NOTE 10 - SPECIAL CHARGES

For the three and six months ended June 30, special charges consisted of the following (in millions):


	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
Operating:	2015		2014		2015		2014
Severance and benefits	$	25	$	38	$	75	$	52
Integration-related costs		14		17		32		51
Costs associated with permanently grounding Embraer ERJ 135 aircraft		—		66		—		66
(Gains) losses on sale of assets and other special charges		16		48		12		52

Special charges		55		169		119		221
Nonoperating:
Loss on extinguishment of debt and other, net		128		—		134		21
Income tax benefit		—		—		—		(1)

Total operating and nonoperating special charges, net of income taxes	$	183	$	169	$	253	$	241

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, the Company recorded $25 million and $75 million, respectively, of severance and benefits primarily related to a voluntary early-out program for its flight attendants. In 2014, more than 2,500 flight attendants elected to voluntarily separate from the Company and will receive a severance payment, with a maximum value of $100,000 per participant, based on years of service, with retirement dates through the end of 2015. The Company will record approximately $25 million of additional expense through the remainder of 2015 associated with this program over the remaining required service periods.

Integration-related costs include compensation costs related primarily to systems integration and training for employees.

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, the Company recorded $16 million and $12 million, respectively, for the impairment of assets and other special gains and losses.

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, the Company recorded $128 million and $134 million, respectively, of losses as part of Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net due to the write-off of the unamortized non-cash debt discount related to the extinguishment of the 2026 Notes and the 2028 Notes.

During the six months ended June 30, 2014, the Company recorded $52 million of severance and benefits primarily related to reductions of management and front-line employees, including from Hopkins International Airport (“Cleveland”), as part of its cost savings initiatives. The Company reduced its average daily departures from Cleveland by over 60 percent during the second quarter of 2014. The Company is currently evaluating its options regarding its long-term contractual commitments at Cleveland. The capacity reductions at Cleveland may result in further special charges, which could be significant, related to our contractual commitments.

During the three months ended June 30, 2014, the Company recorded $66 million for the permanent grounding of 21 of the Company’s Embraer ERJ 135 regional aircraft under lease through 2018, which included an accrual for remaining lease payments and an amount for maintenance return conditions. The Company decided to permanently ground these 21 Embraer ERJ 135 aircraft as a result of new Embraer E175 regional jet deliveries, the impact of pilot shortages at regional carriers and fuel prices.

During the six months ended June 30, 2014, the Company recorded $33 million for charges related primarily to the impairment of its flight equipment held for disposal associated with its Boeing 737-300 and 737-500 fleets and incurred losses on sales of aircraft and other assets and other special losses totaling $19 million.

During the three months ended March 31, 2014, the Company recorded $21 million of losses due to exchange rate changes in Venezuela applicable to funds held in local currency.

Accruals

The accrual balance for severance and benefits was $104 million as of June 30, 2015, compared to $82 million as of June 30, 2014. The severance-related accrual as of June 30, 2015 is expected to be mostly paid through 2015. The following is a reconciliation of severance accrual activity for the period:


	Severance and Benefits
Balance at December 31, 2014	$	109
Accrual		75
Payments		(80)

Balance at June 30, 2015	$	104