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Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]  
Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees
(a) Aircraft, Engine and Other Purchase Commitments
Under all of our aircraft and engine purchase agreements, our total future commitments as of December 31, 2023 are expected to be as follows (approximately, in millions):
202420252026202720282029 and ThereafterTotal
Payments for aircraft and
engine commitments (1)
$2,410 $3,725 $3,580 $1,118 $829 $645 $12,307 
(1)These amounts are net of purchase deposits currently held by the manufacturers. Our purchase deposits held by all manufacturers totaled $760 million and $613 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Due to uncertainty surrounding the timing of delivery of certain aircraft, the amounts in the table represent our most current estimate based on contractual delivery schedules adjusted for updates and revisions to such schedules communicated to management by the applicable equipment manufacturer. However, the actual delivery schedule may differ, potentially materially, based on various potential factors including production delays by the manufacturer and regulatory concerns.
Additionally, the amounts in the table exclude five Boeing 787 Family aircraft scheduled to be delivered in 2024, for which we have obtained committed lease financing. See Note 5 for information regarding this operating lease commitment.
Additionally, we have other purchase commitments primarily related to aircraft fuel, flight equipment maintenance and information technology support as follows (approximately): $4.7 billion in 2024, $2.0 billion in 2025, $1.4 billion in 2026, $150 million in 2027, $124 million in 2028 and $843 million in 2029 and thereafter. These amounts exclude obligations under certain fuel offtake agreements or other agreements for which the timing of the related expenditure is uncertain, or which are subject to material contingencies, such as the construction of a production facility.
(b) Capacity Purchase Agreements with Third-Party Regional Carriers
American has capacity purchase agreements with third-party regional carriers. The capacity purchase agreements provide that all revenues, including passenger, in-flight, ancillary, mail and freight revenues, go to American. American controls marketing, scheduling, ticketing, pricing and seat inventories. In return, American agrees to pay predetermined fees to these airlines for operating an agreed-upon number of aircraft, without regard to the number of passengers on board. In addition, these agreements provide that American either reimburses or pays 100% of certain variable costs, such as airport landing fees, fuel and passenger liability insurance.
As of December 31, 2023, American’s capacity purchase agreements with third-party regional carriers had expiration dates ranging from 2024 to 2032, with rights of American to extend the respective terms of certain agreements.
As of December 31, 2023, American’s minimum obligations under its capacity purchase agreements with third-party regional carriers are expected to be as follows (approximately, in millions):
202420252026202720282029 and ThereafterTotal
Minimum obligations under capacity purchase agreements with third-party regional carriers (1)
$2,038 $1,992 $1,702 $1,473 $693 $1,332 $9,230 
(1)Represents minimum payments under capacity purchase agreements with third-party regional carriers. These commitments are estimates of costs based on assumed minimum levels of flying under the capacity purchase agreements and American’s actual payments could differ materially. Rental payments under operating leases for certain aircraft flown under these capacity purchase agreements are reflected in the operating lease commitments in Note 5.
(c) Airport Redevelopment
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
From time to time, airports engage in construction projects, often substantial, that result in new or improved facilities that are ultimately funded through increases in the rent and other occupancy costs payable by airlines operating at the airport. Unlike this construction and funding model, we are managing a project at LAX where we have legal title to the assets during construction. In 2018, we executed a lease agreement with Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), which owns and operates LAX, in connection with a $1.6 billion modernization project related to LAX Terminals 4 and 5. Construction, which started in October 2018 and is expected to be completed in 2028, will occur in a phased approach. The modernization project will include a unified departure hall to the entranceway of Terminals 4 and 5, reconfigured ticket counter and check-in areas with seamless access to security screening areas, 10 new security screening lanes with automated technology in addition to the existing Terminal 5 lanes, and a new Terminal 4 South concourse with more open and upgraded amenities at gate areas. The project will also include renovated break rooms, multi-use meeting rooms and team gathering spaces throughout the terminals to support our team members at LAX.
As each phase is completed and ready for use, the assets will be sold and transferred to LAWA, including the site improvements and other non-proprietary improvements. As we control the assets during construction, they are recognized on our consolidated balance sheets within operating property and equipment until the assets are sold and transferred to LAWA. As of December 31, 2023, we have incurred $862 million in costs relating to the LAX modernization project, of which $283 million were incurred in 2023. Cash paid for non-proprietary improvements are included within other investing activities on our consolidated statements of cash flows. In addition, as of December 31, 2023, we have sold and transferred $346 million of non-proprietary improvements to LAWA, of which $170 million occurred during 2023. For non-proprietary improvements which are not yet ready for use, any cash payments received from LAWA will be reflected as a financial liability included within noncurrent other liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets and reflected as other
financing activities on our consolidated statements of cash flows. As of December 31, 2023, $53 million of cash proceeds received for non-proprietary improvements were not yet ready for use, and therefore have not been sold and transferred back to LAWA.
(d) Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Pass-Through Trusts
American currently has 308 owned aircraft and 60 owned spare aircraft engines, which in each case were financed with EETCs issued by pass-through trusts. These trusts are off-balance sheet entities, the primary purpose of which is to finance the acquisition of flight equipment or to permit issuance of debt backed by existing flight equipment. In the case of aircraft EETCs, rather than finance each aircraft separately when such aircraft is purchased, delivered or refinanced, these trusts allow American to raise the financing for a number of aircraft at one time and, if applicable, place such funds in escrow pending a future purchase, delivery or refinancing of the relevant aircraft. Similarly, in the case of the spare engine EETCs, the trusts allow American to use its existing pool of spare engines to raise financing under a single facility. The trusts have also been structured to provide for certain credit enhancements, such as liquidity facilities to cover certain interest payments, that reduce the risks to the purchasers of the trust certificates and, as a result, reduce the cost of aircraft financing to American.
Each trust covers a set number of aircraft or spare engines scheduled to be delivered, financed or refinanced upon the issuance of the EETC or within a specific period of time thereafter. At the time of each covered aircraft or spare engine financing, the relevant trust used the proceeds from the issuance of the EETC (which may have been available at the time of issuance thereof or held in escrow until financing of the applicable aircraft following its delivery) to purchase equipment notes relating to the financed aircraft or engines. The equipment notes are issued, at American’s election, in connection with a mortgage financing of the aircraft or spare engines. The equipment notes are secured by a security interest in the aircraft or engines, as applicable. The pass-through trust certificates are not direct obligations of, nor are they guaranteed by, AAG or American. However, the equipment notes issued to the trusts are direct obligations of American and, in certain instances, have been guaranteed by AAG. As of December 31, 2023, $7.7 billion associated with these mortgage financings is reflected as debt in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.
Letters of Credit and Other
We provide financial assurance, such as letters of credit and surety bonds, primarily to support projected workers’ compensation obligations and airport commitments. As of December 31, 2023, we had $318 million of letters of credit and surety bonds securing various obligations, of which $94 million is collateralized with our restricted cash. The letters of credit and surety bonds that are subject to expiration will expire on various dates through 2028.
(e) Legal Proceedings
Government Antitrust Action Related to the Northeast Alliance. On September 21, 2021, the United States Department of Justice, joined by Attorneys General from six states and the District of Columbia, filed an antitrust complaint against American and JetBlue Airways Corporation (JetBlue) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts alleging that American and JetBlue violated U.S. antitrust law in connection with the previously disclosed Northeast Alliance arrangement (NEA).
On May 19, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued an order permanently enjoining American and JetBlue from continuing and further implementing the NEA. In June 2023, JetBlue delivered a notice of termination of the NEA, effective July 29, 2023, and the carriers have commenced wind-down activities to accommodate mutual customers. Following written submissions by the parties and a hearing on July 26, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts entered a Final Judgment and Order Entering Permanent Injunction on July 28, 2023. The parties are complying with the terms of the Final Judgment and Order Entering Permanent Injunction, including winding down activities related to the NEA. American filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit on September 25, 2023, and American’s opening brief was filed on December 6, 2023.
Private Party Antitrust Actions Related to the Northeast Alliance. On December 5, 2022 and December 7, 2022, two private party plaintiffs filed putative class action antitrust complaints against American and JetBlue in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York alleging that American and JetBlue violated U.S. antitrust law in connection with the previously disclosed NEA. These actions were consolidated on January 10, 2023. The private party plaintiffs filed an amended consolidated complaint on February 3, 2023. On February 2, 2023 and February 15, 2023, private party plaintiffs filed two additional putative class action antitrust complaints against American and JetBlue in the U.S. District
Court for the District of Massachusetts and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, respectively. In March 2023, American filed a motion in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts case asking to transfer the case to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York and consolidate it with the cases pending in that venue. The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts granted that motion. The remaining cases were consolidated with the other actions in the Eastern District of New York. In June 2023, the private party plaintiffs filed a second amended consolidated complaint, followed by a third amended complaint filed in August 2023. In September 2023, American, together with JetBlue, filed a motion to dismiss the third amended complaint, and that motion remains pending. We believe these lawsuits are without merit and are defending against them vigorously.
General. In addition to the specifically identified legal proceedings, we and our subsidiaries are also engaged in other legal proceedings from time to time. Legal proceedings can be complex and take many months, or even years, to reach resolution, with the final outcome depending on a number of variables, some of which are not within our control. Therefore, although we will vigorously defend ourselves in each of the actions described above and such other legal proceedings, their ultimate resolution and potential financial and other impacts on us are uncertain but could be material.
(f) Guarantees and Indemnifications
We are party to many routine contracts in which we provide general indemnities in the normal course of business to third parties for various risks. We are not able to estimate the potential amount of any liability resulting from the indemnities. These indemnities are discussed in the following paragraphs.
In our aircraft financing agreements, we generally indemnify the financing parties, trustees acting on their behalf and other relevant parties against liabilities (including certain taxes) resulting from the financing, manufacture, design, ownership, operation and maintenance of the aircraft regardless of whether these liabilities (including certain taxes) relate to the negligence of the indemnified parties.
Our loan agreements and certain other financing transactions may obligate us to reimburse the applicable lender for incremental costs due to a change in law that imposes (i) any reserve or special deposit requirement against assets of, deposits with or credit extended by such lender related to the loan, (ii) any tax, duty or other charge with respect to the loan (except standard income tax) or (iii) capital adequacy requirements. In addition, our loan agreements and other financing arrangements typically contain a withholding tax provision that requires us to pay additional amounts to the applicable lender or other financing party, generally if withholding taxes are imposed on such lender or other financing party as a result of a change in the applicable tax law.
In certain transactions, including certain aircraft financing leases and loans, the lessors, lenders and/or other parties have rights to terminate the transaction based on changes in foreign tax law, illegality or certain other events or circumstances. In such a case, we may be required to make a lump sum payment to terminate the relevant transaction.
We have general indemnity clauses in many of our airport and other real estate leases where we as lessee indemnify the lessor (and related parties) against liabilities related to our use of the leased property. Generally, these indemnifications cover liabilities resulting from the negligence of the indemnified parties, but not liabilities resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the indemnified parties. In addition, we provide environmental indemnities in many of these leases for contamination related to our use of the leased property.
Under certain contracts with third parties, we indemnify the third-party against legal liability arising out of an action by the third-party, or certain other parties. The terms of these contracts vary and the potential exposure under these indemnities cannot be determined. We have liability insurance protecting us from some of the obligations we have undertaken under these indemnities.
American is required to make principal and interest payments for certain special facility revenue bonds issued by municipalities primarily to build or improve airport facilities and purchase equipment, which are leased to American. The payment of principal and interest of certain special facility revenue bonds is guaranteed by AAG. As of December 31, 2023, the remaining lease payments through 2035 guaranteeing the principal and interest on these bonds are $520 million and the current carrying amount of the associated operating lease liability in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet is $321 million.
As of December 31, 2023, AAG had issued guarantees covering approximately $17.5 billion of American’s secured debt (and interest thereon), including the Credit Facilities, 2023 Term Loan Facility, the AAdvantage Financing, certain EETC financings and special facility revenue bonds.
(g) Credit Card Processing Agreements
We have agreements with companies that process customer credit card transactions for the sale of air travel and other services. Our agreements allow these credit card processing companies, under certain conditions, to hold an amount of our cash (referred to as a holdback) equal to all or a portion of advance ticket sales that have been processed by that company, but for which we have not yet provided the air transportation. These holdback requirements can be implemented at the discretion of the credit card processing companies upon the occurrence of specific events, including material adverse changes in our financial condition or the triggering of a liquidity covenant. These credit card processing companies are not currently entitled to maintain any holdbacks. The imposition of holdback requirements would reduce our liquidity.
(h) Labor Contracts
In May 2023, American and the Allied Pilots Association, the union representing our mainline pilots, reached an agreement in principle on a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), which was ratified in August 2023. This four-year agreement provides wage rate increases, including an initial wage rate increase of 21% effective as of January 1, 2023, quality-of-life benefits and other benefit-related items. The additional compensation for the 2023 period prior to contract ratification as a result of the higher wage rates was recorded within salaries, wages and benefits in the consolidated statements of operations in the second and third quarters of 2023. The agreement also included a provision for a one-time payment upon ratification. In 2023, one-time charges resulting from the ratification of this new agreement were recorded as mainline operating special items, net in the consolidated statement of operations, including the one-time payment of $754 million as well as adjustments to other benefit-related items of $235 million. The one-time payment and the additional compensation were principally paid in 2023, with remaining payments expected to be paid in the first quarter of 2024.
As of December 31, 2023, we employed approximately 132,100 active full-time equivalent (FTE) employees, of which 28,900 were employed by our wholly-owned regional subsidiaries. Of the total active FTE employees, 87% are covered by CBAs with various labor unions and 34% are covered by CBAs that are currently amendable or that will become amendable within one year. In January 2024, mainline passenger service employees represented by the CWA-IBT ratified a new five-year agreement. The CBA covering our flight attendants is now amendable. The CBAs covering certain employee groups at our wholly-owned regional subsidiaries are also amendable.
American Airlines, Inc.  
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]  
Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees
(a) Aircraft, Engine and Other Purchase Commitments
Under all of American’s aircraft and engine purchase agreements, its total future commitments as of December 31, 2023 are expected to be as follows (approximately, in millions):
202420252026202720282029 and ThereafterTotal
Payments for aircraft and engine commitments (1)
$2,410 $3,725 $3,580 $1,118 $829 $645 $12,307 
(1)These amounts are net of purchase deposits currently held by the manufacturers. American’s purchase deposits held by all manufacturers totaled $760 million and $613 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Due to uncertainty surrounding the timing of delivery of certain aircraft, the amounts in the table represent American’s most current estimate based on contractual delivery schedules adjusted for updates and revisions to such schedules communicated to management by the applicable equipment manufacturer. However, the actual delivery schedule may differ, potentially materially, based on various potential factors including production delays by the manufacturer and regulatory concerns.
Additionally, the amounts in the table exclude five Boeing 787 Family aircraft scheduled to be delivered in 2024, for which American has obtained committed lease financing. See Note 4 for information regarding this operating lease commitment.
Additionally, American has other purchase commitments primarily related to aircraft fuel, flight equipment maintenance and information technology support as follows (approximately): $4.7 billion in 2024, $2.0 billion in 2025, $1.4 billion in 2026, $150 million in 2027, $124 million in 2028 and $843 million in 2029 and thereafter. These amounts exclude obligations under certain fuel offtake agreements or other agreements for which the timing of the related expenditure is uncertain, or which are subject to material contingencies, such as the construction of a production facility.
(b) Capacity Purchase Agreements with Third-Party Regional Carriers
American has capacity purchase agreements with third-party regional carriers. The capacity purchase agreements provide that all revenues, including passenger, in-flight, ancillary, mail and freight revenues, go to American. American controls marketing, scheduling, ticketing, pricing and seat inventories. In return, American agrees to pay predetermined fees to these airlines for operating an agreed-upon number of aircraft, without regard to the number of passengers on board. In addition, these agreements provide that American either reimburses or pays 100% of certain variable costs, such as airport landing fees, fuel and passenger liability insurance.
As of December 31, 2023, American’s capacity purchase agreements with third-party regional carriers had expiration dates ranging from 2024 to 2032, with rights of American to extend the respective terms of certain agreements.
As of December 31, 2023, American’s minimum obligations under its capacity purchase agreements with third-party regional carriers are expected to be as follows (approximately, in millions):
202420252026202720282029 and ThereafterTotal
Minimum obligations under capacity purchase agreements with third-party regional carriers (1)
$2,038 $1,992 $1,702 $1,473 $693 $1,332 $9,230 
(1)Represents minimum payments under capacity purchase agreements with third-party regional carriers. These commitments are estimates of costs based on assumed minimum levels of flying under the capacity purchase agreements and American’s actual payments could differ materially. Rental payments under operating leases for certain aircraft flown under these capacity purchase agreements are reflected in the operating lease commitments in Note 4.
(c) Airport Redevelopment
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
From time to time, airports engage in construction projects, often substantial, that result in new or improved facilities that are ultimately funded through increases in the rent and other occupancy costs payable by airlines operating at the airport. Unlike this construction and funding model, American is managing a project at LAX where it has legal title to the assets during construction. In 2018, American executed a lease agreement with Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), which owns and operates LAX, in connection with a $1.6 billion modernization project related to LAX Terminals 4 and 5. Construction, which started in October 2018 and is expected to be completed in 2028, will occur in a phased approach. The modernization project will include a unified departure hall to the entranceway of Terminals 4 and 5, reconfigured ticket counter and check-in areas with seamless access to security screening areas, 10 new security screening lanes with automated technology in addition to the existing Terminal 5 lanes, and a new Terminal 4 South concourse with more open and upgraded amenities at gate areas. The project will also include renovated break rooms, multi-use meeting rooms and team gathering spaces throughout the terminals to support American’s team members at LAX.
As each phase is completed and ready for use, the assets will be sold and transferred to LAWA, including the site improvements and other non-proprietary improvements. As American controls the assets during construction, they are recognized on its consolidated balance sheets within operating property and equipment until the assets are sold and transferred to LAWA. As of December 31, 2023, American has incurred $862 million in costs relating to the LAX modernization project, of which $283 million were incurred in 2023. Cash paid for non-proprietary improvements are included within other investing activities on American’s consolidated statements of cash flows. In addition, as of December 31, 2023, American has sold and transferred $346 million of non-proprietary improvements to LAWA, of which $170 million occurred during 2023. For non-proprietary improvements which are not yet ready for use, any cash payments received from LAWA will be reflected as a financial liability included within noncurrent other liabilities on American’s consolidated balance sheets and reflected as other financing activities on its consolidated statements of cash flows. As of December 31, 2023, $53 million of cash proceeds received for non-proprietary improvements were not yet ready for use, and therefore have not been sold and transferred back to LAWA.
(d) Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Pass-Through Trusts
American currently has 308 owned aircraft and 60 owned spare aircraft engines, which in each case were financed with EETCs issued by pass-through trusts. These trusts are off-balance sheet entities, the primary purpose of which is to finance the acquisition of flight equipment or to permit issuance of debt backed by existing flight equipment. In the case of aircraft EETCs, rather than finance each aircraft separately when such aircraft is purchased, delivered or refinanced, these trusts allow American to raise the financing for a number of aircraft at one time and, if applicable, place such funds in escrow pending a future purchase, delivery or refinancing of the relevant aircraft. Similarly, in the case of the spare engine EETCs, the trusts allow American to use its existing pool of spare engines to raise financing under a single facility. The trusts have also been structured to provide for certain credit enhancements, such as liquidity facilities to cover certain interest payments, that reduce the risks to the purchasers of the trust certificates and, as a result, reduce the cost of aircraft financing to American.
Each trust covers a set number of aircraft or spare engines scheduled to be delivered, financed or refinanced upon the issuance of the EETC or within a specific period of time thereafter. At the time of each covered aircraft or spare engine financing, the relevant trust used the proceeds from the issuance of the EETC (which may have been available at the time
of issuance thereof or held in escrow until financing of the applicable aircraft following its delivery) to purchase equipment notes relating to the financed aircraft or engines. The equipment notes are issued, at American’s election, in connection with a mortgage financing of the aircraft or spare engines. The equipment notes are secured by a security interest in the aircraft or engines, as applicable. The pass-through trust certificates are not direct obligations of, nor are they guaranteed by, AAG or American. However, the equipment notes issued to the trusts are direct obligations of American and, in certain instances, have been guaranteed by AAG. As of December 31, 2023, $7.7 billion associated with these mortgage financings is reflected as debt in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.
Letters of Credit and Other
American provides financial assurance, such as letters of credit and surety bonds, primarily to support projected workers’ compensation obligations and airport commitments. As of December 31, 2023, American had $318 million of letters of credit and surety bonds securing various obligations, of which $94 million is collateralized with American’s restricted cash. The letters of credit and surety bonds that are subject to expiration will expire on various dates through 2028.
(e) Legal Proceedings
Government Antitrust Action Related to the Northeast Alliance. On September 21, 2021, the United States Department of Justice, joined by Attorneys General from six states and the District of Columbia, filed an antitrust complaint against American and JetBlue Airways Corporation (JetBlue) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts alleging that American and JetBlue violated U.S. antitrust law in connection with the previously disclosed Northeast Alliance arrangement (NEA).
On May 19, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued an order permanently enjoining American and JetBlue from continuing and further implementing the NEA. In June 2023, JetBlue delivered a notice of termination of the NEA, effective July 29, 2023, and the carriers have commenced wind-down activities to accommodate mutual customers. Following written submissions by the parties and a hearing on July 26, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts entered a Final Judgment and Order Entering Permanent Injunction on July 28, 2023. The parties are complying with the terms of the Final Judgment and Order Entering Permanent Injunction, including winding down activities related to the NEA. American filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit on September 25, 2023, and American’s opening brief was filed on December 6, 2023.
Private Party Antitrust Actions Related to the Northeast Alliance. On December 5, 2022 and December 7, 2022, two private party plaintiffs filed putative class action antitrust complaints against American and JetBlue in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York alleging that American and JetBlue violated U.S. antitrust law in connection with the previously disclosed NEA. These actions were consolidated on January 10, 2023. The private party plaintiffs filed an amended consolidated complaint on February 3, 2023. On February 2, 2023 and February 15, 2023, private party plaintiffs filed two additional putative class action antitrust complaints against American and JetBlue in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, respectively. In March 2023, American filed a motion in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts case asking to transfer the case to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York and consolidate it with the cases pending in that venue. The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts granted that motion. The remaining cases were consolidated with the other actions in the Eastern District of New York. In June 2023, the private party plaintiffs filed a second amended consolidated complaint, followed by a third amended complaint filed in August 2023. In September 2023, American, together with JetBlue, filed a motion to dismiss the third amended complaint, and that motion remains pending. American believes these lawsuits are without merit and is defending against them vigorously.
General. In addition to the specifically identified legal proceedings, American and its subsidiaries are also engaged in other legal proceedings from time to time. Legal proceedings can be complex and take many months, or even years, to reach resolution, with the final outcome depending on a number of variables, some of which are not within American’s control. Therefore, although American will vigorously defend itself in each of the actions described above and such other legal proceedings, their ultimate resolution and potential financial and other impacts on American are uncertain but could be material.
(f) Guarantees and Indemnifications
American is a party to many routine contracts in which it provides general indemnities in the normal course of business to third parties for various risks. American is not able to estimate the potential amount of any liability resulting from the indemnities. These indemnities are discussed in the following paragraphs.
In its aircraft financing agreements, American generally indemnifies the financing parties, trustees acting on their behalf and other relevant parties against liabilities (including certain taxes) resulting from the financing, manufacture, design, ownership, operation and maintenance of the aircraft regardless of whether these liabilities (including certain taxes) relate to the negligence of the indemnified parties.
American’s loan agreements and certain other financing transactions may obligate American to reimburse the applicable lender for incremental costs due to a change in law that imposes (i) any reserve or special deposit requirement against assets of, deposits with or credit extended by such lender related to the loan, (ii) any tax, duty or other charge with respect to the loan (except standard income tax) or (iii) capital adequacy requirements. In addition, American’s loan agreements and other financing arrangements typically contain a withholding tax provision that requires American to pay additional amounts to the applicable lender or other financing party, generally if withholding taxes are imposed on such lender or other financing party as a result of a change in the applicable tax law.
In certain transactions, including certain aircraft financing leases and loans, the lessors, lenders and/or other parties have rights to terminate the transaction based on changes in foreign tax law, illegality or certain other events or circumstances. In such a case, American may be required to make a lump sum payment to terminate the relevant transaction.
American has general indemnity clauses in many of its airport and other real estate leases where American as lessee indemnifies the lessor (and related parties) against liabilities related to American’s use of the leased property. Generally, these indemnifications cover liabilities resulting from the negligence of the indemnified parties, but not liabilities resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the indemnified parties. In addition, American provides environmental indemnities in many of these leases for contamination related to American’s use of the leased property.
Under certain contracts with third parties, American indemnifies the third-party against legal liability arising out of an action by the third-party, or certain other parties. The terms of these contracts vary and the potential exposure under these indemnities cannot be determined. American has liability insurance protecting American from some of the obligations it has undertaken under these indemnities.
American is required to make principal and interest payments for certain special facility revenue bonds issued by municipalities primarily to build or improve airport facilities and purchase equipment, which are leased to American. The payment of principal and interest of certain special facility revenue bonds is guaranteed by American. As of December 31, 2023, the remaining lease payments through 2035 guaranteeing the principal and interest on these bonds are $520 million and the current carrying amount of the associated operating lease liability in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet is $321 million.
As of December 31, 2023, American had issued guarantees covering AAG’s $1.8 billion aggregate principal amount of the PSP1 Promissory Note due April 2030, $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of the PSP2 Promissory Note due January 2031, $959 million aggregate principal amount of the PSP3 Promissory Note due April 2031, $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 6.50% convertible senior notes due July 2025 and $487 million of 3.75% senior notes due March 2025.
(g) Credit Card Processing Agreements
American has agreements with companies that process customer credit card transactions for the sale of air travel and other services. American’s agreements allow these credit card processing companies, under certain conditions, to hold an amount of its cash (referred to as a holdback) equal to all or a portion of advance ticket sales that have been processed by that company, but for which American has not yet provided the air transportation. These holdback requirements can be implemented at the discretion of the credit card processing companies upon the occurrence of specific events, including material adverse changes in American’s financial condition or the triggering of a liquidity covenant. These credit card processing companies are not currently entitled to maintain any holdbacks. The imposition of holdback requirements would reduce American’s liquidity.
(h) Labor Contracts
In May 2023, American and the Allied Pilots Association, the union representing American’s mainline pilots, reached an agreement in principle on a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), which was ratified in August 2023. This four-year agreement provides wage rate increases, including an initial wage rate increase of 21% effective as of January 1, 2023, quality-of-life benefits and other benefit-related items. The additional compensation for the 2023 period prior to contract ratification as a result of the higher wage rates was recorded within salaries, wages and benefits in the consolidated statements of operations in the second and third quarters of 2023. The agreement also included a provision for a one-time payment upon ratification. In 2023, one-time charges resulting from the ratification of this new agreement were recorded as mainline operating special items, net in the consolidated statement of operations, including the one-time payment of $754 million as well as adjustments to other benefit-related items of $235 million. The one-time payment and the additional compensation were principally paid in 2023, with remaining payments expected to be paid in the first quarter of 2024.
As of December 31, 2023, American employed approximately 103,200 active full-time equivalent (FTE) employees. Of the total active FTE employees, 87% are covered by CBAs with various labor unions and 38% are covered by CBAs that are currently amendable or that will become amendable within one year. In January 2024, mainline passenger service employees represented by the CWA-IBT ratified a new five-year agreement. The CBA covering American’s flight attendants is now amendable.