XML 27 R14.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.7.0.1
Commitments and Contingencies
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Lease Commitments
The Company leases portions of the air park in Wilmington, Ohio, under lease agreements with a regional port authority, the terms of which expire in May of 2019 and June of 2036 with options to extend the leases. The leased facilities include corporate offices, 310,000 square feet of maintenance hangars and a 100,000 square foot component repair shop at the air park. ABX also has the non-exclusive right to use the airport, which includes one active runway, taxi ways and ramp space. The Company also leases and operates a 311,500 square foot, two hangar aircraft maintenance complex in Tampa, Florida. Additionally, the Company leases certain equipment and airport facilities, office space, maintenance facilities at locations outside of the airpark in Wilmington.
Purchase Commitments
The Company has agreements with Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. ("IAI") for the conversion of Boeing 767 passenger aircraft into a standard configured freighter aircraft. The conversions primarily consist of the installation of a standard cargo door and loading system. At March 31, 2017, the Company was committed to acquire and modify additional Boeing 767-300 passenger aircraft into standard freighter aircraft. In addition to six Boeing 767-300 aircraft that were in the modification process at March 31, 2017, the Company is committed to induct eight more aircraft into the freighter modification process through 2018. As of March 31, 2017, the Company's commitments to complete the conversions of aircraft it owns or has the contracts to purchase totaled $163.7 million. Additionally, the Company could incur a cancellation fee for part kits for any aircraft that is not inducted into conversion at IAI.
Guarantees and Indemnifications
Certain leases and agreements of the Company contain guarantees and indemnification obligations to the lessor, or one or more other parties that are considered reasonable and customary (e.g. use, tax and environmental indemnifications), the terms of which range in duration and are often limited. Such indemnification obligations may continue after expiration of the respective lease or agreement.
Other
In September 2015, the Company entered into a joint venture agreement to establish an express cargo airline serving multiple destinations within the People's Republic of China (including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) and surrounding countries. The airline will be based in mainland China with registered capital of 400 million RMB (US$63 million). It will be established pending the receipt of required governmental approvals and plans to commence flight operations in 2017. The Company may offer the new airline aircraft leases to build its fleet. The Company expects to contribute $15 million to the joint venture over the next twelve months.
In addition to the foregoing matters, the Company is also currently a party to legal proceedings, including FAA enforcement actions, in various federal and state jurisdictions arising out of the operation of the Company's business. The amount of alleged liability, if any, from these proceedings cannot be determined with certainty; however, the Company believes that its ultimate liability, if any, arising from the pending legal proceedings, as well as from asserted legal claims and known potential legal claims which are probable of assertion, taking into account established accruals for estimated liabilities, should not be material to our financial condition or results of operations.
Employees Under Collective Bargaining Agreements
As of March 31, 2017, the flight crewmember employees of ABX and ATI and flight attendant employees of ATI were represented by the labor unions listed below:
Airline
Labor Agreement Unit
Percentage of
the Company’s
Employees
ABX
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
8.8%
ATI
Air Line Pilots Association
6.7%

In addition, the Company has approximately 40 flight attendants that are represented by a recognized labor unit and are beginning to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement.