NOTE 10 - SPECIAL CHARGES

For the three and nine months ended September 30, special charges consisted of the following (in millions):


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
Operating:	2014		2013		2014		2013
Integration-related costs	$	28	$	50	$	79	$	165
Severance and benefits		6		—		58		14
Labor agreement costs		—		127		—		127
Costs associated with permanently grounding Embraer ERJ 135 aircraft		—		—		66		—
Impairment of assets held for disposal		—		—		33		—
Additional costs associated with the temporarily grounded Boeing 787 aircraft		—		—		—		18
Losses on sale of assets and other special (gains) losses, net		9		34		28		31

Special charges		43		211		264		355
Nonoperating:
Venezuela currency loss		—		—		21		—
Income tax benefit		(3)		—		(4)		—

Total operating and nonoperating special charges, net of income taxes	$	40	$	211	$	281	$	355

2014

Integration-related costs include compensation costs related to systems integration, training, severance and relocation for employees.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company recorded $58 million of severance and benefits primarily related to reductions of management and front-line employees, including from Hopkins International Airport (“Cleveland”), as part of its cost savings initiatives. The Company reduced its average daily departures from Cleveland by over 60 percent during the second quarter of 2014. The Company is currently evaluating its options regarding its long-term contractual commitments at Cleveland. The capacity reductions at Cleveland may result in further special charges, which could be significant, related to our contractual commitments.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company recorded $66 million for the permanent grounding of 21 of the Company’s Embraer ERJ 135 regional aircraft under lease through 2018, which includes an accrual for remaining lease payments and an amount for maintenance return conditions. As a result of the current fuel prices, new Embraer 175 regional jet deliveries and impact of pilot shortages at regional carriers, the Company decided to permanently ground these 21 Embraer ERJ 135 aircraft. The Company continues to operate nine Embraer ERJ 135 aircraft and will assess the possibility of grounding those aircraft when the term of the current capacity purchase contract ends.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company recorded $33 million for charges related primarily to impairment of its flight equipment held for disposal associated with its Boeing 737-300 and 737-500 fleets.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company recorded $21 million of losses as part of Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net due to ongoing negotiations applicable to funds held in local Venezuelan currency. Approximately $100 million of the Company’s unrestricted cash balance was held as Venezuelan bolivars as of September 30, 2014.

In the third quarter of 2014, United and the Association of Flight Attendants announced that United will offer certain of its flight attendants an enhanced early out program, which allows eligible participants a one-time opportunity to voluntarily separate from the Company and receive a severance payment, with a maximum value of $100,000 per participant. The Company is targeting approximately 2,100 participants, although the actual number of participants is unknown at this time, and may be more or fewer than 2,100. United also announced that it is recalling all flight attendants who are on voluntary and involuntary furlough.

2013

Integration-related costs included compensation costs related to systems integration and training, branding activities, new uniforms, write-off or acceleration of depreciation on systems and facilities that were no longer used or planned to be used for significantly shorter periods, relocation for employees and severance primarily associated with administrative headcount reductions.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company recorded $14 million associated with a voluntary program offered by United in which certain flight attendants took an unpaid 13-month leave of absence. The flight attendants continue to receive medical benefits and other Company benefits while on leave under this program. Approximately 1,300 flight attendants opted to participate in the program.

In October 2013, fleet service, passenger service and storekeeper employees represented by the International Association of Machinists ratified a joint collective bargaining agreement with the Company. The Company recorded a $127 million special charge for lump sum payments made in conjunction with the ratification. The lump sum payments were not in lieu of future pay increases. The Company completed substantially all cash payments in 2013.

During the three months ended September 30, 2013, the Company adjusted its reserves for certain legal matters by $34 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company also recorded a $5 million gain related to a contract termination and $2 million in losses on the sale of assets.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company recorded $18 million associated with the temporary grounding of its Boeing 787 aircraft. The charges were comprised of aircraft depreciation expense and dedicated personnel costs that the Company incurred while the aircraft were grounded. The aircraft returned to service in May 2013.

Accruals

The accrual for severance and medical costs was $70 million as of September 30, 2014, compared to $29 million as of September 30, 2013. The severance-related accrual as of September 30, 2014 is expected to be paid through 2015.