XML 33 R15.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.10.0.1
Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Commitments. As of September 30, 2018, United had firm commitments and options to purchase aircraft from The Boeing Company ("Boeing"), Airbus S.A.S. ("Airbus") and Embraer S.A. ("Embraer") presented in the table below:
Aircraft Type
 
Number of Firm
Commitments (a)
Airbus A350
 
45

Boeing 737 MAX
 
154

Boeing 777-300ER
 
1

Boeing 787
 
27

Embraer E175
 
25

(a) United also has options and purchase rights for additional aircraft.
 
 

The aircraft listed in the table above are scheduled for delivery through 2027. To the extent the Company and the aircraft manufacturers with whom the Company has existing orders for new aircraft agree to modify the contracts governing those orders, the amount and timing of the Company's future capital commitments could change. For the remainder of 2018, the Company expects to take delivery of three Boeing 787 aircraft, three Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and one Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. United also has an agreement to purchase 20 used Airbus A319 aircraft with expected delivery dates scheduled in 2020 and 2021.
During the third quarter of 2018, United entered into an agreement with the lessor of 54 Embraer ERJ 145 aircraft to purchase those aircraft in 2019. The provisions of the new lease agreement resulted in a change in accounting classification of these new leases from operating leases to capital leases up until the purchase date.
The table below summarizes United's commitments as of September 30, 2018, which primarily relate to the acquisition of aircraft and related spare engines, aircraft improvements and include other capital purchase commitments. Any additional firm aircraft orders, including through the exercise of purchase options and purchase rights, will increase the total future capital commitments of the Company.
 
 
(in billions)
Last three months of 2018
 
$
1.1

2019
 
4.1

2020
 
4.2

2021
 
2.9

2022
 
1.7

After 2022
 
9.8

 
 
$
23.8


Facility and Other Operating Leases. In March 2018, United entered into a new Airline Use and Lease Agreement at Chicago O'Hare International Airport ("Chicago O'Hare") with the City of Chicago with a lease term of approximately 15 years, effective May 12, 2018 through December 31, 2033. In the second quarter of 2018, United entered into several new ground and facility leases at Chicago O'Hare, effective May 12, 2018, for hangars, a ground equipment maintenance building, and employee parking with lease terms ranging from 15 years to 30 years.
The table below summarizes the Company's scheduled future minimum lease payments under facility operating leases having initial or remaining noncancelable lease terms of more than one year as of September 30, 2018 (in millions):
 
 
Facility and Other Operating Leases
Last three months of 2018
 
$
345

2019
 
1,244

2020
 
1,338

2021
 
1,104

2022
 
966

After 2022
 
7,934

 
 
$
12,931


Guarantees. As of September 30, 2018, United is the guarantor of approximately $2.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of tax-exempt special facilities revenue bonds and interest thereon. These bonds, issued by various airport municipalities, are payable solely from rentals paid under long-term agreements with the respective governing bodies. The leasing arrangements associated with approximately $1.4 billion of these obligations are accounted for as operating leases with the associated expense recorded on a straight-line basis resulting in ratable accrual of the lease obligation over the expected lease term. The leasing arrangements associated with approximately $466 million of these obligations are accounted for as capital leases. All of these bonds are due between 2019 and 2038.
Increased Cost Provisions. In the Company's financing transactions that include loans, the Company typically agrees to reimburse lenders for any reduced returns with respect to the loans due to any change in capital requirements and, in the case of loans in which the interest rate is based on the London Interbank Offered Rate, for certain other increased costs that the lenders incur in carrying these loans as a result of any change in law, subject, in most cases, to obligations of the lenders to take certain limited steps to mitigate the requirement for, or the amount of, such increased costs. At September 30, 2018, the Company had $3.2 billion of floating rate debt and $35 million of fixed rate debt with remaining terms of up to 10 years that are subject to these increased cost provisions. In several financing transactions involving loans or leases from non-U.S. entities, with remaining terms of up to 10 years and an aggregate balance of $3.1 billion, the Company bears the risk of any change in tax laws that would subject loan or lease payments thereunder to non-U.S. entities to withholding taxes, subject to customary exclusions.
As of September 30, 2018, United is the guarantor of $148 million of aircraft mortgage debt issued by one of United's regional carriers. The aircraft mortgage debt is subject to similar increased cost provisions as described above for the Company's debt, and the Company would potentially be responsible for those costs under the guarantees.
Labor Negotiations. As of September 30, 2018, United had approximately 90,900 employees, of whom approximately 82% were represented by various U.S. labor organizations. UNITE HERE is attempting to organize United's Catering Operations employees, who are currently unrepresented. The National Mediation Board authorized a union election for United's Catering Operations employees with voting concluding October 23, 2018.