Special Charges (Credits)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Other Income and Expenses [Abstract]

For the three and nine months ended September 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 September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
CARES Act grant	$	(1,132)	$	(1,494)	$	(4,021)	$	(3,083)
Impairment of assets	46		38		105		168
Severance and benefit costs	5		350		433		413
(Gains) losses on sale of assets and other special charges	(17)		25		60		35
Total operating special charges (credits)	(1,098)		(1,081)		(3,423)		(2,467)
Nonoperating unrealized (gains) losses on investments, net	34		(15)		(91)		295
Nonoperating debt extinguishment and modification fees	(12)		—		50		—
Nonoperating special termination benefits and settlement losses	—		415		46		646
Nonoperating credit loss on BRW Term Loan and related guarantee	—		—		—		697
Total nonoperating special charges and unrealized (gains) losses on investments, net	22		400		5		1,638
Total operating and nonoperating special charges (credits) and unrealized (gains) losses on investments, net	(1,076)		(681)		(3,418)		(829)
Income tax expense, net of valuation allowance	274		148		768		375
Total operating and nonoperating special charges (credits) and unrealized (gains) losses on investments, net of income taxes	$	(802)	$	(533)	$	(2,650)	$	(454)

2021

CARES Act grant. During the nine months ended September 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 $4.0 billion as grant income in Special charges (credits) during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively. The Company also recorded $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 nine months ended September 30, 2021.

Impairment of assets. During the three months ended September 30, 2021, the Company recorded $46 million of impairment charges for nine Airbus A319 aircraft and 13 Boeing 737-700 airframes as a result of current market conditions for used aircraft. These aircraft are all considered held for sale and classified as part of other assets. During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, in addition to the third quarter impairments described above, the Company recorded $59 million of

impairments primarily related to 64 Embraer EMB 145LR aircraft and related spare engines that United retired from its regional 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 nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company recorded charges of $5 million and $433 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 months ended September 30, 2021, the Company recorded net gains of $17 million primarily related to gains on aircraft sale-leaseback transactions and aircraft component manufacturer credits. During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company recorded net charges of $60 million primarily related to incentives for its 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 partially offset by the third quarter's gains.

Nonoperating unrealized (gains) losses on investments, net. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company recorded losses of $34 million and gains of $91 million, respectively, primarily for the change in the market value of its investments in equity securities. Substantially all of the gains and losses were related to equity securities held by the Company as of September 30, 2021. See Note 6 of this report for information related to these equity investments.

Nonoperating debt extinguishment and modification fees. During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company recorded $50 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 and settlement losses. During the nine months ended September 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 to a notional Retiree Health Account of $125,000 for full-time employees and $75,000 for part-time employees.

2020

CARES Act grant. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company received approximately $5.1 billion in funding pursuant to PSP1, which consisted of a $3.6 billion grant and a $1.5 billion unsecured loan. The Company recognized $3.1 billion of the grant as a credit to Special charges (credits) and $66 million in warrants issued to Treasury, within stockholders' equity, as an offset to the grant income.

Impairment of assets. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $38 million related to the right-of-use asset associated with the embedded aircraft lease in one of our CPAs. Also, during the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company recorded impairment charges of $130 million for its China routes, which were primarily caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company's subsequent suspension of flights to China and a further delay in the expected return of full capacity to the China markets.

Severance and benefit costs. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company recorded $350 million and $413 million, respectively, related to the workforce reduction and voluntary plans for employee severance, pay continuance from voluntary retirements and benefits-related costs.

Nonoperating unrealized gains (losses) on investments, net. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company recorded gains of $15 million and losses of $271 million, respectively, primarily for the change in the market value of its investment in equity securities. Also, during the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company recorded losses of $24 million for the decrease in 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 nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company recorded $415 million and $646 million, respectively, of settlement losses related to the Company's primary defined benefit pension plan covering certain U.S. non-pilot employees, and special termination benefits offered under

Voluntary 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 nine months ended September 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.