public offerings of common stock for aggregate net proceeds of $1.7 billion;
•issued $2.5 billion in aggregate principal amount of 11.75% senior secured notes due 2025 and used the proceeds thereof, in part, to repay the $1.0 billion Delayed Draw Term Loan Credit Facility that we borrowed in March 2020;
•issued approximately $360 million in special facility revenue bonds, of which $47 million was used to fund the redemption of certain outstanding bonds;
•entered into a $7.5 billion secured term loan facility with the U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury), of which we borrowed $550 million (see below for additional information on the Treasury Loan Agreement);
•issued $1.2 billion in aggregate principal amount of two series of 10.75% senior secured notes due 2026 secured by various collateral;
•issued 68.6 million shares of AAG common stock at an average price of $12.87 per share pursuant to an at-the-market offering for net proceeds of $869 million (see Note 18 for further information);
•raised $665 million principally from aircraft sale-leaseback transactions as well as $351 million from asset sales primarily related to previously parked aircraft; and
97
•received approximately $600 million of proceeds from enhanced equipment trust certificates (EETCs) and other aircraft and flight equipment financings, of which $17 million was used to repay existing indebtedness.
In addition to the foregoing financings, we received an aggregate of $6.0 billion in financial assistance through the payroll support program (PSP1) established under the CARES Act, all of which was received by the end of September 2020. In connection with our receipt of this financial assistance, AAG issued a promissory note (the PSP1 Promissory Note) to Treasury for $1.8 billion in aggregate principal amount and warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of approximately 14.1 million shares (the PSP1 Warrant Shares) of AAG common stock. See below for further discussion on PSP1.
In January 2021, we received $1.5 billion (of an expected total of at least $3.0 billion) in financial assistance through PSP2. In connection with our receipt of this financial assistance, AAG issued a promissory note (the PSP2 Promissory Note) to Treasury for an initial principal sum of approximately $433 million and warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of approximately 2.8 million shares (the PSP2 Warrant Shares) of AAG common stock. See Note 18 for further discussion on PSP2.
Also, we are permitted to, and have, deferred payment of the employer portion of Social Security taxes through the end of 2020 (with 50% of the deferred amount due December 31, 2021 and the remaining 50% due December 31, 2022). This deferral provided approximately $350 million in additional liquidity during 2020. Additionally, we have suspended our capital return program, including share repurchases and the payment of future dividends for at least the period that the restrictions imposed by the CARES Act and the PSP Extension Law are applicable.
We continue to evaluate future financing opportunities and work with third-party appraisers on valuations of our remaining unencumbered assets.
A significant portion of our debt financing agreements contain covenants requiring us to maintain an aggregate of at least $2.0 billion of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and amounts available to be drawn under revolving credit facilities and/or contain loan to value, collateral coverage and/or debt service coverage ratio covenants.
Given the above actions and our current assumptions about the future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on travel demand, which could be materially different due to the inherent uncertainties of the current operating environment, we expect to meet our cash obligations as well as remain in compliance with the debt covenants in our existing financing agreements for the next 12 months based on our current level of unrestricted cash and short-term investments, our anticipated access to liquidity (including via proceeds from financings and funds from government assistance obtained pursuant to the CARES Act and the PSP Extension Law) and projected cash flows from operations.
PSP1
On April 20, 2020 (the PSP1 Closing Date), American, Envoy Air Inc. (Envoy), Piedmont Airlines, Inc. (Piedmont) and PSA Airlines, Inc. (PSA and together with American, Envoy and Piedmont, the Subsidiaries), entered into a Payroll Support Program Agreement (the PSP1 Agreement) with Treasury, with respect to PSP1 provided pursuant to the CARES Act. In connection with our entry into the PSP1 Agreement, on the PSP1 Closing Date, AAG also entered into a warrant agreement (the PSP1 Warrant Agreement) with Treasury and issued the PSP1 Promissory Note to Treasury, with the Subsidiaries as guarantors (the Guarantors).
PSP1 Agreement
In connection with PSP1, we are required to comply with the relevant provisions of the CARES Act, including the requirement that funds provided pursuant to the PSP1 Agreement be used exclusively for the continuation of payment of eligible employee wages, salaries and benefits, the requirement against involuntary furloughs and reductions in employee pay rates and benefits, which expired on September 30, 2020, the requirement that certain levels of commercial air service be maintained and the provisions that prohibit the repurchase of AAG common stock, and the payment of common stock dividends through at least September 30, 2021, as well as those that restrict the payment of certain executive compensation until March 24, 2022. The PSP1 Agreement also imposes substantial reporting obligations on us. These provisions were subsequently extended upon our entry into PSP2. See Note 18 for further discussion on PSP2. In addition, we have entered into the Treasury Loan Agreement (as defined below) and, as a result, the stock repurchase, dividend and executive compensation restrictions imposed by the Treasury Loan Agreement will remain in place through the date that is one year after the secured loan provided under the Treasury Loan Agreement is fully repaid. See below for additional information on the Treasury Loan Agreement.
98
Pursuant to the PSP1 Agreement, Treasury provided us financial assistance in an aggregate of approximately $6.0 billion. As partial compensation to the U.S. Government for the provision of financial assistance under PSP1, AAG issued the PSP1 Promissory Note in an aggregate principal amount of approximately $1.8 billion and issued warrants (each a PSP1 Warrant and, collectively, the PSP1 Warrants) to Treasury to purchase up to an aggregate of approximately 14.1 million PSP1 Warrant Shares. See Note 5 for further information on the PSP1 Promissory Note and below for more information on the PSP1 Warrant Agreement and the PSP1 Warrants.
For accounting purposes, the $6.0 billion of aggregate financial assistance we received pursuant to the PSP1 Agreement is allocated to the PSP1 Promissory Note, the PSP1 Warrants and other PSP1 financial assistance (the PSP1 Financial Assistance). The aggregate principal amount of approximately $1.8 billion of the PSP1 Promissory Note was recorded as unsecured long-term debt, and the total fair value of the PSP1 Warrants of $63 million, estimated using a Black-Scholes option pricing model, was recorded in stockholders' equity in the consolidated balance sheet. The remaining amount of approximately $4.2 billion of PSP1 Financial Assistance was recognized as a credit to special items, net in the consolidated statement of operations in the second and third quarters of 2020, the period over which the continuation of payment of eligible employee wages, salaries and benefits was required.
PSP1 Warrant Agreement and PSP1 Warrants
As partial compensation to the U.S. Government for the provision of financial assistance under the PSP1 Agreement, and pursuant to the PSP1 Warrant Agreement, AAG agreed to issue warrants to Treasury to purchase up to an aggregate of approximately 14.1 million PSP1 Warrant Shares of AAG common stock. The exercise price of the PSP1 Warrant Shares is $12.51 per share (which was the closing price of AAG common stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market on April 9, 2020) subject to certain anti-dilution provisions provided for in the PSP1 Warrants.
Pursuant to the PSP1 Warrant Agreement, on each of the PSP1 Closing Date, May 29, 2020, June 30, 2020, July 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020, AAG issued to Treasury a PSP1 Warrant to purchase up to an aggregate of approximately 6.7 million shares, 2.8 million shares, 2.8 million shares, 1.4 million shares and 0.4 million shares, respectively, of AAG common stock based on the terms described herein.
The PSP1 Warrants do not have any voting rights and are freely transferrable, with registration rights. Each PSP1 Warrant expires on the fifth anniversary of the date of issuance of such PSP1 Warrant. The PSP1 Warrants will be exercisable either through net share settlement or cash, at our option. The PSP1 Warrants were issued solely as compensation to the U.S. Government related to entry into the PSP1 Agreement. No separate proceeds (apart from the financial assistance described above) were received upon issuance of the PSP1 Warrants or will be received upon exercise thereof.
Treasury Loan Agreement
On September 25, 2020 (the Treasury Loan Closing Date), AAG and American entered into a Loan and Guarantee Agreement (the Treasury Loan Agreement) with Treasury, which provided for a secured term loan facility (the Treasury Term Loan Facility) that permitted American to borrow up to $5.5 billion. Subsequently, on October 21, 2020, AAG and American entered into an amendment to the Treasury Loan Agreement, which increased the borrowing amount to up to $7.5 billion. The Treasury Loan Agreement will involve the issuance of additional warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of approximately 60.0 million shares of AAG common stock, assuming the Treasury Term Loan Facility is fully drawn. As of December 31, 2020, American had borrowed $550 million under the Treasury Term Loan Facility, which is scheduled to mature on June 30, 2025, and issued warrants to Treasury to purchase up to an aggregate of approximately 4.4 million shares of AAG common stock. See Note 5 for further information on the Treasury Loan Agreement and below for more information on the Treasury Loan Warrant Agreement and Treasury Loan Warrants.
Treasury Loan Warrant Agreement and Warrants
In connection with the Treasury Loan Agreement, AAG also entered into a warrant agreement (the Treasury Loan Warrant Agreement) with Treasury. Pursuant to the Treasury Loan Warrant Agreement, AAG agreed to issue warrants (each a Treasury Loan Warrant and, collectively, the Treasury Loan Warrants) to Treasury to purchase up to an aggregate of approximately 60.0 million shares (the Treasury Loan Warrant Shares) of AAG's common stock based on the $7.5 billion commitment amount under the Treasury Term Loan Facility. The exercise price of the Treasury Loan Warrant Shares is $12.51 per share, subject to certain anti-dilution provisions provided for in the Treasury Loan Warrant Agreement. For accounting purposes, the fair value for the Treasury Loan Warrant Shares is estimated using a Black-Scholes option pricing model and recorded in stockholders' equity with an offsetting debt discount to the Treasury Term Loan Facility in the consolidated balance sheet.
99
Pursuant to the Treasury Loan Warrant Agreement, on the Treasury Loan Closing Date, AAG issued to Treasury a Treasury Loan Warrant to purchase up to an aggregate of approximately 4.4 million Treasury Loan Warrant Shares based on the terms described herein. On the date of each additional borrowing under the Treasury Loan Agreement, AAG will issue to Treasury an additional Treasury Loan Warrant for a number of Treasury Loan Warrant Shares equal to 10% of such borrowing, divided by $12.51, the exercise price of such shares.
The Treasury Loan Warrants do not have any voting rights and are freely transferrable, with registration rights. Each Treasury Loan Warrant expires on the fifth anniversary of the date of issuance of such Treasury Loan Warrant. The Treasury Loan Warrants will be exercisable either through net share settlement or cash, at AAG's option. The Treasury Loan Warrants were issued solely as compensation to the U.S. Government related to entry into the Treasury Loan Agreement. No separate proceeds were received upon issuance of the Treasury Loan Warrants or will be received upon exercise thereof.
(c) Recent Accounting Pronouncements
ASU 2016-13: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments
This ASU requires the use of an expected loss model for certain types of financial instruments and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to calculate credit loss estimates. For trade receivables, loans and held-to-maturity debt securities, an estimate of lifetime expected credit losses is required. For available-for-sale debt securities, an allowance for credit losses will be required rather than a reduction to the carrying value of the asset. We adopted this accounting standard prospectively as of January 1, 2020, and it did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2020-06: Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts In An Entity's Own Equity (the New Convertible Debt Standard)
The New Convertible Debt Standard simplifies the accounting for certain convertible instruments by removing the separation models for convertible debt with a cash conversion feature and for convertible instruments with a beneficial conversion feature. As a result, more convertible debt instruments will be reported as a single liability instrument with no separate accounting for embedded conversion features. Additionally, the New Convertible Debt Standard amends the diluted earnings per share calculation for convertible instruments by requiring the use of the if-converted method. The treasury stock method is no longer available. Entities may adopt the New Convertible Debt Standard using either a full or modified retrospective approach, and it is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2021. Early adoption is permitted for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020. The New Convertible Debt Standard is applicable to our 6.50% convertible senior notes due 2025. We early adopted the New Convertible Debt Standard as of January 1, 2021 using the modified retrospective method to recognize our 6.50% convertible senior notes as a single liability instrument. As of January 1, 2021, we recorded a $415 million ($320 million net of tax) reduction to additional paid-in capital to remove the equity component of the 6.50% convertible senior notes from our balance sheet and a $19 million cumulative effect adjustment credit, net of tax, to retained deficit related to non-cash debt discount amortization recognized in periods prior to adoption resulting in a corresponding reduction of $389 million to the debt discount associated with the 6.50% convertible senior notes. See Note 5(h) for additional information on our 6.50% convertible senior notes.
(d) Short-term Investments
Short-term investments are classified as available-for-sale and stated at fair value. Realized gains and losses are recorded in nonoperating expense on our consolidated statements of operations. Unrealized gains and losses are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss on our consolidated balance sheets. For investments in an unrealized loss position, we determine whether a credit loss exists by considering information about the collectability of the instrument, current market conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts of economic conditions. There have been no credit losses.
(e) Restricted Cash and Short-term Investments
We have restricted cash and short-term investments related primarily to money market funds to be used to finance a substantial portion of the cost of the renovation and expansion of Terminal 8 at JFK and collateral held to support workers’ compensation obligations.
100
(f) Aircraft Fuel, Spare Parts and Supplies, Net
Aircraft fuel is recorded on a first-in, first-out basis. Spare parts and supplies are recorded at average costs less an allowance for obsolescence. These items are expensed when used.
(g) Operating Property and Equipment
Operating property and equipment is recorded at cost and depreciated or amortized to residual values over the asset’s estimated useful life or the lease term, whichever is less, using the straight-line method. Residual values for aircraft, engines and related rotable parts are generally 5% to 10% of original cost. Costs of major improvements that enhance the usefulness of the asset are capitalized and depreciated or amortized over the estimated useful life of the asset or the lease term, whichever is less. The estimated useful lives for the principal property and equipment classifications are as follows:
| Principal Property and Equipment Classification | Estimated Useful Life | ||||
| Aircraft, engines and related rotable parts | 20 – 30 years | ||||
| Buildings and improvements | 5 – 30 years | ||||
| Furniture, fixtures and other equipment | 3 – 10 years | ||||
| Capitalized software | 5 – 10 years | ||||
Total depreciation and amortization expense was $2.4 billion, $2.6 billion and $2.4 billion for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
We assess impairment of operating property and equipment when events and circumstances indicate that the assets may be impaired. An impairment of an asset or group of assets exists only when the sum of the estimated undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated directly by the assets are less than the carrying value of the assets. We group assets principally by fleet-type when estimating future cash flows, which is generally the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows exist. Estimates of future cash flows are based on historical results adjusted to reflect management’s best estimate of future market and operating conditions, including our current fleet plan. If such assets are impaired, the impairment charge recognized is the amount by which the carrying value of the assets exceed their fair value. Fair value reflects management’s best estimate including inputs from published pricing guides and bids from third parties as well as contracted sales agreements when applicable.
In 2020, our operations, liquidity and stock price were significantly impacted by decreased passenger demand and government travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, we decided to retire certain mainline aircraft earlier than planned, including Airbus A330-200, Boeing 757, Boeing 767, Airbus A330-300 and Embraer 190 aircraft as well as certain regional aircraft, including certain Embraer 140 and Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft. As a result of these events and circumstances, we performed impairment tests for our long-lived assets in the first three quarters of 2020.
As a result of the impairment tests performed, we determined the sum of the estimated undiscounted future cash flows exceeded the carrying value except for the aircraft being retired earlier than planned as discussed above. For those aircraft and certain related spare parts, we recorded $1.5 billion in non-cash special impairment charges reflecting the difference between the carrying values of these assets and their fair values for the year ended December 31, 2020. At December 31, 2020, prepaid expense and other on the consolidated balance sheet included $164 million of these retired aircraft that are expected to be sold in the next year, and other assets on the consolidated balance sheet included $401 million of nonoperating retired aircraft. Due to the inherent uncertainties of the current operating environment, we will continue to evaluate our current fleet (including aircraft in temporary storage) and may decide to permanently retire additional aircraft.
(h) Leases
We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are included in operating lease right-of-use (ROU) assets, current operating lease liabilities and noncurrent operating lease liabilities in our consolidated balance sheet. Finance leases are included in property and equipment, current maturities of long-term debt and finance leases and long-term debt and finance leases, net of current maturities, in our consolidated balance sheets.
ROU assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the estimated present value of lease payments over the lease term.
101
We use our estimated incremental borrowing rate, which is derived from information available at the lease commencement date, in determining the present value of lease payments. We give consideration to our recent debt issuances as well as publicly available data for instruments with similar characteristics when calculating our incremental borrowing rates.
Our lease term includes options to extend the lease when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise that option. Leases with a term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet. Our lease agreements do not contain any residual value guarantees.
Under certain of our capacity purchase agreements with third-party regional carriers, we do not own the underlying aircraft. However, since we control the marketing, scheduling, ticketing, pricing and seat inventories of these aircraft and therefore control the asset, the aircraft is deemed to be leased for accounting purposes. For these capacity purchase agreements, we account for the lease and non-lease components separately. The lease component consists of the aircraft and the non-lease components consist of services, such as the crew and maintenance. We allocate the consideration in the capacity purchase agreements to the lease and non-lease components using their estimated relative standalone prices. See Note 12(b) for additional information on our capacity purchase agreements.
For real estate, we account for the lease and non-lease components as a single lease component.
(i) Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded net as noncurrent deferred income taxes.
We provide a valuation allowance for our deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that some portion, or all of our deferred tax assets, will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income. We consider all available positive and negative evidence and make certain assumptions in evaluating the realizability of our deferred tax assets. Many factors are considered that impact our assessment of future profitability, including conditions which are beyond our control, such as the health of the economy, the availability and price volatility of aircraft fuel and travel demand.
(j) Goodwill
Goodwill represents the purchase price in excess of the fair value of the net assets acquired and liabilities assumed in connection with the merger with US Airways Group. We have one reporting unit. We assess goodwill for impairment annually or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that the fair value of goodwill may be lower than the carrying value. Our annual assessment date is October 1.
Goodwill is assessed for impairment by initially performing a qualitative assessment. If we determine that it is more likely than not that our goodwill may be impaired, we use a quantitative approach to assess the asset’s fair value and the amount of the impairment, if any.
In addition to our annual impairment assessment, we performed interim impairment tests in 2020 on our goodwill as a result of the events and circumstances previously discussed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business. We performed a quantitative analysis by using a market approach. Under the market approach, the fair value of the reporting unit was determined based on quoted market prices for equity and the fair value of debt as described in Note 9. The fair value exceeded the carrying value of the reporting unit, and our goodwill was not impaired. The carrying value of our goodwill on our consolidated balance sheets was $4.1 billion as of December 31, 2020 and 2019.
As discussed above, due to the inherent uncertainties of the current operating environment, we will continue to evaluate our goodwill for events and circumstances that indicate that the fair value of the reporting unit may be lower than the carrying value.
(k) Other Intangibles, Net
Intangible assets consist primarily of certain domestic airport slots and gate leasehold rights, customer relationships, marketing agreements, international slots and route authorities and tradenames.
102
Definite-Lived Intangible Assets
Definite-lived intangible assets are originally recorded at their acquired fair values, subsequently amortized over their respective estimated useful lives and are assessed for impairment whenever events and circumstances indicate that the assets may be impaired.
The following table provides information relating to our amortizable intangible assets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 (in millions):
| December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
| Domestic airport slots | $ | 365 | $ | 365 | |||||||
| Customer relationships | 300 | 300 | |||||||||
| Marketing agreements | 105 | 105 | |||||||||
| Tradenames | 35 | 35 | |||||||||
| Airport gate leasehold rights | 137 | 137 | |||||||||
| Accumulated amortization | (745) | (704) | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 197 | $ | 238 | |||||||
Certain domestic airport slots and airport gate leasehold rights are amortized on a straight-line basis over 25 years. The customer relationships and marketing agreements were identified as intangible assets subject to amortization and are amortized on a straight-line basis over approximately nine years and 30 years, respectively. Tradenames are fully amortized.
We recorded amortization expense related to these intangible assets of $41 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018. We expect to record annual amortization expense for these intangible assets as follows (in millions):
| 2021 | $ | 41 | |||
| 2022 | 41 | ||||
| 2023 | 7 | ||||
| 2024 | 7 | ||||
| 2025 | 7 | ||||
| 2026 and thereafter | 94 | ||||
| Total | $ | 197 | |||
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets
Indefinite-lived intangible assets include certain domestic airport slots and international slots and route authorities. We assess indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that the fair values of indefinite-lived intangible assets may be lower than their carrying values. Our annual assessment date is October 1.
Indefinite-lived intangible assets are assessed for impairment by initially performing a qualitative assessment. If we determine that it is more likely than not that our indefinite-lived intangible assets may be impaired, we use a quantitative approach to assess the asset’s fair value and the amount of the impairment, if any.
In addition to our annual impairment assessment, we performed interim impairment tests in 2020 on our indefinite-lived intangible assets as a result of the events and circumstances previously discussed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business. We performed qualitative impairment tests on our indefinite-lived intangible assets and determined there was no material impairment. We had $1.8 billion of indefinite-lived intangible assets on our consolidated balance sheets at each of December 31, 2020 and 2019.
As discussed above, due to the inherent uncertainties of the current operating environment, we will continue to evaluate our indefinite-lived intangible assets for events and circumstances that indicate that their fair values may be lower than the carrying values.
103
(l) Revenue Recognition
Revenue
The following are the significant categories comprising our reported operating revenues (in millions):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Passenger revenue: | |||||||||||||||||
| Passenger travel | $ | 13,456 | $ | 38,831 | $ | 37,457 | |||||||||||
Loyalty revenue - travel (1) | 1,062 | 3,179 | 3,219 | ||||||||||||||
| Total passenger revenue | 14,518 | 42,010 | 40,676 | ||||||||||||||
| Cargo | 769 | 863 | 1,013 | ||||||||||||||
| Other: | |||||||||||||||||
| Loyalty revenue - marketing services | 1,825 | 2,361 | 2,352 | ||||||||||||||
| Other revenue | 225 | 534 | 500 | ||||||||||||||
| Total other revenue | 2,050 | 2,895 | 2,852 | ||||||||||||||
| Total operating revenues | $ | 17,337 | $ | 45,768 | $ | 44,541 | |||||||||||
(1)Loyalty revenue included in passenger revenue is principally comprised of mileage credit redemptions, which were earned from travel or co-branded credit card and other partners. See “Loyalty Revenue” below for further discussion on these mileage credits.
The following is our total passenger revenue by geographic region (in millions):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Domestic | $ | 11,765 | $ | 30,881 | $ | 29,573 | |||||||||||
| Latin America | 1,852 | 5,047 | 5,125 | ||||||||||||||
Atlantic | 654 | 4,624 | 4,376 | ||||||||||||||
| Pacific | 247 | 1,458 | 1,602 | ||||||||||||||
| Total passenger revenue | $ | 14,518 | $ | 42,010 | $ | 40,676 | |||||||||||
We attribute passenger revenue by geographic region based upon the origin and destination of each flight segment.
Passenger Revenue
We recognize all revenues generated from transportation on American and our regional flights operated under the brand name American Eagle, including associated baggage fees and other inflight services, as passenger revenue when transportation is provided. Ticket and other related sales for transportation that has not yet been provided are initially deferred and recorded as air traffic liability on our consolidated balance sheets. The air traffic liability principally represents tickets sold for future travel on American and partner airlines, as well as estimated future refunds and exchanges of tickets sold for past travel.
The majority of tickets sold are nonrefundable. A small percentage of tickets, some of which are partially used tickets, expire unused. Due to complex pricing structures, refund and exchange policies, and interline agreements with other airlines, certain amounts are recognized in passenger revenue using estimates regarding both the timing of the revenue recognition and the amount of revenue to be recognized. These estimates are generally based on the analysis of our historical data. We have consistently applied this accounting method to estimate revenue from unused tickets at the date of travel. Estimated future refunds and exchanges included in the air traffic liability are routinely evaluated based on subsequent activity to validate the accuracy of our estimates. Any adjustments resulting from periodic evaluations of the estimated air traffic liability are included in passenger revenue during the period in which the evaluations are completed.
Various taxes and fees assessed on the sale of tickets to end customers are collected by us as an agent and remitted to taxing authorities. These taxes and fees have been presented on a net basis in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and recorded as a liability until remitted to the appropriate taxing authority. The CARES Act
104
provided for a temporary tax holiday from collecting and remitting certain government ticket taxes for tickets purchased between March 28, 2020 and December 31, 2020.
Loyalty Revenue
We currently operate the loyalty program, AAdvantage. This program awards mileage credits to passengers who fly on American, any oneworld airline or other partner airlines, or by using the services of other program participants, such as the Citi and Barclaycard US co-branded credit cards, and certain hotels and car rental companies. Mileage credits can be redeemed for travel on American and other participating partner airlines, as well as other non-air travel awards such as hotels and rental cars. For mileage credits earned by AAdvantage loyalty program members, we apply the deferred revenue method. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we suspended the expiration of mileage credits through June 30, 2021 and eliminated mileage reinstatement fees for canceled award tickets.
Mileage credits earned through travel
For mileage credits earned through travel, we apply a relative selling price approach whereby the total amount collected from each passenger ticket sale is allocated between the air transportation and the mileage credits earned. The portion of each passenger ticket sale attributable to mileage credits earned is initially deferred and then recognized in passenger revenue when mileage credits are redeemed and transportation is provided. The estimated selling price of mileage credits is determined using an equivalent ticket value approach, which uses historical data, including award redemption patterns by geographic region and class of service, as well as similar fares as those used to settle award redemptions. The estimated selling price of miles is adjusted for an estimate of the miles that will not be redeemed using statistical models based on historical redemption patterns to develop an estimate of the likelihood of future redemption. Given the inherent uncertainty of the current operating environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will continue to monitor redemption patterns and may adjust our estimates in the future.
Mileage credits sold to co-branded credit cards and other partners
We sell mileage credits to participating airline partners and non-airline business partners, including our co-branded credit card partners, under contracts with terms extending generally for to seven years. Consideration received from the sale of mileage credits is variable and payment terms typically are within 30 days subsequent to the month of mileage sale. Sales of mileage credits to non-airline business partners are comprised of two components, transportation and marketing. We allocate the consideration received from these sales of mileage credits based on the relative selling price of each product or service delivered.
Our most significant partner agreements are our co-branded credit card agreements with Citi and Barclaycard US. We identified the following revenue elements in these co-branded credit card agreements: the transportation component; and the use of intellectual property, including the American brand and access to loyalty program member lists, which is the predominant element in the agreements, as well as advertising (collectively, the marketing component). Accordingly, we recognize the marketing component in other revenue in the period of the mileage sale following the sales-based royalty method.
The transportation component represents the estimated selling price of future travel awards and is determined using the same equivalent ticket value approach described above. The portion of each mileage credit sold attributable to transportation is initially deferred and then recognized in passenger revenue when mileage credits are redeemed and transportation is provided.
For the portion of our outstanding mileage credits that we estimate will not be redeemed, we recognize the associated value proportionally as the remaining mileage credits are redeemed. Our estimates use statistical models based on historical redemption patterns to develop an estimate of the likelihood of future redemption.
Cargo Revenue
Cargo revenue is recognized when we provide the transportation.
Other Revenue
Other revenue includes revenue associated with our loyalty program, which is comprised principally of the marketing component of mileage sales to co-branded credit card and other partners and other marketing related payments. Loyalty revenue included in other revenue was $1.8 billion for the year ended December 31, 2020 and $2.4 billion for both 2019 and 2018. The accounting and recognition for the loyalty program marketing services are discussed above in “Loyalty
105
Revenue.” The remaining amounts included within other revenue relate to airport clubs, advertising and vacation-related services.
Contract Balances
Our significant contract liabilities are comprised of (1) outstanding loyalty program mileage credits that may be redeemed for future travel and other non-air travel awards, reported as loyalty program liability on our consolidated balance sheets and (2) ticket sales for transportation that has not yet been provided, reported as air traffic liability on our consolidated balance sheets.
| December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||
| Loyalty program liability | $ | 9,195 | $ | 8,615 | |||||||
| Air traffic liability | 4,757 | 4,808 | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 13,952 | $ | 13,423 | |||||||
The balance of the loyalty program liability fluctuates based on seasonal patterns, which impact the volume of mileage credits issued through travel or sold to co-branded credit card and other partners (deferral of revenue) and mileage credits redeemed (recognition of revenue). Changes in loyalty program liability are as follows (in millions):
| Balance at December 31, 2019 | $ | 8,615 | |||
| Deferral of revenue | 1,812 | ||||
Recognition of revenue (1) | (1,232) | ||||
Balance at December 31, 2020 (2) | $ | 9,195 | |||
(1)Principally relates to revenue recognized from the redemption of mileage credits for both air and non-air travel awards. Mileage credits are combined in one homogenous pool and are not separately identifiable. As such, the revenue is comprised of miles that were part of the loyalty program deferred revenue balance at the beginning of the period, as well as miles that were issued during the period.
(2)Mileage credits can be redeemed at any time and generally do not expire as long as that AAdvantage member has any type of qualifying activity at least every 18 months. As previously discussed, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we suspended the expiration of mileage credits through June 30, 2021 and eliminated mileage reinstatement fees for canceled award tickets. As of December 31, 2020, our current loyalty program liability was $2.0 billion and represents our current estimate of revenue expected to be recognized in the next 12 months based on historical as well as projected trends, with the balance reflected in long-term loyalty program liability expected to be recognized as revenue in periods thereafter. Given the inherent uncertainty of the current operating environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will continue to monitor redemption patterns and may adjust our estimates in the future.
The air traffic liability principally represents tickets sold for future travel on American and partner airlines, as well as estimated future refunds and exchanges of tickets sold for past travel. The balance in our air traffic liability also fluctuates with seasonal travel patterns. The contract duration of passenger tickets is generally one year. Accordingly, any revenue associated with tickets sold for future travel will be recognized within 12 months. For 2020, $2.8 billion of revenue was recognized in passenger revenue that was included in our air traffic liability at December 31, 2019. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we extended the contract duration for certain tickets to December 31, 2021, principally those with travel scheduled from March 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. Additionally, we have eliminated change fees for most domestic and international tickets. As of December 31, 2020, the air traffic liability included approximately $2.6 billion of travel credits related to these unused tickets for travel prior to December 31, 2020. Accordingly, any revenue associated with these tickets will be recognized within the next 12 months. Given this change in contract duration and uncertainty surrounding the future demand for air travel, our estimates of revenue that will be recognized from the air traffic liability for future flown or unused tickets as well as our estimates of refunds may be subject to variability and differ from historical experience.
Our ticket contract receivables relate to ticket sales to individual passengers primarily through the use of major credit cards and are reflected as accounts receivable, net on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. These receivables are short-term, mostly settled within seven days after sale. All accounts receivable are reported net of an allowance for
106
credit losses, which have been minimal in the past. We consider past and future financial and qualitative factors when establishing the allowance for credit losses.
(m) Maintenance, Materials and Repairs
Maintenance and repair costs for owned and leased flight equipment are charged to operating expense as incurred, except costs incurred for maintenance and repair under flight hour maintenance contract agreements, which are accrued based on contractual terms when an obligation exists.
(n) Selling Expenses
Selling expenses include credit card fees, commissions, computerized reservations systems fees and advertising. Selling expenses associated with passenger revenue are expensed when the transportation or service is provided. Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expense was $50 million, $129 million and $128 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
(o) Share-based Compensation
We account for our share-based compensation expense based on the fair value of the stock award at the time of grant, which is recognized ratably over the vesting period of the stock award. The majority of our stock awards are time vested restricted stock units, and the fair value of such awards is based on the market price of the underlying shares of AAG common stock on the date of grant. See Note 15 for further discussion of share-based compensation.
(p) Foreign Currency Gains and Losses
Foreign currency gains and losses are recorded as part of other income, net within total nonoperating expense, net in our consolidated statements of operations. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, foreign currency losses were $24 million, $32 million and $55 million.
(q) Other Operating Expenses
Other operating expenses includes costs associated with ground and cargo handling, crew travel, aircraft food and catering, aircraft cleaning, passenger accommodation, airport security, international navigation fees and certain general and administrative expenses.
(r) Regional Expenses
Expenses associated with American Eagle operations are classified as regional expenses on our consolidated statements of operations. Regional expenses consist of the following (in millions):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Aircraft fuel and related taxes | $ | 821 | $ | 1,869 | $ | 1,843 | |||||||||||
| Salaries, wages and benefits | 1,591 | 1,781 | 1,591 | ||||||||||||||
Capacity purchases from third-party regional carriers (1) | 1,054 | 1,398 | 1,431 | ||||||||||||||
| Maintenance, materials and repairs | 314 | 403 | 340 | ||||||||||||||
| Other rent and landing fees | 496 | 651 | 610 | ||||||||||||||
| Aircraft rent | 13 | 29 | 32 | ||||||||||||||
| Selling expenses | 153 | 402 | 369 | ||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 325 | 336 | 318 | ||||||||||||||
| Special items, net | (309) | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||
| Other | 434 | 626 | 593 | ||||||||||||||
| Total regional expenses | $ | 4,892 | $ | 7,501 | $ | 7,133 | |||||||||||
(1)In 2020, 2019, and 2018, we recognized $438 million, $590 million and $565 million, respectively, of expense under our capacity purchase agreement with Republic Airways Inc. (Republic). We hold a 25% equity interest in Republic Airways Holdings Inc. (Republic Holdings), the parent company of Republic.
107
2. Special Items, Net
Special items, net on our consolidated statements of operations consisted of the following (in millions):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
PSP1 Financial Assistance (1) | $ | (3,710) | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||
Fleet impairment (2) | 1,484 | 213 | — | ||||||||||||||
Severance expenses (3) | 1,408 | 11 | 58 | ||||||||||||||
Labor contract expenses (4) | 228 | — | 13 | ||||||||||||||
Mark-to-market adjustments on bankruptcy obligations, net (5) | (49) | (11) | (76) | ||||||||||||||
Fleet restructuring expenses (6) | — | 271 | 422 | ||||||||||||||
Merger integration expenses (7) | — | 191 | 268 | ||||||||||||||
| Litigation reserve adjustments | — | (53) | 45 | ||||||||||||||
Intangible asset impairment (8) | — | — | 26 | ||||||||||||||
| Other operating special items, net | (18) | 13 | 31 | ||||||||||||||
| Mainline operating special items, net | (657) | 635 | 787 | ||||||||||||||
PSP1 Financial Assistance (1) | (444) | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Fleet impairment (2) | 117 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Severance expenses (3) | 18 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Other operating special items, net | — | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||
| Regional operating special items, net | (309) | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating special items, net | (966) | 641 | 793 | ||||||||||||||
Mark-to-market adjustments on equity and other investments, net (9) | 135 | (5) | 104 | ||||||||||||||
| Debt refinancing, extinguishment and other, net | 35 | 8 | 9 | ||||||||||||||
| Nonoperating special items, net | 170 | 3 | 113 | ||||||||||||||
Income tax special items (10) | — | — | 18 | ||||||||||||||
(1)PSP1 Financial Assistance represents recognition of financial assistance received from Treasury pursuant to the PSP1 Agreement. See Note 1(b) for further information.
(2)The 2020 fleet impairment resulted from our decision to retire certain aircraft earlier than planned driven by the severe decline in air travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Aircraft retired include Airbus A330-200, Boeing 757, Boeing 767, Airbus A330-300, Embraer 190, certain Embraer 140 and Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft. This included a $1.5 billion non-cash write-down of mainline and regional aircraft and spare parts and $109 million in cash charges primarily for impairment of ROU assets and lease return costs. See Note 1(g) for further information related to these charges.
The 2019 fleet impairment principally included a non-cash write-down of aircraft related to the retirement of our Embraer 190 fleet.
(3)The 2020 severance expenses included salary and medical costs primarily associated with certain team members who opted in to voluntary early retirement programs offered as a result of reductions to our operation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cash payments related to these charges for the year ended December 31, 2020 were approximately $365 million.
The 2019 and 2018 severance expenses primarily included costs associated with reductions of management and support staff team members.
108
(4)The 2020 labor contract expenses primarily related to one-time charges resulting from the ratification of a new contract with the Transport Workers Union and International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (TWU-IAM Association) for our maintenance and fleet service team members, including signing bonuses and adjustments to vacation accruals resulting from pay rate increases.
(5)Bankruptcy obligations that will be settled in shares of AAG common stock are marked-to-market based on AAG’s stock price.
(6)Fleet restructuring expenses principally included accelerated depreciation and rent expense for aircraft and related equipment expected to be retired earlier than planned.
(7)Merger integration expenses included costs associated with integration projects, principally our technical operations, flight attendant, human resources and payroll systems.
(8)Intangible asset impairment included a non-cash charge to write-off our Brazil route authority as a result of the U.S.-Brazil open skies agreement.
(9)Mark-to-market adjustments on equity and other investments, net primarily related to net unrealized gains and losses associated with our equity investment in China Southern Airlines Company Limited (China Southern Airlines) and certain treasury rate lock derivative instruments.
(10)Income tax special items included an $18 million charge related to an international income tax matter.
3. Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share (EPS) (in millions, except share and per share amounts):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Basic EPS: | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (8,885) | $ | 1,686 | $ | 1,412 | |||||||||||
| Weighted average common shares outstanding (in thousands) | 483,888 | 443,363 | 464,236 | ||||||||||||||
| Basic EPS | $ | (18.36) | $ | 3.80 | $ | 3.04 | |||||||||||
| Diluted EPS: | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) for purposes of computing diluted EPS | $ | (8,885) | $ | 1,686 | $ | 1,412 | |||||||||||
| Share computation for diluted EPS (in thousands): | |||||||||||||||||
| Basic weighted average common shares outstanding | 483,888 | 443,363 | 464,236 | ||||||||||||||
| Dilutive effect of stock awards | — | 906 | 1,424 | ||||||||||||||
| Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding | 483,888 | 444,269 | 465,660 | ||||||||||||||
| Diluted EPS | $ | (18.36) | $ | 3.79 | $ | 3.03 | |||||||||||
Securities that could potentially dilute EPS in the future, and which were excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS because inclusion of such shares would be antidilutive, are as follows (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| 6.50% convertible senior notes | 31,882 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Restricted stock unit awards | 4,584 | 2,520 | 1,266 | ||||||||||||||
| PSP1 Warrants | 349 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Treasury Loan Warrants | 107 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
109
4. Share Repurchase Programs and Dividends
Since July 2014, as part of our capital deployment program, our Board of Directors had approved seven share repurchase programs aggregating $13.0 billion of authority. The $420 million of remaining authority to repurchase shares under our most recent $2.0 billion share repurchase program expired on December 31, 2020. In connection with our receipt of financial assistance under PSP1 and PSP2, we agreed not to repurchase shares of or make dividend payments in respect of AAG common stock through at least March 31, 2022. In addition, we have entered into the Treasury Loan Agreement, and, as a result, we are further prohibited from repurchasing shares of AAG common stock and paying dividends on AAG common stock through the date that is one year after the secured loan provided under the Treasury Loan Agreement is fully repaid.
In 2020, we repurchased 6.4 million shares of AAG common stock for $145 million at a weighted average cost per share of $22.77, all of which were purchased in the first quarter of 2020. In 2019, we repurchased 33.8 million shares of AAG common stock for $1.1 billion at a weighted average cost per share of $32.09. In 2018, we repurchased 16.6 million shares of AAG common stock for $800 million at a weighted average cost per share of $48.15.
Our Board of Directors declared quarterly cash dividends of $0.10 per share totaling $43 million, $178 million and $186 million for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
110
5. Debt
Long-term debt included on our consolidated balance sheets consisted of (in millions):
| December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
| Secured | |||||||||||
2013 Term Loan Facility, variable interest rate of 1.90%, installments through 2025 (a) | $ | 1,788 | $ | 1,807 | |||||||
2013 Revolving Facility, variable interest rate of 2.15%, due 2024 (a) | 750 | — | |||||||||
2014 Term Loan Facility, variable interest rate of 1.90%, installments through 2027 (a) | 1,220 | 1,202 | |||||||||
2014 Revolving Facility, variable interest rate of 2.15%, due 2024 (a) | 1,643 | — | |||||||||
April 2016 Term Loan Facility, variable interest rate of 2.15%, installments through 2023 (a) | 960 | 970 | |||||||||
April 2016 Revolving Facility, variable interest rate of 2.15%, due 2024 (a) | 450 | — | |||||||||
December 2016 Term Loan Facility, variable interest rate of 2.16%, installments through 2023 (a) | 1,200 | 1,213 | |||||||||
11.75% senior secured notes, interest only payments until due in July 2025 (b) | 2,500 | — | |||||||||
10.75% senior secured IP notes, interest only payments until due in February 2026 (b) | 1,000 | — | |||||||||
10.75% senior secured LGA/DCA notes, interest only payments until due in February 2026 (b) | 200 | — | |||||||||
Treasury Term Loan Facility, variable interest rate of 3.73%, interest only payments until due June 2025 (c) | 550 | — | |||||||||
Enhanced equipment trust certificates (EETCs), fixed interest rates ranging from 3.00% to 8.39%, averaging 3.98%, maturing from 2021 to 2032 (d) | 11,013 | 11,933 | |||||||||
Equipment loans and other notes payable, fixed and variable interest rates ranging from 1.32% to 5.83%, averaging 1.88%, maturing from 2021 to 2032 (e) | 4,417 | 4,727 | |||||||||
Special facility revenue bonds, fixed interest rates ranging from 5.00% to 8.00%, maturing from 2021 to 2036 (f) | 1,064 | 754 | |||||||||
| 28,755 | 22,606 | ||||||||||
| Unsecured | |||||||||||
PSP1 Promissory Note (g) | 1,765 | — | |||||||||
6.50% convertible senior notes, interest only payments until due in July 2025 (h) | 1,000 | — | |||||||||
5.000% senior notes, interest only payments until due in June 2022 (i) | 750 | 750 | |||||||||
3.75% senior notes, interest only payments until due in March 2025 (i) | 500 | — | |||||||||
4.625% senior notes | — | 500 | |||||||||
| 4,015 | 1,250 | ||||||||||
| Total long-term debt | 32,770 | 23,856 | |||||||||
| Less: Total unamortized debt discount, premium and issuance costs | 749 | 211 | |||||||||
| Less: Current maturities | 2,697 | 2,749 | |||||||||
| Long-term debt, net of current maturities | $ | 29,324 | $ | 20,896 | |||||||
As of December 31, 2020, the maximum availability under our Treasury Term Loan Facility and other facilities is as follows (in millions):
| Treasury Term Loan Facility | $ | 6,950 | |||
| Short-term Revolving and Other Facilities | 446 | ||||
| Total | $ | 7,396 | |||
111
Pursuant to the Treasury Loan Agreement, at December 31, 2020, American had a $7.5 billion Treasury Term Loan Facility of which it has drawn $550 million. In addition, American has an undrawn $400 million short-term revolving credit facility it entered into in December 2019, which was set to expire at the end of December 2020 but which has been extended through the beginning of July 2021. American also currently has approximately $46 million of available borrowing base under a cargo receivables facility that was entered into in December 2020. The December 2016 Credit Facilities provide for a revolving credit facility that may be established thereunder in the future.
Secured financings are collateralized by assets, consisting primarily of aircraft, engines, simulators, aircraft spare parts, airport gate leasehold rights, route authorities, airport slots and certain pre-delivery payments, as well as certain intellectual property and loyalty program assets.
At December 31, 2020, the maturities of long-term debt are as follows (in millions):
| 2021 | $ | 2,751 | |||
| 2022 | 2,424 | ||||
| 2023 | 4,164 | ||||
| 2024 | 4,403 | ||||
| 2025 | 7,924 | ||||
| 2026 and thereafter | 11,104 | ||||
| Total | $ | 32,770 | |||
(a) 2013, 2014, April 2016 and December 2016 Credit Facilities
2013 Credit Facilities
In November 2019, American and AAG entered into the Sixth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit and Guaranty Agreement, amending the Amended and Restated Credit and Guaranty Agreement dated as of May 21, 2015 (as previously amended, the 2013 Credit Agreement; the revolving credit facility established thereunder, the 2013 Revolving Facility; the term loan facility established thereunder, the 2013 Term Loan Facility; and the 2013 Revolving Facility together with the 2013 Term Loan Facility, the 2013 Credit Facilities), which reduced the total aggregate commitments under the 2013 Revolving Facility to $750 million from $1.0 billion. In addition, certain lenders party to the 2013 Credit Agreement extended the maturity date of their commitments under the 2013 Revolving Facility to October 2024 from October 2023.
In April 2020, American borrowed $750 million under the 2013 Revolving Facility. The 2013 Revolving Facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 2.00% and has a final maturity date of October 2024. Following the April draw, American had no remaining borrowing capacity available under the 2013 Revolving Facility.
2014 Credit Facilities
In November 2019, American and AAG entered into the Seventh Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit and Guaranty Agreement, amending the Amended and Restated Credit and Guaranty Agreement dated as of April 20, 2015 (as previously amended, the 2014 Credit Agreement; the revolving credit facility established thereunder, the 2014 Revolving Facility; the term loan facility established thereunder, the 2014 Term Loan Facility; and the 2014 Revolving Facility together with the 2014 Term Loan Facility, the 2014 Credit Facilities), which increased the total aggregate commitments under the 2014 Revolving Facility to $1.6 billion from $1.5 billion. In addition, certain lenders party to the 2014 Credit Agreement extended the maturity date of their commitments under the 2014 Revolving Facility to October 2024 from October 2023.
In January 2020, American and AAG entered into the Eighth Amendment to the 2014 Credit Agreement, pursuant to which American refinanced the 2014 Term Loan Facility, increasing the total aggregate principal amount outstanding to $1.2 billion, reducing the LIBOR margin from 2.00% to 1.75%, with a LIBOR floor of 0%, and reducing the base rate margin from 1.00% to 0.75%. In addition, the maturity date for the 2014 Term Loan Facility was extended to January 2027 from October 2021.
In April and May 2020, American borrowed, in aggregate, $1.6 billion under the 2014 Revolving Facility. The 2014 Revolving Facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 2.00% and has a final maturity date of October 2024. Following the April and May draws, American had no remaining borrowing capacity available under the 2014 Revolving Facility.
112
April 2016 Credit Facilities
In November 2019, American and AAG entered into the Fifth Amendment to Credit and Guaranty Agreement, amending the Credit and Guaranty Agreement dated as of April 29, 2016 (as previously amended, the April 2016 Credit Agreement; the revolving credit facility established thereunder, the April 2016 Revolving Facility; the term loan facility established thereunder, the 2016 Term Loan Facility; and the April 2016 Revolving Facility together with the 2016 Term Loan Facility, the April 2016 Credit Facilities), which increased the total aggregate commitments under the April 2016 Revolving Facility to $450 million from $300 million. In addition, certain lenders party to the April 2016 Credit Agreement extended the maturity date of their commitments under the April 2016 Revolving Facility to October 2024 from October 2023.
In April 2020, American borrowed $450 million under the April 2016 Revolving Facility. The April 2016 Revolving Facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 2.00% and has a final maturity date of October 2024. Following the April draw, American had no remaining borrowing capacity available under the April 2016 Revolving Facility.
December 2016 Credit Facilities
In December 2016, American and AAG entered into the Amended and Restated Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of December 15, 2016 (as amended, the December 2016 Credit Agreement; the term loan facility established thereunder, the December 2016 Term Loan Facility; and together with the revolving credit facility that may be established thereunder in the future, the December 2016 Credit Facilities).
Certain details of our 2013 Credit Facilities, 2014 Credit Facilities, April 2016 Credit Facilities and December 2016 Credit Facilities (collectively referred to as the Credit Facilities) are shown in the table below as of December 31, 2020:
| 2013 Credit Facilities | 2014 Credit Facilities | April 2016 Credit Facilities | December 2016 Credit Facilities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 Term Loan | 2013 Revolving Facility | 2014 Term Loan | 2014 Revolving Facility | April 2016 Term Loan | April 2016 Revolving Facility | December 2016 Term Loan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aggregate principal issued or credit facility availability (in millions) | $1,919 | $750 | $1,280 | $1,643 | $1,000 | $450 | $1,250 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Principal outstanding or drawn (in millions) | $1,788 | $750 | $1,220 | $1,643 | $960 | $450 | $1,200 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maturity date | June 2025 | October 2024 | January 2027 | October 2024 | April 2023 | October 2024 | December 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LIBOR margin | 1.75% | 2.00% | 1.75% | 2.00% | 2.00% | 2.00% | 2.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The term loans under each of the Credit Facilities are repayable in annual installments in an amount equal to 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount issued, with any unpaid balance due on the respective maturity dates. Voluntary prepayments may be made by American at any time.
The 2013 Revolving Facility, 2014 Revolving Facility and April 2016 Revolving Facility provide that American may from time to time borrow, repay and reborrow loans thereunder. The 2013 Revolving Facility and 2014 Revolving Facility have the ability to issue letters of credit thereunder in an aggregate amount outstanding at any time up to $100 million and $200 million, respectively. The 2013 Revolving Facility, 2014 Revolving Facility and April 2016 Revolving Facility are each subject to an undrawn annual fee of 0.63%.
Subject to certain limitations and exceptions, the Credit Facilities are secured by collateral, including certain spare parts, slots, route authorities, simulators and leasehold rights. American has the ability to make future modifications to the collateral pledged, subject to certain restrictions. American’s obligations under the Credit Facilities are guaranteed by AAG. American is required to maintain a certain minimum ratio of appraised value of the collateral to the outstanding loans as further described below in “Certain Covenants.”
The Credit Facilities contain events of default customary for similar financings, including cross default to other material indebtedness. Upon the occurrence of an event of default, the outstanding obligations may be accelerated and become due and payable immediately. In addition, if a “change of control” occurs, American will (absent an amendment or waiver) be required to repay at par the loans outstanding under the Credit Facilities and terminate the 2013 Revolving Facility, 2014 Revolving Facility and April 2016 Revolving Facility and any revolving credit facility established under the December
113
2016 Credit Facilities. The Credit Facilities also include covenants that, among other things, require AAG to maintain an aggregate of at least $2.0 billion of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and amounts available to be drawn under revolving credit facilities and limit the ability of AAG and its restricted subsidiaries to pay dividends and make certain other payments, make certain investments, incur additional indebtedness, incur liens on the collateral, dispose of the collateral, enter into certain affiliate transactions and engage in certain business activities, in each case subject to certain exceptions.
Delayed Draw Term Loan Credit Facility
In March 2020, American and AAG entered into a Credit and Guaranty Agreement which provided for a $1.0 billion senior secured delayed draw term loan credit facility (the Delayed Draw Term Loan Credit Facility), which was scheduled to be due and payable in a single installment on the maturity date in March 2021. In connection with the issuance of the 11.75% senior secured notes due 2025, as described below, the Delayed Draw Term Loan Credit Facility was repaid and the Delayed Draw Term Loan Credit Facility and all of the security documents and other loan documents related thereto were terminated as of June 30, 2020.
(b) Senior Secured Notes
11.75% Senior Secured Notes
In June 2020, American issued $2.5 billion aggregate principal amount of 11.75% senior secured notes due 2025 (the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes) at a price equal to 99% of their aggregate principal amount. The 11.75% Senior Secured Notes bear interest at a rate of 11.75% per annum (subject to increase if the collateral coverage ratio described below is not met). Interest on the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes is payable semiannually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year, beginning on January 15, 2021. The 11.75% Senior Secured Notes will mature on July 15, 2025. The obligations of American under the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by AAG. The proceeds from the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes were used to repay and terminate the Delayed Draw Term Loan Credit Facility (and to terminate all security documents and all other loan documents related thereto) with the remaining amount for general corporate purposes and to enhance our liquidity position.
The 11.75% Senior Secured Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of June 30, 2020 (the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes Indenture), by and among American, AAG and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes Trustee). The 11.75% Senior Secured Notes are American’s senior secured obligations. Subject to certain limitations and exceptions, the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes are secured on a first-lien basis by security interests in certain assets, rights and properties utilized by American in providing its scheduled air carrier services to and from certain airports in the United States and certain airports in Australia, Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, and Switzerland (collectively, the First Lien 11.75% Senior Secured Notes Collateral). American’s obligations with respect to the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes are also secured on a second-lien basis by security interests in certain assets, rights and properties utilized by American in providing its scheduled air carrier services to and from certain airports in the United States and certain airports in the European Union and the United Kingdom (collectively, the Second Lien 11.75% Senior Secured Notes Collateral and together with the First Lien 11.75% Senior Secured Notes Collateral, the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes Collateral). American may be required to pledge additional collateral in the future under the terms of the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes, and in certain circumstances may elect to pledge additional collateral as a replacement for existing collateral. The Second Lien 11.75% Senior Secured Notes Collateral also secures the 2014 Credit Facilities on a first-lien basis.
American may redeem the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes being redeemed plus a make whole premium, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to (but not including) the redemption date.
In the event of a specified change of control, each holder of 11.75% Senior Secured Notes may require American to repurchase its 11.75% Senior Secured Notes in whole or in part at a repurchase price of 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to (but not including) the repurchase date.
114
American is required to deliver an appraisal of the First Lien 11.75% Senior Secured Notes Collateral and officer’s certificate on a semi-annual basis demonstrating the calculation of a collateral coverage ratio in relation to the First Lien 11.75% Senior Secured Notes Collateral as of the end of each semi-annual period based on such appraisal. If American fails to deliver the officer’s certificate in a timely manner or the collateral coverage ratio is less than 1.6 to 1.0 as of the end of the semi-annual period, then, subject to an opportunity to cure the deficiency in the collateral coverage ratio, American will be required to pay special interest in an additional amount equal to 2.0% per annum of the outstanding principal amount of the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes until the collateral coverage ratio is established to be at least 1.6 to 1.0.
The 11.75% Senior Secured Notes Indenture contains covenants that, among other things, restrict the ability of AAG and the ability of its restricted subsidiaries (including American) to: (i) pay dividends, redeem or repurchase stock or make other distributions or restricted payments, (ii) incur liens on the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes Collateral and dispose of or release the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes Collateral, (iii) repay subordinated indebtedness, (iv) make certain loans and investments, (v) incur indebtedness or issue preferred stock, (vi) merge, consolidate or sell assets, (vii) undergo certain change of control transactions, and (viii) designate subsidiaries as unrestricted. These covenants are subject to a number of important exceptions and qualifications set forth in the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes Indenture.
Upon the occurrence of any event of default (other than certain bankruptcy or insolvency or reorganization events affecting AAG or certain of its subsidiaries, including American), the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes may be declared to be due and payable immediately. Upon the occurrence of certain bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization events affecting American or certain of its subsidiaries (including American), all outstanding 11.75% Senior Secured Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice on the part of the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes Trustee or any holder of the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes.
10.75% Senior Secured Notes
On September 25, 2020 (the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes Closing Date), American issued $1.0 billion in initial principal amount of senior secured IP notes (the IP Notes) and $200 million in initial principal amount of senior secured LGA/DCA notes (the LGA/DCA Notes and together with the IP Notes, the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes). The obligations of American under the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed (the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes Guarantees) on a senior unsecured basis by AAG. The 10.75% Senior Secured Notes bear interest at a rate of 10.75% per annum in cash. For any interest period on or prior to September 1, 2022, American may, at its election, pay interest at a rate of 12.00% per annum payable one-half in cash and one-half in kind. Interest on the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes is payable semiannually in arrears on September 1 and March 1 of each year, beginning on March 1, 2021. The 10.75% Senior Secured Notes will mature on February 15, 2026.
The proceeds from the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes were used to pay transaction-related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes.
The 10.75% Senior Secured Notes were each issued pursuant to a separate indenture, dated as of September 25, 2020 (individually, the IP Notes Indenture and the LGA/DCA Notes Indenture and collectively, the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes Indentures), by and among American, AAG and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and as collateral trustee (the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes Trustee). The IP Notes are secured by a first lien security interest on certain intellectual property of American, including the “American Airlines” trademark and the “aa.com” domain name in the United States and certain foreign jurisdictions (the IP Collateral), and a second lien on certain slots related to American’s operations at New York LaGuardia and Ronald Reagan Washington National airports and certain other assets (the LGA/DCA Collateral and together with the IP Collateral, the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes Collateral). Subject to certain conditions, American will be permitted to incur up to $4.0 billion of additional pari passu debt and unlimited second lien debt secured by the IP Collateral securing the IP Notes. The LGA/DCA Notes are secured by a first lien security interest in the LGA/DCA Collateral. American may be required to pledge additional collateral in the future under the terms of the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes, and in certain circumstances may elect to pledge additional collateral including as a replacement for existing collateral. The LGA/DCA Collateral also secures on a first-lien basis the December 2016 Credit Facilities.
On or prior to the fourth anniversary of the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes Closing Date, American may redeem all or any part of the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes, at its option, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes redeemed plus a make whole premium, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any. After the fourth anniversary of the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes Closing Date and on or prior to the fifth anniversary of the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes Closing Date, American may redeem all or any part of the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes, at its option, at a redemption price equal to 105.375% of the principal amount of the 10.75% Senior
115
Secured Notes redeemed, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any. After the fifth anniversary of the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes Closing Date, American may redeem all or any part of the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes, at its option, at par, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any.
In the event of a specified change of control, each holder of 10.75% Senior Secured Notes may require American to repurchase its 10.75% Senior Secured Notes, in whole or in part, at a repurchase price of 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes so repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to (but not including) the repurchase date.
The 10.75% Senior Secured Notes Indentures contain covenants that, among other things, restrict the ability of AAG and the ability of its restricted subsidiaries (including American) to: (i) pay dividends, redeem or repurchase stock or make other distributions or restricted payments, (ii) incur liens on the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes Collateral and dispose of or release the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes Collateral, (iii) repay subordinated indebtedness, (iv) make certain loans and investments, (v) incur indebtedness or issue preferred stock, (vi) merge, consolidate or sell assets, and (vii) designate subsidiaries as unrestricted. In addition, the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes Indentures include covenants that require AAG to maintain (a) an aggregate of at least $2.0 billion of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and amounts available to be drawn under revolving credit facilities and (b) a certain minimum ratio of appraised value of the collateral to outstanding debt secured thereby on a first lien basis as further described below in “Certain Covenants.” These covenants are subject to a number of important exceptions and qualifications set forth in the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes Indentures.
Upon the occurrence of any event of default (other than certain bankruptcy or insolvency or reorganization events affecting AAG or certain of its subsidiaries, including American), the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes may be declared to be due and payable immediately. Upon the occurrence of certain bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization events affecting AAG or certain of its subsidiaries (including American), all outstanding 10.75% Senior Secured Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice on the part of the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes Trustee or any holder of the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes.
(c) Treasury Loan Agreement
On September 25, 2020, American and AAG entered into a Loan and Guarantee Agreement (the Treasury Loan Agreement) with Treasury, which provided for a secured term loan facility (the Treasury Term Loan Facility) that permitted American to borrow up to $5.5 billion. Subsequently, on October 21, 2020, American and AAG entered into an amendment to the Treasury Loan Agreement, which increased the borrowing amount to up to $7.5 billion.
As of December 31, 2020, American had borrowed $550 million under the Treasury Term Loan Facility and may, at its option, borrow additional amounts in up to two subsequent borrowings until March 26, 2021. Subsequently, on January 15, 2021, American and AAG entered into an amendment to the Treasury Loan Agreement, which extended this deadline to May 28, 2021. The proceeds from the Treasury Term Loan Facility were, and will be, used for certain general corporate purposes and operating expenses in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Treasury Loan Agreement and the applicable provisions of the CARES Act.
The Treasury Term Loan Facility bears interest at a variable rate per annum equal to (a)(i) the LIBOR rate divided by (ii) one minus the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage plus (b) 3.50%. Accrued interest on the loans will be payable in arrears on the first business day following the 14th day of each March, June, September and December, beginning with September 15, 2021, and on June 30, 2025 (the Treasury Term Loan Maturity Date). As of December 31, 2020, the applicable interest rate for the $550 million loan drawn under the Treasury Term Loan Facility was 3.73% per annum through September 15, 2021, at which time the interest rate will reset.
All advances under the Treasury Term Loan Facility will be in the form of term loans, all of which will mature and be due and payable in a single installment on the Treasury Term Loan Maturity Date. American may, at any time and from time to time, voluntarily prepay amounts outstanding under the Treasury Loan Agreement, in whole or in part, without penalty or premium. Amounts prepaid may not be reborrowed. Mandatory prepayments of loans under the Treasury Term Loan Facility are required, without penalty or premium, to the extent necessary to comply with American's covenants regarding the expiry of certain agreements constituting Treasury Collateral (as defined below), the debt service coverage ratio, certain dispositions of Treasury Collateral, certain debt issuances secured by liens on the Treasury Collateral and certain indemnity, termination, liquidated damages or insurance payments related to the Treasury Collateral, in addition to the occurrence of a change in control of AAG.
116
American's obligations under the Treasury Loan Agreement are secured by a first priority security interest on American's rights under U.S. co-branded credit card agreements and certain other loyalty program partner participation agreements (including rights to receive cash flows thereunder), documents, deposit accounts, securities accounts, books and records and intellectual property related to American's AAdvantage loyalty program and all proceeds, accessions, rents or profits related to the foregoing (collectively, the Treasury Collateral). American is permitted under the Treasury Loan Agreement to add certain types of assets to the Treasury Collateral and, subject to certain conditions, release Treasury Collateral, in each case from time to time at its discretion.
The Treasury Loan Agreement requires American, under certain circumstances, including within 10 business days prior to the last business day of March and September of each year, beginning March 2021, to appraise the value of the Treasury Collateral and recalculate the collateral coverage ratio. If the calculated collateral coverage ratio is less than 1.6 to 1.0, American will be required either to provide additional Treasury Collateral (which may include cash collateral) to secure its obligations under the Treasury Loan Agreement or repay the term loans under the Treasury Term Loan Facility, in such amounts that the recalculated collateral coverage ratio, after giving effect to any such additional Treasury Collateral or repayment, is at least 1.6 to 1.0.
The Treasury Loan Agreement also requires American to calculate the debt service coverage ratio on a quarterly basis. If the calculated debt service coverage ratio is less than 1.75 to 1.00, then AAG and its subsidiaries will be required to place an amount equal to at least 50% of certain revenues received from the AAdvantage loyalty program (the Loyalty Program Revenues) into a blocked account to be held for the benefit of the lenders who may choose to use such funds to prepay the outstanding term loans until the debt service coverage ratio is recalculated to be greater than or equal to 1.75 to 1.00. If the calculated debt service coverage ratio is less than or equal to 1.50 to 1.00, but greater than 1.25 to 1.00, then all amounts previously deposited into the blocked account will be used to prepay outstanding term loans and an amount equal to at least 50% of all future Loyalty Program Revenues will be transferred into the payment account and used to prepay outstanding term loans until the debt service coverage ratio is recalculated to be greater than 1.50 to 1.00. If the calculated debt service coverage ratio is less than or equal to 1.25 to 1.00, then all amounts previously deposited into the blocked account will be used to prepay outstanding term loans and an amount equal to at least 75% of all future Loyalty Program Revenues will be transferred into the payment account and used to prepay outstanding term loans until the debt service coverage ratio is recalculated to be greater than 1.25 to 1.00.
The Treasury Loan Agreement also includes affirmative, negative and financial covenants that, among other things, limit AAG's ability to pay dividends, repurchase common stock of AAG or make certain other payments, make certain investments, incur liens on the Treasury Collateral, dispose of the Treasury Collateral, amend material AAdvantage loyalty program agreements, enter into certain affiliate transactions and engage in certain business activities, in each case subject to certain exceptions. In addition, under the Treasury Loan Agreement, AAG must maintain a minimum aggregate liquidity of $2.0 billion.
The Treasury Loan Agreement requires AAG and American to comply with the relevant provisions of the CARES Act and the Treasury Loan Agreement, including, but not limited to, the provisions that prohibit the repurchase of AAG’s common stock, the payment of common stock dividends and those that restrict the payment of certain executive compensation, in each case, through the date that is 12 months after the date on which all amounts of loan outstanding under the Treasury Term Loan Facility have been repaid in full.
The Treasury Loan Agreement contains events of default, including cross-default with respect to acceleration or failure to pay at maturity other material indebtedness. Upon the occurrence of an event of default and subject to certain grace periods, the outstanding obligations under the Treasury Loan Agreement may be accelerated and become due and payable immediately.
(d) EETCs
2019-1 Aircraft EETCs
In August 2019, American created three pass-through trusts which issued approximately $1.1 billion aggregate face amount of Series 2019-1 Class AA, Class A and Class B EETCs (the 2019-1 Aircraft EETCs) in connection with the financing of 35 aircraft (the 2019-1 Aircraft). In 2019, $804 million of the proceeds had been used to purchase equipment notes issued by American in connection with the financing of 28 aircraft under the 2019-1 Aircraft EETCs, of which $608 million was used to repay existing indebtedness. In 2020, the remaining $293 million of the proceeds had been used to purchase equipment notes issued by American in connection with the financing of seven aircraft under the 2019-1 Aircraft EETCs. Interest and principal payments on equipment notes issued in connection with the 2019-1 Aircraft EETCs are payable semiannually in February and August of each year, which interest payments began in February 2020 and which
117
principal payments began or are scheduled to begin (i) in the case of equipment notes with respect to any 2019-1 Aircraft owned by American at the time of issuance of the 2019-1 Aircraft EETCs, in February 2020 and (ii) in the case of equipment notes with respect to the Embraer 175 aircraft and the Airbus A321neo aircraft scheduled to be delivered after the issuance of the 2019-1 Aircraft EETCs, in August 2020 and August 2021, respectively.
Certain information regarding the 2019-1 Aircraft EETC equipment notes, as of December 31, 2020, is set forth in the table below.
| 2019-1 Aircraft EETCs | |||||||||||||||||
| Series AA | Series A | Series B | |||||||||||||||
| Aggregate principal issued | $579 million | $289 million | $229 million | ||||||||||||||
| Fixed interest rate per annum | 3.15% | 3.50% | 3.85% | ||||||||||||||
| Maturity date | February 2032 | February 2032 | February 2028 | ||||||||||||||
(e) Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable Issued in 2020
In 2020, American entered into agreements under which it borrowed $307 million in connection with the financing or refinancing, as the case may be, of certain aircraft and other flight equipment, of which $17 million was used to repay existing indebtedness. Debt incurred under these agreements matures in 2029 through 2032 and bears interest at variable rates (comprised of LIBOR plus an applicable margin) averaging 2.28% at December 31, 2020.
(f) Special Facility Revenue Bonds Issued in 2020
In January 2020, American and British Airways announced the start of construction on a $344 million investment to upgrade New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Terminal 8.
In June 2020, the New York Transportation Development Corporation (NYTDC) issued approximately $360 million of special facility revenue bonds (the 2020 JFK Bonds) on behalf of American. A portion of the net proceeds from the 2020 JFK Bonds have been or will be used to fund costs of issuance of the 2020 JFK Bonds, to fund a substantial portion of the cost of the renovation and expansion of a passenger terminal facility (the Terminal) leased and utilized by American at JFK and to fund the August 2020 maturity of the outstanding bonds issued by NYTDC on behalf of American in 2016 (the 2016 JFK Bonds).
American is required to pay debt service on the 2020 JFK Bonds through payments under a loan agreement with NYTDC (as amended), and American and AAG guarantee the 2020 JFK Bonds. American continues to pay debt service on the outstanding 2016 JFK Bonds and American and AAG continue to guarantee the 2016 JFK Bonds. American’s and AAG’s obligations under these guarantees are secured by a leasehold mortgage on American’s lease of the Terminal and related property from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
The 2020 JFK Bonds, in aggregate, were priced at approximately 98% of par value. The gross proceeds from the issuance of the 2020 JFK Bonds were approximately $353 million. Of this amount, approximately $8 million was used to fund the costs of issuance of the 2020 JFK Bonds, approximately $47 million was used to fund the redemption of the 2016 JFK Bonds due August 2020 and approximately $17 million was reimbursed to American for the Terminal construction costs incurred, with the remaining amount of proceeds received to be held in restricted cash and short-term investments on the consolidated balance sheet and to be used to finance a substantial portion of the cost of the renovation and expansion of the Terminal. The 2020 JFK Bonds are comprised of term bonds, $214 million of which bear interest at 5.25% per annum and mature on August 1, 2031, and $146 million of which bear interest at 5.375% per annum and mature on August 1, 2036.
(g) PSP1 Promissory Note
In April 2020, as partial compensation to the U.S. Government for the provision of financial assistance under the PSP1 Agreement, AAG issued the PSP1 Promissory Note to Treasury, which provides for our unconditional promise to pay to Treasury 30% of the total amount of financial assistance disbursed under the PSP1 Agreement, and the guarantee of our obligations by the Subsidiaries. The total financial assistance we received pursuant to the PSP1 Agreement is approximately $6.0 billion. As of December 31, 2020, the principal amount of the PSP1 Promissory Note was approximately $1.8 billion.
118
The PSP1 Promissory Note bears interest on the outstanding principal amount at a rate equal to 1.00% per annum until the fifth anniversary of the PSP1 Closing Date and 2.00% plus an interest rate based on the secured overnight financing rate per annum or other benchmark replacement rate consistent with customary market conventions (but not to be less than 0.00%) thereafter until the tenth anniversary of the PSP1 Closing Date (the PSP1 Maturity Date), and interest accrued thereon will be payable in arrears on the last business day of March and September of each year, which began on September 30, 2020. The aggregate principal amount outstanding under the PSP1 Promissory Note, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon and all other amounts payable under the PSP1 Promissory Note, will be due and payable on the PSP1 Maturity Date.
We may, at any time and from time to time, voluntarily prepay amounts outstanding under the PSP1 Promissory Note, in whole or in part, without penalty or premium. Within 30 days of the occurrence of certain change of control triggering events, we are required to prepay the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the PSP1 Promissory Note at such time, together with any accrued interest or other amounts owing under the PSP1 Promissory Note at such time.
The PSP1 Promissory Note is our senior unsecured obligation and each guarantee of the PSP1 Promissory Note is the senior unsecured obligation of each of the Subsidiaries, respectively.
The PSP1 Promissory Note contains events of default, including cross-default with respect to acceleration or failure to pay at maturity other material indebtedness. Upon the occurrence of an event of default and subject to certain grace periods, the outstanding obligations under the PSP1 Promissory Note may, and in certain circumstances will automatically, be accelerated and become due and payable immediately.
(h) 6.50% Convertible Senior Notes
In June 2020, AAG completed the public offering of $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of AAG’s 6.50% convertible senior notes due 2025 (the Convertible Notes). The Convertible Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by American on a senior unsecured basis (the Convertible Notes Guarantee). The net proceeds to us from the Convertible Notes were approximately $970 million, after deducting the underwriters’ discounts and commissions and our estimated offering expenses. The net proceeds from the Convertible Notes are being used for general corporate purposes and to enhance our liquidity position. The Convertible Notes were priced to investors in the offering at 100% of their principal amount.
The Convertible Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of June 25, 2020 (the Base Indenture), between AAG and Wilmington Trust, National Association as trustee (the Convertible Notes Trustee), as supplemented by that certain first supplemental indenture, dated as of June 25, 2020, among AAG, American and the Convertible Notes Trustee (the Convertible Notes Supplemental Indenture and, together with the Base Indenture, the Convertible Notes Indenture). The Convertible Notes bear interest at a rate of 6.50% per annum. Interest on the Convertible Notes is payable semiannually in arrears on January 1 and July 1 of each year, beginning on January 1, 2021. The Convertible Notes will mature on July 1, 2025, unless earlier converted or redeemed or repurchased by us.
Upon conversion, AAG will pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of AAG common stock or a combination of cash and shares of AAG common stock, at AAG’s election. The initial conversion rate is 61.7284 shares of AAG common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $16.20 per share of AAG common stock). The conversion rate is subject to adjustment in some events as described in the Convertible Notes Indenture.
Holders may convert their Convertible Notes at their option only in the following circumstances: (1) during any calendar quarter (and only during such calendar quarter) commencing after the calendar quarter ending on September 30, 2020, if the last reported sale price per share of AAG common stock exceeds 130% of the conversion price for each of at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during the 30 consecutive trading days ending on, and including, the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter; (2) during the five consecutive business days immediately after any 10 consecutive trading day period (such 10 consecutive trading day period, the measurement period) in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes for each trading day of the measurement period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price per share of AAG common stock on such trading day and the conversion rate on such trading day; (3) upon the occurrence of certain corporate events or distributions on AAG common stock; (4) if AAG calls such Convertible Notes for redemption; and (5) at any time from, and including, April 1, 2025 until the close of business on the scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date of the Convertible Notes.
119
In addition, following certain corporate events that occur prior to the maturity date or upon AAG’s issuance of a notice of redemption, AAG will increase the conversion rate for a holder who elects to convert its Convertible Notes in connection with such corporate event or during the related redemption period in certain circumstances by a specified number of shares of AAG common stock as described in the Convertible Notes Indenture.
AAG will not have the right to redeem the Convertible Notes prior to July 5, 2023. On or after July 5, 2023 and on or before the 20th scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date, AAG may redeem the Convertible Notes, in whole or in part, if the last reported sale price of AAG common stock has been at least 130% of the conversion price then in effect on (1) each of at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during the 30 consecutive trading days ending on, and including, the trading day immediately before the date AAG sends the related redemption notice; and (2) the trading day immediately before the date AAG sends such notice. In the case of any optional redemption, AAG will redeem the Convertible Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such Convertible Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date.
If AAG undergoes a fundamental change described in the Convertible Notes Indenture prior to the maturity date of the Convertible Notes, except as described in the Convertible Notes Indenture, holders of the Convertible Notes may require AAG to repurchase for cash all or part of their Convertible Notes at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Convertible Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date.
The Convertible Notes Indenture provides for customary terms and covenants, including that upon certain events of default, either the Convertible Notes Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Notes then outstanding may declare the unpaid principal amount of the Convertible Notes and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon immediately due and payable. In the case of certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, the principal amount of the Convertible Notes together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, will automatically become and be immediately due and payable.
As the Convertible Notes can be settled in cash upon conversion, for accounting purposes, the Convertible Notes were bifurcated into a debt component that was recorded at fair value and an equity component. The following table details the debt and equity components recognized related to the Convertible Notes as of December 31, 2020 (in millions):
| December 31, 2020 | |||||
| Principal amount of 6.50% convertible senior notes | $ | 1,000 | |||
| Unamortized debt discount | (417) | ||||
| Net carrying amount of 6.50% convertible senior notes | 583 | ||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 415 | ||||
The effective interest rate on the liability component approximates 20%. We recognized $61 million of interest expense in 2020 including $28 million of non-cash amortization of the debt discount and $33 million of contractual coupon interest. The remaining period over which the unamortized debt discount will be recognized as non-cash interest expense is five years as follows: $63 million in 2021, $77 million in 2022, $95 million in 2023, $116 million in 2024 and $66 million in 2025. As previously discussed in Note 1(c), as of January 1, 2021, we early adopted the New Convertible Debt Standard. Accordingly, our unamortized debt discount as of January 1, 2021 was reduced by $389 million and the adjusted non-cash interest expense to be recognized over the next five years is as follows: $5 million in 2021, $6 million in 2022, $6 million in 2023, $7 million in 2024 and $4 million in 2025.
At December 31, 2020, the if-converted value of the Convertible Notes did not exceed the principal amount.
(i) Unsecured Senior Notes
5.000% Senior Notes
In May 2019, AAG issued $750 million aggregate principal amount of 5.000% senior notes due 2022 (the 5.000% Senior Notes). The 5.000% Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 5.000% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year, which began on December 1, 2019. The 5.000% Senior Notes mature in June 2022.
120
3.75% Senior Notes
In February 2020, AAG issued $500 million aggregate principal amount of 3.75% senior notes due 2025 (the 3.75% Senior Notes). The 3.75% Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 3.75% per annum, payable semiannually in arrears in March and September of each year, which began in September 2020. The 3.75% Senior Notes mature in March 2025.
The details of our 5.000% and 3.75% Senior Notes are shown in the table below as of December 31, 2020:
| 5.000% Senior Notes | 3.75% Senior Notes | ||||||||||
| Aggregate principal issued and outstanding | $750 million | $500 million | |||||||||
| Maturity date | June 2022 | March 2025 | |||||||||
| Fixed interest rate per annum | 5.000% | 3.75% | |||||||||
| Interest payments | Semi-annually in arrears in June and December | Semi-annually in arrears in March and September | |||||||||
The 5.000% and 3.75% Senior Notes are senior unsecured obligations of AAG. These Senior Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by American. The indentures for these Senior Notes contain covenants and events of default generally customary for similar financings. In addition, if we experience specific kinds of changes of control, we must offer to repurchase these Senior Notes in whole or in part at a price of 101% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to (but not including) the repurchase date. Upon the occurrence of certain events of default, these Senior Notes may be accelerated and become due and payable.
Guarantees
As of December 31, 2020, AAG had issued guarantees covering approximately $15.0 billion of American’s secured debt (and interest thereon), including the Credit Facilities and certain EETC financings and $1.0 billion of American’s special facility revenue bonds (and interest thereon).
Certain Covenants
Certain of our debt financing agreements (including our secured notes, term loans, revolving credit facilities and spare engine EETCs) contain loan to value (LTV) or collateral coverage ratio covenants and require us to appraise the related collateral annually or semiannually. Pursuant to such agreements, if the LTV or collateral coverage ratio exceeds a specified threshold or if the value of the appraised collateral fails to meet a specified threshold, as the case may be, we are required, as applicable, to pledge additional qualifying collateral (which in some cases may include cash or investment securities), or pay down such financing, in whole or in part, or the interest rate for the financing under such agreements will be increased. Additionally, a significant portion of our debt financing agreements contain covenants requiring us to maintain an aggregate of at least $2.0 billion of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and amounts available to be drawn under revolving credit facilities, and our Treasury Term Loan Facility contains a debt service coverage ratio, pursuant to which failure to comply with a certain threshold may result in mandatory prepayment of the Treasury Term Loan Facility.
121
Specifically, we are required to meet certain collateral coverage tests for our Credit Facilities, 10.75% Senior Secured Notes, 11.75% Senior Secured Notes and Treasury Loan Agreement, as described below:
| 2013 Credit Facilities | 2014 Credit Facilities | April 2016 Credit Facilities | December 2016 Credit Facilities | 10.75% Senior Secured Notes | 11.75% Senior Secured Notes | Treasury Loan Agreement | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Frequency of Appraisals of Appraised Collateral | Annual | Annual | Annual | Annual | Annual | Semi-Annual | Semi-Annual | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LTV Requirement | 1.6x Collateral valuation to amount of debt outstanding (62.5% LTV) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LTV as of Last Measurement Date | 53.1% | 44.3% | 48.0% | 61.2% | 61.2% | 35.2% | De Minimis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Collateral Description | Generally, certain slots, route authorities and airport gate leasehold rights used by American to operate all services between the U.S. and South America | Generally, certain slots, route authorities and airport gate leasehold rights used by American to operate certain services between the U.S. and European Union (including London Heathrow) | Generally, certain spare parts | Generally, certain Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) slots, certain La Guardia Airport (LGA) slots, certain simulators and certain leasehold rights | Generally, certain DCA slots, certain LGA slots, certain simulators and certain leasehold rights and, in the case of the IP Notes, certain intellectual property of American | Generally, certain slots, route authorities and airport gate leasehold rights used by American to operate certain services between the U.S. and the Caribbean, Central America and various other countries | Generally, certain rights under U.S. co-branded credit card agreements and certain other loyalty program agreements and intellectual property related to AAdvantage | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
At December 31, 2020, we were in compliance with the applicable collateral coverage tests as of the most recent measurement dates.
6. Leases
We lease certain aircraft and engines, including aircraft under capacity purchase agreements. As of December 31, 2020, we had 641 leased aircraft, with remaining terms ranging from less than one year to 12 years.
At each airport where we conduct flight operations, we have agreements, generally with a governmental unit or authority, for the use of passenger, operations and baggage handling space as well as runways and taxiways. These agreements, particularly in the U.S., often contain provisions for periodic adjustments to rates and charges applicable under such agreements. These rates and charges also vary with our level of operations and the operations of the airport. Because of the variable nature of these rates, these leases are not recorded on our balance sheet as a ROU asset or a lease liability. Additionally, at our hub locations and in certain other cities we serve, we lease administrative offices, catering, cargo, training, maintenance and other facilities.
The components of lease expense were as follows (in millions):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Operating lease cost | $ | 1,957 | $ | 2,027 | $ | 1,907 | |||||||||||
| Finance lease cost: | |||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of assets | 92 | 79 | 78 | ||||||||||||||
| Interest on lease liabilities | 38 | 43 | 48 | ||||||||||||||
| Variable lease cost | 1,801 | 2,558 | 2,353 | ||||||||||||||
| Total net lease cost | $ | 3,888 | $ | 4,707 | $ | 4,386 | |||||||||||
Included in the table above is $172 million, $236 million and $226 million of operating lease cost under our capacity purchase agreement with Republic for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. We hold a 25% equity interest in Republic Holdings, the parent company of Republic.
122
Additionally, not included in the table above, we recognized $109 million in cash special charges in 2020 related to the impairment of ROU assets and lease return costs resulting from our decision to retire certain leased aircraft earlier than planned driven by the severe decline in air travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases was as follows (in millions, except lease term and discount rate):
| December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
| Operating leases: | |||||||||||
| Operating lease ROU assets | $ | 8,039 | $ | 8,737 | |||||||
| Current operating lease liabilities | $ | 1,651 | $ | 1,708 | |||||||
| Noncurrent operating lease liabilities | 6,777 | 7,421 | |||||||||
| Total operating lease liabilities | $ | 8,428 | $ | 9,129 | |||||||
| Finance leases: | |||||||||||
| Property and equipment, at cost | $ | 1,021 | $ | 954 | |||||||
| Accumulated amortization | (539) | (447) | |||||||||
| Property and equipment, net | $ | 482 | $ | 507 | |||||||
| Current finance lease liabilities | $ | 100 | $ | 112 | |||||||
| Noncurrent finance lease liabilities | 472 | 558 | |||||||||
| Total finance lease liabilities | $ | 572 | $ | 670 | |||||||
| Weighted average remaining lease term (in years): | |||||||||||
| Operating leases | 7.4 | 7.4 | |||||||||
| Finance leases | 5.4 | 6.2 | |||||||||
| Weighted average discount rate: | |||||||||||
| Operating leases | 5.6 | % | 4.7 | % | |||||||
| Finance leases | 6.3 | % | 6.2 | % | |||||||
Supplemental cash flow and other information related to leases was as follows (in millions):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating cash flows from operating leases | $ | 2,028 | $ | 2,013 | $ | 1,931 | |||||||||||
| Operating cash flows from finance leases | 39 | 43 | 48 | ||||||||||||||
| Financing cash flows from finance leases | 114 | 83 | 78 | ||||||||||||||
| Non-cash transactions: | |||||||||||||||||
| ROU assets acquired through operating leases | 917 | 1,145 | 1,292 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating lease conversion to finance lease | 5 | 41 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Property and equipment acquired through finance leases | 11 | 20 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Gain on sale leaseback transactions, net | 107 | 107 | 59 | ||||||||||||||
123
Maturities of lease liabilities were as follows (in millions):
| December 31, 2020 | |||||||||||
| Operating Leases | Finance Leases | ||||||||||
| 2021 | $ | 1,946 | $ | 131 | |||||||
| 2022 | 1,777 | 136 | |||||||||
| 2023 | 1,586 | 114 | |||||||||
| 2024 | 1,192 | 120 | |||||||||
| 2025 | 812 | 85 | |||||||||
| 2026 and thereafter | 3,307 | 89 | |||||||||
| Total lease payments | 10,620 | 675 | |||||||||
| Less: Imputed interest | (2,192) | (103) | |||||||||
| Total lease obligations | 8,428 | 572 | |||||||||
| Less: Current obligations | (1,651) | (100) | |||||||||
| Long-term lease obligations | $ | 6,777 | $ | 472 | |||||||
As of December 31, 2020, we have additional operating lease commitments that have not yet commenced of approximately $1.7 billion for 19 Boeing 787-8 aircraft to be delivered in 2021 with lease terms of 10 years.
7. Income Taxes
The significant components of the income tax provision (benefit) were (in millions):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Current income tax provision (benefit): | |||||||||||||||||
| State and Local | $ | — | $ | 2 | $ | 3 | |||||||||||
| Foreign | — | 8 | 29 | ||||||||||||||
| Current income tax provision (benefit) | — | 10 | 32 | ||||||||||||||
| Deferred income tax provision (benefit): | |||||||||||||||||
| Federal | (2,335) | 498 | 390 | ||||||||||||||
| State and Local | (233) | 62 | 50 | ||||||||||||||
| Deferred income tax provision (benefit) | (2,568) | 560 | 440 | ||||||||||||||
| Total income tax provision (benefit) | $ | (2,568) | $ | 570 | $ | 472 | |||||||||||
The income tax provision (benefit) differed from amounts computed at the statutory federal income tax rate as follows (in millions):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Statutory income tax provision (benefit) | $ | (2,405) | $ | 474 | $ | 396 | |||||||||||
| State income tax provision (benefit), net of federal tax effect | (183) | 47 | 44 | ||||||||||||||
| Book expenses not deductible for tax purposes | 22 | 31 | 12 | ||||||||||||||
| Foreign income taxes, net of federal tax effect | — | 8 | 23 | ||||||||||||||
| Change in valuation allowance | — | 4 | (6) | ||||||||||||||
| Other, net | (2) | 6 | 3 | ||||||||||||||
| Income tax provision (benefit) | $ | (2,568) | $ | 570 | $ | 472 | |||||||||||
124
The components of our deferred tax assets and liabilities were (in millions):
| December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
| Deferred tax assets: | |||||||||||
| Operating loss carryforwards and other credits | $ | 4,027 | $ | 2,103 | |||||||
| Loyalty program liability | 1,977 | 1,755 | |||||||||
| Leases | 1,913 | 2,077 | |||||||||
| Pensions | 1,405 | 1,229 | |||||||||
| Postretirement benefits other than pensions | 203 | 145 | |||||||||
| Rent expense | 96 | 126 | |||||||||
| Reorganization items | 28 | 30 | |||||||||
| Alternative minimum tax (AMT) credit carryforwards | — | 90 | |||||||||
| Other | 847 | 613 | |||||||||
| Total deferred tax assets | 10,496 | 8,168 | |||||||||
| Valuation allowance | (34) | (34) | |||||||||
| Net deferred tax assets | 10,462 | 8,134 | |||||||||
| Deferred tax liabilities: | |||||||||||
| Accelerated depreciation and amortization | (5,028) | (5,196) | |||||||||
| Leases | (1,818) | (1,979) | |||||||||
| Other | (386) | (343) | |||||||||
| Total deferred tax liabilities | (7,232) | (7,518) | |||||||||
| Net deferred tax asset | $ | 3,230 | $ | 616 | |||||||
At December 31, 2020, we had approximately $16.5 billion of federal net operating losses (NOLs) available to reduce future federal taxable income, of which $8.5 billion will expire beginning in 2023 if unused and $8.0 billion can be carried forward indefinitely (NOL Carryforwards). We also had approximately $5.0 billion of NOL Carryforwards to reduce future state taxable income at December 31, 2020, which will expire in taxable years 2020 through 2040 if unused.
Our ability to use our NOL Carryforwards depends on the amount of taxable income generated in future periods. We provide a valuation allowance for our deferred tax assets, which include our NOLs, when it is more likely than not that some portion, or all of our deferred tax assets, will not be realized. We consider all available positive and negative evidence and make certain assumptions in evaluating the realizability of our deferred tax assets. Many factors are considered that impact our assessment of future profitability, including conditions which are beyond our control, such as the health of the economy, the availability and price volatility of aircraft fuel and travel demand. We presently have a $34 million valuation allowance on certain net deferred tax assets related to state NOL Carryforwards. There can be no assurance that an additional valuation allowance on our net deferred tax assets will not be required. Such valuation allowance could be material.
Our ability to deduct our NOL Carryforwards and to utilize certain other available tax attributes can be substantially constrained under the general annual limitation rules of Section 382 where an “ownership change” has occurred. Substantially all of our remaining federal NOL Carryforwards attributable to US Airways Group are subject to limitation under Section 382; however, our ability to utilize such NOL Carryforwards is not anticipated to be effectively constrained as a result of such limitation. Similar limitations may apply for state income tax purposes. Our ability to utilize any new NOL Carryforwards arising after the ownership changes is not affected by the annual limitation rules imposed by Section 382 unless another ownership change occurs. Under the Section 382 limitation, cumulative stock ownership changes among material stockholders exceeding 50% during a rolling three-year period can potentially limit our future use of NOLs and tax credits.
At December 31, 2019, we had an AMT credit carryforward of approximately $170 million available for federal income tax purposes, which was fully refunded in 2020 as a result of the CARES Act.
In 2020, we recorded an income tax benefit of $2.6 billion, with an effective rate of approximately 22%, which was substantially non-cash. Substantially all of our income before income taxes is attributable to the United States.
125
We file our tax returns as prescribed by the tax laws of the jurisdictions in which we operate. Our 2017 through 2019 tax years are still subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. Various state and foreign jurisdiction tax years remain open to examination and we are under examination, in administrative appeals, or engaged in tax litigation in certain jurisdictions. We believe that the effect of any assessments will not be material to our consolidated financial statements.
The amount of, and changes to, our uncertain tax positions were not material in any of the years presented. We accrue interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense and operating expense, respectively.
8. Risk Management
Our economic prospects are heavily dependent upon two variables we cannot control: general economic conditions and the price of fuel.
Due to the discretionary nature of business and leisure travel spending and the highly competitive nature of the airline industry, our revenues are heavily influenced by the condition of the U.S. economy and economies in other regions of the world. Unfavorable conditions in these broader economies have resulted, and may result in the future, in decreased passenger demand for air travel, changes in booking practices and related reactions by our competitors, all of which in turn have had, and may have in the future, a strong negative effect on our business. In particular, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and associated decline in economic activity and increase in unemployment levels are expected to have a severe and prolonged effect on the global economy generally and, in turn, is expected to depress demand for air travel into the foreseeable future. Due to the uncertainty surrounding the duration and severity of this pandemic, we can provide no assurance as to when and at what pace demand for air travel will return to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, if at all. Accordingly, we cannot predict the ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, during challenging economic times, actions by our competitors to increase their revenues can have an adverse impact on our revenues.
Our operating results are materially impacted by changes in the availability, price volatility and cost of aircraft fuel, which represents one of the largest single cost items in our business. Aircraft fuel prices have in the past, and may in the future, experience substantial volatility. Because of the amount of fuel needed to operate our business, even a relatively small increase or decrease in the price of aircraft fuel can have a material effect on our operating results and liquidity.
These additional factors could impact our results of operations, financial performance and liquidity:
(a) Credit Risk
Our accounts receivable relate primarily to our contracts with airline and non-airline business partners, including our co-branded credit card partners, and to tickets sold to individual passengers primarily through the use of major credit cards. Receivables from our business partners are typically settled within 30 days. Receivables from ticket sales are short-term, mostly settled within seven days after sale. All accounts receivable are reported net of an allowance for credit losses, which have been minimal in the past. We consider past and future financial and qualitative factors when establishing the allowance for credit losses. We do not believe we are subject to any significant concentration of credit risk.
(b) Interest Rate Risk
We have exposure to market risk associated with changes in interest rates related primarily to our LIBOR variable-rate debt obligations. Interest rates on $12.8 billion principal amount of long-term debt as of December 31, 2020 are subject to adjustment to reflect changes in floating interest rates. The weighted average effective interest rate on our variable-rate debt was 2.0% at December 31, 2020. We currently do not have an interest rate hedge program to hedge our exposure to floating interest rates on our variable-rate debt obligations.
On July 27, 2017, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (the authority that regulates LIBOR) announced that it intends to stop compelling banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR after 2021. The discontinuation date for submission and publication of rates for certain tenors of USD LIBOR (1-month, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month) is currently under consultation by the ICE Benchmark Administration (the administrator of LIBOR) and may be extended until June 30, 2023. It is unclear whether new methods of calculating LIBOR will be established such that it continues to exist after 2021. Similarly, it is not possible to predict whether LIBOR will continue to be viewed as an acceptable market benchmark, what rate or rates may become acceptable alternatives to LIBOR, or what effect these changes in views or alternatives may
126
have on financial markets for LIBOR-linked financial instruments. The replacement of LIBOR with a comparable or successor rate could cause the amount of interest payable on our long-term debt to be different or higher than expected.
(c) Foreign Currency Risk
We are exposed to the effect of foreign exchange rate fluctuations on the U.S. dollar value of foreign currency-denominated transactions. Our largest exposure comes from the British pound sterling, Euro, Canadian dollar and various Latin American currencies, primarily the Brazilian real. We do not currently have a foreign currency hedge program.
9. Fair Value Measurements and Other Investments
Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received from the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability (i.e. an exit price) on the measurement date in an orderly transaction between market participants in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability. Accounting standards include disclosure requirements around fair values used for certain financial instruments and establish a fair value hierarchy. The hierarchy prioritizes valuation inputs into three levels based on the extent to which inputs used in measuring fair value are observable in the market. Each fair value measurement is reported in one of three levels:
•Level 1 – Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets;
•Level 2 – Inputs, other than quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and
•Level 3 – Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.
When available, we use quoted market prices to determine the fair value of our financial assets. If quoted market prices are not available, we measure fair value using valuation techniques that use, when possible, current market-based or independently-sourced market parameters, such as interest rates and currency rates.
We utilize the market approach to measure the fair value of our financial assets. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets. Our short-term investments classified as Level 2 primarily utilize broker quotes in a non-active market for valuation of these securities. No changes in valuation techniques or inputs occurred during the year ended December 31, 2020.
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below (in millions):
| Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Short-term investments (1), (2): | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Money market funds | $ | 247 | $ | 247 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
| Corporate obligations | 3,449 | — | 3,449 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Bank notes/certificates of deposit/time deposits | 2,168 | — | 2,168 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Repurchase agreements | 755 | — | 755 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| 6,619 | 247 | 6,372 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted cash and short-term investments (1), (3) | 609 | 448 | 161 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Long-term investments (4) | 161 | 161 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 7,389 | $ | 856 | $ | 6,533 | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
127
| Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Short-term investments (1): | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Money market funds | $ | 333 | $ | 333 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
| Bank notes/certificates of deposit/time deposits | 2,107 | — | 2,107 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate obligations | 1,021 | — | 1,021 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Repurchase agreements | 85 | — | 85 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| 3,546 | 333 | 3,213 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted cash and short-term investments (1) | 158 | 10 | 148 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Long-term investments (4) | 204 | 204 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 3,908 | $ | 547 | $ | 3,361 | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
(1)All short-term investments are classified as available-for-sale and stated at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss at each reporting period. There were no credit losses.
(2)Our short-term investments as of December 31, 2020 mature in one year or less except for $235 million of bank notes/certificates of deposit/time deposits.
(3)Restricted cash and short-term investments primarily include money market funds to be used to finance a substantial portion of the cost of the renovation and expansion of Terminal 8 at JFK and collateral held to support workers' compensation obligations.
(4)Long-term investments primarily include our equity investment in China Southern Airlines, in which we presently own a 1.8% equity interest, and are classified in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets.
Fair Value of Debt
The fair value of our long-term debt was estimated using quoted market prices or discounted cash flow analyses, based on our current estimated incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements. If our long-term debt was measured at fair value, it would have been classified as Level 2 except for $2.3 billion which would have been classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
The carrying value and estimated fair value of our long-term debt, including current maturities, were as follows (in millions):
| December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carrying Value | Fair Value | Carrying Value | Fair Value | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt, including current maturities | $ | 32,021 | $ | 30,454 | $ | 23,645 | $ | 24,508 | |||||||||||||||
Other Investments
We have an approximate 25% ownership interest in Republic Holdings, which we received in 2017 in consideration for our unsecured claim in the Republic Holdings bankruptcy case. This ownership interest is accounted for under the equity method and our portion of Republic Holdings’ financial results is recognized within other, net on the consolidated statements of operations and the investment is reflected within other assets on our consolidated balance sheets.
128
10. Employee Benefit Plans
We sponsor defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans for eligible employees. The defined benefit pension plans provide benefits for participating employees based on years of service and average compensation for a specified period of time before retirement. Effective November 1, 2012, substantially all of our defined benefit pension plans were frozen and we began providing enhanced benefits under our defined contribution pension plans for certain employee groups. We use a December 31 measurement date for all of our defined benefit pension plans. We also provide certain retiree medical and other postretirement benefits, including health care and life insurance benefits, to retired employees. Effective November 1, 2012, we modified our retiree medical and other postretirement benefits plans to eliminate the company subsidy for employees who retire on or after November 1, 2012. As a result of modifications to our retiree medical and other postretirement benefits plans in 2012, we recognized a negative plan amendment of $1.9 billion, which was included as a component of prior service benefit in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (AOCI) and was amortized over the future service life of the active plan participants for whom the benefit was eliminated. As of December 31, 2020, this prior service benefit was fully amortized.
Effective January 1, 2021, health coverage under our retiree medical benefit program that is currently provided to certain retirees age 65 and over who retired prior to November 1, 2012, transitioned from a self-insured plan to a fully-insured Medicare Advantage plan. Benefits coverage has not been reduced and cost shared has not changed as a result of this transition. Due to this transition, as of December 31, 2020, we recognized a negative plan amendment of $313 million to reduce our benefit obligation, which was included as a component of prior service cost in accumulated other comprehensive loss and will be amortized over the average remaining life expectancy of all retirees, or approximately 13.3 years.
Benefit Obligations, Fair Value of Plan Assets and Funded Status
The following tables provide a reconciliation of the changes in the pension and retiree medical and other postretirement benefits obligations, fair value of plan assets and a statement of funded status as of December 31, 2020 and 2019:
| Pension Benefits | Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Benefit obligation at beginning of period | $ | 18,358 | $ | 16,378 | $ | 824 | $ | 837 | |||||||||||||||
| Service cost | 2 | 2 | 8 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Interest cost | 615 | 703 | 30 | 33 | |||||||||||||||||||
Actuarial loss (1), (2) | 1,613 | 1,965 | 46 | 20 | |||||||||||||||||||
Special termination benefits (3) | — | — | 410 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Plan amendments (4) | — | — | (195) | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Settlements | (36) | (2) | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Benefit payments | (740) | (689) | (77) | (74) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other | — | 1 | — | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Benefit obligation at end of period | $ | 19,812 | $ | 18,358 | $ | 1,046 | $ | 824 | |||||||||||||||
| Fair value of plan assets at beginning of period | $ | 12,897 | $ | 10,053 | $ | 204 | $ | 225 | |||||||||||||||
| Actual return on plan assets | 1,427 | 2,305 | 13 | 41 | |||||||||||||||||||
Employer contributions (5) | 9 | 1,230 | 30 | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Settlements | (36) | (2) | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Benefit payments | (740) | (689) | (77) | (74) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value of plan assets at end of period | $ | 13,557 | $ | 12,897 | $ | 170 | $ | 204 | |||||||||||||||
| Funded status at end of period | $ | (6,255) | $ | (5,461) | $ | (876) | $ | (620) | |||||||||||||||
(1)The 2020 and 2019 pension actuarial loss primarily relates to the change in our weighted average discount rate assumption and, additionally, in 2019, the change to our mortality assumption.
129
(2)The 2020 retiree medical and other postretirement benefits actuarial loss primarily relates to the change in our weighted average discount rate assumption.
The 2019 retiree medical and other postretirement benefits actuarial loss primarily relates to changes in our weighted average discount rate assumption and plan experience adjustments.
(3)During the third quarter of 2020, we remeasured our retiree medical and other postretirement benefits to account for enhanced healthcare benefits provided to eligible team members who opted in to voluntary early retirement programs offered as a result of reductions to our operation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the third quarter of 2020, we recognized a $410 million special charge for these enhanced healthcare benefits and increased our postretirement benefits obligation by $410 million.
(4)Principally relates to the transition of our retiree medical benefit program from a self-insured plan to a fully-insured Medicare Advantage plan as discussed above.
(5)Pursuant to the CARES Act, minimum required contributions to be made in the calendar year 2020 can be deferred to January 1, 2021, with interest accruing from the original due date to the new payment date. During 2019, we contributed $1.2 billion to our defined benefit pension plans, including a $786 million minimum required contribution and supplemental contributions of $444 million.
Balance Sheet Position
| Pension Benefits | Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| As of December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current liability | $ | 7 | $ | 5 | $ | 55 | $ | 24 | |||||||||||||||
| Noncurrent liability | 6,248 | 5,456 | 821 | 596 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total liabilities | $ | 6,255 | $ | 5,461 | $ | 876 | $ | 620 | |||||||||||||||
| Net actuarial loss (gain) | $ | 6,700 | $ | 5,680 | $ | (358) | $ | (426) | |||||||||||||||
| Prior service cost (benefit) | 75 | 104 | (181) | (120) | |||||||||||||||||||
Total accumulated other comprehensive loss (income), pre-tax | $ | 6,775 | $ | 5,784 | $ | (539) | $ | (546) | |||||||||||||||
Plans with Projected Benefit Obligations Exceeding Fair Value of Plan Assets
| Pension Benefits | |||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
| (In millions) | |||||||||||
| Projected benefit obligation | $ | 19,812 | $ | 18,327 | |||||||
| Fair value of plan assets | 13,557 | 12,862 | |||||||||
Plans with Accumulated Benefit Obligations Exceeding Fair Value of Plan Assets
| Pension Benefits | Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accumulated benefit obligation (ABO) | $ | 19,799 | $ | 18,315 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation | — | — | 1,046 | 824 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value of plan assets | 13,557 | 12,862 | 170 | 204 | |||||||||||||||||||
130
Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Income)
| Pension Benefits | Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Defined benefit plans: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service cost | $ | 2 | $ | 2 | $ | 3 | $ | 8 | $ | 3 | $ | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest cost | 615 | 703 | 674 | 30 | 33 | 35 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Expected return on assets | (1,010) | (815) | (905) | (11) | (15) | (24) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Special termination benefits | — | — | — | 410 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Settlements | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prior service cost (benefit) | 30 | 28 | 28 | (135) | (236) | (236) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unrecognized net loss (gain) | 164 | 150 | 141 | (24) | (31) | (21) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net periodic benefit cost (income) | $ | (187) | $ | 68 | $ | (59) | $ | 278 | $ | (246) | $ | (241) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
The service cost component of net periodic benefit cost (income) is included in operating expenses, the cost for the special termination benefits is included in special items, net and the other components of net periodic benefit cost (income) are included in nonoperating other income (expense), net in our consolidated statements of operations.
Assumptions
The following actuarial assumptions were used to determine our benefit obligations and net periodic benefit cost (income) for the periods presented:
| Pension Benefits | Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Benefit obligations: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted average discount rate | 2.7% | 3.4% | 2.4% | 3.3% | |||||||||||||||||||
| Pension Benefits | Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net periodic benefit cost (income): | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted average discount rate | 3.4% | 4.4% | 3.8% | 3.2% | 4.3% | 3.6% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weighted average expected rate of return on plan assets | 8.0% | 8.0% | 8.0% | 8.0% | 8.0% | 8.0% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weighted average health care cost trend rate assumed for next year (1) | N/A | N/A | N/A | 4.0% | 3.7% | 3.9% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)The weighted average health care cost trend rate at December 31, 2020 is assumed to decline gradually to 3.4% by 2027 and remain level thereafter.
As of December 31, 2020, our estimate of the long-term rate of return on plan assets was 8.0% based on the target asset allocation. Expected returns on long duration bonds are based on yields to maturity of the bonds held at year-end. Expected returns on other assets are based on a combination of long-term historical returns, actual returns on plan assets achieved over the last ten years, current and expected market conditions, and expected value to be generated through active management and securities lending programs.
Minimum Contributions
We are required to make minimum contributions to our defined benefit pension plans under the minimum funding requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and various other laws for U.S. based plans as well as underfunding rules specific to countries where we maintain defined benefit plans. Based on current
131
funding assumptions, we have minimum required contributions of $697 million for 2021 including contributions to defined benefit plans for our wholly-owned regional subsidiaries and $130 million of minimum contributions required for 2020 that were deferred pursuant to the CARES Act as discussed above. In January 2021, we made $241 million of required pension contributions, including the $130 million minimum contributions required for 2020. Our funding obligations will depend on the performance of our investments held in trust by the pension plans, interest rates for determining liabilities, the amount of and timing of any supplemental contributions and our actuarial experience.
Benefit Payments
The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service as appropriate, are expected to be paid (approximately, in millions):
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026-2030 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pension benefits | $ | 790 | $ | 830 | $ | 872 | $ | 914 | $ | 952 | $ | 5,150 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Retiree medical and other postretirement benefits | 102 | 93 | 89 | 86 | 82 | 356 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Plan Assets
The objectives of our investment policies are to: maintain sufficient income and liquidity to pay retirement benefits; produce a long-term rate of return that meets or exceeds the assumed rate of return for plan assets; limit the volatility of asset performance and funded status; and diversify assets among asset classes and investment managers.
Based on these investment objectives, a long-term strategic asset allocation has been established. This strategic allocation seeks to balance the potential benefit of improving the funded position with the potential risk that the funded position would decline. The current strategic target asset allocation is as follows:
| Asset Class/Sub-Class | Allowed Range | ||||
| Equity | 45% - 80% | ||||
| Public: | |||||
| U.S. Large | 10% - 40% | ||||
| U.S. Small/Mid | 2% - 10% | ||||
| International | 10% - 25% | ||||
| International Small/Mid | 0% - 10% | ||||
| Emerging Markets | 2% - 15% | ||||
| Alternative Investments | 5% - 30% | ||||
| Fixed Income | 20% - 55% | ||||
| Public: | |||||
| U.S. Long Duration | 15% - 45% | ||||
| High Yield and Emerging Markets | 0% - 10% | ||||
| Private Income | 0% - 15% | ||||
| Other | 0% - 5% | ||||
| Cash Equivalents | 0% - 20% | ||||
U.S. long duration bonds are used to partially hedge the assets from declines in interest rates. Public equity as well as high yield fixed income securities are used to provide diversification and are expected to generate higher returns over the long-term than U.S. long duration bonds. Alternative (private) investments are used to provide expected returns in excess of the public markets over the long-term. The pension plan’s master trust also participates in securities lending programs to generate additional income by loaning plan assets to borrowers on a fully collateralized basis. These programs are subject to market risk.
132
Investments in securities traded on recognized securities exchanges are valued at the last reported sales price on the last business day of the year. Securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued at the last bid price. Investments in limited partnerships are carried at estimated net asset value as determined by and reported by the general partners of the partnerships and represent the proportionate share of the estimated fair value of the underlying assets of the limited partnerships. Common/collective trusts are valued at net asset value based on the fair values of the underlying investments of the trusts as determined by the sponsor of the trusts. No changes in valuation techniques or inputs occurred during the year.
Benefit Plan Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
The fair value of our pension plan assets at December 31, 2020 and 2019, by asset category, were as follows (in millions):
| Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Category | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 40 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 40 | |||||||||||||||
| Equity securities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
International markets (a), (b) | 2,282 | — | — | 2,282 | |||||||||||||||||||
Large-cap companies (b) | 2,085 | — | — | 2,085 | |||||||||||||||||||
Mid-cap companies (b) | 428 | — | — | 428 | |||||||||||||||||||
Small-cap companies (b) | 73 | 1 | — | 74 | |||||||||||||||||||
Mutual funds (c) | 80 | — | — | 80 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fixed income: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate debt (d) | — | 3,026 | — | 3,026 | |||||||||||||||||||
Government securities (e) | — | 1,010 | — | 1,010 | |||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. municipal securities | — | 30 | — | 30 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Alternative instruments: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Private market partnerships (f) | — | — | 15 | 15 | |||||||||||||||||||
Private market partnerships measured at net asset value (f), (g) | — | — | — | 1,791 | |||||||||||||||||||
Common/collective trusts (h) | — | 259 | — | 259 | |||||||||||||||||||
Common/collective trusts measured at net asset value (g), (h) | — | — | — | 2,384 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Insurance group annuity contracts | — | — | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Dividend and interest receivable | 49 | — | — | 49 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Due from brokers for sale of securities – net | 1 | — | — | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other receivables – net | 1 | — | — | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 5,039 | $ | 4,326 | $ | 17 | $ | 13,557 | |||||||||||||||
(a)Holdings are diversified as follows: 11% Switzerland, 11% Ireland, 10% United Kingdom, 9% France, 8% Japan, 7% Germany, 6% Netherlands, 13% emerging markets and the remaining 25% with no concentration greater than 5% in any one country.
(b)There are no significant concentrations of holdings by company or industry.
(c)Investment includes mutual funds invested 39% in equity securities of large-cap, mid-cap and small-cap U.S. companies, 35% in U.S. treasuries and corporate bonds and 26% in equity securities of international companies.
(d)Includes approximately 77% investments in corporate debt with a S&P rating lower than A and 23% investments in corporate debt with a S&P rating A or higher. Holdings include 89% U.S. companies, 9% international companies and 2% emerging market companies.
133
(e)Includes approximately 89% investments in U.S. domestic government securities, 9% in emerging market government securities and 2% in international government securities. There are no significant foreign currency risks within this classification.
(f)Includes limited partnerships that invest primarily in domestic private equity and private income opportunities. The pension plan’s master trust does not have the right to redeem its limited partnership investment at its net asset value, but rather receives distributions as the underlying assets are liquidated. It is estimated that the underlying assets of these funds will be gradually liquidated over the next to ten years. Additionally, the pension plan’s master trust has future funding commitments of approximately $1.6 billion over the next ten years.
(g)Certain investments that are measured using net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient for fair value have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amounts presented in this table are intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the amounts presented in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.
(h)Investment includes 34% in a common/collective trust investing in large market capitalization equity securities within the U.S., 30% in three common/collective trusts investing in emerging country equity securities, 21% in a common/collective trust investing in equity securities of companies located outside the U.S., 9% in a collective interest trust investing primarily in short-term securities, 5% in a common/collective trust investing in smaller market capitalization equity securities within the U.S. and 1% in Canadian segregated balanced value, income growth and diversified pooled funds. For some trusts, requests for withdrawals must meet specific requirements with advance notice of redemption preferred.
| Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Category | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 20 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 20 | |||||||||||||||
| Equity securities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
International markets (a), (b) | 2,769 | — | — | 2,769 | |||||||||||||||||||
Large-cap companies (b) | 2,312 | — | — | 2,312 | |||||||||||||||||||
Mid-cap companies (b) | 543 | — | — | 543 | |||||||||||||||||||
Small-cap companies (b) | 97 | — | — | 97 | |||||||||||||||||||
Mutual funds (c) | 68 | — | — | 68 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fixed income: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate debt (d) | — | 2,804 | — | 2,804 | |||||||||||||||||||
Government securities (e) | — | 923 | — | 923 | |||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. municipal securities | — | 51 | — | 51 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Mortgage backed securities | — | 4 | — | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Alternative instruments: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Private market partnerships (f) | — | — | 10 | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||
Private market partnerships measured at net asset value (f), (g) | — | — | — | 1,464 | |||||||||||||||||||
Common/collective trusts (h) | — | 358 | — | 358 | |||||||||||||||||||
Common/collective trusts and 103-12 Investment Trust measured at net asset value (g), (h) | — | — | — | 1,423 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Insurance group annuity contracts | — | — | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Dividend and interest receivable | 53 | — | — | 53 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Due to brokers for sale of securities – net | (4) | — | — | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 5,858 | $ | 4,140 | $ | 12 | $ | 12,897 | |||||||||||||||
(a)Holdings are diversified as follows: 14% United Kingdom, 8% Switzerland, 8% Ireland, 7% Japan, 7% France, 6%
134
South Korea, 6% Canada, 18% emerging markets and the remaining 26% with no concentration greater than 5% in any one country.
(b)There are no significant concentrations of holdings by company or industry.
(c)Investment includes mutual funds invested 40% in equity securities of large-cap, mid-cap and small-cap U.S. companies, 33% in U.S. treasuries and corporate bonds and 27% in equity securities of international companies.
(d)Includes approximately 76% investments in corporate debt with a S&P rating lower than A and 24% investments in corporate debt with a S&P rating A or higher. Holdings include 86% U.S. companies, 11% international companies and 3% emerging market companies.
(e)Includes approximately 79% investments in U.S. domestic government securities, 13% in emerging market government securities and 8% in international government securities. There are no significant foreign currency risks within this classification.
(f)Includes limited partnerships that invest primarily in domestic private equity and private income opportunities. The pension plan’s master trust does not have the right to redeem its limited partnership investment at its net asset value, but rather receives distributions as the underlying assets are liquidated. It is estimated that the underlying assets of these funds will be gradually liquidated over the next to ten years. Additionally, the pension plan’s master trust has future funding commitments of approximately $1.4 billion over the next ten years.
(g)Certain investments that are measured using net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient for fair value have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amounts presented in this table are intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the amounts presented in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.
(h)Investment includes 36% in a common/collective trust investing in securities of larger companies within the U.S., 29% in a common/collective trust investing in securities of smaller companies located outside the U.S., 16% in a collective interest trust investing primarily in short-term securities, 15% in an emerging market 103-12 Investment Trust with investments in emerging country equity securities and 4% in Canadian segregated balanced value, income growth and diversified pooled funds. For some trusts, requests for withdrawals must meet specific requirements with advance notice of redemption preferred.
Changes in fair value measurements of Level 3 investments during the year ended December 31, 2020, were as follows (in millions):
| Private Market Partnerships | Insurance Group Annuity Contracts | ||||||||||
| Beginning balance at December 31, 2019 | $ | 10 | $ | 2 | |||||||
| Actual gain on plan assets: | |||||||||||
| Relating to assets still held at the reporting date | 1 | — | |||||||||
| Purchases | 4 | — | |||||||||
| Ending balance at December 31, 2020 | $ | 15 | $ | 2 | |||||||
Changes in fair value measurements of Level 3 investments during the year ended December 31, 2019, were as follows (in millions):
| Private Market Partnerships | Insurance Group Annuity Contracts | ||||||||||
| Beginning balance at December 31, 2018 | $ | 7 | $ | 2 | |||||||
| Purchases | 3 | — | |||||||||
| Ending balance at December 31, 2019 | $ | 10 | $ | 2 | |||||||
135
The fair value of our retiree medical and other postretirement benefits plans assets by asset category, were as follows (in millions):
| Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Category | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
| Money market fund | $ | 4 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 4 | |||||||||||||||
| Mutual funds – AAL Class | — | 166 | — | 166 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 4 | $ | 166 | $ | — | $ | 170 | |||||||||||||||
| Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Category | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
| Money market fund | $ | 4 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 4 | |||||||||||||||
| Mutual funds – AAL Class | — | 200 | — | 200 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 4 | $ | 200 | $ | — | $ | 204 | |||||||||||||||
Investments in the retiree medical and other postretirement benefits plans’ mutual funds are valued by quoted prices on the active market, which is fair value, and represents the net asset value of the shares of such funds as of the close of business at the end of the period. Net asset value is based on the fair market value of the funds’ underlying assets and liabilities at the date of determination. The AAL Class mutual funds are offered only to benefit plans of American, therefore, trading is restricted only to American, resulting in a fair value classification of Level 2. Investments included approximately 25% and 24% of investments in non-U.S. common stocks in 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Defined Contribution and Multiemployer Plans
The costs associated with our defined contribution plans were $860 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 and $846 million for the year ended December 31, 2018.
We participate in the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAM) National Pension Fund, Employer Identification No. 51-6031295 and Plan No. 002 (the IAM Pension Fund). Our contributions to the IAM Pension Fund were $40 million, $32 million and $31 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The IAM Pension Fund reported $510 million in employers’ contributions for the year ended December 31, 2019, which is the most recent year for which such information is available. For 2019, our contributions represented more than 5% of total contributions to the IAM Pension Fund.
On March 29, 2019, the actuary for the IAM Pension Fund certified that the fund was in “endangered” status despite reporting a funded status of over 80%. Additionally, the IAM Pension Fund’s Board voluntarily elected to enter into “critical” status on April 17, 2019. Upon entry into critical status, the IAM Pension Fund was required by law to adopt a rehabilitation plan aimed at restoring the financial health of the pension plan and did so on April 17, 2019 (the Rehabilitation Plan). Under the Rehabilitation Plan, we were subject to an immaterial contribution surcharge, which ceased to apply June 14, 2019 upon our mandatory adoption of a contribution schedule under the Rehabilitation Plan. The contribution schedule requires 2.5% annual increases to our contribution rate. This contribution schedule will remain in effect through the earlier of December 31, 2031 or the date the IAM Pension Fund emerges from critical status.
Profit Sharing Program
We accrue 5% of our pre-tax income excluding net special items for our profit sharing program. As a result of our pre-tax loss excluding net special items, there will not be a payout for 2020 under our profit sharing program.
136
11. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
The components of AOCI are as follows (in millions):
| Pension, Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits | Unrealized Gain on Investments | Income Tax Benefit (Provision) (1) | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2018 | $ | (4,673) | $ | (5) | $ | (1,218) | $ | (5,896) | |||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications | (476) | 3 | 107 | (366) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Amounts reclassified from AOCI | (89) | — | 20 | (2) | (69) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss) | (565) | 3 | 127 | (435) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2019 | (5,238) | (2) | (1,091) | (6,331) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications | (1,045) | — | 236 | (809) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Amounts reclassified from AOCI | 47 | — | (10) | (2) | 37 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss) | (998) | — | 226 | (772) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2020 | $ | (6,236) | $ | (2) | $ | (865) | $ | (7,103) | |||||||||||||||
(1)Relates principally to pension, retiree medical and other postretirement benefits obligations that will not be recognized in net income (loss) until the obligations are fully extinguished.
(2)Relates to pension, retiree medical and other postretirement benefits obligations and is recognized within the income tax provision (benefit) on our consolidated statements of operations.
Reclassifications out of AOCI for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 are as follows (in millions):
| Amounts reclassified from AOCI | Affected line items on the consolidated statements of operations | ||||||||||||||||
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| AOCI Components | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Amortization of pension, retiree medical and other postretirement benefits: | |||||||||||||||||
| Prior service benefit | $ | (81) | $ | (162) | Nonoperating other income, net | ||||||||||||
| Actuarial loss | 118 | 93 | Nonoperating other income, net | ||||||||||||||
| Total reclassifications for the period, net of tax | $ | 37 | $ | (69) | |||||||||||||
Amounts allocated to other comprehensive income for income taxes as further described in Note 7 will remain in AOCI until we cease all related activities, such as termination of the pension plan.
12. Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees
(a) Aircraft, Engine and Other Purchase Commitments
Under all of our aircraft and engine purchase agreements, our total future commitments as of December 31, 2020 are expected to be as follows (approximately, in millions):
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 and Thereafter | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Payments for aircraft commitments and certain engines (1) | $ | 527 | $ | 1,661 | $ | 1,592 | $ | 2,377 | $ | 3,381 | $ | 1,742 | $ | 11,280 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)These amounts are net of purchase deposits currently held by the manufacturers. We have granted a security interest in certain of our purchase deposits with Boeing to secure certain obligations to Boeing and third-party financing sources. Our purchase deposits held by all manufacturers totaled $1.4 billion as of December 31, 2020.
137
On March 13, 2019, a directive from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded all U.S.-registered Boeing 737 MAX Family aircraft and, as a result, all deliveries of Boeing 737 MAX Family aircraft were suspended. Since the time of the FAA recertification of the Boeing 737 MAX Family aircraft on November 18, 2020, deliveries have resumed and we accepted delivery of 10 Boeing 737 MAX Family aircraft during the period between the date of recertification and December 31, 2020. We have rights to defer one Boeing 737 MAX Family aircraft from delivery in 2021 to 2023 and rights to defer 10 Boeing 737 MAX Family aircraft from delivery in 2022 to 2023-2024.
Due to the uncertainty surrounding the timing of delivery of certain aircraft, the amounts in the table represent our current best estimate; however, the actual delivery schedule may differ from the table above, potentially materially.
The amounts in the table exclude 19 Boeing 787-8 aircraft to be delivered in 2021 for which we have obtained committed lease financing. See Note 6 for information regarding this operating lease commitment.
Additionally, we have purchase commitments related to aircraft fuel, flight equipment maintenance, construction projects and information technology support as follows (approximately): $2.3 billion in 2021, $1.3 billion in 2022, $1.2 billion in 2023, $242 million in 2024, $163 million in 2025 and $1.0 billion in 2026 and thereafter.
(b) Capacity Purchase Agreements with Third-Party Regional Carriers
American has capacity purchase agreements with third-party regional carriers. The capacity purchase agreements provide that all revenues, including passenger, in-flight, ancillary, mail and freight revenues, go to American. American controls marketing, scheduling, ticketing, pricing and seat inventories. In return, American agrees to pay predetermined fees to these airlines for operating an agreed-upon number of aircraft, without regard to the number of passengers on board. In addition, these agreements provide that American either reimburses or pays 100% of certain variable costs, such as airport landing fees, fuel and passenger liability insurance.
As of December 31, 2020, American’s capacity purchase agreements with third-party regional carriers had expiration dates ranging from 2021 to 2027, with rights of American to extend the respective terms of certain agreements.
As of December 31, 2020, American’s minimum obligations under its capacity purchase agreements with third-party regional carriers are as follows (approximately, in millions):
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 and Thereafter | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minimum obligations under capacity purchase agreements with third-party regional carriers (1) | $ | 1,120 | $ | 1,666 | $ | 1,685 | $ | 1,663 | $ | 1,511 | $ | 3,646 | $ | 11,291 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Represents minimum payments under capacity purchase agreements with third-party regional carriers, which are estimates of costs based on assumed minimum levels of flying under the capacity purchase agreements and American’s actual payments could differ materially. Excludes payments for the lease of certain aircraft under capacity purchase agreements, which are reflected in the operating lease obligations in Note 6.
(c) Airport Redevelopment
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
From time to time, airports where we have operations engage in construction projects, often substantial, that result in new or improved facilities that are ultimately funded through increases in the rent and other occupancy costs payable by airlines using the airport. Unlike this construction and funding model, we are managing a project at LAX where we have legal title to the assets during construction. In 2018, we executed a lease agreement with Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), which owns and operates LAX, in connection with a $1.6 billion modernization project related to LAX Terminals 4 and 5. Construction, which started in October 2018 and is expected to be completed in 2028, will occur in a phased approach. The modernization project will include a unified departure hall to the entranceway of Terminals 4 and 5, reconfigured ticket counter and check-in areas with seamless access to security screening areas, 10 new security screening lanes with automated technology in addition to the existing Terminal 5 lanes, and a new Terminal 4 South concourse with more open and upgraded amenities at gate areas. The project will also include renovated break rooms, multi-use meeting rooms and team gathering spaces throughout the terminals to support our team members at LAX.
138
As each phase is completed, the assets will be sold and transferred to LAWA, including the site improvements and non-proprietary improvements. As we control the assets during construction, they are recognized on our balance sheet until legal title has transferred. As of December 31, 2020, we have incurred approximately $223 million in costs relating to the LAX modernization project, of which $114 million were incurred during 2020, and have been included within operating property and equipment on our consolidated balance sheet. As of December 31, 2020, we have sold and transferred $111 million of non-proprietary improvements to LAWA, all of which occurred during 2020.
(d) Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Aircraft and Engines
American currently operates 350 owned aircraft and 24 leased aircraft, and owns 62 spare aircraft engines, which in each case were financed with EETCs issued by pass-through trusts. These trusts are off-balance sheet entities, the primary purpose of which is to finance the acquisition of flight equipment or to permit issuance of debt backed by existing flight equipment. In the case of aircraft EETCs, rather than finance each aircraft separately when such aircraft is purchased, delivered or refinanced, these trusts allow American to raise the financing for a number of aircraft at one time and, if applicable, place such funds in escrow pending a future purchase, delivery or refinancing of the relevant aircraft. Similarly, in the case of the spare engine EETCs, the trusts allow American to use its existing pool of spare engines to raise financing under a single facility. The trusts have also been structured to provide for certain credit enhancements, such as liquidity facilities to cover certain interest payments, that reduce the risks to the purchasers of the trust certificates and, as a result, reduce the cost of aircraft financing to American.
Each trust covers a set number of aircraft or spare engines scheduled to be delivered, financed or refinanced upon the issuance of the EETC or within a specific period of time thereafter. At the time of each covered aircraft or spare engine financing, the relevant trust used the proceeds of the issuance of the EETC (which may have been available at the time of issuance thereof or held in escrow until financing of the applicable aircraft following its delivery) to purchase equipment notes relating to the financed aircraft or engines. The equipment notes are issued, at American’s election, in connection with a mortgage financing of the aircraft or spare engines or, in certain cases, by a separate owner trust in connection with a leveraged lease financing of the aircraft. In the case of a leveraged lease financing, the owner trust then leases the aircraft to American. In both cases, the equipment notes are secured by a security interest in the aircraft or engines, as applicable. The pass-through trust certificates are not direct obligations of, nor are they guaranteed by, AAG or American. However, in the case of mortgage financings, the equipment notes issued to the trusts are direct obligations of American and, in certain instances, have been guaranteed by AAG. As of December 31, 2020, $11.0 billion associated with these mortgage financings is reflected as debt in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.
With respect to leveraged leases, American evaluated whether the leases had characteristics of a variable interest entity. American concluded the leasing entities met the criteria for variable interest entities; however, American concluded it is not the primary beneficiary under these leasing arrangements and accounts for the majority of its EETC leveraged lease financings as operating leases. American’s total future payments to the trusts of each of the relevant EETCs under these leveraged lease financings are $78 million as of December 31, 2020, which are reflected in the operating lease obligations in Note 6.
Letters of Credit and Other
We provide financial assurance, such as letters of credit, surety bonds or restricted cash and investments, primarily to support projected workers’ compensation obligations and airport commitments. As of December 31, 2020, we had $476 million of letters of credit and surety bonds securing various obligations, of which $110 million is collateralized with our restricted cash. The letters of credit and surety bonds that are subject to expiration will expire on various dates through 2024.
(e) Legal Proceedings
Chapter 11 Cases. On November 29, 2011, AMR, American, and certain of AMR’s other direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries (the Debtors) filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (the Bankruptcy Court). On October 21, 2013, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order approving and confirming the Debtors’ fourth amended joint plan of reorganization (as amended, the Plan). On the Effective Date, December 9, 2013, the Debtors consummated their reorganization pursuant to the Plan and completed the Merger.
139
Pursuant to rulings of the Bankruptcy Court, the Plan established the Disputed Claims Reserve to hold shares of AAG common stock reserved for issuance to disputed claimholders at the Effective Date that ultimately become holders of allowed claims. The shares of AAG common stock issued to the Disputed Claims Reserve were originally issued on December 13, 2013 and have at all times since been included in the number of shares issued and outstanding as reported from time to time in our quarterly and annual reports, including for calculating earnings per common share. As disputed claims are resolved, the claimants receive distributions of shares from the Disputed Claims Reserve. We are not required to distribute additional shares above the limits contemplated by the Plan, even if the shares remaining for distribution in the Disputed Claims Reserve are not sufficient to fully pay any additional allowed unsecured claims. If any of the reserved shares remain undistributed upon resolution of all remaining disputed claims, such shares will not be returned to us but rather will be distributed to former AMR stockholders and former convertible noteholders treated as stockholders under the Plan. In February 2020, 2.2 million shares of AAG common stock were distributed from the Disputed Claims Reserve. After giving effect to this distribution, as of December 31, 2020, the Disputed Claims Reserve held approximately 4.8 million shares of AAG common stock.
Private Party Antitrust Action Related to Passenger Capacity. We, along with Delta Air Lines, Inc., Southwest Airlines Co., United Airlines, Inc. and, in the case of litigation filed in Canada, Air Canada, were named as defendants in approximately 100 putative class action lawsuits alleging unlawful agreements with respect to air passenger capacity. The U.S. lawsuits were consolidated in the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia (the DC Court). On June 15, 2018, we reached a settlement agreement with the plaintiffs in the amount of $45 million to resolve all class claims in the U.S. lawsuits. That settlement was approved by the DC Court on May 13, 2019, however three parties who objected to the settlement have appealed that decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. We believe these appeals are without merit and intend to vigorously defend against them.
Private Party Antitrust Action Related to the Merger. On August 6, 2013, a lawsuit captioned Carolyn Fjord, et al., v. AMR Corporation, et al., was filed in the Bankruptcy Court. The complaint named as defendants US Airways Group, US Airways, AMR and American, alleged that the effect of the Merger may be to create a monopoly in violation of Section 7 of the Clayton Antitrust Act, and sought injunctive relief and/or divestiture. On November 27, 2013, the Bankruptcy Court denied plaintiffs’ motion to preliminarily enjoin the Merger. On August 29, 2018, the Bankruptcy Court denied in part defendants' motion for summary judgment, and fully denied plaintiffs' cross-motion for summary judgment. The parties' evidentiary cases were presented before the Bankruptcy Court in a bench trial in March 2019 and the parties submitted proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law and made closing arguments in April 2019. On January 29, 2021, the Bankruptcy Court published its decision finding in our favor. We expect the plaintiffs to appeal this ruling. We believe this lawsuit is without merit and intend to continue to vigorously defend against the allegations, including in respect of any appeal of the January 29, 2021 ruling.
General. In addition to the specifically identified legal proceedings, we and our subsidiaries are also engaged in other legal proceedings from time to time. Legal proceedings can be complex and take many months, or even years, to reach resolution, with the final outcome depending on a number of variables, some of which are not within our control. Therefore, although we will vigorously defend ourselves in each of the actions described above and such other legal proceedings, their ultimate resolution and potential financial and other impacts on us are uncertain but could be material.
(f) Guarantees and Indemnifications
We are party to many routine contracts in which we provide general indemnities in the normal course of business to third parties for various risks. We are not able to estimate the potential amount of any liability resulting from the indemnities. These indemnities are discussed in the following paragraphs.
In our aircraft financing agreements, we generally indemnify the financing parties, trustees acting on their behalf and other relevant parties against liabilities (including certain taxes) resulting from the financing, manufacture, design, ownership, operation and maintenance of the aircraft regardless of whether these liabilities (including certain taxes) relate to the negligence of the indemnified parties.
Our loan agreements and other LIBOR-based financing transactions (including certain leveraged aircraft leases) generally obligate us to reimburse the applicable lender for incremental costs due to a change in law that imposes (i) any reserve or special deposit requirement against assets of, deposits with or credit extended by such lender related to the loan, (ii) any tax, duty or other charge with respect to the loan (except standard income tax) or (iii) capital adequacy requirements. In addition, our loan agreements and other financing arrangements typically contain a withholding tax provision that requires us to pay additional amounts to the applicable lender or other financing party, generally if withholding taxes are imposed on such lender or other financing party as a result of a change in the applicable tax law.
140
In certain transactions, including certain aircraft financing leases and loans, the lessors, lenders and/or other parties have rights to terminate the transaction based on changes in foreign tax law, illegality or certain other events or circumstances. In such a case, we may be required to make a lump sum payment to terminate the relevant transaction.
We have general indemnity clauses in many of our airport and other real estate leases where we as lessee indemnify the lessor (and related parties) against liabilities related to our use of the leased property. Generally, these indemnifications cover liabilities resulting from the negligence of the indemnified parties, but not liabilities resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the indemnified parties. In addition, we provide environmental indemnities in many of these leases for contamination related to our use of the leased property.
Under certain contracts with third parties, we indemnify the third-party against legal liability arising out of an action by the third-party, or certain other parties. The terms of these contracts vary and the potential exposure under these indemnities cannot be determined. We have liability insurance protecting us for some of the obligations we have undertaken under these indemnities.
American is required to make principal and interest payments for certain special facility revenue bonds issued by municipalities primarily to build or improve airport facilities and purchase equipment, which are leased to American. The payment of principal and interest of certain special facility revenue bonds is guaranteed by AAG. As of December 31, 2020, the remaining lease payments through 2035 guaranteeing the principal and interest on these bonds are $572 million and the current carrying amount of the associated operating lease liability in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet is $321 million.
As of December 31, 2020, AAG had issued guarantees covering approximately $15.0 billion of American’s secured debt (and interest thereon), including the Credit Facilities and certain EETC financings and $1.0 billion of American’s special facility revenue bonds (and interest thereon).
(g) Credit Card Processing Agreements
We have agreements with companies that process customer credit card transactions for the sale of air travel and other services. Our agreements allow these credit card processing companies, under certain conditions, to hold an amount of our cash (referred to as a holdback) equal to a portion of advance ticket sales that have been processed by that company, but for which we have not yet provided the air transportation. Additional holdback requirements in the event of material adverse changes in our financial condition will reduce our liquidity in the form of unrestricted cash by the amount of the holdbacks. These credit card processing companies are not currently entitled to maintain any holdbacks pursuant to these requirements.
(h) Labor Negotiations
As of December 31, 2020, we employed approximately 102,700 active full-time equivalent (FTE) employees, of which 24,400 were employed by our wholly-owned regional subsidiaries. Of the total active FTE employees, 84% are covered by collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) with various labor unions and 43% are covered by CBAs that are currently amendable or that will become amendable within one year. Joint collective bargaining agreements (JCBAs) have been reached with post-Merger employee groups, including a new five-year JCBA ratified with the TWU-IAM Association, which represents our mainline mechanics and related, fleet service, stock clerks, maintenance control technicians and maintenance training instructors. Additionally, the post-Merger JCBAs covering our pilots and flight attendants are now amendable. The JCBA covering our passenger service employees and CBAs covering certain employee groups at our wholly-owned regional subsidiaries are also amendable.
141
13. Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information and non-cash investing and financing activities are as follows (in millions):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Non-cash investing and financing activities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Settlement of bankruptcy obligations | $ | 56 | $ | 7 | $ | — | |||||||||||
| Supplemental information: | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest paid, net | 944 | 1,111 | 1,091 | ||||||||||||||
| Income taxes paid | 6 | 8 | 18 | ||||||||||||||
14. Operating Segments and Related Disclosures
We are managed as a single business unit that provides air transportation for passengers and cargo. This allows us to benefit from an integrated revenue pricing and route network that includes American and our wholly-owned and third-party regional carriers that fly under capacity purchase agreements operating as American Eagle. The flight equipment of all these carriers is combined to form one fleet that is deployed through a single route scheduling system. Financial information and annual operational plans and forecasts are prepared and reviewed by the chief operating decision maker at the consolidated level. When making operational decisions, the chief operating decision maker evaluates flight profitability data, which considers aircraft type and route economics, but is indifferent to the results of the individual regional carriers. The objective in making operational decisions is to maximize consolidated financial results, not the individual results of American or American Eagle.
See Note 1(l) for our passenger revenue by geographic region. Our tangible assets consist primarily of flight equipment, which are mobile across geographic markets and, therefore, have not been allocated.
15. Share-based Compensation
The 2013 AAG Incentive Award Plan (the 2013 Plan) provides that awards may be in the form of an option, restricted stock award, restricted stock unit award, performance award, dividend equivalent award, deferred stock award, deferred stock unit award, stock payment award or stock appreciation right. The 2013 Plan initially authorized the grant of awards for the issuance of up to 40 million shares. Any shares underlying awards granted under the 2013 Plan that are forfeited, terminate or are settled in cash (in whole or in part) without the delivery of shares will again be available for grant.
For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, we recorded $91 million, $95 million and $88 million, respectively, of share-based compensation costs principally in salaries, wages and benefits expense on our consolidated statements of operations.
During 2020, 2019 and 2018, we withheld approximately 0.7 million, 0.8 million and 0.8 million shares of AAG common stock, respectively, and paid approximately $15 million, $25 million and $37 million, respectively, in satisfaction of certain tax withholding obligations associated with employee equity awards.
Restricted Stock Unit Awards (RSUs)
The majority of our RSUs have service conditions (time vested primarily over three years). The grant-date fair value of these RSUs is equal to the market price of the underlying shares of AAG common stock on the date of grant. The expense for these RSUs is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period for the entire award. RSUs are classified as equity awards as the vesting results in the issuance of shares of AAG common stock.
142
RSU award activity for all plans for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 is as follows:
| Number of Shares | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | ||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||
| Outstanding at December 31, 2017 | 4,324 | $ | 46.94 | ||||||||
| Granted | 2,194 | 47.65 | |||||||||
| Vested and released | (1,999) | 44.99 | |||||||||
| Forfeited | (199) | 45.72 | |||||||||
| Outstanding at December 31, 2018 | 4,320 | $ | 44.29 | ||||||||
| Granted | 3,206 | 34.00 | |||||||||
| Vested and released | (2,002) | 44.90 | |||||||||
| Forfeited | (337) | 42.55 | |||||||||
| Outstanding at December 31, 2019 | 5,187 | $ | 37.01 | ||||||||
| Granted | 5,883 | 22.07 | |||||||||
| Vested and released | (2,268) | 39.46 | |||||||||
| Forfeited | (920) | 29.78 | |||||||||
| Outstanding at December 31, 2020 | 7,882 | $ | 23.66 | ||||||||
As of December 31, 2020, there was $107 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to RSUs. These costs are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of one year. The total fair value of RSUs vested during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $51 million, $68 million and $91 million, respectively.
16. Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (in millions)
| Balance at Beginning of Year | Additions Charged to Statement of Operations Accounts | Deductions | Balance at End of Year | ||||||||||||||||||||
Allowance for obsolescence of spare parts | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year ended December 31, 2020 | $ | 784 | $ | 100 | $ | (394) | $ | 490 | |||||||||||||||
| Year ended December 31, 2019 | 814 | 91 | (121) | 784 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Year ended December 31, 2018 | 769 | 70 | (25) | 814 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Allowance for credit losses on accounts receivable | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year ended December 31, 2020 | $ | 31 | $ | 27 | $ | (22) | $ | 36 | |||||||||||||||
| Year ended December 31, 2019 | 29 | 19 | (17) | 31 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Year ended December 31, 2018 | 24 | 42 | (37) | 29 | |||||||||||||||||||
143
17. Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
Unaudited summarized financial data by quarter for 2020 and 2019 (in millions, except share and per share amounts):
| First Quarter | Second Quarter | Third Quarter | Fourth Quarter | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating revenues | $ | 8,515 | $ | 1,622 | $ | 3,173 | $ | 4,027 | |||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses | 11,064 | 4,108 | 6,044 | 6,542 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Operating loss | (2,549) | (2,486) | (2,871) | (2,515) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | (2,241) | (2,067) | (2,399) | (2,178) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Loss per share: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted | $ | (5.26) | $ | (4.82) | $ | (4.71) | $ | (3.81) | |||||||||||||||
| Shares used for computation (in thousands): | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted | 425,713 | 428,807 | 509,049 | 571,984 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating revenues | $ | 10,584 | $ | 11,960 | $ | 11,911 | $ | 11,313 | |||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses | 10,209 | 10,807 | 11,103 | 10,584 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income | 375 | 1,153 | 808 | 729 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | 185 | 662 | 425 | 414 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Earnings per share: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 0.41 | $ | 1.49 | $ | 0.96 | $ | 0.95 | |||||||||||||||
| Diluted | $ | 0.41 | $ | 1.49 | $ | 0.96 | $ | 0.95 | |||||||||||||||
| Shares used for computation (in thousands): | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 451,951 | 445,008 | 441,915 | 434,578 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Diluted | 453,429 | 445,587 | 442,401 | 435,659 | |||||||||||||||||||
Our fourth quarter 2020 results included $36 million of total pre-tax net special items driven principally by mark-to-market net unrealized gains and losses associated with certain equity investments and treasury rate lock derivative instruments.
Our fourth quarter 2019 results included $108 million of total pre-tax net special items that principally included $85 million of merger integration expenses and $39 million of fleet restructuring expenses, offset in part by $42 million of mark-to-market net unrealized gains associated with certain equity investments and treasury rate lock derivative instruments.
18. Subsequent Events
PSP2
On January 15, 2021 (the PSP2 Closing Date), the Subsidiaries entered into a Payroll Support Program Extension Agreement (the PSP2 Agreement) with Treasury, with respect to PSP2 provided pursuant to the PSP Extension Law. In connection with our entry into the PSP2 Agreement, on the PSP2 Closing Date, AAG also entered into a warrant agreement (the PSP2 Warrant Agreement) with Treasury and issued the PSP2 Promissory Note to Treasury, with the Subsidiaries as guarantors.
PSP2 Agreement
In connection with PSP2, we are required to comply with the relevant provisions of the PSP Extension Law, which are substantially similar as the restrictions contained in the PSP1 Agreement, but are in effect for a longer time period. These provisions include the requirement that funds provided pursuant to the PSP2 Agreement be used exclusively for the continuation of payment of eligible employee wages, salaries and benefits, the requirement against involuntary furloughs and reductions in employee pay rates and benefits through March 31, 2021, the provisions that prohibit the repurchase of AAG common stock, and the payment of common stock dividends through at least March 31, 2022, the provisions that restrict the payment of certain executive compensation until October 1, 2022, as well as a requirement to recall employees involuntarily terminated or furloughed after September 30, 2020. As was the case with PSP1, the PSP2 Agreement also imposes substantial reporting obligations on us.
144
Pursuant to the PSP2 Agreement, Treasury is to provide us financial assistance to be paid in installments (each, an Installment) expected to total at least $3.0 billion in the aggregate, of which $1.5 billion was received on January 15, 2021. As partial compensation to the U.S. Government for the provision of financial assistance under PSP2, and assuming a total principal sum of approximately $3.0 billion, we expect AAG to issue a PSP2 Promissory Note in the aggregate principal amount of approximately $896 million and issue warrants (each a PSP2 Warrant and, collectively, the PSP2 Warrants) to Treasury to purchase up to an aggregate of approximately 5.7 million shares of AAG common stock.
PSP2 Promissory Note
As partial compensation to the U.S. Government for the provision of financial assistance under the PSP2 Agreement, AAG issued the PSP2 Promissory Note to Treasury, which provides for our unconditional promise to pay to Treasury the initial principal sum of approximately $433 million, subject to an increase equal to 30% of the amount of each additional Installment disbursed under the PSP2 Agreement after the PSP2 Closing Date, and the guarantee of the Company’s obligations by the Subsidiaries. Assuming the total Installments to be paid pursuant to the PSP2 Agreement aggregate approximately $3.0 billion, the PSP2 Promissory Note will have a total principal sum of approximately $896 million.
The PSP2 Promissory Note bears interest on the outstanding principal amount at a rate equal to 1.00% per annum until the fifth anniversary of the PSP2 Closing Date and 2.00% plus an interest rate based on the secured overnight financing rate per annum or other benchmark replacement rate consistent with customary market conventions (but not to be less than 0.00%) thereafter until the tenth anniversary of the PSP2 Closing Date (the PSP2 Maturity Date), and interest accrued thereon will be payable in arrears on the last business day of March and September of each year, beginning on March 31, 2021. The aggregate principal amount outstanding under the PSP2 Promissory Note, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon and all other amounts payable under the PSP2 Promissory Note, will be due and payable on the PSP2 Maturity Date.
We may, at any time and from time to time, voluntarily prepay amounts outstanding under the PSP2 Promissory Note, in whole or in part, without penalty or premium. Within 30 days of the occurrence of certain change of control triggering events, we are required to prepay the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the PSP2 Promissory Note at such time, together with any accrued interest or other amounts owing under the PSP2 Promissory Note at such time.
The PSP2 Promissory Note is our senior unsecured obligation and each guarantee of the PSP2 Promissory Note is the senior unsecured obligation of each of the Subsidiaries, respectively.
The PSP2 Promissory Note contains events of default, including cross-default with respect to acceleration or failure to pay at maturity other material indebtedness. Upon the occurrence of an event of default and subject to certain grace periods, the outstanding obligations under the PSP2 Promissory Note may, and in certain circumstances will automatically, be accelerated and become due and payable immediately.
PSP2 Warrant Agreement and PSP2 Warrants
As partial compensation to the U.S. Government for the provision of financial assistance under the PSP2 Agreement, and pursuant to the PSP2 Warrant Agreement, AAG agreed to issue warrants to Treasury to purchase PSP2 Warrant Shares. The exercise price of the PSP2 Warrant Shares is $15.66 per share (which was the closing price of the AAG common stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market on December 24, 2020), subject to certain anti-dilution provisions provided for in the PSP2 Warrants.
Pursuant to the PSP2 Warrant Agreement, (a) on the PSP2 Closing Date, AAG issued to Treasury a PSP2 Warrant to purchase up to an aggregate of approximately 2.8 million shares of Common Stock based on the terms described herein and (b) on the date of each increase of the principal amount of the PSP2 Promissory Note in connection with the disbursement of an additional Installment under the PSP2 Agreement, AAG will issue to Treasury an additional PSP2 Warrant for a number of shares of AAG common stock equal to 10% of such increase of the principal amount of the PSP2 Promissory Note, divided by $15.66, the exercise price of such shares. Assuming the total Installments to be paid pursuant to the PSP2 Agreement aggregate approximately $3.0 billion, the total number of PSP2 Warrant Shares issuable is approximately 5.7 million, subject to certain anti-dilution provisions, provided for in the PSP2 Warrants.
145
The PSP2 Warrants do not have any voting rights and are freely transferrable, with registration rights. Each PSP2 Warrant expires on the fifth anniversary of the date of issuance of such PSP2 Warrant. The PSP2 Warrants will be exercisable either through net share settlement or cash, at our option. The PSP2 Warrants were and will be issued solely as compensation to the U.S. Government related to entry into the PSP2 Agreement. No separate proceeds (apart from the financial assistance described above) were received upon issuance of the PSP2 Warrants or will be received upon exercise thereof.
At the Market Offering
On October 22, 2020, AAG entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement (Prior ATM) relating to the issuance and sale of shares of AAG common stock pursuant to an at-the-market offering up to an aggregate value of $1.0 billion. Since the inception of the Prior ATM through January 28, 2021, we issued 68.6 million shares of AAG common stock at an average price of $12.87 per share for net proceeds of $869 million. We provided notice to terminate the Prior ATM effective as of January 28, 2021 with $118 million of shares of AAG common stock available for issuance.
On January 29, 2021, AAG entered into a new Equity Distribution Agreement (ATM Offering) relating to the issuance and sale of shares of AAG common stock pursuant to an at-the-market offering up to an aggregate value of $1.1 billion. The net proceeds from the sale of shares of AAG common stock related to the ATM Offering will be used for general corporate purposes and to enhance our liquidity position. Since the inception of the ATM Offering through February 16, 2021, we have issued 18.2 million shares of AAG common stock at an average price of $17.59 per share for proceeds of $320 million.
146
ITEM 8B. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA OF AMERICAN AIRLINES, INC.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholder and Board of Directors
American Airlines, Inc.:
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of American Airlines, Inc. and subsidiaries (American) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), cash flows, and stockholder’s equity for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of American as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), American’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and our report dated February 17, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of American’s internal control over financial reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of American’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to American in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
147
Estimate of mileage credits not expected to be redeemed
As discussed in Note 1(l) to the consolidated financial statements, American’s loyalty program awards mileage credits to passengers for flights on American, flights on partner airlines, or for using the services of other program participants. American accounts for such mileage credits earned using the deferred revenue method, which includes an estimate for mileage credits not expected to be redeemed. American’s loyalty program liability was $9.2 billion as of December 31, 2020 and the associated passenger revenue for mileage credits redeemed for travel was $1.1 billion for the year ended December 31, 2020.
We identified the assessment of the estimated number of mileage credits not expected to be redeemed as a critical audit matter. A high degree of auditor judgment was required to evaluate the applicability of historical data used to develop the estimate.
The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls over American’s loyalty program accounting process, including controls related to the estimation of mileage credits not expected to be redeemed. We assessed American’s methodology used to evaluate this estimate and determined it was consistent with historical periods. We developed an independent expectation of mileage credits not expected to be redeemed, which included consideration of industry and historical information. We compared the results of our independent expectation to American’s recorded amount of loyalty program liability and the associated passenger revenue.
Sufficiency of audit evidence over realizability of operating loss carryforwards
As discussed in Notes 1(i) and 5 to the consolidated financial statements, American had $3.9 billion of operating loss carryforwards, which are recorded as deferred tax assets at December 31, 2020. Deferred tax assets are recognized related to operating loss carryforwards that will reduce future taxable income. American provides a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that some portion, or all the deferred tax assets, will not be realized. In evaluating the need for a valuation allowance, management considers the weighting of all available positive and negative evidence, which includes, among other things, the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative taxable income or losses, as well as future projections of profitability.
We identified the evaluation of the sufficiency of audit evidence over the realizability of operating loss carryforwards as a critical audit matter. Evaluating the sufficiency of audit evidence required subjective auditor judgment, and the involvement of tax professionals in order to assess the nature and extent of procedures performed in assessing the realizability of the operating loss carryforwards.
The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We performed risk assessment procedures and applied auditor judgment to determine the nature and extent of procedures to be performed over the income tax accounts and disclosures. We evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls over American’s deferred tax asset valuation allowance process, including controls related to the realizability of operating loss carryforwards. We evaluated positive and negative evidence used in assessing whether the deferred tax assets were more-likely-than-not to be realized in the future, including evaluating the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative taxable income or losses, as well as future projections of profitability. We evaluated the reasonableness of management’s future projections of profitability considering (i) historical profitability of American, (ii) consistency with industry data and economic trends, and (iii) whether these assumptions were consistent with evidence obtained in other areas of the audit. We involved tax professionals who assisted in the evaluation of the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative taxable income or losses. Further, we assessed the sufficiency of audit evidence obtained over the realizability of the operating loss carryforwards by evaluating the cumulative results of the audit procedures, qualitative aspects of American’s accounting practices, and potential bias in the accounting estimate.
/s/ KPMG LLP
We have served as American’s auditor since 2014.
Dallas, Texas
February 17, 2021
148
AMERICAN AIRLINES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In millions)
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Operating revenues: | |||||||||||||||||
| Passenger | $ | 14,518 | $ | 42,010 | $ | 40,676 | |||||||||||
| Cargo | 769 | 863 | 1,013 | ||||||||||||||
| Other | 2,048 | 2,888 | 2,841 | ||||||||||||||
| Total operating revenues | 17,335 | 45,761 | 44,530 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||||
| Aircraft fuel and related taxes | 2,581 | 7,526 | 8,053 | ||||||||||||||
| Salaries, wages and benefits | 10,955 | 12,600 | 12,240 | ||||||||||||||
| Regional expenses | 4,676 | 7,518 | 7,064 | ||||||||||||||
| Maintenance, materials and repairs | 1,583 | 2,380 | 2,050 | ||||||||||||||
| Other rent and landing fees | 1,536 | 2,055 | 1,900 | ||||||||||||||
| Aircraft rent | 1,341 | 1,326 | 1,264 | ||||||||||||||
| Selling expenses | 513 | 1,602 | 1,520 | ||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 2,040 | 1,982 | 1,839 | ||||||||||||||
| Special items, net | (657) | 635 | 787 | ||||||||||||||
| Other | 2,991 | 5,090 | 5,090 | ||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 27,559 | 42,714 | 41,807 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | (10,224) | 3,047 | 2,723 | ||||||||||||||
| Nonoperating income (expense): | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest income | 337 | 515 | 330 | ||||||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | (1,171) | (1,109) | (1,028) | ||||||||||||||
| Other income, net | 155 | 152 | 167 | ||||||||||||||
| Total nonoperating expense, net | (679) | (442) | (531) | ||||||||||||||
| Income (loss) before income taxes | (10,903) | 2,605 | 2,192 | ||||||||||||||
| Income tax provision (benefit) | (2,453) | 633 | 534 | ||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (8,450) | $ | 1,972 | $ | 1,658 | |||||||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
149
AMERICAN AIRLINES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(In millions)
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (8,450) | $ | 1,972 | $ | 1,658 | |||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: | |||||||||||||||||
| Pension, retiree medical and other postretirement benefits | (771) | (434) | (116) | ||||||||||||||
| Investments | — | 3 | (3) | ||||||||||||||
| Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax | (771) | (431) | (119) | ||||||||||||||
| Total comprehensive income (loss) | $ | (9,221) | $ | 1,541 | $ | 1,539 | |||||||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
150
AMERICAN AIRLINES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In millions, except share and par value)
| December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
| ASSETS | |||||||||||
| Current assets | |||||||||||
| Cash | $ | 231 | $ | 267 | |||||||
| Short-term investments | 6,617 | 3,543 | |||||||||
| Restricted cash and short-term investments | 609 | 158 | |||||||||
| Accounts receivable, net | 1,334 | 1,770 | |||||||||
| Receivables from related parties, net | 7,877 | 12,451 | |||||||||
| Aircraft fuel, spare parts and supplies, net | 1,520 | 1,754 | |||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other | 633 | 584 | |||||||||
| Total current assets | 18,821 | 20,527 | |||||||||
| Operating property and equipment | |||||||||||
| Flight equipment | 37,485 | 42,213 | |||||||||
| Ground property and equipment | 8,836 | 9,089 | |||||||||
| Equipment purchase deposits | 1,446 | 1,674 | |||||||||
| Total property and equipment, at cost | 47,767 | 52,976 | |||||||||
| Less accumulated depreciation and amortization | (16,393) | (18,335) | |||||||||
| Total property and equipment, net | 31,374 | 34,641 | |||||||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets | 7,994 | 8,694 | |||||||||
| Other assets | |||||||||||
| Goodwill | 4,091 | 4,091 | |||||||||
Intangibles, net of accumulated amortization of $745 and $704, respectively | 2,029 | 2,084 | |||||||||
| Deferred tax asset | 3,235 | 689 | |||||||||
| Other assets | 1,671 | 1,164 | |||||||||
| Total other assets | 11,026 | 8,028 | |||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 69,215 | $ | 71,890 | |||||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY | |||||||||||
| Current liabilities | |||||||||||
| Current maturities of long-term debt and finance leases | $ | 2,800 | $ | 2,358 | |||||||
| Accounts payable | 1,116 | 1,990 | |||||||||
| Accrued salaries and wages | 1,661 | 1,461 | |||||||||
| Air traffic liability | 4,757 | 4,808 | |||||||||
| Loyalty program liability | 2,033 | 3,193 | |||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities | 1,641 | 1,695 | |||||||||
| Other accrued liabilities | 2,300 | 2,055 | |||||||||
| Total current liabilities | 16,308 | 17,560 | |||||||||
| Noncurrent liabilities | |||||||||||
| Long-term debt and finance leases, net of current maturities | 26,182 | 20,684 | |||||||||
| Pension and postretirement benefits | 7,027 | 6,008 | |||||||||
| Loyalty program liability | 7,162 | 5,422 | |||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities | 6,739 | 7,388 | |||||||||
| Other liabilities | 1,449 | 1,406 | |||||||||
| Total noncurrent liabilities | 48,559 | 40,908 | |||||||||
| Commitments and contingencies (Note 10) | |||||||||||
| Stockholder’s equity | |||||||||||
Common stock, $1.00 par value; 1,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding | — | — | |||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 17,050 | 16,903 | |||||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (7,194) | (6,423) | |||||||||
| Retained earnings (deficit) | (5,508) | 2,942 | |||||||||
| Total stockholder’s equity | 4,348 | 13,422 | |||||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholder’s equity | $ | 69,215 | $ | 71,890 | |||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
151
AMERICAN AIRLINES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In millions)
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (8,450) | $ | 1,972 | $ | 1,658 | |||||||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 2,313 | 2,267 | 2,108 | ||||||||||||||
| Net gains from sale of property and equipment and sale-leaseback transactions | (98) | (109) | (57) | ||||||||||||||
| Special items, net non-cash | 1,588 | 384 | 458 | ||||||||||||||
| Pension and postretirement | (319) | (178) | (302) | ||||||||||||||
| Deferred income tax provision (benefit) | (2,453) | 623 | 503 | ||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation | 91 | 94 | 86 | ||||||||||||||
| Other, net | 14 | (56) | (102) | ||||||||||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Decrease in accounts receivable | 595 | 130 | 232 | ||||||||||||||
| Decrease (increase) in other assets | 42 | (321) | (354) | ||||||||||||||
| Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities | (619) | 273 | (171) | ||||||||||||||
| Increase (decrease) in air traffic liability | (51) | 469 | 297 | ||||||||||||||
| Decrease (increase) in receivables from related parties, net | 4,134 | (1,772) | (1,849) | ||||||||||||||
| Increase (decrease) in loyalty program liability | 580 | 76 | (283) | ||||||||||||||
| Contributions to pension plans | (6) | (1,224) | (472) | ||||||||||||||
| Increase (decrease) in other liabilities | 1,210 | (199) | 191 | ||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | (1,429) | 2,429 | 1,943 | ||||||||||||||
| Cash flows from investing activities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures and aircraft purchase deposits | (1,922) | (4,156) | (3,677) | ||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions | 665 | 850 | 1,096 | ||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from sale of property and equipment | 351 | 49 | 106 | ||||||||||||||
| Purchases of short-term investments | (5,874) | (3,184) | (3,412) | ||||||||||||||
| Sales of short-term investments | 2,803 | 4,144 | 3,705 | ||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from vendor | 90 | 250 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Decrease (increase) in restricted short-term investments | (308) | (3) | 72 | ||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from sale of investments | 41 | — | 207 | ||||||||||||||
| Other investing activities | (154) | (96) | (7) | ||||||||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (4,308) | (2,146) | (1,910) | ||||||||||||||
| Cash flows from financing activities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt | 8,959 | 3,210 | 2,354 | ||||||||||||||
| Payments on long-term debt and finance leases | (3,029) | (3,440) | (2,442) | ||||||||||||||
| Deferred financing costs | (85) | (52) | (59) | ||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 5,845 | (282) | (147) | ||||||||||||||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and restricted cash | 108 | 1 | (114) | ||||||||||||||
| Cash and restricted cash at beginning of year | 277 | 276 | 390 | ||||||||||||||
Cash and restricted cash at end of year (a) | $ | 385 | $ | 277 | $ | 276 | |||||||||||
(a) The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and restricted cash to amounts reported within the consolidated balance sheets:
| Cash | $ | 231 | $ | 267 | $ | 265 | |||||||||||
| Restricted cash included in restricted cash and short-term investments | 154 | 10 | 11 | ||||||||||||||
| Total cash and restricted cash | $ | 385 | $ | 277 | $ | 276 | |||||||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
152
AMERICAN AIRLINES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY
(In millions)
| Common Stock | Additional Paid-in Capital | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | Retained Earnings (Deficit) | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2017 | $ | — | $ | 16,716 | $ | (5,873) | $ | (955) | $ | 9,888 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | — | — | — | 1,658 | 1,658 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss, net | — | — | (119) | — | (119) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation expense | — | 86 | — | — | 86 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Impact of adoption of Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-01 related to financial instruments | — | — | — | 60 | 60 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Impact of adoption of ASU 2016-02 related to leases | — | — | — | 197 | 197 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2018 | — | 16,802 | (5,992) | 960 | 11,770 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | — | — | — | 1,972 | 1,972 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss, net | — | — | (431) | — | (431) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation expense | — | 94 | — | — | 94 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Intercompany equity transfer | — | 7 | — | 10 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2019 | — | 16,903 | (6,423) | 2,942 | 13,422 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | — | — | — | (8,450) | (8,450) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss, net | — | — | (771) | — | (771) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation expense | — | 91 | — | — | 91 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Intercompany equity transfer | — | 56 | — | — | 56 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2020 | $ | — | $ | 17,050 | $ | (7,194) | $ | (5,508) | $ | 4,348 | |||||||||||||||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
153
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF AMERICAN AIRLINES, INC.
1. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
(a) Basis of Presentation
American Airlines, Inc. (American) is a Delaware corporation whose primary business activity is the operation of a major network air carrier, providing scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo. American is the principal wholly-owned subsidiary of American Airlines Group Inc. (AAG), which owns all of American’s outstanding common stock, par value $1.00 per share. On December 9, 2013, a subsidiary of AMR Corporation (AMR) merged with and into US Airways Group, Inc. (US Airways Group), a Delaware corporation, which survived as a wholly-owned subsidiary of AAG, and AAG emerged from Chapter 11 (the Merger). Upon closing of the Merger and emergence from Chapter 11, AMR changed its name to American Airlines Group Inc. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated.
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The most significant areas of judgment relate to passenger revenue recognition, impairment of goodwill, impairment of long-lived and intangible assets, the loyalty program, as well as pension and retiree medical and other postretirement benefits.
(b) Impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19)
COVID-19 has been declared a global health pandemic by the World Health Organization. COVID-19 has surfaced in nearly all regions of the world, which has driven the implementation of significant, government-imposed measures to prevent or reduce its spread, including travel restrictions, testing regimes, closing of borders, “stay at home” orders and business closures. As a result, American has experienced an unprecedented decline in the demand for air travel, which has resulted in a material deterioration in its revenues. While American's business performed largely as expected in January and February of 2020, a severe reduction in air travel starting in March 2020 resulted in its total operating revenues decreasing approximately 62% in 2020 as compared to 2019. While the length and severity of the reduction in demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic is uncertain, American's business, operations and financial condition in 2020 were severely impacted.
American has taken aggressive actions to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on its business including deep capacity reductions, structural changes to its fleet, cost reductions, and steps to preserve cash and improve its overall liquidity position. American remains extremely focused on taking all self-help measures available to manage its business during this unprecedented time, consistent with the terms of the financial assistance it has received from the U.S. Government under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
Capacity Reductions
American has significantly reduced its capacity (as measured by available seat miles), with 2020 flying decreasing by 50% year-over-year. Domestic capacity in 2020 was down 41% year-over-year while international capacity was down 68% year-over-year. The demand environment continues to be uncertain as COVID-19 cases have continued to fluctuate in jurisdictions to which American flies and travel restrictions have generally remained in place. Due to this uncertainty, American will continue to adjust its future capacity to match observed booking trends for future travel and make further adjustments to its capacity as needed.
Fleet
To better align American’s network with lower passenger demand, American accelerated the retirement of Airbus A330-200, Boeing 757, Boeing 767, Airbus A330-300 and Embraer 190 fleets as well as certain regional aircraft, including certain Embraer 140 and Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft. These retirements remove complexity from American’s operation and bring forward cost savings and efficiencies associated with operating fewer aircraft types. See Note 1(g) below for further information on the accounting for American's fleet retirements. Due to the inherent uncertainties of the current operating environment, American will continue to evaluate its current fleet and may decide to permanently retire additional aircraft. In addition, American has placed a number of Boeing 737-800 and certain regional aircraft into temporary storage.
154
Cost Reductions
American moved quickly to better align its costs with its reduced schedule. In aggregate, American estimates that it has reduced its 2020 operating and capital expenditures by more than $17 billion. These savings were achieved primarily through capacity reductions. In addition, American implemented a series of actions, including the accelerated fleet retirements discussed above as well as reductions in maintenance expense and $700 million in non-aircraft capital expenditures through less fleet modification work, the elimination of ground service equipment purchases and pausing non-critical facility investments and information technology projects. American also suspended all non-essential hiring, paused non-contractual pay rate increases, reduced executive and board of director compensation, implemented voluntary leave and early retirement programs and decreased its management and support staff team, including officers, by approximately 30%. In total, more than 20,000 team members have opted for an early retirement or long-term partially paid leave. Additionally, American has made reductions in marketing, contractor, event and training expenses as well as consolidated space at airport facilities.
Due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, American involuntarily furloughed certain team members starting October 1, 2020, and subsequently recalled the team members effective December 1, 2020 covered by the financial assistance provided pursuant to the payroll support program (PSP2) established under Subtitle A of Title IV of Division N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (PSP Extension Law) (see Note 17 for further information).
Liquidity
As of December 31, 2020, American had $14.3 billion in total available liquidity, consisting of $6.9 billion in unrestricted cash and short-term investments, $7.0 billion in an undrawn term loan facility under the CARES Act and a total of $446 million in undrawn short-term revolving and other facilities.
During 2020, American completed the following financing transactions (see Note 3 for further information):
•refinanced the $1.2 billion 2014 Term Loan Facility at a lower interest rate and extended the maturity from 2021 to 2027;
•raised $1.0 billion from the senior secured delayed draw term loan credit facility (Delayed Draw Term Loan Credit Facility);
•borrowed $750 million under the 2013 Revolving Facility, $1.6 billion under the 2014 Revolving Facility and $450 million under the April 2016 Revolving Facility;
•issued $2.5 billion in aggregate principal amount of 11.75% senior secured notes due 2025 and used the proceeds thereof, in part, to repay the $1.0 billion Delayed Draw Term Loan Credit Facility that American borrowed in March 2020;
•issued approximately $360 million in special facility revenue bonds, of which $47 million was used to fund the redemption of certain outstanding bonds;
•entered into a $7.5 billion secured term loan facility with the U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury), of which American borrowed $550 million (see below for additional information on the Treasury Loan Agreement);
•issued $1.2 billion in aggregate principal amount of two series of 10.75% senior secured notes due 2026 secured by various collateral;
•raised $665 million principally from aircraft sale-leaseback transactions as well as $351 million from asset sales primarily related to previously parked aircraft; and
•received approximately $600 million of proceeds from enhanced equipment trust certificates (EETCs) and other aircraft and flight equipment financings, of which $17 million was used to repay existing indebtedness.
In addition to the foregoing financings, AAG and the Subsidiaries (as defined below) received an aggregate of $6.0 billion in financial assistance through the payroll support program (PSP1) established under the CARES Act, all of which was received by the end of September 2020. In connection with the receipt by AAG and the Subsidiaries of this financial assistance, AAG issued a promissory note (the PSP1 Promissory Note) to Treasury for $1.8 billion in aggregate principal amount and warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of approximately 14.1 million shares (the PSP1 Warrant Shares) of AAG common stock. See below for further discussion on PSP1.
155
In January 2021, AAG and the Subsidiaries received $1.5 billion (of an expected total of at least $3.0 billion) in financial assistance through PSP2. In connection with the receipt by AAG and the Subsidiaries of this financial assistance, AAG issued a promissory note (the PSP2 Promissory Note) to Treasury for an initial principal sum of approximately $433 million and warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of approximately 2.8 million shares (the PSP2 Warrant Shares) of AAG common stock. See Note 17 for further discussion on PSP2.
Also, American is permitted to, and has, deferred payment of the employer portion of Social Security taxes through the end of 2020 (with 50% of the deferred amount due December 31, 2021 and the remaining 50% due December 31, 2022). This deferral provided approximately $325 million in additional liquidity during 2020. Additionally, AAG has suspended its capital return program, including share repurchases and the payment of future dividends for at least the period that the restrictions imposed by the CARES Act and the PSP Extension Law are applicable.
American continues to evaluate future financing opportunities and work with third-party appraisers on valuations of its remaining unencumbered assets.
A significant portion of American’s debt financing agreements contain covenants requiring it to maintain an aggregate of at least $2.0 billion of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and amounts available to be drawn under revolving credit facilities and/or contain loan to value, collateral coverage and/or debt service coverage ratio covenants.
Given the above actions and American’s current assumptions about the future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on travel demand, which could be materially different due to the inherent uncertainties of the current operating environment, American expects to meet its cash obligations as well as remain in compliance with the debt covenants in its existing financing agreements for the next 12 months based on its current level of unrestricted cash and short-term investments, its anticipated access to liquidity (including via proceeds from financings and funds from government assistance obtained pursuant to the CARES Act and the PSP Extension Law) and projected cash flows from operations.
PSP1
On April 20, 2020 (the PSP1 Closing Date), American, Envoy Air Inc. (Envoy), Piedmont Airlines, Inc. (Piedmont) and PSA Airlines, Inc. (PSA and together with American, Envoy and Piedmont, the Subsidiaries), entered into a Payroll Support Program Agreement (the PSP1 Agreement) with Treasury, with respect to PSP1 provided pursuant to the CARES Act. In connection with the Subsidiaries' entry into the PSP1 Agreement, on the PSP1 Closing Date, AAG also entered into a warrant agreement (the PSP1 Warrant Agreement) with Treasury and issued the PSP1 Promissory Note to Treasury, with the Subsidiaries as guarantors.
PSP1 Agreement
In connection with PSP1, AAG and the Subsidiaries are required to comply with the relevant provisions of the CARES Act, including the requirement that funds provided pursuant to the PSP1 Agreement be used exclusively for the continuation of payment of eligible employee wages, salaries and benefits, the requirement against involuntary furloughs and reductions in employee pay rates and benefits, which expired on September 30, 2020, the requirement that certain levels of commercial air service be maintained and the provisions that prohibit the repurchase of AAG common stock, and the payment of common stock dividends through at least September 30, 2021, as well as those that restrict the payment of certain executive compensation until March 24, 2022. The PSP1 Agreement also imposes substantial reporting obligations on AAG and the Subsidiaries. These provisions were subsequently extended upon the entry of AAG and its Subsidiaries into PSP2. See Note 17 for further discussion on PSP2. In addition, AAG and the Subsidiaries have entered into the Treasury Loan Agreement (as defined below) and, as a result, the stock repurchase, dividend and executive compensation restrictions imposed by the Treasury Loan Agreement will remain in place through the date that is one year after the secured loan provided under the Treasury Loan Agreement is fully repaid. See below for additional information on the Treasury Loan Agreement.
Pursuant to the PSP1 Agreement, Treasury provided to AAG and the Subsidiaries financial assistance in an aggregate of approximately $6.0 billion. As partial compensation to the U.S. Government for the provision of financial assistance under PSP1, AAG issued the PSP1 Promissory Note in an aggregate principal amount of approximately $1.8 billion and issued warrants (each a PSP1 Warrant and, collectively, the PSP1 Warrants) to Treasury to purchase up to an aggregate of approximately 14.1 million PSP1 Warrant Shares. See below for more information on the PSP1 Warrant Agreement and the PSP1 Warrants.
156
For accounting purposes, the $6.0 billion of aggregate financial assistance AAG and the Subsidiaries received pursuant to the PSP1 Agreement is allocated to the PSP1 Promissory Note, the PSP1 Warrants and other PSP1 financial assistance (the PSP1 Financial Assistance). The aggregate principal amount of approximately $1.8 billion of the PSP1 Promissory Note was recorded as unsecured long-term debt, and the total fair value of the PSP1 Warrants of $63 million, estimated using a Black-Scholes option pricing model, was recorded in stockholders' equity in AAG's consolidated balance sheet. The remaining amount of approximately $4.2 billion of PSP1 Financial Assistance was recognized as a credit to special items, net in the consolidated statement of operations in the second and third quarters of 2020, the period over which the continuation of payment of eligible employee wages, salaries and benefits was required.
PSP1 Warrant Agreement and PSP1 Warrants
As partial compensation to the U.S. Government for the provision of financial assistance under the PSP1 Agreement, and pursuant to the PSP1 Warrant Agreement, AAG agreed to issue warrants to Treasury to purchase up to an aggregate of approximately 14.1 million PSP1 Warrant Shares of AAG common stock. The exercise price of the PSP1 Warrant Shares is $12.51 per share (which was the closing price of AAG common stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market on April 9, 2020) subject to certain anti-dilution provisions provided for in the PSP1 Warrants.
Pursuant to the PSP1 Warrant Agreement, on each of the PSP1 Closing Date, May 29, 2020, June 30, 2020, July 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020, AAG issued to Treasury a PSP1 Warrant to purchase up to an aggregate of approximately 6.7 million shares, 2.8 million shares, 2.8 million shares, 1.4 million shares and 0.4 million shares, respectively, of AAG common stock based on the terms described herein.
The PSP1 Warrants do not have any voting rights and are freely transferrable, with registration rights. Each PSP1 Warrant expires on the fifth anniversary of the date of issuance of such PSP1 Warrant. The PSP1 Warrants will be exercisable either through net share settlement or cash, at AAG's option. The PSP1 Warrants were issued solely as compensation to the U.S. Government related to entry into the PSP1 Agreement. No separate proceeds (apart from the financial assistance described above) were received upon issuance of the PSP1 Warrants or will be received upon exercise thereof.
Treasury Loan Agreement
On September 25, 2020 (the Treasury Loan Closing Date), AAG and American entered into a Loan and Guarantee Agreement (the Treasury Loan Agreement) with Treasury, which provided for a secured term loan facility (the Treasury Term Loan Facility) that permitted American to borrow up to $5.5 billion. Subsequently, on October 21, 2020, AAG and American entered into an amendment to the Treasury Loan Agreement, which increased the borrowing amount to up to $7.5 billion. The Treasury Loan Agreement will involve the issuance of additional warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of approximately 60.0 million shares of AAG common stock, assuming the Treasury Term Loan Facility is fully drawn. As of December 31, 2020, American had borrowed $550 million under the Treasury Term Loan Facility, which is scheduled to mature on June 30, 2025, and issued warrants to Treasury to purchase up to an aggregate of approximately 4.4 million shares of AAG common stock. See Note 3 for further information on the Treasury Loan Agreement and below for more information on the Treasury Loan Warrant Agreement and Treasury Loan Warrants.
Treasury Loan Warrant Agreement and Warrants
In connection with the Treasury Loan Agreement, AAG also entered into a warrant agreement (the Treasury Loan Warrant Agreement) with Treasury. Pursuant to the Treasury Loan Warrant Agreement, AAG agreed to issue warrants (each a Treasury Loan Warrant and, collectively, the Treasury Loan Warrants) to Treasury to purchase up to an aggregate of approximately 60.0 million shares (the Treasury Loan Warrant Shares) of AAG's common stock based on the $7.5 billion commitment amount under the Treasury Term Loan Facility. The exercise price of the Treasury Loan Warrant Shares is $12.51 per share subject to certain anti-dilution provisions provided for in the Treasury Loan Warrant Agreement. For accounting purposes, the fair value for the Treasury Loan Warrant Shares is estimated using a Black-Scholes option pricing model and recorded in stockholders' equity in AAG's consolidated balance sheet with an offsetting debt discount to the Treasury Term Loan Facility in American’s consolidated balance sheet.
Pursuant to the Treasury Loan Warrant Agreement, on the Treasury Loan Closing Date, AAG issued to Treasury a Treasury Loan Warrant to purchase up to an aggregate of approximately 4.4 million Treasury Loan Warrant Shares based on the terms described herein. On the date of each additional borrowing under the Treasury Loan Agreement, AAG will issue to Treasury an additional Treasury Loan Warrant for a number of Treasury Loan Warrant Shares equal to 10% of such borrowing, divided by $12.51, the exercise price of such shares.
157
The Treasury Loan Warrants do not have any voting rights and are freely transferrable, with registration rights. Each Treasury Loan Warrant expires on the fifth anniversary of the date of issuance of such Treasury Loan Warrant. The Treasury Loan Warrants will be exercisable either through net share settlement or cash, at AAG's option. The Treasury Loan Warrants were issued solely as compensation to the U.S. Government related to entry into the Treasury Loan Agreement. No separate proceeds were received upon issuance of the Treasury Loan Warrants or will be received upon exercise thereof.
(c) Recent Accounting Pronouncement
ASU 2016-13: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments
This ASU requires the use of an expected loss model for certain types of financial instruments and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to calculate credit loss estimates. For trade receivables, loans and held-to-maturity debt securities, an estimate of lifetime expected credit losses is required. For available-for-sale debt securities, an allowance for credit losses will be required rather than a reduction to the carrying value of the asset. American adopted this accounting standard prospectively as of January 1, 2020, and it did not have a material impact on American's consolidated financial statements.
(d) Short-term Investments
Short-term investments are classified as available-for-sale and stated at fair value. Realized gains and losses are recorded in nonoperating expense on American’s consolidated statements of operations. Unrealized gains and losses are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss on American’s consolidated balance sheets. For investments in an unrealized loss position, American determines whether a credit loss exists by considering information about the collectability of the instrument, current market conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts of economic conditions. There have been no credit losses.
(e) Restricted Cash and Short-term Investments
American has restricted cash and short-term investments related primarily to money market funds to be used to finance a substantial portion of the cost of the renovation and expansion of Terminal 8 at JFK and collateral held to support workers’ compensation obligations.
(f) Aircraft Fuel, Spare Parts and Supplies, Net
Aircraft fuel is recorded on a first-in, first-out basis. Spare parts and supplies are recorded at average costs less an allowance for obsolescence. These items are expensed when used.
(g) Operating Property and Equipment
Operating property and equipment is recorded at cost and depreciated or amortized to residual values over the asset’s estimated useful life or the lease term, whichever is less, using the straight-line method. Residual values for aircraft, engines and related rotable parts are generally 5% to 10% of original cost. Costs of major improvements that enhance the usefulness of the asset are capitalized and depreciated or amortized over the estimated useful life of the asset or the lease term, whichever is less. The estimated useful lives for the principal property and equipment classifications are as follows:
| Principal Property and Equipment Classification | Estimated Useful Life | ||||
| Aircraft, engines and related rotable parts | 20 – 30 years | ||||
| Buildings and improvements | 5 – 30 years | ||||
| Furniture, fixtures and other equipment | 3 – 10 years | ||||
| Capitalized software | 5 – 10 years | ||||
Total depreciation and amortization expense was $2.3 billion, $2.5 billion and $2.4 billion for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
American assesses impairment of operating property and equipment when events and circumstances indicate that the assets may be impaired. An impairment of an asset or group of assets exists only when the sum of the estimated undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated directly by the assets are less than the carrying value of the assets. American groups assets principally by fleet-type when estimating future cash flows, which is generally the lowest level for
158
which identifiable cash flows exist. Estimates of future cash flows are based on historical results adjusted to reflect management’s best estimate of future market and operating conditions, including American’s current fleet plan. If such assets are impaired, the impairment charge recognized is the amount by which the carrying value of the assets exceed their fair value. Fair value reflects management’s best estimate including inputs from published pricing guides and bids from third parties as well as contracted sales agreements when applicable.
In 2020, American’s operations, liquidity and stock price were significantly impacted by decreased passenger demand and government travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, American decided to retire certain mainline aircraft earlier than planned, including Airbus A330-200, Boeing 757, Boeing 767, Airbus A330-300 and Embraer 190 aircraft as well as certain regional aircraft, including certain Embraer 140 and Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft. As a result of these events and circumstances, American performed impairment tests for its long-lived assets in the first three quarters of 2020.
As a result of the impairment tests performed, American determined the sum of the estimated undiscounted future cash flows exceeded the carrying value except for the aircraft being retired earlier than planned as discussed above. For those aircraft and certain related spare parts, American recorded $1.5 billion in non-cash special impairment charges reflecting the difference between the carrying values of these assets and their fair values for the year ended December 31, 2020. At December 31, 2020, prepaid expense and other on the consolidated balance sheet included $164 million of these retired aircraft that are expected to be sold in the next year, and other assets on the consolidated balance sheet included $400 million of nonoperating retired aircraft. Due to the inherent uncertainties of the current operating environment, American will continue to evaluate its current fleet (including aircraft in temporary storage) and may decide to permanently retire additional aircraft.
(h) Leases
American determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are included in operating lease right-of-use (ROU) assets, current operating lease liabilities and noncurrent operating lease liabilities in American’s consolidated balance sheet. Finance leases are included in property and equipment, current maturities of long-term debt and finance leases and long-term debt and finance leases, net of current maturities, in American’s consolidated balance sheets.
ROU assets represent American’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent its obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the estimated present value of lease payments over the lease term.
American uses its estimated incremental borrowing rate, which is derived from information available at the lease commencement date, in determining the present value of lease payments. American gives consideration to its recent debt issuances as well as publicly available data for instruments with similar characteristics when calculating its incremental borrowing rates.
American’s lease term includes options to extend the lease when it is reasonably certain that it will exercise that option. Leases with a term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet. American’s lease agreements do not contain any residual value guarantees.
Under certain of American’s capacity purchase agreements with third-party regional carriers, American does not own the underlying aircraft. However, since American controls the marketing, scheduling, ticketing, pricing and seat inventories of these aircraft and therefore control the asset, the aircraft is deemed to be leased for accounting purposes. For these capacity purchase agreements, American accounts for the lease and non-lease components separately. The lease component consists of the aircraft and the non-lease components consist of services, such as the crew and maintenance. American allocates the consideration in the capacity purchase agreements to the lease and non-lease components using their estimated relative standalone prices. See Note 10(b) for additional information on its capacity purchase agreements.
For real estate, American accounts for the lease and non-lease components as a single lease component.
(i) Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded net as noncurrent deferred income taxes.
159
American provides a valuation allowance for its deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that some portion, or all of its deferred tax assets, will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income. American considers all available positive and negative evidence and makes certain assumptions in evaluating the realizability of its deferred tax assets. Many factors are considered that impact American’s assessment of future profitability, including conditions which are beyond American’s control, such as the health of the economy, the availability and price volatility of aircraft fuel and travel demand.
(j) Goodwill
Goodwill represents the purchase price in excess of the fair value of the net assets acquired and liabilities assumed in connection with the merger with US Airways Group. American has one reporting unit. American assesses goodwill for impairment annually or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that the fair value of goodwill may be lower than the carrying value. American’s annual assessment date is October 1.
Goodwill is assessed for impairment by initially performing a qualitative assessment. If American determines that it is more likely than not that its goodwill may be impaired, it uses a quantitative approach to assess the asset’s fair value and the amount of the impairment, if any.
In addition to American’s annual impairment assessment, it performed interim impairment tests in 2020 on its goodwill as a result of the events and circumstances previously discussed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on American’s business. American performed a quantitative analysis by using a market approach. Under the market approach, the fair value of the reporting unit was determined based on quoted market prices for equity and the fair value of debt as described in Note 7. The fair value exceeded the carrying value of the reporting unit, and American’s goodwill was not impaired. The carrying value of American’s goodwill on its consolidated balance sheets was $4.1 billion as of December 31, 2020 and 2019.
As discussed above, due to the inherent uncertainties of the current operating environment, American will continue to evaluate its goodwill for events and circumstances that indicate that the fair value of the reporting unit may be lower than the carrying value.
(k) Other Intangibles, Net
Intangible assets consist primarily of certain domestic airport slots and gate leasehold rights, customer relationships, marketing agreements, international slots and route authorities and tradenames.
Definite-Lived Intangible Assets
Definite-lived intangible assets are originally recorded at their acquired fair values, subsequently amortized over their respective estimated useful lives and are assessed for impairment whenever events and circumstances indicate that the assets may be impaired.
The following table provides information relating to American’s amortizable intangible assets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 (in millions):
| December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
| Domestic airport slots | $ | 365 | $ | 365 | |||||||
| Customer relationships | 300 | 300 | |||||||||
| Marketing agreements | 105 | 105 | |||||||||
| Tradenames | 35 | 35 | |||||||||
| Airport gate leasehold rights | 137 | 137 | |||||||||
| Accumulated amortization | (745) | (704) | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 197 | $ | 238 | |||||||
Certain domestic airport slots and airport gate leasehold rights are amortized on a straight-line basis over 25 years. The customer relationships and marketing agreements were identified as intangible assets subject to amortization and are amortized on a straight-line basis over approximately nine years and 30 years, respectively. Tradenames are fully amortized.
160
American recorded amortization expense related to these intangible assets of $41 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018. American expects to record annual amortization expense for these intangible assets as follows (in millions):
| 2021 | $ | 41 | |||
| 2022 | 41 | ||||
| 2023 | 7 | ||||
| 2024 | 7 | ||||
| 2025 | 7 | ||||
| 2026 and thereafter | 94 | ||||
| Total | $ | 197 | |||
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets
Indefinite-lived intangible assets include certain domestic airport slots and international slots and route authorities. American assesses indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that the fair values of indefinite-lived intangible assets may be lower than their carrying values. American’s annual assessment date is October 1.
Indefinite-lived intangible assets are assessed for impairment by initially performing a qualitative assessment. If American determines that it is more likely than not that its indefinite-lived intangible assets may be impaired, American uses a quantitative approach to assess the asset’s fair value and the amount of the impairment, if any.
In addition to its annual impairment assessment, American performed interim impairment tests in 2020 on its indefinite-lived intangible assets as a result of the events and circumstances previously discussed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on American’s business. American performed qualitative impairment tests on its indefinite-lived intangible assets and determined there was no material impairment. American had $1.8 billion of indefinite-lived intangible assets on its consolidated balance sheets at each of December 31, 2020 and 2019.
As discussed above, due to the inherent uncertainties of the current operating environment, American will continue to evaluate its indefinite-lived intangible assets for events and circumstances that indicate that their fair values may be lower than the carrying values.
(l) Revenue Recognition
Revenue
The following are the significant categories comprising American’s reported operating revenues (in millions):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Passenger revenue: | |||||||||||||||||
| Passenger travel | $ | 13,456 | $ | 38,831 | $ | 37,457 | |||||||||||
Loyalty revenue - travel (1) | 1,062 | 3,179 | 3,219 | ||||||||||||||
| Total passenger revenue | 14,518 | 42,010 | 40,676 | ||||||||||||||
| Cargo | 769 | 863 | 1,013 | ||||||||||||||
| Other: | |||||||||||||||||
| Loyalty revenue - marketing services | 1,825 | 2,361 | 2,352 | ||||||||||||||
| Other revenue | 223 | 527 | 489 | ||||||||||||||
| Total other revenue | 2,048 | 2,888 | 2,841 | ||||||||||||||
| Total operating revenues | $ | 17,335 | $ | 45,761 | $ | 44,530 | |||||||||||
(1)Loyalty revenue included in passenger revenue is principally comprised of mileage credit redemptions, which were earned from travel or co-branded credit card and other partners. See “Loyalty Revenue” below for further discussion on these mileage credits.
161
The following is American’s total passenger revenue by geographic region (in millions):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Domestic | $ | 11,765 | $ | 30,881 | $ | 29,573 | |||||||||||
| Latin America | 1,852 | 5,047 | 5,125 | ||||||||||||||
Atlantic | 654 | 4,624 | 4,376 | ||||||||||||||
| Pacific | 247 | 1,458 | 1,602 | ||||||||||||||
| Total passenger revenue | $ | 14,518 | $ | 42,010 | $ | 40,676 | |||||||||||
American attributes passenger revenue by geographic region based upon the origin and destination of each flight segment.
Passenger Revenue
American recognizes all revenues generated from transportation on American and its regional flights operated under the brand name American Eagle, including associated baggage fees and other inflight services, as passenger revenue when transportation is provided. Ticket and other related sales for transportation that has not yet been provided are initially deferred and recorded as air traffic liability on American’s consolidated balance sheets. The air traffic liability principally represents tickets sold for future travel on American and partner airlines, as well as estimated future refunds and exchanges of tickets sold for past travel.
The majority of tickets sold are nonrefundable. A small percentage of tickets, some of which are partially used tickets, expire unused. Due to complex pricing structures, refund and exchange policies, and interline agreements with other airlines, certain amounts are recognized in passenger revenue using estimates regarding both the timing of the revenue recognition and the amount of revenue to be recognized. These estimates are generally based on the analysis of American’s historical data. American has consistently applied this accounting method to estimate revenue from unused tickets at the date of travel. Estimated future refunds and exchanges included in the air traffic liability are routinely evaluated based on subsequent activity to validate the accuracy of American’s estimates. Any adjustments resulting from periodic evaluations of the estimated air traffic liability are included in passenger revenue during the period in which the evaluations are completed.
Various taxes and fees assessed on the sale of tickets to end customers are collected by American as an agent and remitted to taxing authorities. These taxes and fees have been presented on a net basis in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and recorded as a liability until remitted to the appropriate taxing authority. The CARES Act provided for a temporary tax holiday from collecting and remitting certain government ticket taxes for tickets purchased between March 28, 2020 and December 31, 2020.
Loyalty Revenue
American currently operates the loyalty program, AAdvantage. This program awards mileage credits to passengers who fly on American, any oneworld airline or other partner airlines, or by using the services of other program participants, such as the Citi and Barclaycard US co-branded credit cards, and certain hotels and car rental companies. Mileage credits can be redeemed for travel on American and other participating partner airlines, as well as other non-air travel awards such as hotels and rental cars. For mileage credits earned by AAdvantage loyalty program members, American applies the deferred revenue method. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, American suspended the expiration of mileage credits through June 30, 2021 and eliminated mileage reinstatement fees for canceled award tickets.
Mileage credits earned through travel
For mileage credits earned through travel, American applies a relative selling price approach whereby the total amount collected from each passenger ticket sale is allocated between the air transportation and the mileage credits earned. The portion of each passenger ticket sale attributable to mileage credits earned is initially deferred and then recognized in passenger revenue when mileage credits are redeemed and transportation is provided. The estimated selling price of mileage credits is determined using an equivalent ticket value approach, which uses historical data, including award redemption patterns by geographic region and class of service, as well as similar fares as those used to settle award redemptions. The estimated selling price of miles is adjusted for an estimate of the miles that will not be redeemed using statistical models based on historical redemption patterns to develop an estimate of the likelihood of future redemption.
162
Given the inherent uncertainty of the current operating environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, American will continue to monitor redemption patterns and may adjust its estimates in the future.
Mileage credits sold to co-branded credit cards and other partners
American sells mileage credits to participating airline partners and non-airline business partners, including American’s co-branded credit card partners, under contracts with terms extending generally for to seven years. Consideration received from the sale of mileage credits is variable and payment terms typically are within 30 days subsequent to the month of mileage sale. Sales of mileage credits to non-airline business partners are comprised of two components, transportation and marketing. American allocates the consideration received from these sales of mileage credits based on the relative selling price of each product or service delivered.
American’s most significant partner agreements are its co-branded credit card agreements with Citi and Barclaycard US. American identified the following revenue elements in these co-branded credit card agreements: the transportation component; and the use of intellectual property, including the American brand and access to loyalty program member lists, which is the predominant element in the agreements, as well as advertising (collectively, the marketing component). Accordingly, American recognizes the marketing component in other revenue in the period of the mileage sale following the sales-based royalty method.
The transportation component represents the estimated selling price of future travel awards and is determined using the same equivalent ticket value approach described above. The portion of each mileage credit sold attributable to transportation is initially deferred and then recognized in passenger revenue when mileage credits are redeemed and transportation is provided.
For the portion of American’s outstanding mileage credits that it estimates will not be redeemed, American recognizes the associated value proportionally as the remaining mileage credits are redeemed. American’s estimates use statistical models based on historical redemption patterns to develop an estimate of the likelihood of future redemption.
Cargo Revenue
Cargo revenue is recognized when American provides the transportation.
Other Revenue
Other revenue includes revenue associated with American’s loyalty program, which is comprised principally of the marketing component of mileage sales to co-branded credit card and other partners and other marketing related payments. Loyalty revenue included in other revenue was $1.8 billion for the year ended December 31, 2020 and $2.4 billion for both 2019 and 2018. The accounting and recognition for the loyalty program marketing services are discussed above in “Loyalty Revenue.” The remaining amounts included within other revenue relate to airport clubs, advertising and vacation-related services.
Contract Balances
American’s significant contract liabilities are comprised of (1) outstanding loyalty program mileage credits that may be redeemed for future travel and other non-air travel awards, reported as loyalty program liability on American’s consolidated balance sheets and (2) ticket sales for transportation that has not yet been provided, reported as air traffic liability on American’s consolidated balance sheets.
| December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||
| Loyalty program liability | $ | 9,195 | $ | 8,615 | |||||||
| Air traffic liability | 4,757 | 4,808 | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 13,952 | $ | 13,423 | |||||||
163
The balance of the loyalty program liability fluctuates based on seasonal patterns, which impact the volume of mileage credits issued through travel or sold to co-branded credit card and other partners (deferral of revenue) and mileage credits redeemed (recognition of revenue). Changes in loyalty program liability are as follows (in millions):
| Balance at December 31, 2019 | $ | 8,615 | |||
| Deferral of revenue | 1,812 | ||||
Recognition of revenue (1) | (1,232) | ||||
Balance at December 31, 2020 (2) | $ | 9,195 | |||
(1)Principally relates to revenue recognized from the redemption of mileage credits for both air and non-air travel awards. Mileage credits are combined in one homogenous pool and are not separately identifiable. As such, the revenue is comprised of miles that were part of the loyalty program deferred revenue balance at the beginning of the period, as well as miles that were issued during the period.
(2)Mileage credits can be redeemed at any time and generally do not expire as long as that AAdvantage member has any type of qualifying activity at least every 18 months. As previously discussed, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, American suspended the expiration of mileage credits through June 30, 2021 and eliminated mileage reinstatement fees for canceled award tickets. As of December 31, 2020, American’s current loyalty program liability was $2.0 billion and represents American’s current estimate of revenue expected to be recognized in the next 12 months based on historical as well as projected trends, with the balance reflected in long-term loyalty program liability expected to be recognized as revenue in periods thereafter. Given the inherent uncertainty of the current operating environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, American will continue to monitor redemption patterns and may adjust its estimates in the future.
The air traffic liability principally represents tickets sold for future travel on American and partner airlines, as well as estimated future refunds and exchanges of tickets sold for past travel. The balance in American’s air traffic liability also fluctuates with seasonal travel patterns. The contract duration of passenger tickets is generally one year. Accordingly, any revenue associated with tickets sold for future travel will be recognized within 12 months. For 2020, $2.8 billion of revenue was recognized in passenger revenue that was included in American’s air traffic liability at December 31, 2019. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, American extended the contract duration for certain tickets to December 31, 2021, principally those with travel scheduled from March 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. Additionally, American has eliminated change fees for most domestic and international tickets. As of December 31, 2020, the air traffic liability included approximately $2.6 billion of travel credits related to these unused tickets for travel prior to December 31, 2020. Accordingly, any revenue associated with these tickets will be recognized within the next 12 months. Given this change in contract duration and uncertainty surrounding the future demand for air travel, American's estimates of revenue that will be recognized from the air traffic liability for future flown or unused tickets as well as American's estimates of refunds may be subject to variability and differ from historical experience.
American’s ticket contract receivables relate to ticket sales to individual passengers primarily through the use of major credit cards and are reflected as accounts receivable, net on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. These receivables are short-term, mostly settled within seven days after sale. All accounts receivable are reported net of an allowance for credit losses, which have been minimal in the past. American considers past and future financial and qualitative factors when establishing the allowance for credit losses.
(m) Maintenance, Materials and Repairs
Maintenance and repair costs for owned and leased flight equipment are charged to operating expense as incurred, except costs incurred for maintenance and repair under flight hour maintenance contract agreements, which are accrued based on contractual terms when an obligation exists.
(n) Selling Expenses
Selling expenses include credit card fees, commissions, computerized reservations systems fees and advertising. Selling expenses associated with passenger revenue are expensed when the transportation or service is provided. Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expense was $50 million, $129 million and $128 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
164
(o) Share-based Compensation
American accounts for its share-based compensation expense based on the fair value of the stock award at the time of grant, which is recognized ratably over the vesting period of the stock award. The majority of American’s stock awards are time vested restricted stock units, and the fair value of such awards is based on the market price of the underlying shares of AAG common stock on the date of grant. See Note 13 for further discussion of share-based compensation.
(p) Foreign Currency Gains and Losses
Foreign currency gains and losses are recorded as part of other income, net within total nonoperating expense, net in American’s consolidated statements of operations. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, foreign currency losses were $24 million, $32 million and $54 million.
(q) Other Operating Expenses
Other operating expenses includes costs associated with ground and cargo handling, crew travel, aircraft food and catering, aircraft cleaning, passenger accommodation, airport security, international navigation fees and certain general and administrative expenses.
(r) Regional Expenses
Expenses associated with American Eagle operations are classified as regional expenses on American’s consolidated statements of operations. Regional expenses consist of the following (in millions):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Aircraft fuel and related taxes | $ | 821 | $ | 1,869 | $ | 1,843 | |||||||||||
| Salaries, wages and benefits | 275 | 325 | 338 | ||||||||||||||
Capacity purchases from third-party regional carriers (1) | 2,750 | 3,562 | 3,267 | ||||||||||||||
| Maintenance, materials and repairs | 3 | 30 | 8 | ||||||||||||||
| Other rent and landing fees | 468 | 621 | 583 | ||||||||||||||
| Aircraft rent | 13 | 29 | 27 | ||||||||||||||
| Selling expenses | 153 | 402 | 369 | ||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 273 | 286 | 267 | ||||||||||||||
| Special items, net | (338) | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Other | 258 | 394 | 362 | ||||||||||||||
| Total regional expenses | $ | 4,676 | $ | 7,518 | $ | 7,064 | |||||||||||
(1)In 2020, 2019, and 2018, American recognized $438 million, $590 million and $565 million, respectively, of expense under its capacity purchase agreement with Republic Airways Inc. (Republic). American holds a 25% equity interest in Republic Airways Holdings Inc. (Republic Holdings), the parent company of Republic.
165
2. Special Items, Net
Special items, net on American’s consolidated statements of operations consisted of the following (in millions):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
PSP1 Financial Assistance (1) | $ | (3,710) | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||
Fleet impairment (2) | 1,484 | 213 | — | ||||||||||||||
Severance expenses (3) | 1,408 | 11 | 58 | ||||||||||||||
Labor contract expenses (4) | 228 | — | 13 | ||||||||||||||
Mark-to-market adjustments on bankruptcy obligations, net (5) | (49) | (11) | (76) | ||||||||||||||
Fleet restructuring expenses (6) | — | 271 | 422 | ||||||||||||||
Merger integration expenses (7) | — | 191 | 268 | ||||||||||||||
| Litigation reserve adjustments | — | (53) | 45 | ||||||||||||||
Intangible asset impairment (8) | — | — | 26 | ||||||||||||||
| Other operating special items, net | (18) | 13 | 31 | ||||||||||||||
| Mainline operating special items, net | (657) | 635 | 787 | ||||||||||||||
PSP1 Financial Assistance (1) | (444) | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Fleet impairment (2) | 106 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Regional operating special items, net | (338) | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Operating special items, net | (995) | 635 | 787 | ||||||||||||||
Mark-to-market adjustments on equity and other investments, net (9) | 135 | (5) | 104 | ||||||||||||||
| Debt refinancing, extinguishment and other, net | 35 | 16 | 9 | ||||||||||||||
| Nonoperating special items, net | 170 | 11 | 113 | ||||||||||||||
Income tax special items (10) | — | — | 18 | ||||||||||||||
(1)PSP1 Financial Assistance represents recognition of financial assistance received from Treasury pursuant to the PSP1 Agreement. See Note 1(b) for further information.
(2)The 2020 fleet impairment resulted from American's decision to retire certain aircraft earlier than planned driven by the severe decline in air travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Aircraft retired include Airbus A330-200, Boeing 757, Boeing 767, Airbus A330-300, Embraer 190, certain Embraer 140 and Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft. This included a $1.5 billion non-cash write-down of mainline and regional aircraft and spare parts and $109 million in cash charges primarily for impairment of ROU assets and lease return costs. See Note 1(g) for further information related to these charges.
The 2019 fleet impairment principally included a non-cash write-down of aircraft related to the retirement of American’s Embraer 190 fleet.
(3)The 2020 severance expenses included salary and medical costs primarily associated with certain team members who opted in to voluntary early retirement programs offered as a result of reductions to American's operation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cash payments related to these charges for the year ended December 31, 2020 were approximately $365 million.
The 2019 and 2018 severance expenses primarily included costs associated with reductions of management and support staff team members.
(4)The 2020 labor contract expenses primarily related to one-time charges resulting from the ratification of a new contract with the Transport Workers Union and International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (TWU-IAM Association) for American's maintenance and fleet service team members, including signing bonuses and adjustments to vacation accruals resulting from pay rate increases.
166
(5)Bankruptcy obligations that will be settled in shares of AAG common stock are marked-to-market based on AAG’s stock price.
(6)Fleet restructuring expenses principally included accelerated depreciation and rent expense for aircraft and related equipment expected to be retired earlier than planned.
(7)Merger integration expenses included costs associated with integration projects, principally American's technical operations, flight attendant, human resources and payroll systems.
(8)Intangible asset impairment included a non-cash charge to write-off American’s Brazil route authority as a result of the U.S.-Brazil open skies agreement.
(9)Mark-to-market adjustments on equity and other investments, net primarily related to net unrealized gains and losses associated with American’s equity investment in China Southern Airlines Company Limited (China Southern Airlines) and certain treasury rate lock derivative instruments.
(10)Income tax special items included an $18 million charge related to an international income tax matter.
3. Debt
Long-term debt included on American’s consolidated balance sheets consisted of (in millions):
| December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
| Secured | |||||||||||
2013 Term Loan Facility, variable interest rate of 1.90%, installments through 2025 (a) | $ | 1,788 | $ | 1,807 | |||||||
2013 Revolving Facility, variable interest rate of 2.15%, due 2024 (a) | 750 | — | |||||||||
2014 Term Loan Facility, variable interest rate of 1.90%, installments through 2027 (a) | 1,220 | 1,202 | |||||||||
2014 Revolving Facility, variable interest rate of 2.15%, due 2024 (a) | 1,643 | — | |||||||||
April 2016 Term Loan Facility, variable interest rate of 2.15%, installments through 2023 (a) | 960 | 970 | |||||||||
April 2016 Revolving Facility, variable interest rate of 2.15%, due 2024 (a) | 450 | — | |||||||||
December 2016 Term Loan Facility, variable interest rate of 2.16%, installments through 2023 (a) | 1,200 | 1,213 | |||||||||
11.75% senior secured notes, interest only payments until due in July 2025 (b) | 2,500 | — | |||||||||
10.75% senior secured IP notes, interest only payments until due in February 2026 (b) | 1,000 | — | |||||||||
10.75% senior secured LGA/DCA notes, interest only payments until due in February 2026 (b) | 200 | — | |||||||||
Treasury Term Loan Facility, variable interest rate of 3.73%, interest only payments until due June 2025 (c) | 550 | — | |||||||||
Enhanced equipment trust certificates (EETCs), fixed interest rates ranging from 3.00% to 8.39%, averaging 3.98%, maturing from 2021 to 2032 (d) | 11,013 | 11,933 | |||||||||
Equipment loans and other notes payable, fixed and variable interest rates ranging from 1.32% to 5.83%, averaging 1.88%, maturing from 2021 to 2032 (e) | 4,417 | 4,727 | |||||||||
Special facility revenue bonds, fixed interest rates ranging from 5.00% to 5.38%, maturing from 2021 to 2036 (f) | 1,040 | 725 | |||||||||
| Total long-term debt | 28,731 | 22,577 | |||||||||
| Less: Total unamortized debt discount, premium and issuance costs | 321 | 205 | |||||||||
| Less: Current maturities | 2,700 | 2,246 | |||||||||
| Long-term debt, net of current maturities | $ | 25,710 | $ | 20,126 | |||||||
167
As of December 31, 2020, the maximum availability under American’s Treasury Term Loan Facility and other facilities is as follows (in millions):
| Treasury Term Loan Facility | $ | 6,950 | |||
| Short-term Revolving and Other Facilities | 446 | ||||
| Total | $ | 7,396 | |||
Pursuant to the Treasury Loan Agreement, at December 31, 2020, American had a $7.5 billion Treasury Term Loan Facility of which it has drawn $550 million. In addition, American has an undrawn $400 million short-term revolving credit facility it entered into in December 2019, which was set to expire at the end of December 2020 but which has been extended through the beginning of July 2021. American also currently has approximately $46 million of available borrowing base under a cargo receivables facility that was entered into in December 2020. The December 2016 Credit Facilities provide for a revolving credit facility that may be established thereunder in the future.
Secured financings are collateralized by assets, consisting primarily of aircraft, engines, simulators, aircraft spare parts, airport gate leasehold rights, route authorities, airport slots and certain pre-delivery payments, as well as certain intellectual property and loyalty program assets.
At December 31, 2020, the maturities of long-term debt are as follows (in millions):
| 2021 | $ | 2,749 | |||
| 2022 | 1,672 | ||||
| 2023 | 4,162 | ||||
| 2024 | 4,401 | ||||
| 2025 | 6,421 | ||||
| 2026 and thereafter | 9,326 | ||||
| Total | $ | 28,731 | |||
(a) 2013, 2014, April 2016 and December 2016 Credit Facilities
2013 Credit Facilities
In November 2019, American and AAG entered into the Sixth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit and Guaranty Agreement, amending the Amended and Restated Credit and Guaranty Agreement dated as of May 21, 2015 (as previously amended, the 2013 Credit Agreement; the revolving credit facility established thereunder, the 2013 Revolving Facility; the term loan facility established thereunder, the 2013 Term Loan Facility; and the 2013 Revolving Facility together with the 2013 Term Loan Facility, the 2013 Credit Facilities), which reduced the total aggregate commitments under the 2013 Revolving Facility to $750 million from $1.0 billion. In addition, certain lenders party to the 2013 Credit Agreement extended the maturity date of their commitments under the 2013 Revolving Facility to October 2024 from October 2023.
In April 2020, American borrowed $750 million under the 2013 Revolving Facility. The 2013 Revolving Facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 2.00% and has a final maturity date of October 2024. Following the April draw, American had no remaining borrowing capacity available under the 2013 Revolving Facility.
2014 Credit Facilities
In November 2019, American and AAG entered into the Seventh Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit and Guaranty Agreement, amending the Amended and Restated Credit and Guaranty Agreement dated as of April 20, 2015 (as previously amended, the 2014 Credit Agreement; the revolving credit facility established thereunder, the 2014 Revolving Facility; the term loan facility established thereunder, the 2014 Term Loan Facility; and the 2014 Revolving Facility together with the 2014 Term Loan Facility, the 2014 Credit Facilities), which increased the total aggregate commitments under the 2014 Revolving Facility to $1.6 billion from $1.5 billion. In addition, certain lenders party to the 2014 Credit Agreement extended the maturity date of their commitments under the 2014 Revolving Facility to October 2024 from October 2023.
168
In January 2020, American and AAG entered into the Eighth Amendment to the 2014 Credit Agreement, pursuant to which American refinanced the 2014 Term Loan Facility, increasing the total aggregate principal amount outstanding to $1.2 billion, reducing the LIBOR margin from 2.00% to 1.75%, with a LIBOR floor of 0%, and reducing the base rate margin from 1.00% to 0.75%. In addition, the maturity date for the 2014 Term Loan Facility was extended to January 2027 from October 2021.
In April and May 2020, American borrowed, in aggregate, $1.6 billion under the 2014 Revolving Facility. The 2014 Revolving Facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 2.00% and has a final maturity date of October 2024. Following the April and May draws, American had no remaining borrowing capacity available under the 2014 Revolving Facility.
April 2016 Credit Facilities
In November 2019, American and AAG entered into the Fifth Amendment to Credit and Guaranty Agreement, amending the Credit and Guaranty Agreement dated as of April 29, 2016 (as previously amended, the April 2016 Credit Agreement; the revolving credit facility established thereunder, the April 2016 Revolving Facility; the term loan facility established thereunder, the 2016 Term Loan Facility; and the April 2016 Revolving Facility together with the 2016 Term Loan Facility, the April 2016 Credit Facilities), which increased the total aggregate commitments under the April 2016 Revolving Facility to $450 million from $300 million. In addition, certain lenders party to the April 2016 Credit Agreement extended the maturity date of their commitments under the April 2016 Revolving Facility to October 2024 from October 2023.
In April 2020, American borrowed $450 million under the April 2016 Revolving Facility. The April 2016 Revolving Facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 2.00% and has a final maturity date of October 2024. Following the April draw, American had no remaining borrowing capacity available under the April 2016 Revolving Facility.
December 2016 Credit Facilities
In December 2016, American and AAG entered into the Amended and Restated Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of December 15, 2016 (as amended, the December 2016 Credit Agreement; the term loan facility established thereunder, the December 2016 Term Loan Facility; and together with the revolving credit facility that may be established thereunder in the future, the December 2016 Credit Facilities).
Certain details of American’s 2013 Credit Facilities, 2014 Credit Facilities, April 2016 Credit Facilities and December 2016 Credit Facilities (collectively referred to as the Credit Facilities) are shown in the table below as of December 31, 2020:
| 2013 Credit Facilities | 2014 Credit Facilities | April 2016 Credit Facilities | December 2016 Credit Facilities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 Term Loan | 2013 Revolving Facility | 2014 Term Loan | 2014 Revolving Facility | April 2016 Term Loan | April 2016 Revolving Facility | December 2016 Term Loan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aggregate principal issued or credit facility availability (in millions) | $1,919 | $750 | $1,280 | $1,643 | $1,000 | $450 | $1,250 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Principal outstanding or drawn (in millions) | $1,788 | $750 | $1,220 | $1,643 | $960 | $450 | $1,200 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maturity date | June 2025 | October 2024 | January 2027 | October 2024 | April 2023 | October 2024 | December 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LIBOR margin | 1.75% | 2.00% | 1.75% | 2.00% | 2.00% | 2.00% | 2.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The term loans under each of the Credit Facilities are repayable in annual installments in an amount equal to 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount issued, with any unpaid balance due on the respective maturity dates. Voluntary prepayments may be made by American at any time.
The 2013 Revolving Facility, 2014 Revolving Facility and April 2016 Revolving Facility provide that American may from time to time borrow, repay and reborrow loans thereunder. The 2013 Revolving Facility and 2014 Revolving Facility have the ability to issue letters of credit thereunder in an aggregate amount outstanding at any time up to $100 million and $200 million, respectively. The 2013 Revolving Facility, 2014 Revolving Facility and April 2016 Revolving Facility are each subject to an undrawn annual fee of 0.63%.
169
Subject to certain limitations and exceptions, the Credit Facilities are secured by collateral, including certain spare parts, slots, route authorities, simulators and leasehold rights. American has the ability to make future modifications to the collateral pledged, subject to certain restrictions. American’s obligations under the Credit Facilities are guaranteed by AAG. American is required to maintain a certain minimum ratio of appraised value of the collateral to the outstanding loans as further described below in “Certain Covenants.”
The Credit Facilities contain events of default customary for similar financings, including cross default to other material indebtedness. Upon the occurrence of an event of default, the outstanding obligations may be accelerated and become due and payable immediately. In addition, if a “change of control” occurs, American will (absent an amendment or waiver) be required to repay at par the loans outstanding under the Credit Facilities and terminate the 2013 Revolving Facility, 2014 Revolving Facility and April 2016 Revolving Facility and any revolving credit facility established under the December 2016 Credit Facilities. The Credit Facilities also include covenants that, among other things, require AAG to maintain an aggregate of at least $2.0 billion of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and amounts available to be drawn under revolving credit facilities and limit the ability of AAG and its restricted subsidiaries to pay dividends and make certain other payments, make certain investments, incur additional indebtedness, incur liens on the collateral, dispose of the collateral, enter into certain affiliate transactions and engage in certain business activities, in each case subject to certain exceptions.
Delayed Draw Term Loan Credit Facility
In March 2020, American and AAG entered into a Credit and Guaranty Agreement which provided for a $1.0 billion senior secured delayed draw term loan credit facility (the Delayed Draw Term Loan Credit Facility), which was scheduled to be due and payable in a single installment on the maturity date in March 2021. In connection with the issuance of the 11.75% senior secured notes due 2025, as described below, the Delayed Draw Term Loan Credit Facility was repaid and the Delayed Draw Term Loan Credit Facility and all of the security documents and other loan documents related thereto were terminated as of June 30, 2020.
(b) Senior Secured Notes
11.75% Senior Secured Notes
In June 2020, American issued $2.5 billion aggregate principal amount of 11.75% senior secured notes due 2025 (the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes) at a price equal to 99% of their aggregate principal amount. The 11.75% Senior Secured Notes bear interest at a rate of 11.75% per annum (subject to increase if the collateral coverage ratio described below is not met). Interest on the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes is payable semiannually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year, beginning on January 15, 2021. The 11.75% Senior Secured Notes will mature on July 15, 2025. The obligations of American under the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by AAG. The proceeds from the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes were used to repay and terminate the Delayed Draw Term Loan Credit Facility (and to terminate all security documents and all other loan documents related thereto) with the remaining amount for general corporate purposes and to enhance American’s liquidity position.
The 11.75% Senior Secured Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of June 30, 2020 (the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes Indenture), by and among American, AAG and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes Trustee). The 11.75% Senior Secured Notes are American’s senior secured obligations. Subject to certain limitations and exceptions, the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes are secured on a first-lien basis by security interests in certain assets, rights and properties utilized by American in providing its scheduled air carrier services to and from certain airports in the United States and certain airports in Australia, Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, and Switzerland (collectively, the First Lien 11.75% Senior Secured Notes Collateral). American’s obligations with respect to the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes are also secured on a second-lien basis by security interests in certain assets, rights and properties utilized by American in providing its scheduled air carrier services to and from certain airports in the United States and certain airports in the European Union and the United Kingdom (collectively, the Second Lien 11.75% Senior Secured Notes Collateral and together with the First Lien 11.75% Senior Secured Notes Collateral, the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes Collateral). American may be required to pledge additional collateral in the future under the terms of the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes, and in certain circumstances may elect to pledge additional collateral as a replacement for existing collateral. The Second Lien 11.75% Senior Secured Notes Collateral also secures the 2014 Credit Facilities on a first-lien basis.
American may redeem the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes being redeemed plus a make whole premium, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to (but not including) the redemption date.
170
In the event of a specified change of control, each holder of 11.75% Senior Secured Notes may require American to repurchase its 11.75% Senior Secured Notes in whole or in part at a repurchase price of 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to (but not including) the repurchase date.
American is required to deliver an appraisal of the First Lien 11.75% Senior Secured Notes Collateral and officer’s certificate on a semi-annual basis demonstrating the calculation of a collateral coverage ratio in relation to the First Lien 11.75% Senior Secured Notes Collateral as of the end of each semi-annual period based on such appraisal. If American fails to deliver the officer’s certificate in a timely manner or the collateral coverage ratio is less than 1.6 to 1.0 as of the end of the semi-annual period, then, subject to an opportunity to cure the deficiency in the collateral coverage ratio, American will be required to pay special interest in an additional amount equal to 2.0% per annum of the outstanding principal amount of the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes until the collateral coverage ratio is established to be at least 1.6 to 1.0.
The 11.75% Senior Secured Notes Indenture contains covenants that, among other things, restrict the ability of AAG and the ability of its restricted subsidiaries (including American) to: (i) pay dividends, redeem or repurchase stock or make other distributions or restricted payments, (ii) incur liens on the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes Collateral and dispose of or release the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes Collateral, (iii) repay subordinated indebtedness, (iv) make certain loans and investments, (v) incur indebtedness or issue preferred stock, (vi) merge, consolidate or sell assets, (vii) undergo certain change of control transactions, and (viii) designate subsidiaries as unrestricted. These covenants are subject to a number of important exceptions and qualifications set forth in the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes Indenture.
Upon the occurrence of any event of default (other than certain bankruptcy or insolvency or reorganization events affecting AAG or certain of its subsidiaries, including American), the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes may be declared to be due and payable immediately. Upon the occurrence of certain bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization events affecting American or certain of its subsidiaries (including American), all outstanding 11.75% Senior Secured Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice on the part of the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes Trustee or any holder of the 11.75% Senior Secured Notes.
10.75% Senior Secured Notes
On September 25, 2020 (the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes Closing Date), American issued $1.0 billion in initial principal amount of senior secured IP notes (the IP Notes) and $200 million in initial principal amount of senior secured LGA/DCA notes (the LGA/DCA Notes and together with the IP Notes, the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes). The obligations of American under the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed (the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes Guarantees) on a senior unsecured basis by AAG. The 10.75% Senior Secured Notes bear interest at a rate of 10.75% per annum in cash. For any interest period on or prior to September 1, 2022, American may, at its election, pay interest at a rate of 12.00% per annum payable one-half in cash and one-half in kind. Interest on the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes is payable semiannually in arrears on September 1 and March 1 of each year, beginning on March 1, 2021. The 10.75% Senior Secured Notes will mature on February 15, 2026.
The proceeds from the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes were used to pay transaction-related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes.
The 10.75% Senior Secured Notes were each issued pursuant to a separate indenture, dated as of September 25, 2020 (individually, the IP Notes Indenture and the LGA/DCA Notes Indenture and collectively, the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes Indentures), by and among American, AAG and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and as collateral trustee (the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes Trustee). The IP Notes are secured by a first lien security interest on certain intellectual property of American, including the “American Airlines” trademark and the “aa.com” domain name in the United States and certain foreign jurisdictions (the IP Collateral), and a second lien on certain slots related to American’s operations at New York LaGuardia and Ronald Reagan Washington National airports and certain other assets (the LGA/DCA Collateral and together with the IP Collateral, the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes Collateral). Subject to certain conditions, American will be permitted to incur up to $4.0 billion of additional pari passu debt and unlimited second lien debt secured by the IP Collateral securing the IP Notes. The LGA/DCA Notes are secured by a first lien security interest in the LGA/DCA Collateral. American may be required to pledge additional collateral in the future under the terms of the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes, and in certain circumstances may elect to pledge additional collateral including as a replacement for existing collateral. The LGA/DCA Collateral also secures on a first-lien basis the December 2016 Credit Facilities.
171
On or prior to the fourth anniversary of the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes Closing Date, American may redeem all or any part of the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes, at its option, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes redeemed plus a make whole premium, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any. After the fourth anniversary of the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes Closing Date and on or prior to the fifth anniversary of the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes Closing Date, American may redeem all or any part of the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes, at its option, at a redemption price equal to 105.375% of the principal amount of the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes redeemed, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any. After the fifth anniversary of the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes Closing Date, American may redeem all or any part of the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes, at its option, at par, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any.
In the event of a specified change of control, each holder of 10.75% Senior Secured Notes may require American to repurchase its 10.75% Senior Secured Notes, in whole or in part, at a repurchase price of 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes so repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to (but not including) the repurchase date.
The 10.75% Senior Secured Notes Indentures contain covenants that, among other things, restrict the ability of AAG and the ability of its restricted subsidiaries (including American) to: (i) pay dividends, redeem or repurchase stock or make other distributions or restricted payments, (ii) incur liens on the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes Collateral and dispose of or release the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes Collateral, (iii) repay subordinated indebtedness, (iv) make certain loans and investments, (v) incur indebtedness or issue preferred stock, (vi) merge, consolidate or sell assets, and (vii) designate subsidiaries as unrestricted. In addition, the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes Indentures include covenants that require AAG to maintain (a) an aggregate of at least $2.0 billion of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and amounts available to be drawn under revolving credit facilities and (b) a certain minimum ratio of appraised value of the collateral to outstanding debt secured thereby on a first lien basis as further described below in “Certain Covenants.” These covenants are subject to a number of important exceptions and qualifications set forth in the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes Indentures.
Upon the occurrence of any event of default (other than certain bankruptcy or insolvency or reorganization events affecting AAG or certain of its subsidiaries, including American), the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes may be declared to be due and payable immediately. Upon the occurrence of certain bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization events affecting AAG or certain of its subsidiaries (including American), all outstanding 10.75% Senior Secured Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice on the part of the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes Trustee or any holder of the 10.75% Senior Secured Notes.
(c) Treasury Loan Agreement
On September 25, 2020, American and AAG entered into a Loan and Guarantee Agreement (the Treasury Loan Agreement) with Treasury, which provided for a secured term loan facility (the Treasury Term Loan Facility) that permitted American to borrow up to $5.5 billion. Subsequently, on October 21, 2020, American and AAG entered into an amendment to the Treasury Loan Agreement, which increased the borrowing amount to up to $7.5 billion.
As of December 31, 2020, American had borrowed $550 million under the Treasury Term Loan Facility and may, at its option, borrow additional amounts in up to two subsequent borrowings until March 26, 2021. Subsequently, on January 15, 2021, American and AAG entered into an amendment to the Treasury Loan Agreement, which extended this deadline to May 28, 2021. The proceeds from the Treasury Term Loan Facility were, and will be, used for certain general corporate purposes and operating expenses in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Treasury Loan Agreement and the applicable provisions of the CARES Act.
The Treasury Term Loan Facility bears interest at a variable rate per annum equal to (a)(i) the LIBOR rate divided by (ii) one minus the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage plus (b) 3.50%. Accrued interest on the loans will be payable in arrears on the first business day following the 14th day of each March, June, September and December, beginning with September 15, 2021, and on June 30, 2025 (the Treasury Term Loan Maturity Date). As of December 31, 2020, the applicable interest rate for the $550 million loan drawn under the Treasury Term Loan Facility was 3.73% per annum through September 15, 2021, at which time the interest rate will reset.
172
All advances under the Treasury Term Loan Facility will be in the form of term loans, all of which will mature and be due and payable in a single installment on the Treasury Term Loan Maturity Date. American may, at any time and from time to time, voluntarily prepay amounts outstanding under the Treasury Loan Agreement, in whole or in part, without penalty or premium. Amounts prepaid may not be reborrowed. Mandatory prepayments of loans under the Treasury Term Loan Facility are required, without penalty or premium, to the extent necessary to comply with American's covenants regarding the expiry of certain agreements constituting Treasury Collateral (as defined below), the debt service coverage ratio, certain dispositions of Treasury Collateral, certain debt issuances secured by liens on the Treasury Collateral and certain indemnity, termination, liquidated damages or insurance payments related to the Treasury Collateral, in addition to the occurrence of a change in control of AAG.
American's obligations under the Treasury Loan Agreement are secured by a first priority security interest on American's rights under U.S. co-branded credit card agreements and certain other loyalty program partner participation agreements (including rights to receive cash flows thereunder), documents, deposit accounts, securities accounts, books and records and intellectual property related to American's AAdvantage loyalty program and all proceeds, accessions, rents or profits related to the foregoing (collectively, the Treasury Collateral). American is permitted under the Treasury Loan Agreement to add certain types of assets to the Treasury Collateral and, subject to certain conditions, release Treasury Collateral, in each case from time to time at its discretion.
The Treasury Loan Agreement requires American, under certain circumstances, including within 10 business days prior to the last business day of March and September of each year, beginning March 2021, to appraise the value of the Treasury Collateral and recalculate the collateral coverage ratio. If the calculated collateral coverage ratio is less than 1.6 to 1.0, American will be required either to provide additional Treasury Collateral (which may include cash collateral) to secure its obligations under the Treasury Loan Agreement or repay the term loans under the Treasury Term Loan Facility, in such amounts that the recalculated collateral coverage ratio, after giving effect to any such additional Treasury Collateral or repayment, is at least 1.6 to 1.0.
The Treasury Loan Agreement also requires American to calculate the debt service coverage ratio on a quarterly basis. If the calculated debt service coverage ratio is less than 1.75 to 1.00, then AAG and its subsidiaries will be required to place an amount equal to at least 50% of certain revenues received from the AAdvantage loyalty program (the Loyalty Program Revenues) into a blocked account to be held for the benefit of the lenders who may choose to use such funds to prepay the outstanding term loans until the debt service coverage ratio is recalculated to be greater than or equal to 1.75 to 1.00. If the calculated debt service coverage ratio is less than or equal to 1.50 to 1.00, but greater than 1.25 to 1.00, then all amounts previously deposited into the blocked account will be used to prepay outstanding term loans and an amount equal to at least 50% of all future Loyalty Program Revenues will be transferred into the payment account and used to prepay outstanding term loans until the debt service coverage ratio is recalculated to be greater than 1.50 to 1.00. If the calculated debt service coverage ratio is less than or equal to 1.25 to 1.00, then all amounts previously deposited into the blocked account will be used to prepay outstanding term loans and an amount equal to at least 75% of all future Loyalty Program Revenues will be transferred into the payment account and used to prepay outstanding term loans until the debt service coverage ratio is recalculated to be greater than 1.25 to 1.00.
The Treasury Loan Agreement also includes affirmative, negative and financial covenants that, among other things, limit AAG's ability to pay dividends, repurchase common stock of AAG or make certain other payments, make certain investments, incur liens on the Treasury Collateral, dispose of the Treasury Collateral, amend material AAdvantage loyalty program agreements, enter into certain affiliate transactions and engage in certain business activities, in each case subject to certain exceptions. In addition, under the Treasury Loan Agreement, AAG must maintain a minimum aggregate liquidity of $2.0 billion.
The Treasury Loan Agreement requires AAG and American to comply with the relevant provisions of the CARES Act and the Treasury Loan Agreement, including, but not limited to, the provisions that prohibit the repurchase of AAG’s common stock, the payment of common stock dividends and those that restrict the payment of certain executive compensation, in each case, through the date that is 12 months after the date on which all amounts of loan outstanding under the Treasury Term Loan Facility have been repaid in full.
The Treasury Loan Agreement contains events of default, including cross-default with respect to acceleration or failure to pay at maturity other material indebtedness. Upon the occurrence of an event of default and subject to certain grace periods, the outstanding obligations under the Treasury Loan Agreement may be accelerated and become due and payable immediately.
173
(d) EETCs
2019-1 Aircraft EETCs
In August 2019, American created three pass-through trusts which issued approximately $1.1 billion aggregate face amount of Series 2019-1 Class AA, Class A and Class B EETCs (the 2019-1 Aircraft EETCs) in connection with the financing of 35 aircraft (the 2019-1 Aircraft). In 2019, $804 million of the proceeds had been used to purchase equipment notes issued by American in connection with the financing of 28 aircraft under the 2019-1 Aircraft EETCs, of which $608 million was used to repay existing indebtedness. In 2020, the remaining $293 million of the proceeds had been used to purchase equipment notes issued by American in connection with the financing of seven aircraft under the 2019-1 Aircraft EETCs. Interest and principal payments on equipment notes issued in connection with the 2019-1 Aircraft EETCs are payable semiannually in February and August of each year, which interest payments began in February 2020 and which principal payments began or are scheduled to begin (i) in the case of equipment notes with respect to any 2019-1 Aircraft owned by American at the time of issuance of the 2019-1 Aircraft EETCs, in February 2020 and (ii) in the case of equipment notes with respect to the Embraer 175 aircraft and the Airbus A321neo aircraft scheduled to be delivered after the issuance of the 2019-1 Aircraft EETCs, in August 2020 and August 2021, respectively.
Certain information regarding the 2019-1 Aircraft EETC equipment notes, as of December 31, 2020, is set forth in the table below.
| 2019-1 Aircraft EETCs | |||||||||||||||||
| Series AA | Series A | Series B | |||||||||||||||
| Aggregate principal issued | $579 million | $289 million | $229 million | ||||||||||||||
| Fixed interest rate per annum | 3.15% | 3.50% | 3.85% | ||||||||||||||
| Maturity date | February 2032 | February 2032 | February 2028 | ||||||||||||||
(e) Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable Issued in 2020
In 2020, American entered into agreements under which it borrowed $307 million in connection with the financing or refinancing, as the case may be, of certain aircraft and other flight equipment, of which $17 million was used to repay existing indebtedness. Debt incurred under these agreements matures in 2029 through 2032 and bears interest at variable rates (comprised of LIBOR plus an applicable margin) averaging 2.28% at December 31, 2020.
(f) Special Facility Revenue Bonds Issued in 2020
In January 2020, American and British Airways announced the start of construction on a $344 million investment to upgrade New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Terminal 8.
In June 2020, the New York Transportation Development Corporation (NYTDC) issued approximately $360 million of special facility revenue bonds (the 2020 JFK Bonds) on behalf of American. A portion of the net proceeds from the 2020 JFK Bonds have been or will be used to fund costs of issuance of the 2020 JFK Bonds, to fund a substantial portion of the cost of the renovation and expansion of a passenger terminal facility (the Terminal) leased and utilized by American at JFK and to fund the August 2020 maturity of the outstanding bonds issued by NYTDC on behalf of American in 2016 (the 2016 JFK Bonds).
American is required to pay debt service on the 2020 JFK Bonds through payments under a loan agreement with NYTDC (as amended), and American and AAG guarantee the 2020 JFK Bonds. American continues to pay debt service on the outstanding 2016 JFK Bonds and American and AAG continue to guarantee the 2016 JFK Bonds. American’s and AAG’s obligations under these guarantees are secured by a leasehold mortgage on American’s lease of the Terminal and related property from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
The 2020 JFK Bonds, in aggregate, were priced at approximately 98% of par value. The gross proceeds from the issuance of the 2020 JFK Bonds were approximately $353 million. Of this amount, approximately $8 million was used to fund the costs of issuance of the 2020 JFK Bonds, approximately $47 million was used to fund the redemption of the 2016 JFK Bonds due August 2020 and approximately $17 million was reimbursed to American for the Terminal construction costs incurred, with the remaining amount of proceeds received to be held in restricted cash and short-term investments on the consolidated balance sheet and to be used to finance a substantial portion of the cost of the renovation and expansion of the Terminal. The 2020 JFK Bonds are comprised of term bonds, $214 million of which bear interest at 5.25% per annum and mature on August 1, 2031, and $146 million of which bear interest at 5.375% per annum and mature on August 1, 2036.
174
Guarantees
As of December 31, 2020, American had issued guarantees covering AAG’s $1.8 billion aggregate principal amount of the PSP1 Promissory Note due April 2030, $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 6.50% convertible senior notes due July 2025, $750 million aggregate principal amount of 5.000% senior notes due June 2022 and $500 million aggregate principal amount of 3.75% senior notes due March 2025.
Certain Covenants
Certain of American’s debt financing agreements (including its secured notes, term loans, revolving credit facilities and spare engine EETCs) contain loan to value (LTV) or collateral coverage ratio covenants and require American to appraise the related collateral annually or semiannually. Pursuant to such agreements, if the LTV or collateral coverage ratio exceeds a specified threshold or if the value of the appraised collateral fails to meet a specified threshold, as the case may be, American is required, as applicable, to pledge additional qualifying collateral (which in some cases may include cash or investment securities), or pay down such financing, in whole or in part, or the interest rate for the financing under such agreements will be increased. Additionally, a significant portion of American’s debt financing agreements contain covenants requiring it to maintain an aggregate of at least $2.0 billion of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and amounts available to be drawn under revolving credit facilities, and its Treasury Term Loan Facility contains a debt service coverage ratio, pursuant to which failure to comply with a certain threshold may result in mandatory prepayment of the Treasury Term Loan Facility.
Specifically, American is required to meet certain collateral coverage tests for its Credit Facilities, 10.75% Senior Secured Notes, 11.75% Senior Secured Notes and Treasury Loan Agreement, as described below:
| 2013 Credit Facilities | 2014 Credit Facilities | April 2016 Credit Facilities | December 2016 Credit Facilities | 10.75% Senior Secured Notes | 11.75% Senior Secured Notes | Treasury Loan Agreement | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Frequency of Appraisals of Appraised Collateral | Annual | Annual | Annual | Annual | Annual | Semi-Annual | Semi-Annual | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LTV Requirement | 1.6x Collateral valuation to amount of debt outstanding (62.5% LTV) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LTV as of Last Measurement Date | 53.1% | 44.3% | 48.0% | 61.2% | 61.2% | 35.2% | De Minimis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Collateral Description | Generally, certain slots, route authorities and airport gate leasehold rights used by American to operate all services between the U.S. and South America | Generally, certain slots, route authorities and airport gate leasehold rights used by American to operate certain services between the U.S. and European Union (including London Heathrow) | Generally, certain spare parts | Generally, certain Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) slots, certain La Guardia Airport (LGA) slots, certain simulators and certain leasehold rights | Generally, certain DCA slots, certain LGA slots, certain simulators and certain leasehold rights and, in the case of the IP Notes, certain intellectual property of American | Generally, certain slots, route authorities and airport gate leasehold rights used by American to operate certain services between the U.S. and the Caribbean, Central America and various other countries | Generally, certain rights under U.S. co-branded credit card agreements and certain other loyalty program agreements and intellectual property related to AAdvantage | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
At December 31, 2020, American was in compliance with the applicable collateral coverage tests as of the most recent measurement dates.
175
4. Leases
American leases certain aircraft and engines, including aircraft under capacity purchase agreements. As of December 31, 2020, American had 641 leased aircraft, with remaining terms ranging from less than one year to 12 years.
At each airport where American conducts flight operations, American has agreements, generally with a governmental unit or authority, for the use of passenger, operations and baggage handling space as well as runways and taxiways. These agreements, particularly in the U.S., often contain provisions for periodic adjustments to rates and charges applicable under such agreements. These rates and charges also vary with American’s level of operations and the operations of the airport. Because of the variable nature of these rates, these leases are not recorded on American’s balance sheet as a ROU asset or a lease liability. Additionally, at American’s hub locations and in certain other cities it serves, American leases administrative offices, catering, cargo, training, maintenance and other facilities.
The components of lease expense were as follows (in millions):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Operating lease cost | $ | 1,943 | $ | 2,012 | $ | 1,889 | |||||||||||
| Finance lease cost: | |||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of assets | 92 | 79 | 78 | ||||||||||||||
| Interest on lease liabilities | 38 | 43 | 48 | ||||||||||||||
| Variable lease cost | 1,786 | 2,542 | 2,353 | ||||||||||||||
| Total net lease cost | $ | 3,859 | $ | 4,676 | $ | 4,368 | |||||||||||
Included in the table above is $172 million, $236 million and $226 million of operating lease cost under American’s capacity purchase agreement with Republic for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. American holds a 25% equity interest in Republic Holdings, the parent company of Republic.
Additionally, not included in the table above, American recognized $109 million in cash special charges in 2020 related to the impairment of ROU assets and lease return costs resulting from its decision to retire certain leased aircraft earlier than planned driven by the severe decline in air travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
176
Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases was as follows (in millions, except lease term and discount rate):
| December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
| Operating leases: | |||||||||||
| Operating lease ROU assets | $ | 7,994 | $ | 8,694 | |||||||
| Current operating lease liabilities | $ | 1,641 | $ | 1,695 | |||||||
| Noncurrent operating lease liabilities | 6,739 | 7,388 | |||||||||
| Total operating lease liabilities | $ | 8,380 | $ | 9,083 | |||||||
| Finance leases: | |||||||||||
| Property and equipment, at cost | $ | 1,021 | $ | 954 | |||||||
| Accumulated amortization | (539) | (447) | |||||||||
| Property and equipment, net | $ | 482 | $ | 507 | |||||||
| Current finance lease liabilities | $ | 100 | $ | 112 | |||||||
| Noncurrent finance lease liabilities | 472 | 558 | |||||||||
| Total finance lease liabilities | $ | 572 | $ | 670 | |||||||
| Weighted average remaining lease term (in years): | |||||||||||
| Operating leases | 7.4 | 7.4 | |||||||||
| Finance leases | 5.4 | 6.2 | |||||||||
| Weighted average discount rate: | |||||||||||
| Operating leases | 5.6 | % | 4.7 | % | |||||||
| Finance leases | 6.3 | % | 6.2 | % | |||||||
Supplemental cash flow and other information related to leases was as follows (in millions):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating cash flows from operating leases | $ | 2,015 | $ | 1,996 | $ | 1,914 | |||||||||||
| Operating cash flows from finance leases | 39 | 43 | 48 | ||||||||||||||
| Financing cash flows from finance leases | 114 | 83 | 78 | ||||||||||||||
| Non-cash transactions: | |||||||||||||||||
| ROU assets acquired through operating leases | 898 | 1,144 | 1,258 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating lease conversion to finance lease | 5 | 41 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Property and equipment acquired through finance leases | 11 | 20 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Gain on sale leaseback transactions, net | 107 | 107 | 59 | ||||||||||||||
177
Maturities of lease liabilities were as follows (in millions):
| December 31, 2020 | |||||||||||
| Operating Leases | Finance Leases | ||||||||||
| 2021 | $ | 1,932 | $ | 131 | |||||||
| 2022 | 1,764 | 136 | |||||||||
| 2023 | 1,575 | 114 | |||||||||
| 2024 | 1,184 | 120 | |||||||||
| 2025 | 808 | 85 | |||||||||
| 2026 and thereafter | 3,291 | 89 | |||||||||
| Total lease payments | 10,554 | 675 | |||||||||
| Less: Imputed interest | (2,174) | (103) | |||||||||
| Total lease obligations | 8,380 | 572 | |||||||||
| Less: Current obligations | (1,641) | (100) | |||||||||
| Long-term lease obligations | $ | 6,739 | $ | 472 | |||||||
As of December 31, 2020, American has additional operating lease commitments that have not yet commenced of approximately $1.7 billion for 19 Boeing 787-8 aircraft to be delivered in 2021 with lease terms of 10 years.
5. Income Taxes
The significant components of the income tax provision (benefit) were (in millions):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Current income tax provision (benefit): | |||||||||||||||||
| State and Local | $ | — | $ | 2 | $ | 3 | |||||||||||
| Foreign | — | 8 | 28 | ||||||||||||||
| Current income tax provision (benefit) | — | 10 | 31 | ||||||||||||||
| Deferred income tax provision (benefit): | |||||||||||||||||
| Federal | (2,224) | 567 | 453 | ||||||||||||||
| State and Local | (229) | 56 | 50 | ||||||||||||||
| Deferred income tax provision (benefit) | (2,453) | 623 | 503 | ||||||||||||||
| Total income tax provision (benefit) | $ | (2,453) | $ | 633 | $ | 534 | |||||||||||
The income tax provision (benefit) differed from amounts computed at the statutory federal income tax rate as follows (in millions):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Statutory income tax provision (benefit) | $ | (2,290) | $ | 547 | $ | 460 | |||||||||||
| State income tax provision (benefit), net of federal tax effect | (181) | 41 | 46 | ||||||||||||||
| Book expenses not deductible for tax purposes | 20 | 29 | 10 | ||||||||||||||
| Foreign income taxes, net of federal tax effect | — | 8 | 22 | ||||||||||||||
| Change in valuation allowance | — | 5 | (6) | ||||||||||||||
| Other, net | (2) | 3 | 2 | ||||||||||||||
| Income tax provision (benefit) | $ | (2,453) | $ | 633 | $ | 534 | |||||||||||
178
The components of American’s deferred tax assets and liabilities were (in millions):
| December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
| Deferred tax assets: | |||||||||||
| Operating loss carryforwards and other credits | $ | 3,944 | $ | 2,115 | |||||||
| Loyalty program liability | 1,977 | 1,755 | |||||||||
| Leases | 1,904 | 2,067 | |||||||||
| Pensions | 1,397 | 1,219 | |||||||||
| Postretirement benefits other than pensions | 203 | 145 | |||||||||
| Rent expense | 96 | 126 | |||||||||
| Reorganization items | 28 | 30 | |||||||||
| Alternative minimum tax (AMT) credit carryforwards | — | 118 | |||||||||
| Other | 796 | 569 | |||||||||
| Total deferred tax assets | 10,345 | 8,144 | |||||||||
| Valuation allowance | (24) | (24) | |||||||||
| Net deferred tax assets | 10,321 | 8,120 | |||||||||
| Deferred tax liabilities: | |||||||||||
| Accelerated depreciation and amortization | (4,992) | (5,153) | |||||||||
| Leases | (1,809) | (1,968) | |||||||||
| Other | (294) | (340) | |||||||||
| Total deferred tax liabilities | (7,095) | (7,461) | |||||||||
| Net deferred tax asset | $ | 3,226 | $ | 659 | |||||||
At December 31, 2020, American had approximately $16.5 billion of federal net operating losses (NOLs) available to reduce future federal taxable income, of which $8.9 billion will expire beginning in 2023 if unused and $7.6 billion can be carried forward indefinitely (NOL Carryforwards). American is a member of AAG’s consolidated federal and certain state income tax returns. American also had approximately $5.0 billion of NOL Carryforwards to reduce future state taxable income at December 31, 2020, which will expire in taxable years 2020 through 2040 if unused.
American’s ability to use its NOL Carryforwards depends on the amount of taxable income generated in future periods. American provides a valuation allowance for its deferred tax assets, which include the NOLs, when it is more likely than not that some portion, or all of its deferred tax assets, will not be realized. American considers all available positive and negative evidence and makes certain assumptions in evaluating the realizability of its deferred tax assets. Many factors are considered that impact American’s assessment of future profitability, including conditions which are beyond its control, such as the health of the economy, the availability and price volatility of aircraft fuel and travel demand. American presently has a $24 million valuation allowance on certain net deferred tax assets related to state NOL Carryforwards. There can be no assurance that an additional valuation allowance on American’s net deferred tax assets will not be required. Such valuation allowance could be material.
American’s ability to deduct its NOL Carryforwards and to utilize certain other available tax attributes can be substantially constrained under the general annual limitation rules of Section 382 where an “ownership change” has occurred. Substantially all of American’s remaining federal NOL Carryforwards attributable to US Airways Group are subject to limitation under Section 382; however, American’s ability to utilize such NOL Carryforwards is not anticipated to be effectively constrained as a result of such limitation. Similar limitations may apply for state income tax purposes. American’s ability to utilize any new NOL Carryforwards arising after the ownership changes is not affected by the annual limitation rules imposed by Section 382 unless another ownership change occurs. Under the Section 382 limitation, cumulative stock ownership changes among material stockholders exceeding 50% during a rolling three-year period can potentially limit American’s future use of NOLs and tax credits.
At December 31, 2019, American had an AMT credit carryforward of approximately $226 million available for federal income tax purposes, which was fully refunded in 2020 as a result of the CARES Act.
179
In 2020, American recorded an income tax benefit of $2.5 billion, with an effective rate of approximately 22%, which was substantially non-cash. Substantially all of American’s income before income taxes is attributable to the United States.
American files its tax returns as prescribed by the tax laws of the jurisdictions in which it operates. American’s 2017 through 2019 tax years are still subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. Various state and foreign jurisdiction tax years remain open to examination and American is under examination, in administrative appeals, or engaged in tax litigation in certain jurisdictions. American believes that the effect of any assessments will not be material to its consolidated financial statements.
The amount of, and changes to, American’s uncertain tax positions were not material in any of the years presented. American accrues interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense and operating expense, respectively.
6. Risk Management
American’s economic prospects are heavily dependent upon two variables it cannot control: general economic conditions and the price of fuel.
Due to the discretionary nature of business and leisure travel spending and the highly competitive nature of the airline industry, American’s revenues are heavily influenced by the condition of the U.S. economy and economies in other regions of the world. Unfavorable conditions in these broader economies have resulted, and may result in the future, in decreased passenger demand for air travel, changes in booking practices and related reactions by American’s competitors, all of which in turn have had, and may have in the future, a strong negative effect on American’s business. In particular, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and associated decline in economic activity and increase in unemployment levels are expected to have a severe and prolonged effect on the global economy generally and, in turn, is expected to depress demand for air travel into the foreseeable future. Due to the uncertainty surrounding the duration and severity of this pandemic, American can provide no assurance as to when and at what pace demand for air travel will return to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, if at all. Accordingly, American cannot predict the ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, during challenging economic times, actions by its competitors to increase their revenues can have an adverse impact on American’s revenues.
American’s operating results are materially impacted by changes in the availability, price volatility and cost of aircraft fuel, which represents one of the largest single cost items in American’s business. Aircraft fuel prices have in the past, and may in the future, experience substantial volatility. Because of the amount of fuel needed to operate American’s business, even a relatively small increase or decrease in the price of aircraft fuel can have a material effect on American’s operating results and liquidity.
These additional factors could impact American’s results of operations, financial performance and liquidity:
(a) Credit Risk
American’s accounts receivable relate primarily to its contracts with airline and non-airline business partners, including its co-branded credit card partners, and to tickets sold to individual passengers primarily through the use of major credit cards. Receivables from American’s business partners are typically settled within 30 days. Receivables from ticket sales are short-term, mostly settled within seven days after sale. All accounts receivable are reported net of an allowance for credit losses, which have been minimal in the past. American considers past and future financial and qualitative factors when establishing the allowance for credit losses. American does not believe it is subject to any significant concentration of credit risk.
(b) Interest Rate Risk
American has exposure to market risk associated with changes in interest rates related primarily to its LIBOR variable-rate debt obligations. Interest rates on $12.8 billion principal amount of long-term debt as of December 31, 2020 are subject to adjustment to reflect changes in floating interest rates. The weighted average effective interest rate on American’s variable-rate debt was 2.0% at December 31, 2020. American currently does not have an interest rate hedge program to hedge its exposure to floating interest rates on its variable-rate debt obligations.
180
On July 27, 2017, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (the authority that regulates LIBOR) announced that it intends to stop compelling banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR after 2021. The discontinuation date for submission and publication of rates for certain tenors of USD LIBOR (1-month, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month) is currently under consultation by the ICE Benchmark Administration (the administrator of LIBOR) and may be extended until June 30, 2023. It is unclear whether new methods of calculating LIBOR will be established such that it continues to exist after 2021. Similarly, it is not possible to predict whether LIBOR will continue to be viewed as an acceptable market benchmark, what rate or rates may become acceptable alternatives to LIBOR, or what effect these changes in views or alternatives may have on financial markets for LIBOR-linked financial instruments. The replacement of LIBOR with a comparable or successor rate could cause the amount of interest payable on American’s long-term debt to be different or higher than expected.
(c) Foreign Currency Risk
American is exposed to the effect of foreign exchange rate fluctuations on the U.S. dollar value of foreign currency-denominated transactions. American’s largest exposure comes from the British pound sterling, Euro, Canadian dollar and various Latin American currencies, primarily the Brazilian real. American does not currently have a foreign currency hedge program.
7. Fair Value Measurements and Other Investments
Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received from the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability (i.e. an exit price) on the measurement date in an orderly transaction between market participants in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability. Accounting standards include disclosure requirements around fair values used for certain financial instruments and establish a fair value hierarchy. The hierarchy prioritizes valuation inputs into three levels based on the extent to which inputs used in measuring fair value are observable in the market. Each fair value measurement is reported in one of three levels:
•Level 1 – Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets;
•Level 2 – Inputs, other than quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and
•Level 3 – Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.
When available, American uses quoted market prices to determine the fair value of its financial assets. If quoted market prices are not available, American measures fair value using valuation techniques that use, when possible, current market-based or independently-sourced market parameters, such as interest rates and currency rates.
American utilizes the market approach to measure the fair value of its financial assets. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets. American’s short-term investments classified as Level 2 primarily utilize broker quotes in a non-active market for valuation of these securities. No changes in valuation techniques or inputs occurred during the year ended December 31, 2020.
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below (in millions):
| Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Short-term investments (1), (2): | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Money market funds | $ | 245 | $ | 245 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
| Corporate obligations | 3,449 | — | 3,449 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Bank notes/certificates of deposit/time deposits | 2,168 | — | 2,168 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Repurchase agreements | 755 | — | 755 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| 6,617 | 245 | 6,372 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted cash and short-term investments (1), (3) | 609 | 448 | 161 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Long-term investments (4) | 161 | 161 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 7,387 | $ | 854 | $ | 6,533 | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
181
| Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Short-term investments (1): | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Money market funds | $ | 331 | $ | 331 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
| Bank notes/certificates of deposit/time deposits | 2,106 | — | 2,106 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate obligations | 1,021 | — | 1,021 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Repurchase agreements | 85 | — | 85 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| 3,543 | 331 | 3,212 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted cash and short-term investments (1) | 158 | 10 | 148 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Long-term investments (4) | 204 | 204 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 3,905 | $ | 545 | $ | 3,360 | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
(1)All short-term investments are classified as available-for-sale and stated at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss at each reporting period. There were no credit losses.
(2)American’s short-term investments as of December 31, 2020 mature in one year or less except for $235 million of bank notes/certificates of deposit/time deposits.
(3)Restricted cash and short-term investments primarily include money market funds to be used to finance a substantial portion of the cost of the renovation and expansion of Terminal 8 at JFK and collateral held to support workers' compensation obligations.
(4)Long-term investments primarily include American's equity investment in China Southern Airlines, in which American presently owns a 1.8% equity interest, and are classified in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets.
Fair Value of Debt
The fair value of American’s long-term debt was estimated using quoted market prices or discounted cash flow analyses, based on American’s current estimated incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements. If American’s long-term debt was measured at fair value, it would have been classified as Level 2 except for $550 million which would have been classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
The carrying value and estimated fair value of American’s long-term debt, including current maturities, were as follows (in millions):
| December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carrying Value | Fair Value | Carrying Value | Fair Value | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt, including current maturities | $ | 28,410 | $ | 27,193 | $ | 22,372 | $ | 23,196 | |||||||||||||||
Other Investments
American has an approximate 25% ownership interest in Republic Holdings, which it received in 2017 in consideration for its unsecured claim in the Republic Holdings bankruptcy case. This ownership interest is accounted for under the equity method and American’s portion of Republic Holdings’ financial results is recognized within other, net on the consolidated statements of operations and the investment is reflected within other assets on its consolidated balance sheets.
182
8. Employee Benefit Plans
American sponsors defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans for eligible employees. The defined benefit pension plans provide benefits for participating employees based on years of service and average compensation for a specified period of time before retirement. Effective November 1, 2012, substantially all of American’s defined benefit pension plans were frozen and American began providing enhanced benefits under its defined contribution pension plans for certain employee groups. American uses a December 31 measurement date for all of its defined benefit pension plans. American also provides certain retiree medical and other postretirement benefits, including health care and life insurance benefits, to retired employees. Effective November 1, 2012, American modified its retiree medical and other postretirement benefits plans to eliminate the company subsidy for employees who retire on or after November 1, 2012. As a result of modifications to its retiree medical and other postretirement benefits plans in 2012, American recognized a negative plan amendment of $1.9 billion, which was included as a component of prior service benefit in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (AOCI) and was amortized over the future service life of the active plan participants for whom the benefit was eliminated. As of December 31, 2020, this prior service benefit was fully amortized.
Effective January 1, 2021, health coverage under American’s retiree medical benefit program that is currently provided to certain retirees age 65 and over who retired prior to November 1, 2012, transitioned from a self-insured plan to a fully-insured Medicare Advantage plan. Benefits coverage has not been reduced and cost shared has not changed as a result of this transition. Due to this transition, as of December 31, 2020, American recognized a negative plan amendment of $313 million to reduce its benefit obligation, which was included as a component of prior service cost in accumulated other comprehensive loss and will be amortized over the average remaining life expectancy of all retirees, or approximately 13.3 years.
Benefit Obligations, Fair Value of Plan Assets and Funded Status
The following tables provide a reconciliation of the changes in the pension and retiree medical and other postretirement benefits obligations, fair value of plan assets and a statement of funded status as of December 31, 2020 and 2019:
| Pension Benefits | Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Benefit obligation at beginning of period | $ | 18,246 | $ | 16,282 | $ | 824 | $ | 837 | |||||||||||||||
| Service cost | 2 | 2 | 8 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Interest cost | 611 | 699 | 30 | 33 | |||||||||||||||||||
Actuarial loss (1), (2) | 1,603 | 1,951 | 46 | 20 | |||||||||||||||||||
Special termination benefits (3) | — | — | 410 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Plan amendments (4) | — | — | (195) | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Settlements | (36) | (2) | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Benefit payments | (736) | (686) | (77) | (74) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other | — | — | — | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Benefit obligation at end of period | $ | 19,690 | $ | 18,246 | $ | 1,046 | $ | 824 | |||||||||||||||
| Fair value of plan assets at beginning of period | $ | 12,829 | $ | 10,001 | $ | 204 | $ | 225 | |||||||||||||||
| Actual return on plan assets | 1,414 | 2,292 | 13 | 41 | |||||||||||||||||||
Employer contributions (5) | 6 | 1,224 | 30 | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Settlements | (36) | (2) | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Benefit payments | (736) | (686) | (77) | (74) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value of plan assets at end of period | $ | 13,477 | $ | 12,829 | $ | 170 | $ | 204 | |||||||||||||||
| Funded status at end of period | $ | (6,213) | $ | (5,417) | $ | (876) | $ | (620) | |||||||||||||||
(1)The 2020 and 2019 pension actuarial loss primarily relates to the change in American’s weighted average discount rate assumption and, additionally, in 2019, the change to American’s mortality assumption.
(2)The 2020 retiree medical and other postretirement benefits actuarial loss primarily relates to the change in American’s weighted average discount rate assumption.
183
The 2019 retiree medical and other postretirement benefits actuarial loss primarily relates to changes in American’s weighted average discount rate assumption and plan experience adjustments.
(3)During the third quarter of 2020, American remeasured its retiree medical and other postretirement benefits to account for enhanced healthcare benefits provided to eligible team members who opted in to voluntary early retirement programs offered as a result of reductions to its operation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the third quarter of 2020, American recognized a $410 million special charge for these enhanced healthcare benefits and increased its postretirement benefits obligation by $410 million.
(4)Principally relates to the transition of American’s retiree medical benefit program from a self-insured plan to a fully-insured Medicare Advantage plan as discussed above.
(5)Pursuant to the CARES Act, minimum required contributions to be made in the calendar year 2020 can be deferred to January 1, 2021, with interest accruing from the original due date to the new payment date. During 2019, American contributed $1.2 billion to its defined benefit pension plans, including a $780 million minimum required contribution and supplemental contributions of $444 million.
Balance Sheet Position
| Pension Benefits | Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| As of December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current liability | $ | 7 | $ | 5 | $ | 55 | $ | 24 | |||||||||||||||
| Noncurrent liability | 6,206 | 5,412 | 821 | 596 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total liabilities | $ | 6,213 | $ | 5,417 | $ | 876 | $ | 620 | |||||||||||||||
| Net actuarial loss (gain) | $ | 6,679 | $ | 5,662 | $ | (358) | $ | (426) | |||||||||||||||
| Prior service cost (benefit) | 75 | 102 | (181) | (120) | |||||||||||||||||||
Total accumulated other comprehensive loss (income), pre-tax | $ | 6,754 | $ | 5,764 | $ | (539) | $ | (546) | |||||||||||||||
Plans with Projected Benefit Obligations Exceeding Fair Value of Plan Assets
| Pension Benefits | |||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
| (In millions) | |||||||||||
| Projected benefit obligation | $ | 19,690 | $ | 18,215 | |||||||
| Fair value of plan assets | 13,477 | 12,794 | |||||||||
Plans with Accumulated Benefit Obligations Exceeding Fair Value of Plan Assets
| Pension Benefits | Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accumulated benefit obligation (ABO) | $ | 19,678 | $ | 18,204 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation | — | — | 1,046 | 824 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value of plan assets | 13,477 | 12,794 | 170 | 204 | |||||||||||||||||||
184
Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Income)
| Pension Benefits | Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Defined benefit plans: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service cost | $ | 2 | $ | 2 | $ | 2 | $ | 8 | $ | 3 | $ | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest cost | 611 | 699 | 670 | 30 | 33 | 35 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Expected return on assets | (1,005) | (811) | (901) | (11) | (15) | (24) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Special termination benefits | — | — | — | 410 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Settlements | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prior service cost (benefit) | 29 | 28 | 28 | (135) | (236) | (236) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unrecognized net loss (gain) | 164 | 150 | 140 | (24) | (31) | (21) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net periodic benefit cost (income) | $ | (187) | $ | 68 | $ | (61) | $ | 278 | $ | (246) | $ | (241) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
The service cost component of net periodic benefit cost (income) is included in operating expenses, the cost for the special termination benefits is included in special items, net and the other components of net periodic benefit cost (income) are included in nonoperating other income (expense), net in American’s consolidated statements of operations.
Assumptions
The following actuarial assumptions were used to determine American’s benefit obligations and net periodic benefit cost (income) for the periods presented:
| Pension Benefits | Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Benefit obligations: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted average discount rate | 2.7% | 3.4% | 2.4% | 3.3% | |||||||||||||||||||
| Pension Benefits | Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net periodic benefit cost (income): | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted average discount rate | 3.4% | 4.4% | 3.8% | 3.2% | 4.3% | 3.6% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weighted average expected rate of return on plan assets | 8.0% | 8.0% | 8.0% | 8.0% | 8.0% | 8.0% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weighted average health care cost trend rate assumed for next year (1) | N/A | N/A | N/A | 4.0% | 3.7% | 3.9% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)The weighted average health care cost trend rate at December 31, 2020 is assumed to decline gradually to 3.4% by 2027 and remain level thereafter.
As of December 31, 2020, American’s estimate of the long-term rate of return on plan assets was 8.0% based on the target asset allocation. Expected returns on long duration bonds are based on yields to maturity of the bonds held at year-end. Expected returns on other assets are based on a combination of long-term historical returns, actual returns on plan assets achieved over the last ten years, current and expected market conditions, and expected value to be generated through active management and securities lending programs.
185
Minimum Contributions
American is required to make minimum contributions to its defined benefit pension plans under the minimum funding requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and various other laws for U.S. based plans as well as underfunding rules specific to countries where American maintains defined benefit plans. Based on current funding assumptions, American has minimum required contributions of $694 million for 2021 including $130 million of minimum contributions required for 2020 that were deferred pursuant to the CARES Act as discussed above. In January 2021, American made $241 million of required pension contributions, including the $130 million minimum contributions required for 2020. American’s funding obligations will depend on the performance of American’s investments held in trust by the pension plans, interest rates for determining liabilities, the amount of and timing of any supplemental contributions and American’s actuarial experience.
Benefit Payments
The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service as appropriate, are expected to be paid (approximately, in millions):
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026-2030 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pension benefits | $ | 786 | $ | 825 | $ | 868 | $ | 909 | $ | 947 | $ | 5,120 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Retiree medical and other postretirement benefits | 102 | 93 | 89 | 86 | 82 | 356 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Plan Assets
The objectives of American’s investment policies are to: maintain sufficient income and liquidity to pay retirement benefits; produce a long-term rate of return that meets or exceeds the assumed rate of return for plan assets; limit the volatility of asset performance and funded status; and diversify assets among asset classes and investment managers.
Based on these investment objectives, a long-term strategic asset allocation has been established. This strategic allocation seeks to balance the potential benefit of improving the funded position with the potential risk that the funded position would decline. The current strategic target asset allocation is as follows:
| Asset Class/Sub-Class | Allowed Range | ||||
| Equity | 45% - 80% | ||||
| Public: | |||||
| U.S. Large | 10% - 40% | ||||
| U.S. Small/Mid | 2% - 10% | ||||
| International | 10% - 25% | ||||
| International Small/Mid | 0% - 10% | ||||
| Emerging Markets | 2% - 15% | ||||
| Alternative Investments | 5% - 30% | ||||
| Fixed Income | 20% - 55% | ||||
| Public: | |||||
| U.S. Long Duration | 15% - 45% | ||||
| High Yield and Emerging Markets | 0% - 10% | ||||
| Private Income | 0% - 15% | ||||
| Other | 0% - 5% | ||||
| Cash Equivalents | 0% - 20% | ||||
U.S. long duration bonds are used to partially hedge the assets from declines in interest rates. Public equity as well as high yield fixed income securities are used to provide diversification and are expected to generate higher returns over the long-term than U.S. long duration bonds. Alternative (private) investments are used to provide expected returns in excess of the public markets over the long-term. The pension plan’s master trust also participates in securities lending programs to generate additional income by loaning plan assets to borrowers on a fully collateralized basis. These programs are subject to market risk.
186
Investments in securities traded on recognized securities exchanges are valued at the last reported sales price on the last business day of the year. Securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued at the last bid price. Investments in limited partnerships are carried at estimated net asset value as determined by and reported by the general partners of the partnerships and represent the proportionate share of the estimated fair value of the underlying assets of the limited partnerships. Common/collective trusts are valued at net asset value based on the fair values of the underlying investments of the trusts as determined by the sponsor of the trusts. No changes in valuation techniques or inputs occurred during the year.
Benefit Plan Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
The fair value of American’s pension plan assets at December 31, 2020 and 2019, by asset category, were as follows (in millions):
| Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Category | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 40 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 40 | |||||||||||||||
| Equity securities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
International markets (a), (b) | 2,282 | — | — | 2,282 | |||||||||||||||||||
Large-cap companies (b) | 2,085 | — | — | 2,085 | |||||||||||||||||||
Mid-cap companies (b) | 428 | — | — | 428 | |||||||||||||||||||
Small-cap companies (b) | 73 | 1 | — | 74 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fixed income: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate debt (c) | — | 3,026 | — | 3,026 | |||||||||||||||||||
Government securities (d) | — | 1,010 | — | 1,010 | |||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. municipal securities | — | 30 | — | 30 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Alternative instruments: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Private market partnerships (e) | — | — | 15 | 15 | |||||||||||||||||||
Private market partnerships measured at net asset value (e), (f) | — | — | — | 1,791 | |||||||||||||||||||
Common/collective trusts (g) | — | 259 | — | 259 | |||||||||||||||||||
Common/collective trusts measured at net asset value (f), (g) | — | — | — | 2,384 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Insurance group annuity contracts | — | — | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Dividend and interest receivable | 49 | — | — | 49 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Due from brokers for sale of securities – net | 1 | — | — | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other receivables – net | 1 | — | — | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 4,959 | $ | 4,326 | $ | 17 | $ | 13,477 | |||||||||||||||
(a)Holdings are diversified as follows: 11% Switzerland, 11% Ireland, 10% United Kingdom, 9% France, 8% Japan, 7% Germany, 6% Netherlands, 13% emerging markets and the remaining 25% with no concentration greater than 5% in any one country.
(b)There are no significant concentrations of holdings by company or industry.
(c)Includes approximately 77% investments in corporate debt with a S&P rating lower than A and 23% investments in corporate debt with a S&P rating A or higher. Holdings include 89% U.S. companies, 9% international companies and 2% emerging market companies.
(d)Includes approximately 89% investments in U.S. domestic government securities, 9% in emerging market government securities and 2% in international government securities. There are no significant foreign currency risks within this classification.
187
(e)Includes limited partnerships that invest primarily in domestic private equity and private income opportunities. The pension plan’s master trust does not have the right to redeem its limited partnership investment at its net asset value, but rather receives distributions as the underlying assets are liquidated. It is estimated that the underlying assets of these funds will be gradually liquidated over the next to ten years. Additionally, the pension plan’s master trust has future funding commitments of approximately $1.6 billion over the next ten years.
(f)Certain investments that are measured using net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient for fair value have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amounts presented in this table are intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the amounts presented in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.
(g)Investment includes 34% in a common/collective trust investing in large market capitalization equity securities within the U.S., 30% in three common/collective trusts investing in emerging country equity securities, 21% in a common/collective trust investing in equity securities of companies located outside the U.S., 9% in a collective interest trust investing primarily in short-term securities, 5% in a common/collective trust investing in smaller market capitalization equity securities within the U.S. and 1% in Canadian segregated balanced value, income growth and diversified pooled funds. For some trusts, requests for withdrawals must meet specific requirements with advance notice of redemption preferred.
| Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Category | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 20 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 20 | |||||||||||||||
| Equity securities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
International markets (a), (b) | 2,769 | — | — | 2,769 | |||||||||||||||||||
Large-cap companies (b) | 2,312 | — | — | 2,312 | |||||||||||||||||||
Mid-cap companies (b) | 543 | — | — | 543 | |||||||||||||||||||
Small-cap companies (b) | 97 | — | — | 97 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fixed income: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate debt (c) | — | 2,804 | — | 2,804 | |||||||||||||||||||
Government securities (d) | — | 923 | — | 923 | |||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. municipal securities | — | 51 | — | 51 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Mortgage backed securities | — | 4 | — | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Alternative instruments: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Private market partnerships (e) | — | — | 10 | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||
Private market partnerships measured at net asset value (e), (f) | — | — | — | 1,464 | |||||||||||||||||||
Common/collective trusts (g) | — | 358 | — | 358 | |||||||||||||||||||
Common/collective trusts and 103-12 Investment Trust measured at net asset value (f), (g) | — | — | — | 1,423 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Insurance group annuity contracts | — | — | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Dividend and interest receivable | 53 | — | — | 53 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Due to brokers for sale of securities – net | (4) | — | — | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 5,790 | $ | 4,140 | $ | 12 | $ | 12,829 | |||||||||||||||
(a)Holdings are diversified as follows: 14% United Kingdom, 8% Switzerland, 8% Ireland, 7% Japan, 7% France, 6% South Korea, 6% Canada, 18% emerging markets and the remaining 26% with no concentration greater than 5% in any one country.
(b)There are no significant concentrations of holdings by company or industry.
188
(c)Includes approximately 76% investments in corporate debt with a S&P rating lower than A and 24% investments in corporate debt with a S&P rating A or higher. Holdings include 86% U.S. companies, 11% international companies and 3% emerging market companies.
(d)Includes approximately 79% investments in U.S. domestic government securities, 13% in emerging market government securities and 8% in international government securities. There are no significant foreign currency risks within this classification.
(e)Includes limited partnerships that invest primarily in domestic private equity and private income opportunities. The pension plan’s master trust does not have the right to redeem its limited partnership investment at its net asset value, but rather receives distributions as the underlying assets are liquidated. It is estimated that the underlying assets of these funds will be gradually liquidated over the next to ten years. Additionally, the pension plan’s master trust has future funding commitments of approximately $1.4 billion over the next ten years.
(f)Certain investments that are measured using net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient for fair value have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amounts presented in this table are intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the amounts presented in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.
(g)Investment includes 36% in a common/collective trust investing in securities of larger companies within the U.S., 29% in a common/collective trust investing in securities of smaller companies located outside the U.S., 16% in a collective interest trust investing primarily in short-term securities, 15% in an emerging market 103-12 Investment Trust with investments in emerging country equity securities and 4% in Canadian segregated balanced value, income growth and diversified pooled funds. For some trusts, requests for withdrawals must meet specific requirements with advance notice of redemption preferred.
Changes in fair value measurements of Level 3 investments during the year ended December 31, 2020, were as follows (in millions):
| Private Market Partnerships | Insurance Group Annuity Contracts | ||||||||||
| Beginning balance at December 31, 2019 | $ | 10 | $ | 2 | |||||||
| Actual gain on plan assets: | |||||||||||
| Relating to assets still held at the reporting date | 1 | — | |||||||||
| Purchases | 4 | — | |||||||||
| Ending balance at December 31, 2020 | $ | 15 | $ | 2 | |||||||
Changes in fair value measurements of Level 3 investments during the year ended December 31, 2019, were as follows (in millions):
| Private Market Partnerships | Insurance Group Annuity Contracts | ||||||||||
| Beginning balance at December 31, 2018 | $ | 7 | $ | 2 | |||||||
| Purchases | 3 | — | |||||||||
| Ending balance at December 31, 2019 | $ | 10 | $ | 2 | |||||||
The fair value of American’s retiree medical and other postretirement benefits plans assets by asset category, were as follows (in millions):
| Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Category | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
| Money market fund | $ | 4 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 4 | |||||||||||||||
| Mutual funds – AAL Class | — | 166 | — | 166 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 4 | $ | 166 | $ | — | $ | 170 | |||||||||||||||
189
| Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Category | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
| Money market fund | $ | 4 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 4 | |||||||||||||||
| Mutual funds – AAL Class | — | 200 | — | 200 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 4 | $ | 200 | $ | — | $ | 204 | |||||||||||||||
Investments in the retiree medical and other postretirement benefits plans’ mutual funds are valued by quoted prices on the active market, which is fair value, and represents the net asset value of the shares of such funds as of the close of business at the end of the period. Net asset value is based on the fair market value of the funds’ underlying assets and liabilities at the date of determination. The AAL Class mutual funds are offered only to benefit plans of American, therefore, trading is restricted only to American, resulting in a fair value classification of Level 2. Investments included approximately 25% and 24% of investments in non-U.S. common stocks in 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Defined Contribution and Multiemployer Plans
The costs associated with American’s defined contribution plans were $835 million, $836 million and $825 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
American participates in the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAM) National Pension Fund, Employer Identification No. 51-6031295 and Plan No. 002 (the IAM Pension Fund). American’s contributions to the IAM Pension Fund were $40 million, $32 million and $31 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The IAM Pension Fund reported $510 million in employers’ contributions for the year ended December 31, 2019, which is the most recent year for which such information is available. For 2019, American’s contributions represented more than 5% of total contributions to the IAM Pension Fund.
On March 29, 2019, the actuary for the IAM Pension Fund certified that the fund was in “endangered” status despite reporting a funded status of over 80%. Additionally, the IAM Pension Fund’s Board voluntarily elected to enter into “critical” status on April 17, 2019. Upon entry into critical status, the IAM Pension Fund was required by law to adopt a rehabilitation plan aimed at restoring the financial health of the pension plan and did so on April 17, 2019 (the Rehabilitation Plan). Under the Rehabilitation Plan, American was subject to an immaterial contribution surcharge, which ceased to apply June 14, 2019 upon American’s mandatory adoption of a contribution schedule under the Rehabilitation Plan. The contribution schedule requires 2.5% annual increases to its contribution rate. This contribution schedule will remain in effect through the earlier of December 31, 2031 or the date the IAM Pension Fund emerges from critical status.
Profit Sharing Program
American accrues 5% of its pre-tax income excluding net special items for its profit sharing program. As a result of American’s pre-tax loss excluding net special items, there will not be a payout for 2020 under its profit sharing program.
190
9. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
The components of AOCI are as follows (in millions):
| Pension, Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits | Unrealized Gain on Investments | Income Tax Benefit (Provision) (1) | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2018 | $ | (4,658) | $ | (5) | $ | (1,329) | $ | (5,992) | |||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications | (471) | 3 | 106 | (362) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Amounts reclassified from AOCI | (89) | — | 20 | (2) | (69) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss) | (560) | 3 | 126 | (431) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2019 | (5,218) | (2) | (1,203) | (6,423) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications | (1,043) | — | 236 | (807) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Amounts reclassified from AOCI | 46 | — | (10) | (2) | 36 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss) | (997) | — | 226 | (771) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2020 | $ | (6,215) | $ | (2) | $ | (977) | $ | (7,194) | |||||||||||||||
(1)Relates principally to pension, retiree medical and other postretirement benefits obligations that will not be recognized in net income (loss) until the obligations are fully extinguished.
(2)Relates to pension, retiree medical and other postretirement benefits obligations and is recognized within the income tax provision (benefit) on American’s consolidated statements of operations.
Reclassifications out of AOCI for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 are as follows (in millions):
| Amounts reclassified from AOCI | Affected line items on the consolidated statements of operations | ||||||||||||||||
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| AOCI Components | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Amortization of pension, retiree medical and other postretirement benefits: | |||||||||||||||||
| Prior service benefit | $ | (82) | $ | (162) | Nonoperating other income, net | ||||||||||||
| Actuarial loss | 118 | 93 | Nonoperating other income, net | ||||||||||||||
| Total reclassifications for the period, net of tax | $ | 36 | $ | (69) | |||||||||||||
Amounts allocated to other comprehensive income for income taxes as further described in Note 5 will remain in AOCI until American ceases all related activities, such as termination of the pension plan.
10. Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees
(a) Aircraft, Engine and Other Purchase Commitments
Under all of American’s aircraft and engine purchase agreements, its total future commitments as of December 31, 2020 are expected to be as follows (approximately, in millions):
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 and Thereafter | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Payments for aircraft commitments and certain engines (1) | $ | 527 | $ | 1,661 | $ | 1,592 | $ | 2,377 | $ | 3,381 | $ | 1,742 | $ | 11,280 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)These amounts are net of purchase deposits currently held by the manufacturers. American has granted a security interest in certain of its purchase deposits with Boeing to secure certain obligations to Boeing and third-party financing sources. American’s purchase deposits held by all manufacturers totaled $1.4 billion as of December 31, 2020.
191
On March 13, 2019, a directive from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded all U.S.-registered Boeing 737 MAX Family aircraft and, as a result, all deliveries of Boeing 737 MAX Family aircraft were suspended. Since the time of the FAA recertification of the Boeing 737 MAX Family aircraft on November 18, 2020, deliveries have resumed and American accepted delivery of 10 Boeing 737 MAX Family aircraft during the period between the date of recertification and December 31, 2020. American has rights to defer one Boeing 737 MAX Family aircraft from delivery in 2021 to 2023 and rights to defer 10 Boeing 737 MAX Family aircraft from delivery in 2022 to 2023-2024.
Due to the uncertainty surrounding the timing of delivery of certain aircraft, the amounts in the table represent American’s current best estimate; however, the actual delivery schedule may differ from the table above, potentially materially.
The amounts in the table exclude 19 Boeing 787-8 aircraft to be delivered in 2021 for which American has obtained committed lease financing. See Note 4 for information regarding this operating lease commitment.
Additionally, American has purchase commitments related to aircraft fuel, flight equipment maintenance, construction projects and information technology support as follows (approximately): $2.3 billion in 2021, $1.3 billion in 2022, $1.2 billion in 2023, $242 million in 2024, $163 million in 2025 and $1.0 billion in 2026 and thereafter.
(b) Capacity Purchase Agreements with Third-Party Regional Carriers
American has capacity purchase agreements with third-party regional carriers. The capacity purchase agreements provide that all revenues, including passenger, in-flight, ancillary, mail and freight revenues, go to American. American controls marketing, scheduling, ticketing, pricing and seat inventories. In return, American agrees to pay predetermined fees to these airlines for operating an agreed-upon number of aircraft, without regard to the number of passengers on board. In addition, these agreements provide that American either reimburses or pays 100% of certain variable costs, such as airport landing fees, fuel and passenger liability insurance.
As of December 31, 2020, American’s capacity purchase agreements with third-party regional carriers had expiration dates ranging from 2021 to 2027, with rights of American to extend the respective terms of certain agreements.
As of December 31, 2020, American’s minimum obligations under its capacity purchase agreements with third-party regional carriers are as follows (approximately, in millions):
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 and Thereafter | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minimum obligations under capacity purchase agreements with third-party regional carriers (1) | $ | 1,120 | $ | 1,666 | $ | 1,685 | $ | 1,663 | $ | 1,511 | $ | 3,646 | $ | 11,291 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Represents minimum payments under capacity purchase agreements with third-party regional carriers, which are estimates of costs based on assumed minimum levels of flying under the capacity purchase agreements and American’s actual payments could differ materially. Excludes payments for the lease of certain aircraft under capacity purchase agreements, which are reflected in the operating lease obligations in Note 4.
(c) Airport Redevelopment
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
From time to time, airports where American has operations engage in construction projects, often substantial, that result in new or improved facilities that are ultimately funded through increases in the rent and other occupancy costs payable by airlines using the airport. Unlike this construction and funding model, American is managing a project at LAX where it has legal title to the assets during construction. In 2018, American executed a lease agreement with Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), which owns and operates LAX, in connection with a $1.6 billion modernization project related to LAX Terminals 4 and 5. Construction, which started in October 2018 and is expected to be completed in 2028, will occur in a phased approach. The modernization project will include a unified departure hall to the entranceway of Terminals 4 and 5, reconfigured ticket counter and check-in areas with seamless access to security screening areas, 10 new security screening lanes with automated technology in addition to the existing Terminal 5 lanes, and a new Terminal 4 South concourse with more open and upgraded amenities at gate areas. The project will also include renovated break rooms, multi-use meeting rooms and team gathering spaces throughout the terminals to support American’s team members at LAX.
192
As each phase is completed, the assets will be sold and transferred to LAWA, including the site improvements and non-proprietary improvements. As American controls the assets during construction, they are recognized on its balance sheet until legal title has transferred. As of December 31, 2020, American has incurred approximately $223 million in costs relating to the LAX modernization project, of which $114 million were incurred during 2020, and have been included within operating property and equipment on its consolidated balance sheet. As of December 31, 2020, American has sold and transferred $111 million of non-proprietary improvements to LAWA, all of which occurred during 2020.
(d) Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Aircraft and Engines
American currently operates 350 owned aircraft and 24 leased aircraft, and owns 62 spare aircraft engines, which in each case were financed with EETCs issued by pass-through trusts. These trusts are off-balance sheet entities, the primary purpose of which is to finance the acquisition of flight equipment or to permit issuance of debt backed by existing flight equipment. In the case of aircraft EETCs, rather than finance each aircraft separately when such aircraft is purchased, delivered or refinanced, these trusts allow American to raise the financing for a number of aircraft at one time and, if applicable, place such funds in escrow pending a future purchase, delivery or refinancing of the relevant aircraft. Similarly, in the case of the spare engine EETCs, the trusts allow American to use its existing pool of spare engines to raise financing under a single facility. The trusts have also been structured to provide for certain credit enhancements, such as liquidity facilities to cover certain interest payments, that reduce the risks to the purchasers of the trust certificates and, as a result, reduce the cost of aircraft financing to American.
Each trust covers a set number of aircraft or spare engines scheduled to be delivered, financed or refinanced upon the issuance of the EETC or within a specific period of time thereafter. At the time of each covered aircraft or spare engine financing, the relevant trust used the proceeds of the issuance of the EETC (which may have been available at the time of issuance thereof or held in escrow until financing of the applicable aircraft following its delivery) to purchase equipment notes relating to the financed aircraft or engines. The equipment notes are issued, at American’s election, in connection with a mortgage financing of the aircraft or spare engines or, in certain cases, by a separate owner trust in connection with a leveraged lease financing of the aircraft. In the case of a leveraged lease financing, the owner trust then leases the aircraft to American. In both cases, the equipment notes are secured by a security interest in the aircraft or engines, as applicable. The pass-through trust certificates are not direct obligations of, nor are they guaranteed by, AAG or American. However, in the case of mortgage financings, the equipment notes issued to the trusts are direct obligations of American and, in certain instances, have been guaranteed by AAG. As of December 31, 2020, $11.0 billion associated with these mortgage financings is reflected as debt in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.
With respect to leveraged leases, American evaluated whether the leases had characteristics of a variable interest entity. American concluded the leasing entities met the criteria for variable interest entities; however, American concluded it is not the primary beneficiary under these leasing arrangements and accounts for the majority of its EETC leveraged lease financings as operating leases. American’s total future payments to the trusts of each of the relevant EETCs under these leveraged lease financings are $78 million as of December 31, 2020, which are reflected in the operating lease obligations in Note 4.
Letters of Credit and Other
American provides financial assurance, such as letters of credit, surety bonds or restricted cash and investments, primarily to support projected workers’ compensation obligations and airport commitments. As of December 31, 2020, American had $476 million of letters of credit and surety bonds securing various obligations, of which $110 million is collateralized with American’s restricted cash. The letters of credit and surety bonds that are subject to expiration will expire on various dates through 2024.
(e) Legal Proceedings
Chapter 11 Cases. On November 29, 2011, AMR, American, and certain of AMR’s other direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries (the Debtors) filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (the Bankruptcy Court). On October 21, 2013, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order approving and confirming the Debtors’ fourth amended joint plan of reorganization (as amended, the Plan). On the Effective Date, December 9, 2013, the Debtors consummated their reorganization pursuant to the Plan and completed the Merger.
193
Pursuant to rulings of the Bankruptcy Court, the Plan established the Disputed Claims Reserve to hold shares of AAG common stock reserved for issuance to disputed claimholders at the Effective Date that ultimately become holders of allowed claims. The shares of AAG common stock issued to the Disputed Claims Reserve were originally issued on December 13, 2013 and have at all times since been included in the number of shares issued and outstanding as reported by AAG from time to time in its quarterly and annual reports, including for calculating earnings per common share. As disputed claims are resolved, the claimants receive distributions of shares from the Disputed Claims Reserve. American is not required to distribute additional shares above the limits contemplated by the Plan, even if the shares remaining for distribution in the Disputed Claims Reserve are not sufficient to fully pay any additional allowed unsecured claims. If any of the reserved shares remain undistributed upon resolution of all remaining disputed claims, such shares will not be returned to AAG but rather will be distributed to former AMR stockholders and former convertible noteholders treated as stockholders under the Plan. In February 2020, 2.2 million shares of AAG common stock were distributed from the Disputed Claims Reserve. After giving effect to this distribution, as of December 31, 2020, the Disputed Claims Reserve held approximately 4.8 million shares of AAG common stock.
Private Party Antitrust Action Related to Passenger Capacity. American, along with Delta Air Lines, Inc., Southwest Airlines Co., United Airlines, Inc. and, in the case of litigation filed in Canada, Air Canada, were named as defendants in approximately 100 putative class action lawsuits alleging unlawful agreements with respect to air passenger capacity. The U.S. lawsuits were consolidated in the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia (the DC Court). On June 15, 2018, American reached a settlement agreement with the plaintiffs in the amount of $45 million to resolve all class claims in the U.S. lawsuits. That settlement was approved by the DC Court on May 13, 2019, however three parties who objected to the settlement have appealed that decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. American believes these appeals are without merit and intends to vigorously defend against them.
Private Party Antitrust Action Related to the Merger. On August 6, 2013, a lawsuit captioned Carolyn Fjord, et al., v. AMR Corporation, et al., was filed in the Bankruptcy Court. The complaint named as defendants US Airways Group, US Airways, AMR and American, alleged that the effect of the Merger may be to create a monopoly in violation of Section 7 of the Clayton Antitrust Act, and sought injunctive relief and/or divestiture. On November 27, 2013, the Bankruptcy Court denied plaintiffs’ motion to preliminarily enjoin the Merger. On August 29, 2018, the Bankruptcy Court denied in part defendants' motion for summary judgment, and fully denied plaintiffs' cross-motion for summary judgment. The parties' evidentiary cases were presented before the Bankruptcy Court in a bench trial in March 2019 and the parties submitted proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law and made closing arguments in April 2019. On January 29, 2021, the Bankruptcy Court published its decision finding in American’s favor. American expects the plaintiffs to appeal this ruling. American believes this lawsuit is without merit and intends to continue to vigorously defend against the allegations, including in respect of any appeal of the January 29, 2021 ruling.
General. In addition to the specifically identified legal proceedings, American and its subsidiaries are also engaged in other legal proceedings from time to time. Legal proceedings can be complex and take many months, or even years, to reach resolution, with the final outcome depending on a number of variables, some of which are not within American’s control. Therefore, although American will vigorously defend itself in each of the actions described above and such other legal proceedings, their ultimate resolution and potential financial and other impacts on American are uncertain but could be material.
(f) Guarantees and Indemnifications
American is a party to many routine contracts in which it provides general indemnities in the normal course of business to third parties for various risks. American is not able to estimate the potential amount of any liability resulting from the indemnities. These indemnities are discussed in the following paragraphs.
In its aircraft financing agreements, American generally indemnifies the financing parties, trustees acting on their behalf and other relevant parties against liabilities (including certain taxes) resulting from the financing, manufacture, design, ownership, operation and maintenance of the aircraft regardless of whether these liabilities (including certain taxes) relate to the negligence of the indemnified parties.
American’s loan agreements and other LIBOR-based financing transactions (including certain leveraged aircraft leases) generally obligate American to reimburse the applicable lender for incremental costs due to a change in law that imposes (i) any reserve or special deposit requirement against assets of, deposits with or credit extended by such lender related to the loan, (ii) any tax, duty or other charge with respect to the loan (except standard income tax) or (iii) capital adequacy requirements. In addition, American’s loan agreements and other financing arrangements typically contain a withholding tax provision that requires American to pay additional amounts to the applicable lender or other financing
194
party, generally if withholding taxes are imposed on such lender or other financing party as a result of a change in the applicable tax law.
In certain transactions, including certain aircraft financing leases and loans, the lessors, lenders and/or other parties have rights to terminate the transaction based on changes in foreign tax law, illegality or certain other events or circumstances. In such a case, American may be required to make a lump sum payment to terminate the relevant transaction.
American has general indemnity clauses in many of its airport and other real estate leases where American as lessee indemnifies the lessor (and related parties) against liabilities related to American’s use of the leased property. Generally, these indemnifications cover liabilities resulting from the negligence of the indemnified parties, but not liabilities resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the indemnified parties. In addition, American provides environmental indemnities in many of these leases for contamination related to American’s use of the leased property.
Under certain contracts with third parties, American indemnifies the third-party against legal liability arising out of an action by the third-party, or certain other parties. The terms of these contracts vary and the potential exposure under these indemnities cannot be determined. American has liability insurance protecting American for some of the obligations it has undertaken under these indemnities.
American is required to make principal and interest payments for certain special facility revenue bonds issued by municipalities primarily to build or improve airport facilities and purchase equipment, which are leased to American. The payment of principal and interest of certain special facility revenue bonds is guaranteed by American. As of December 31, 2020, the remaining lease payments through 2035 guaranteeing the principal and interest on these bonds are $572 million and the current carrying amount of the associated operating lease liability in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet is $321 million.
As of December 31, 2020, American had issued guarantees covering AAG’s $1.8 billion aggregate principal amount of the PSP1 Promissory Note due April 2030, $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 6.50% convertible senior notes due July 2025, $750 million aggregate principal amount of 5.000% senior notes due June 2022 and $500 million aggregate principal amount of 3.75% senior notes due March 2025.
(g) Credit Card Processing Agreements
American has agreements with companies that process customer credit card transactions for the sale of air travel and other services. American’s agreements allow these credit card processing companies, under certain conditions, to hold an amount of its cash (referred to as a holdback) equal to a portion of advance ticket sales that have been processed by that company, but for which American has not yet provided the air transportation. Additional holdback requirements in the event of material adverse changes in American’s financial condition will reduce its liquidity in the form of unrestricted cash by the amount of the holdbacks. These credit card processing companies are not currently entitled to maintain any holdbacks pursuant to these requirements.
(h) Labor Negotiations
As of December 31, 2020, American employed approximately 78,300 active full-time equivalent (FTE) employees. Of the total active FTE employees, 84% are covered by collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) with various labor unions and 47% are covered by CBAs that are currently amendable or that will become amendable within one year. Joint collective bargaining agreements (JCBAs) have been reached with post-Merger employee groups, including a new five-year JCBA ratified with the TWU-IAM Association, which represents American’s mainline mechanics and related, fleet service, stock clerks, maintenance control technicians and maintenance training instructors. Additionally, the post-Merger JCBAs covering American’s pilots and flight attendants are now amendable. The JCBA covering American’s passenger service employees is also amendable.
195
11. Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information and non-cash investing and financing activities are as follows (in millions):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Non-cash investing and financing activities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Settlement of bankruptcy obligations | $ | 56 | $ | 7 | $ | — | |||||||||||
| Supplemental information: | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest paid, net | 877 | 1,025 | 1,009 | ||||||||||||||
| Income taxes paid | 6 | 8 | 16 | ||||||||||||||
12. Operating Segments and Related Disclosures
American is managed as a single business unit that provides air transportation for passengers and cargo. This allows it to benefit from an integrated revenue pricing and route network that includes American and AAG’s wholly-owned and third-party regional carriers that fly under capacity purchase agreements operating as American Eagle. The flight equipment of all these carriers is combined to form one fleet that is deployed through a single route scheduling system. Financial information and annual operational plans and forecasts are prepared and reviewed by the chief operating decision maker at the consolidated level. When making operational decisions, the chief operating decision maker evaluates flight profitability data, which considers aircraft type and route economics, but is indifferent to the results of the individual regional carriers. The objective in making operational decisions is to maximize consolidated financial results, not the individual results of American or American Eagle.
See Note 1(l) for American’s passenger revenue by geographic region. American’s tangible assets consist primarily of flight equipment, which are mobile across geographic markets and, therefore, have not been allocated.
13. Share-based Compensation
The 2013 AAG Incentive Award Plan (the 2013 Plan) provides that awards may be in the form of an option, restricted stock award, restricted stock unit award, performance award, dividend equivalent award, deferred stock award, deferred stock unit award, stock payment award or stock appreciation right. The 2013 Plan initially authorized the grant of awards for the issuance of up to 40 million shares. Any shares underlying awards granted under the 2013 Plan that are forfeited, terminate or are settled in cash (in whole or in part) without the delivery of shares will again be available for grant.
For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, American recorded $91 million, $95 million and $88 million, respectively, of share-based compensation costs principally in salaries, wages and benefits expense on its consolidated statements of operations.
During 2020, 2019 and 2018, AAG withheld approximately 0.7 million, 0.8 million and 0.8 million shares of AAG common stock, respectively, and paid approximately $15 million, $25 million and $37 million, respectively, in satisfaction of certain tax withholding obligations associated with employee equity awards.
196
Restricted Stock Unit Awards (RSUs)
The majority of American’s RSUs have service conditions (time vested primarily over three years). The grant-date fair value of these RSUs is equal to the market price of the underlying shares of AAG common stock on the date of grant. The expense for these RSUs is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period for the entire award. RSUs are classified as equity awards as the vesting results in the issuance of shares of AAG common stock.
RSU award activity for all plans for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 is as follows:
| Number of Shares | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | ||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||
| Outstanding at December 31, 2017 | 4,324 | $ | 46.94 | ||||||||
| Granted | 2,194 | 47.65 | |||||||||
| Vested and released | (1,999) | 44.99 | |||||||||
| Forfeited | (199) | 45.72 | |||||||||
| Outstanding at December 31, 2018 | 4,320 | $ | 44.29 | ||||||||
| Granted | 3,206 | 34.00 | |||||||||
| Vested and released | (2,002) | 44.90 | |||||||||
| Forfeited | (337) | 42.55 | |||||||||
| Outstanding at December 31, 2019 | 5,187 | $ | 37.01 | ||||||||
| Granted | 5,883 | 22.07 | |||||||||
| Vested and released | (2,268) | 39.46 | |||||||||
| Forfeited | (920) | 29.78 | |||||||||
| Outstanding at December 31, 2020 | 7,882 | $ | 23.66 | ||||||||
As of December 31, 2020, there was $107 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to RSUs. These costs are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of one year. The total fair value of RSUs vested during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $51 million, $68 million and $91 million, respectively.
14. Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (in millions)
| Balance at Beginning of Year | Additions Charged to Statement of Operations Accounts | Deductions | Balance at End of Year | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Allowance for obsolescence of spare parts | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year ended December 31, 2020 | $ | 729 | $ | 81 | $ | (368) | $ | 442 | |||||||||||||||
| Year ended December 31, 2019 | 754 | 79 | (104) | 729 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Year ended December 31, 2018 | 717 | 57 | (20) | 754 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Allowance for credit losses on accounts receivable | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year ended December 31, 2020 | $ | 25 | $ | 25 | $ | (21) | $ | 29 | |||||||||||||||
| Year ended December 31, 2019 | 24 | 17 | (16) | 25 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Year ended December 31, 2018 | 21 | 39 | (36) | 24 | |||||||||||||||||||
197
15. Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
Unaudited summarized financial data by quarter for 2020 and 2019 (in millions):
| First Quarter | Second Quarter | Third Quarter | Fourth Quarter | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating revenues | $ | 8,514 | $ | 1,622 | $ | 3,172 | $ | 4,027 | |||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses | 11,050 | 4,063 | 5,981 | 6,465 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Operating loss | (2,536) | (2,441) | (2,809) | (2,438) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | (2,169) | (1,968) | (2,276) | (2,037) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating revenues | $ | 10,581 | $ | 11,958 | $ | 11,910 | $ | 11,312 | |||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses | 10,236 | 10,831 | 11,082 | 10,565 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income | 345 | 1,127 | 828 | 747 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | 230 | 714 | 508 | 520 | |||||||||||||||||||
American’s fourth quarter 2020 results included $36 million of total pre-tax net special items driven principally by mark-to-market net unrealized gains and losses associated with certain equity investments and treasury rate lock derivative instruments.
American’s fourth quarter 2019 results included $108 million of total pre-tax net special items that principally included $85 million of merger integration expenses and $39 million of fleet restructuring expenses, offset in part by $42 million of mark-to-market net unrealized gains associated with certain equity investments and treasury rate lock derivative instruments.
16. Transactions with Related Parties
The following represents the net receivables (payables) to related parties (in millions):
| December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
AAG (1) | $ | 9,940 | $ | 14,597 | |||||||
AAG’s wholly-owned subsidiaries (2) | (2,063) | (2,146) | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 7,877 | $ | 12,451 | |||||||
(1)The decrease in American’s net related party receivable from AAG is primarily due to cash received from the proceeds of AAG financing transactions including the PSP1 Promissory Note, the 6.50% convertible senior notes, the issuance of shares of AAG common stock pursuant to two public stock offerings and an at-the-market offering.
(2)The net payable to AAG’s wholly-owned subsidiaries consists primarily of amounts due under regional capacity purchase agreements with AAG’s wholly-owned regional airlines operating under the brand name of American Eagle.
Pursuant to a capacity purchase agreement between American and AAG’s wholly-owned regional airlines operating as American Eagle, American purchases all of the capacity from these carriers and recognizes passenger revenue from flights operated by American Eagle. In 2020, 2019 and 2018, American recognized expense of approximately $1.8 billion, $2.2 billion and $1.8 billion, respectively, related to wholly-owned regional airline capacity purchase agreements.
198
17. Subsequent Event
PSP2
On January 15, 2021 (the PSP2 Closing Date), the Subsidiaries entered into a Payroll Support Program Extension Agreement (the PSP2 Agreement) with Treasury, with respect to PSP2 provided pursuant to the PSP Extension Law. In connection with the Subsidiaries’ entry into the PSP2 Agreement, on the PSP2 Closing Date, AAG also entered into a warrant agreement (the PSP2 Warrant Agreement) with Treasury and issued the PSP2 Promissory Note to Treasury, with the Subsidiaries as guarantors.
PSP2 Agreement
In connection with PSP2, AAG and the Subsidiaries are required to comply with the relevant provisions of the PSP Extension Law, which are substantially similar as the restrictions contained in the PSP1 Agreement, but are in effect for a longer time period. These provisions include the requirement that funds provided pursuant to the PSP2 Agreement be used exclusively for the continuation of payment of eligible employee wages, salaries and benefits, the requirement against involuntary furloughs and reductions in employee pay rates and benefits through March 31, 2021, the provisions that prohibit the repurchase of AAG common stock, and the payment of common stock dividends through at least March 31, 2022, the provisions that restrict the payment of certain executive compensation until October 1, 2022, as well as a requirement to recall employees involuntarily terminated or furloughed after September 30, 2020. As was the case with PSP1, the PSP2 Agreement also imposes substantial reporting obligations on AAG and its Subsidiaries.
Pursuant to the PSP2 Agreement, Treasury is to provide AAG and its Subsidiaries financial assistance to be paid in installments (each, an Installment) expected to total at least $3.0 billion in the aggregate, of which $1.5 billion was received on January 15, 2021. As partial compensation to the U.S. Government for the provision of financial assistance under PSP2, and assuming a total principal sum of approximately $3.0 billion, AAG expects to issue a PSP2 Promissory Note in the aggregate principal amount of approximately $896 million and issue warrants (each a PSP2 Warrant and, collectively, the PSP2 Warrants) to Treasury to purchase up to an aggregate of approximately 5.7 million shares of AAG common stock.
PSP2 Promissory Note
As partial compensation to the U.S. Government for the provision of financial assistance under the PSP2 Agreement, AAG issued the PSP2 Promissory Note to Treasury, which provides for AAG’s unconditional promise to pay to Treasury the initial principal sum of approximately $433 million, subject to an increase equal to 30% of the amount of each additional Installment disbursed under the PSP2 Agreement after the PSP2 Closing Date, and the guarantee of AAG’s obligations by the Subsidiaries. Assuming the total Installments to be paid pursuant to the PSP2 Agreement aggregate approximately $3.0 billion, the PSP2 Promissory Note will have a total principal sum of approximately $896 million.
The PSP2 Promissory Note bears interest on the outstanding principal amount at a rate equal to 1.00% per annum until the fifth anniversary of the PSP2 Closing Date and 2.00% plus an interest rate based on the secured overnight financing rate per annum or other benchmark replacement rate consistent with customary market conventions (but not to be less than 0.00%) thereafter until the tenth anniversary of the PSP2 Closing Date (the PSP2 Maturity Date), and interest accrued thereon will be payable in arrears on the last business day of March and September of each year, beginning on March 31, 2021. The aggregate principal amount outstanding under the PSP2 Promissory Note, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon and all other amounts payable under the PSP2 Promissory Note, will be due and payable on the PSP2 Maturity Date.
AAG may, at any time and from time to time, voluntarily prepay amounts outstanding under the PSP2 Promissory Note, in whole or in part, without penalty or premium. Within 30 days of the occurrence of certain change of control triggering events, AAG is required to prepay the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the PSP2 Promissory Note at such time, together with any accrued interest or other amounts owing under the PSP2 Promissory Note at such time.
The PSP2 Promissory Note is AAG’s senior unsecured obligation and each guarantee of the PSP2 Promissory Note is the senior unsecured obligation of each of the Subsidiaries, respectively.
The PSP2 Promissory Note contains events of default, including cross-default with respect to acceleration or failure to pay at maturity other material indebtedness. Upon the occurrence of an event of default and subject to certain grace periods, the outstanding obligations under the PSP2 Promissory Note may, and in certain circumstances will automatically, be accelerated and become due and payable immediately.
199
PSP2 Warrant Agreement and PSP2 Warrants
As partial compensation to the U.S. Government for the provision of financial assistance under the PSP2 Agreement, and pursuant to the PSP2 Warrant Agreement, AAG agreed to issue warrants to Treasury to purchase PSP2 Warrant Shares. The exercise price of the PSP2 Warrant Shares is $15.66 per share (which was the closing price of the AAG common stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market on December 24, 2020), subject to certain anti-dilution provisions provided for in the PSP2 Warrants.
Pursuant to the PSP2 Warrant Agreement, (a) on the PSP2 Closing Date, AAG issued to Treasury a PSP2 Warrant to purchase up to an aggregate of approximately 2.8 million shares of Common Stock based on the terms described herein and (b) on the date of each increase of the principal amount of the PSP2 Promissory Note in connection with the disbursement of an additional Installment under the PSP2 Agreement, AAG will issue to Treasury an additional PSP2 Warrant for a number of shares of AAG common stock equal to 10% of such increase of the principal amount of the PSP2 Promissory Note, divided by $15.66, the exercise price of such shares. Assuming the total Installments to be paid pursuant to the PSP2 Agreement aggregate approximately $3.0 billion, the total number of PSP2 Warrant Shares issuable is approximately 5.7 million, subject to certain anti-dilution provisions, provided for in the PSP2 Warrants.
The PSP2 Warrants do not have any voting rights and are freely transferrable, with registration rights. Each PSP2 Warrant expires on the fifth anniversary of the date of issuance of such PSP2 Warrant. The PSP2 Warrants will be exercisable either through net share settlement or cash, at AAG’s option. The PSP2 Warrants were and will be issued solely as compensation to the U.S. Government related to entry into the PSP2 Agreement. No separate proceeds (apart from the financial assistance described above) were received upon issuance of the PSP2 Warrants or will be received upon exercise thereof.
200
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Management’s Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The term “disclosure controls and procedures” is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). This term refers to the controls and procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC’s rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. An evaluation of the effectiveness of AAG’s and American’s disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2020 was performed under the supervision and with the participation of AAG’s and American’s management, including AAG’s and American’s CEO and CFO. Based on that evaluation, AAG’s and American’s management, including AAG’s and American’s CEO and CFO, concluded that AAG’s and American’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2020 at the reasonable assurance level.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
For the three months ended December 31, 2020, there have been no changes in AAG’s or American’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, AAG’s and American’s internal control over financial reporting.
Limitation on the Effectiveness of Controls
We believe that a controls system, no matter how well designed and operated, cannot provide absolute assurance that the objectives of the controls system are met, and no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within a company have been detected. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives, and, as noted above, the CEO and CFO of AAG and American believe that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level as of December 31, 2020.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management of AAG and American is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. AAG’s and American’s internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP. AAG’s and American’s internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that:
•pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of AAG or American, respectively;
•provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures of AAG or American are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of AAG or American, respectively; and
•provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of AAG’s or American’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Management assessed the effectiveness of AAG’s and American’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in its Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013 Framework).
201
Based on our assessment and those criteria, AAG’s and American’s management concludes that AAG and American, respectively, maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020.
AAG’s and American’s independent registered public accounting firm has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of AAG’s and American’s internal control over financial reporting. That report has been included herein.
202
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors
American Airlines Group Inc.:
Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited American Airlines Group Inc. and subsidiaries’ (the Company) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), cash flows, and stockholders’ equity (deficit) for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements), and our report dated February 17, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. 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 all material respects. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance 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 the company 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 a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ KPMG LLP
Dallas, Texas
February 17, 2021
203
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholder and Board of Directors
American Airlines, Inc.:
Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited American Airlines, Inc. and subsidiaries’ (American) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. In our opinion, American maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of American as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), cash flows, and stockholder’s equity for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements), and our report dated February 17, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
American’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on American’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to American in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. 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 all material respects. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance 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 the company 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 a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ KPMG LLP
Dallas, Texas
February 17, 2021
204
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Except as stated below, the information required by this Item will be set forth in the Proxy Statement under the captions “Proposal 1 – Election of Directors,” “Executive Officers,” “Board Composition” and “Information About the Board of Directors and Corporate Governance” and is incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
AAG and American have adopted Standards of Business Conduct (the Ethics Standards) within the meaning of Item 406(b) of Regulation S-K. The Ethics Standards apply to all officers and employees of AAG and its subsidiaries, including American. The Ethics Standards are available on our website at www.aa.com. If we make substantive amendments to the Ethics Standards or grant any waiver, including any implicit waiver, to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, we will disclose the nature of such amendment or waiver on our website or in a Current Report on Form 8-K in accordance with applicable rules and regulations.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by this Item will be set forth in the Proxy Statement under the captions “Information About the Board of Directors and Corporate Governance - Risk Assessment with Respect to Compensation Practices,” “Director Compensation,” “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” “Executive Compensation” and “Compensation Committee Report” and is incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The information required by this Item will be set forth in the Proxy Statement under the captions “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and “Equity Compensation Plan Information” and is incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information required by this Item will be set forth in the Proxy Statement under the captions “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” and “Information About the Board of Directors and Corporate Governance” and is incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The information required by this Item will be set forth in the Proxy Statement under the caption “Proposal 2 – Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” and is incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
205
PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Consolidated Financial Statements
The following consolidated financial statements of American Airlines Group Inc. and Independent Auditors’ Report are filed as part of this report:
| Page | |||||
The following consolidated financial statements of American Airlines, Inc. and Independent Auditors’ Report are filed as part of this report:
| Page | |||||
Schedules not included have been omitted because they are not applicable or because the required information is included in the Consolidated Financial Statements or notes thereto.
206
Exhibits
Exhibits required to be filed by Item 601 of Regulation S-K: Where the amount of securities authorized to be issued under any of our long-term debt agreements does not exceed 10 percent of our assets, pursuant to paragraph (b)(4) of Item 601 of Regulation S-K, in lieu of filing such as an exhibit, we hereby agree to furnish to the Commission upon request a copy of any agreement with respect to such long-term debt.
Exhibit Number | Description | ||||
| 2.1 | |||||
| 2.2 | |||||
| 3.1 | |||||
| 3.2 | |||||
| 3.3 | |||||
| 3.4 | |||||
| 3.5 | |||||
| 4.1 | |||||
| 4.2 | |||||
| 4.3 | |||||
| 4.4 | |||||
| 4.5 | |||||
| 4.6 | |||||
| 4.7 | |||||
207
Exhibit Number | Description | ||||
| 4.8 | |||||
| 4.9 | |||||
| 4.10 | |||||
| 4.11 | |||||
| 4.12 | |||||
| 4.13 | |||||
| 4.14 | |||||
| 4.15 | |||||
| 4.16 | |||||
| 4.17 | |||||
| 4.18 | |||||
| 4.19 | |||||
| 4.20 | |||||
| 4.21 | |||||
208
Exhibit Number | Description | ||||
| 4.22 | |||||
| 4.23 | |||||
| 4.24 | |||||
| 4.25 | |||||
| 4.26 | |||||
| 4.27 | |||||
| 4.28 | |||||
| 4.29 | |||||
| 4.30 | |||||
| 4.31 | |||||
| 4.32 | |||||
| 4.33 | |||||
| 4.34 | |||||
| 4.35 | |||||
209
Exhibit Number | Description | ||||
| 4.36 | |||||
| 4.37 | |||||
| 4.38 | |||||
| 4.39 | |||||
| 4.40 | |||||
| 4.41 | |||||
| 4.42 | |||||
| 4.43 | |||||
| 4.44 | |||||
| 4.45 | |||||
| 4.46 | |||||
| 4.47 | |||||
| 4.48 | |||||
210
Exhibit Number | Description | ||||
| 4.49 | |||||
| 4.50 | |||||
| 4.51 | |||||
| 4.52 | |||||
| 4.53 | |||||
| 4.54 | |||||
| 4.55 | |||||
| 4.56 | |||||
| 4.57 | |||||
| 4.58 | |||||
| 4.59 | |||||
| 4.60 | |||||
| 4.61 | |||||
211
Exhibit Number | Description | ||||
| 4.62 | |||||
| 4.63 | |||||
| 4.64 | |||||
| 4.65 | |||||
| 4.66 | |||||
| 4.67 | |||||
| 4.68 | |||||
| 4.69 | |||||
| 4.70 | |||||
| 4.71 | |||||
| 4.72 | |||||
| 4.73 | |||||
| 4.74 | |||||
| 4.75 | |||||
| 4.76 | |||||
212
Exhibit Number | Description | ||||
| 4.77 | |||||
| 4.78 | |||||
| 4.79 | |||||
| 4.80 | |||||
| 4.81 | |||||
| 4.82 | |||||
| 4.83 | |||||
| 4.84 | |||||
| 4.85 | |||||
| 4.86 | |||||
| 4.87 | |||||
| 4.88 | |||||
| 4.89 | |||||
| 4.90 | |||||
| 4.91 | |||||
213
Exhibit Number | Description | ||||
| 4.92 | |||||
| 4.93 | |||||
| 4.94 | |||||
| 4.95 | |||||
| 4.96 | |||||
| 4.97 | |||||
| 4.98 | |||||
| 4.99 | |||||
| 4.100 | |||||
| 4.101 | |||||
| 4.102 | |||||
| 4.103 | |||||
| 4.104 | |||||
| 4.105 | |||||
214
Exhibit Number | Description | ||||
| 4.106 | |||||
| 4.107 | |||||
| 4.108 | |||||
| 4.109 | |||||
| 4.110 | |||||
| 4.111 | |||||
| 4.112 | |||||
| 4.113 | |||||
| 4.114 | |||||
| 4.115 | |||||
| 4.116 | |||||
| 4.117 | |||||
| 4.118 | |||||
| 4.119 | |||||
| 4.120 | |||||
| 4.121 | |||||
215
Exhibit Number | Description | ||||
| 4.122 | |||||
| 4.123 | |||||
| 4.124 | |||||
| 4.125 | |||||
| 4.126 | |||||
| 4.127 | |||||
| 4.128 | |||||
| 4.129 | |||||
| 4.130 | |||||
| 4.131 | |||||
| 4.132 | |||||
| 4.133 | |||||
| 4.134 | |||||
| 4.135 | |||||
| 4.136 | |||||
216
Exhibit Number | Description | ||||
| 4.137 | |||||
| 4.138 | |||||
| 4.139 | |||||
| 4.140 | |||||
| 4.141 | |||||
| 4.142 | |||||
| 4.143 | |||||
| 4.144 | |||||
| 4.145 | |||||
| 4.146 | |||||
| 4.147 | |||||
| 4.148 | |||||
| 4.149 | |||||
217
Exhibit Number | Description | ||||
| 4.150 | |||||
| 4.151 | |||||
| 4.152 | |||||
| 4.153 | |||||
| 4.154 | |||||
| 4.155 | |||||
| 4.156 | |||||
| 4.157 | |||||
| 4.158 | |||||
| 4.159 | |||||
| 4.160 | |||||
| 4.161 | |||||
| 4.162 | |||||
| 4.163 | |||||
218
Exhibit Number | Description | ||||
| 4.164 | |||||
| 4.165 | |||||
| 4.166 | |||||
| 4.167 | |||||
| 4.168 | |||||
| 4.169 | |||||
| 4.170 | |||||
| 4.171 | |||||
| 4.172 | |||||
| 4.173 | |||||
| 4.174 | |||||
| 4.175 | |||||
| 4.176 | |||||
| 4.177 | |||||
| 4.178 | |||||
| 4.179 | |||||
| 4.180 | |||||
| 4.181 | |||||
| 4.182 | |||||
| 4.183 | |||||
| 10.1 | |||||
219
Exhibit Number | Description | ||||
| 10.2 | |||||
| 10.3 | |||||
| 10.4 | |||||
| 10.5 | |||||
| 10.6 | |||||
| 10.7 | |||||
| 10.8 | |||||
| 10.9 | |||||
| 10.10 | |||||
| 10.11 | |||||
| 10.12 | |||||
220
221
222
Exhibit Number | Description | ||||
| 10.36 | |||||
| 10.37 | |||||
| 10.38 | |||||
| 10.39 | |||||
| 10.40 | |||||
| 10.41 | |||||
| 10.42 | |||||
| 10.43 | |||||
| 10.44 | |||||
| 10.45 | |||||
| 10.46 | |||||
| 10.47 | |||||
| 10.48 | |||||
| 10.49 | |||||
| 10.50 | |||||
| 10.51 | |||||
| 10.52 | |||||
223
224
Exhibit Number | Description | ||||
| 10.70 | |||||
| 10.71 | |||||
| 10.72 | |||||
| 10.73 | |||||
| 10.74 | |||||
| 10.75 | |||||
| 10.76 | |||||
| 10.77 | |||||
| 10.78 | |||||
| 10.79 | |||||
| 10.80 | |||||
| 10.81 | |||||
| 10.82 | |||||
| 10.83 | |||||
| 10.84 | |||||
| 10.85 | |||||
| 10.86 | |||||
| 10.87 | |||||
| 10.88 | |||||
| 10.89 | |||||
225
Exhibit Number | Description | ||||
| 10.90 | |||||
| 10.91 | |||||
| 10.92 | |||||
| 10.93 | |||||
| 10.94 | |||||
| 10.95 | |||||
| 14.1 | |||||
| 21.1 | |||||
| 23.1 | |||||
| 24.1 | |||||
| 31.1 | |||||
| 31.2 | |||||
| 31.3 | |||||
| 31.4 | |||||
| 32.1 | |||||
| 32.2 | |||||
| 101.1 | Interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T, formatted in Inline XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language). | ||||
| 104.1 | Cover page interactive data file (formatted in Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101.1). | ||||
| # | Pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, certain exhibits and schedules to this agreement have been omitted. Such exhibits and schedules are described in the referenced agreement. AAG and American hereby agree to furnish to the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon its request, any or all of such omitted exhibits or schedules. | ||||||||||||||||
| * | Confidential treatment has been granted with respect to certain portions of this agreement. | ||||||||||||||||
| ** | Certain confidential information contained in this agreement has been omitted because it (i) is not material and (ii) would be competitively harmful if publicly disclosed. | ||||||||||||||||
| † | Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement. | ||||||||||||||||
226
ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
None.
227
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| American Airlines Group Inc. | ||||||||
| Date: February 17, 2021 | By: | /s/ W. Douglas Parker | ||||||
| W. Douglas Parker | ||||||||
| Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||
| (Principal Executive Officer) | ||||||||
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| American Airlines, Inc. | ||||||||
| Date: February 17, 2021 | By: | /s/ W. Douglas Parker | ||||||
| W. Douglas Parker | ||||||||
| Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||
| (Principal Executive Officer) | ||||||||
228
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each individual whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints W. Douglas Parker and Derek J. Kerr and each or any of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to the registrants’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys and agents, and each or any of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys and agents, and each of them, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of American Airlines Group Inc. and in the capacities and on the dates noted:
| Date: February 17, 2021 | /s/ W. Douglas Parker | ||||
| W. Douglas Parker | |||||
| Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | |||||
| (Principal Executive Officer) | |||||
| Date: February 17, 2021 | /s/ Derek J. Kerr | ||||
| Derek J. Kerr | |||||
| Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||||
| (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | |||||
| Date: February 17, 2021 | /s/ James F. Albaugh | ||||
| James F. Albaugh, Director | |||||
| Date: February 17, 2021 | /s/ Jeffrey D. Benjamin | ||||
| Jeffrey D. Benjamin, Director | |||||
| Date: February 17, 2021 | /s/ John T. Cahill | ||||
| John T. Cahill, Director | |||||
| Date: February 17, 2021 | /s/ Michael J. Embler | ||||
| Michael J. Embler, Director | |||||
| Date: February 17, 2021 | /s/ Matthew J. Hart | ||||
| Matthew J. Hart, Director | |||||
229
| Date: February 17, 2021 | /s/ Susan D. Kronick | ||||
| Susan D. Kronick, Director | |||||
| Date: February 17, 2021 | /s/ Martin H. Nesbitt | ||||
| Martin H. Nesbitt, Director | |||||
| Date: February 17, 2021 | /s/ Denise M. O’Leary | ||||
| Denise M. O’Leary, Director | |||||
| Date: February 17, 2021 | /s/ Ray M. Robinson | ||||
| Ray M. Robinson, Director | |||||
| Date: February 17, 2021 | /s/ Douglas M. Steenland | ||||
| Douglas M. Steenland, Director | |||||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of American Airlines, Inc. and in the capacities and on the dates noted:
| Date: February 17, 2021 | /s/ W. Douglas Parker | ||||
| W. Douglas Parker | |||||
| Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | |||||
| (Principal Executive Officer) | |||||
| Date: February 17, 2021 | /s/ Derek J. Kerr | ||||
| Derek J. Kerr | |||||
| Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||||
| (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | |||||
| Date: February 17, 2021 | /s/ Stephen L. Johnson | ||||
| Stephen L. Johnson, Director | |||||
| Date: February 17, 2021 | /s/ Robert D. Isom | ||||
| Robert D. Isom, Director | |||||
230