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Retirement Benefits
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]  
Retirement Benefits
Retirement Benefits
The following tables provide the components of net periodic benefit cost for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 (in millions):
 
Pension Benefits
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
Components of net periodic benefit cost
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost
$
1

 
$
104

 
$
2

 
$
208

Interest cost
163

 
191

 
326

 
382

Expected return on assets
(180
)
 
(166
)
 
(360
)
 
(332
)
Amortization of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Prior service cost
7

 
3

 
14

 
7

    Unrecognized net (gain) loss
23

 
63

 
46

 
124

Net periodic benefit cost
$
14

 
$
195

 
$
28

 
$
389

 
Retiree Medical and Other Benefits
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
Components of net periodic benefit cost
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost
$

 
$
15

 
$

 
$
30

Interest cost
13

 
38

 
26

 
76

Expected return on assets
(4
)
 
(4
)
 
(8
)
 
(8
)
Amortization of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prior service cost
(61
)
 
(7
)
 
(122
)
 
(14
)
Unrecognized net (gain) loss
(2
)
 
(2
)
 
(4
)
 
(4
)
Net periodic benefit cost
$
(54
)
 
$
40

 
$
(108
)
 
$
80


The Company is required to make minimum contributions to its defined benefit pension plans under the minimum funding requirements of ERISA, the Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004, the Pension Protection Act of 2006, and the Pension Relief Act of 2010. As a result of the Chapter 11 Cases, AMR contributed $44 million to its U.S. defined benefit pension plans during the first six months of 2013 covering post-petition periods. On July 15, 2013, the Company contributed an additional $11 million to its defined benefit pension plans. The Company’s remaining 2013 contributions to its defined benefit pension plans are subject to the Chapter 11 proceedings. Prior to the closing of the Merger (see Note 13 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further information), AMR and/or its subsidiaries will make all minimum required contributions to each AMR compensation and benefit plan that are required to have been made and were not made prior to the effective date of the Merger. As a result of the Company contributing only the post-petition portion of required contributions, the PBGC filed a lien against certain assets of the Company in 2012.
Recent Modifications to Pension and Other Post-Employment Benefits
The Company's defined benefit pension plans were frozen effective November 1, 2012. Eligible employees began to receive a replacement benefit under the $uper $aver 401(k) Plan on November 1, 2012.
In December 2012, the Pilot A Plan, a defined benefit plan, was amended to remove the lump-sum option and the installment option forms of benefit effective December 31, 2012.  A small group of American pilots is appealing the Bankruptcy Court's decision authorizing American to eliminate the lump sum option and installment option forms of benefit.  This is the same group of pilots that is appealing the Bankruptcy Court's decisions authorizing American to reject the pilot CBA and approving the new pilot CBA.  All of these appeals have been consolidated, and are pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
The Pilot B Plan, a defined contribution plan, was terminated on November 30, 2012. Plan B assets will be distributed to pilots in mid-2013.
On July 6, 2012, the Company commenced an adversary proceeding in the Bankruptcy Court seeking a determination on the issue of vesting for former employees who retired before November 1, 2012 and were eligible for certain retiree medical coverage. The Court held a hearing on January 23, 2013 and has not ruled on this matter as of the date of this report.  The Company has been negotiating with the retiree committee since July 2012, seeking a consensual agreement to terminate subsidized retiree medical coverage and life insurance coverage.  
As a result of the modifications to the retirement benefits as discussed above, a portion of the pension and postretirement benefits liability, primarily relating to retiree medical and other benefits, was classified as liabilities subject to compromise. See Note 1 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the breakout of liabilities subject to compromise, including that related to pension and postretirement benefits.