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Restructuring
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]  
Restructuring RESTRUCTURING
As a result of the unprecedented, widespread and persistent impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for travel declined at a rapid pace in the March 2020 quarter and remained depressed throughout 2020, which had an unprecedented and materially adverse impact on our results of operations and financial position. Although demand improved throughout 2021, system-wide demand remained below pre-pandemic levels. During 2020, we implemented enhanced measures focusing on the safety of our customers and employees, while at the same time seeking to mitigate the impact on our financial position and operations and to position our business for recovery through actions including fleet retirements, offering voluntary retirement and separation programs and other decisions. These actions resulted in significant restructuring charges during 2020 which are summarized as follows:

Restructuring charges by category
Year Ended
(in millions)December 31, 2020
Fleet Retirements$4,409 
Voluntary Programs and Other Employee Benefit Charges3,409 
Receivables and Other401 
Total Restructuring Charges$8,219 

During 2021, we recorded $19 million of net adjustments to decrease certain of these restructuring charges, representing changes in our estimates.

Fleet Retirements. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and our response, we made decisions to remove certain aircraft from active service and to early retire certain fleets. The table below summarizes the number of leased and owned aircraft being retired early, though we remain flexible and may decide to fly certain aircraft beyond their planned retirement date, to the extent supported by demand.

Fleet retirement by aircraft type
Fleet TypeNumber of AircraftPlanned Retirement During the Quarter EndedImpairment-Related Charge (in millions)
77718 December 2020$1,440 
767-300ER56 December 20251,084 
71791 December 2025950 
MD-9026 June 2020335 
CRJ-200 (1)
125 December 2023320 
737-70010 September 2020223 
A32010 June 202057 
MD-88 (2)
47 June 2020— 
Total383 $4,409 
(1)Certain of the CRJ-200 aircraft scheduled to be retired by the December 2023 quarter are operated for us by SkyWest Airlines under a revenue proration agreement.
(2)During the March 2020 quarter, we recorded a $22 million charge related to accelerating the planned retirement of the MD-88 fleet from December 2020 to June 2020. However, this amount was recorded in depreciation and amortization, rather than in restructuring charges, as it would have been incurred during 2020 prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

These impairment and other related charges were recorded in restructuring charges in our income statement. These charges were calculated using Level 3 fair value inputs based primarily upon recent market transactions and third-party bids, which were corroborated with published pricing guides and our assessment of existing market conditions based on industry knowledge. Following the impairment charges, the aggregate net book value of these aircraft as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 was approximately $340 million and $500 million, respectively, with the reduction in 2021 primarily due to aircraft sales.
Voluntary Programs and Other Employee Benefit Charges. During 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we announced the voluntary programs, which primarily applied to eligible U.S. merit, ground and flight attendant and pilot employees. We recorded $3.4 billion in restructuring charges in our income statement associated with these programs and other employee benefit charges during 2020, including $1.3 billion of special termination benefits. See Note 9, "Employee Benefit Plans," for more information on these voluntary programs.Receivables and Other. Based on our assessment of collectability, during the year ended December 31, 2020, we recorded approximately $100 million of reserves against outstanding receivables from LATAM, Grupo Aeroméxico, GOL, Virgin Atlantic and others.