Leases (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Leases [Abstract]

Schedule of lease asset and liability balance sheet position by category

The table below presents the lease-related assets and liabilities recorded on the balance sheet.

Lease asset and liability balance sheet position by category
		December 31,
(in millions)	Classification on the Balance Sheet	2020			2019
Assets
Operating lease assets	Operating lease right-of-use assets	$	5,733		$	5,627
Finance lease assets	Property and equipment, net	1,002			1,062
Total lease assets		$	6,735		$	6,689
Liabilities
Current
Operating	Current maturities of operating leases	$	678		$	801
Finance	Current maturities of debt and finance leases	289			233
Noncurrent
Operating	Noncurrent operating leases	5,713			5,294
Finance	Debt and finance leases	894			821
Total lease liabilities		$	7,574		$	7,149
Weighted-average remaining lease term
Operating leases		12 years			12 years
Finance leases		5 years			5 years
Weighted-average discount rate
Operating leases		4.88		%	3.73		%
Finance leases		3.61		%	3.46		%

Schedule of lease cost by category

The table below presents certain information related to the lease costs for finance and operating leases.

Lease cost by category
	Year Ended December 31,
(in millions)	2020		2019		2018
Finance lease cost
Amortization of leased assets	$	131	$	110	$	100
Interest of lease liabilities	32		29		22
Operating lease cost(1)	1,019		1,013		994
Short-term lease cost(1)	264		500		458
Variable lease cost(1)	1,406		1,456		1,427
Total lease cost	$	2,852	$	3,108	$	3,001

(1)Expenses are classified within aircraft rent, landing fees and other rents and regional carriers expense, excluding fuel on the income statement. For the year ended December 31, 2020, $187 million and $50 million of the operating and variable lease costs, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2019, $174 million and $64 million of the operating and variable lease costs, respectively, and for the year ended December 31, 2018, $150 million, $18 million and $48 million of the operating, short-term and variable lease costs, respectively, are attributable to our regional carriers.

Schedule supplemental lease-related cash flow information

The table below presents supplemental cash flow information related to leases.

Supplemental lease-related cash flow information
	Year Ended December 31,
(in millions)	2020		2019		2018
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities
Operating cash flows for operating leases	$	1,053	$	1,166	$	1,271
Operating cash flows for finance leases	32		27		22
Financing cash flows for finance leases	255		192		108

Schedule of future cash flows and reconciliation to the balance sheet, operating leases

The table below reconciles the undiscounted cash flows for each of the first five years and total of the remaining years to the finance lease liabilities and operating lease liabilities recorded on the balance sheet.

Future lease cash flows and reconciliation to the balance sheet
(in millions)	Operating Leases		Finance Leases
2021	$	949	$	328
2022	848		238
2023	837		191
2024	770		266
2025	746		128
Thereafter	4,450		149
Total minimum lease payments	8,600		1,300
Less: amount of lease payments representing interest	(2,209)		(117)
Present value of future minimum lease payments	6,391		1,183
Less: current obligations under leases	(678)		(289)
Long-term lease obligations	$	5,713	$	894

Schedule of future cash flows and reconciliation to the balance sheet, finance leases

The table below reconciles the undiscounted cash flows for each of the first five years and total of the remaining years to the finance lease liabilities and operating lease liabilities recorded on the balance sheet.

Future lease cash flows and reconciliation to the balance sheet
(in millions)	Operating Leases		Finance Leases
2021	$	949	$	328
2022	848		238
2023	837		191
2024	770		266
2025	746		128
Thereafter	4,450		149
Total minimum lease payments	8,600		1,300
Less: amount of lease payments representing interest	(2,209)		(117)
Present value of future minimum lease payments	6,391		1,183
Less: current obligations under leases	(678)		(289)
Long-term lease obligations	$	5,713	$	894