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Special Charges (Credits)
 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2021
Other Income and Expenses [Abstract]  
SPECIAL CHARGES (CREDITS) SPECIAL CHARGES (CREDITS) For the three and six months ended June 30, special charges (credits), unrealized (gains) losses on investments, debt extinguishment and modification fees, special termination benefits and settlement losses and certain credit losses in the statements of consolidated operations consisted of the following (in millions):
Three Months Ended
June 30,		Six Months Ended
June 30,
2021202020212020
CARES Act grant$(1,079)$(1,589)$(2,889)$(1,589)
Impairment of assets59 80 59 130 
Severance and benefit costs11 63 428 63 
(Gains) losses on sale of assets and other special charges61 (3)77 10 
Total operating special charges (credits)(948)(1,449)(2,325)(1,386)
Nonoperating unrealized (gains) losses on investments, net(147)(9)(125)310 
Nonoperating debt extinguishment and modification fees62 — 62 — 
Nonoperating special termination benefits and settlement losses— 231 46 231 
Nonoperating credit loss on BRW Term Loan and related guarantee— — — 697 
Total nonoperating special charges and unrealized (gains) losses on investments, net(85)222 (17)1,238 
Total operating and nonoperating special charges (credits) and unrealized (gains) losses on investments, net(1,033)(1,227)(2,342)(148)
Income tax expense (benefit), net of valuation allowance 203 241 494 227 
Total operating and nonoperating special charges (credits) and unrealized (gains) losses on investments, net of income taxes$(830)$(986)$(1,848)$79 
2021
CARES Act grant. During the six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company received approximately $5.8 billion in funding pursuant to the PSP2 Agreement and the PSP3 Agreement, which included an approximately $1.7 billion unsecured loan. The Company recorded $1.1 billion and $2.9 billion as grant income in Special charges (credits) during the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively. The Company also recorded $52 million and $99 million for the PSP2 Warrants and PSP3 Warrants issued to Treasury as part of the PSP2 Agreement and PSP3 Agreement, within stockholders' equity, as an offset to the grant income in the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively. The Company deferred recognition of $1.1 billion of the funds received under the PSP3 Agreement as of June 30, 2021 as the funds can only be used for the payment of eligible salaries, wages and benefits. The Company expects the remainder of the PSP3 Agreement funds will be recognized as income in the third quarter of 2021.
Impairment of assets. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company recorded $59 million of impairments primarily related to 64 Embraer EMB 145LR aircraft and related engines that United retired from its regional aircraft fleet. The decision to retire these aircraft was triggered by the United Next aircraft order. In February 2021, the Company voluntarily and temporarily removed all 52 Boeing 777-200/200ER aircraft powered by Pratt & Whitney 4000 series engines from its schedule due to an engine failure incident with one of its aircraft. The Company viewed this incident as an indicator of potential impairment. Accordingly, as required under relevant accounting standards, United performed forecasted cash flow analyses and determined that the carrying value of the Boeing 777-200/200ER fleet is expected to be recoverable from future cash flows expected to be generated by that fleet and, consequently, no impairment was recorded.
Severance and benefit costs. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company recorded charges of $11 million and $428 million, respectively, related to pay continuation and benefits-related costs provided to employees who chose to voluntarily separate from the Company. The Company offered, based on employee group, age and completed years of service, pay continuation, health care coverage, and travel benefits. Approximately 4,500 employees elected to voluntarily separate from the Company.
(Gains) losses on sale of assets and other special charges. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company recorded charges of $61 million and $77 million, respectively, primarily related to incentives for certain of its front-line employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccination and the termination of the lease associated with three floors of its headquarters at the Willis Tower in Chicago in the first quarter of 2021.
Nonoperating unrealized losses on investments, net. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company recorded $90 million of gains related to its equity investments and warrants in the equity of Clear. Clear undertook its initial public stock offering in June 2021. Also during the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company recorded gains of $57 million and $35 million, respectively, primarily for the change in the market value of its investment in Azul.
Nonoperating debt extinguishment and modification fees. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company recorded $62 million of charges for fees and discounts related to the issuance of the New Loan Facilities and the prepayment of the Existing Loan Facilities.
Nonoperating special termination benefits. During the six months ended June 30, 2021, as part of the first quarter Voluntary Programs, the Company recorded $46 million of special termination benefits in the form of additional subsidies for retiree medical costs for certain U.S.-based front-line employees. The subsidies were in the form of a one-time contribution into the employee's Retiree Health Account of $125,000 for full-time employees and $75,000 for part-time employees.
2020
CARES Act grant. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, the Company received approximately $4.5 billion in funding pursuant to PSP1, which consisted of a $3.2 billion grant and a $1.3 billion unsecured loan. The Company recognized $1.6 billion of the grant as a credit to Special charges (credit) and $57 million in warrants issued to Treasury, within stockholder's equity, as an offset to the grant income.
Impairment of assets. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, the Company recorded impairment charges of $80 million and $130 million, respectively, for its China routes, which was primarily caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Company's subsequent suspension of flights to China.
Severance and benefit costs. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, the Company recorded $63 million related to pay continuation and benefits provided to employees who chose to voluntarily separate from the Company.
Nonoperating unrealized losses on investments, net. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, the Company recorded gains of $9 million and losses of $310 million, respectively. The losses in the six months ended June 30, 2020 were primarily due to the $284 million decrease in the market value of the Company's investment in Azul and the $24 million decrease in the fair value of the AVH share call options, AVH share appreciation rights and AVH share-based upside sharing agreement.
Nonoperating special termination benefits and settlement losses. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, the Company recorded $231 million of settlement losses related to the Company's primary defined benefit pension plans covering certain U.S. non-pilot employees, and special termination benefits offered under voluntary leave programs to certain front-line U.S. based employees participating in the non-pilot defined benefit pension plan and postretirement medical programs.
Nonoperating credit loss on BRW Term Loan and related guarantee. During the six months ended June 30, 2020, the Company recorded a $697 million expected credit loss allowance for the BRW Term Loan and related guarantee. AVH is currently in bankruptcy. See Notes 6 and 7 of this report for additional information.