Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

NOTE 2 - GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The following table presents information about the Company’s goodwill and other intangible assets at December 31 (in millions):


		2015				2014
Item	Asset life (a)	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization
Goodwill		$	4,523			$	4,523


Finite-lived intangible assets
Frequent flyer database (b)	22	$	1,177	$	702	$	1,177	$	624
Hubs	20		145		74		145		67
Contracts	12		135		86		155		86
Patents and tradenames	3		108		108		108		108
Airport slots and gates	8		97		97		97		97
Other	25		109		77		109		67

Total		$	1,771	$	1,144	$	1,791	$	1,049

Indefinite-lived intangible assets
Route authorities		$	1,570			$	1,589
Airport slots and gates			942				956
Tradenames and logos			593				593
Alliances			404				404

Total		$	3,509			$	3,542

(a) Weighted average life expressed in years.

(b) The frequent flyer database is amortized based on an accelerated amortization schedule to reflect utilization of the assets. Estimated cash flows correlating to the expected attrition rate of customers in the frequent flyer database is considered in the determination of the amortization schedules.

Amortization expense in 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $105 million, $128 million and $142 million, respectively. Projected amortization expense in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 is $90 million, $79 million, $70 million, $64 million and $58 million, respectively.

See Note 16 of this report for additional information related to impairment of intangible assets.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the aggregate amount of goodwill and a description of intangible assets, which may include (a) for amortizable intangible assets (also referred to as finite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, the amount of any significant residual value, and the weighted-average amortization period, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization (also referred to as indefinite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, and (c) the amount of research and development assets acquired and written off in the period, including the line item in the income statement in which the amounts written off are aggregated, if not readily apparent from the income statement. Also discloses (a) for amortizable intangibles assets in total and by major class, the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization, the total amortization expense for the period, and the estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization the carrying amount in total and by major class, and (c) for goodwill, in total and for each reportable segment, the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the period (including the aggregate amount of goodwill acquired, the aggregate amount of impairment losses recognized, and the amount of goodwill included in the gain (loss) on disposal of a reporting unit). If any part of goodwill has not been allocated to a reportable segment, discloses the unallocated amount and the reasons for not allocating. For each impairment loss recognized related to an intangible asset (excluding goodwill), discloses: (a) a description of the impaired intangible asset and the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method for determining fair value, (c) the caption in the income statement or the statement of activities in which the impairment loss is aggregated, and (d) the segment in which the impaired intangible asset is reported. For each goodwill impairment loss recognized, discloses: (a) a description of the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method of determining the fair value of the associated reporting unit, and (c) if a recognized impairment loss is an estimate not finalized and the reasons why the estimate is not final. May also disclose the nature and amount of any significant adjustments made to a previous estimate of an impairment loss.

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