Restructuring and Other Items (Notes)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]

Restructuring and Related Activities Disclosure [Text Block]

RESTRUCTURING AND OTHER ITEMS

The following table shows amounts recorded in restructuring and other items on our Consolidated Statements of Operations:

	Year Ended December 31,
(in millions)	2012			2011			2010
Facilities, fleet and other	$	293		$	135		$	202
Severance and related costs	237			100			15
Intangible asset impairments (see Note 6)	—			50			—
Gains on slot exchange and divestiture (see Note 6)	(78		)	(43		)	—
Merger-related items	—			—			233
Total restructuring and other items	$	452		$	242		$	450

Facilities, Fleet and Other. We recorded impairment and restructuring charges of $293 million during 2012 primarily related to our domestic fleet restructuring initiative. Under the domestic fleet restructuring initiative, we are focused on removing older, less efficient aircraft from our fleet and replacing them with B-737-900ER, B-717-200 and CRJ-900 aircraft that we have committed to acquire. These restructuring charges in 2012 are related to older, retiring aircraft, including remaining lease payments for grounded aircraft, the acceleration of aircraft depreciation and lease return costs during the period and related equipment disposals. As an extension of our domestic fleet restructuring initiative and our desire to reduce the number of regional jets in our network, we shut down the operations of Comair, a wholly-owned regional airline subsidiary, as of September 29, 2012. The restructuring charges in 2012 also include amounts associated with the closure of Comair.

During 2011, we recorded charges related to consolidation of facilities and certain aircraft that were removed from our operations.

In 2010, we recorded asset impairment charges related to the Comair fleet reduction initiative and our retired dedicated freighter aircraft. The Comair fleet reduction initiative was to retire older, less-efficient CRJ-100/200 50-seat aircraft. In evaluating these aircraft for impairment, we estimated their fair value by utilizing a market approach considering (1) published market data generally accepted in the airline industry, (2) recent market transactions, where available, (3) the current and projected supply of and demand for these aircraft and (4) the condition and age of the aircraft. Based on our fair value assessments, these aircraft had an estimated fair value of $97 million and are classified in Level 3 of the three-tier fair value hierarchy.

Severance and Related Costs. We recognized a severance charge of $237 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, which includes $116 million of special termination benefits (see Note 11). We offered voluntary severance programs in which more than 2,000 employees elected to participate. These participants became eligible for retiree healthcare benefits. Also, we accrued $66 million in severance and related costs in 2012 to provide severance benefits to Comair's 1,700 employees, as we ceased operations at the carrier.

During 2011, we recorded charges associated primarily with voluntary workforce reduction programs to align staffing with expected future capacity.

Gain on Slot Exchange. During December 2011, we closed transactions with US Airways where we received takeoff and landing rights (each a "slot pair") at LaGuardia in exchange for slot pairs at Reagan National. In approving these transactions, the Department of Transportation restricted our use of the exchanged slots. We recorded a $78 million deferred gain in December 2011. We recognized this deferred gain in 2012 as the restrictions lapsed.

Merger-Related Items. Merger-related items are costs associated with Northwest and the integration of Northwest operations into Delta.

The following table shows the balances and activity for restructuring charges:

	Severance and Related Costs									Lease Restructuring
(in millions)	2012			2011			2010			2012			2011			2010
Liability at beginning of period	$	46		$	20		$	69		$	64		$	85		$	74
Additional costs and expenses	126			100			15			45			—			20
Other	—			—			—			—			—			14
Payments	(123		)	(74		)	(64		)	(32		)	(21		)	(23		)
Liability at end of period	$	49		$	46		$	20		$	77		$	64		$	85