ACCOUNTING CHANGES AND NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]

ACCOUNTING CHANGES AND NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

ACCOUNTING CHANGES AND NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

During first quarter 2012 the Company changed the estimated retirement dates of several 737-300 and 737-500 aircraft based on revisions in the Company’s fleet plan. This change, which was accounted for on a prospective basis, resulted in an acceleration of depreciation expense, since the majority of these aircraft had previously been expected to retire in periods beyond 2012, but were subsequently expected to be retired during 2012. For the year ended December 31, 2012, the impact of this change was an increase in depreciation expense of approximately $12 million, excluding the impact of profitsharing and income taxes ($6 million after the impact of profitsharing and taxes, with a $.01 decrease in both basic and diluted net income per share). The impact of this change on 2013 was not material.

During third quarter 2012 the Company changed the estimated residual values of its entire fleet of owned 737-300 and 737-500 aircraft. This change was based on an agreement entered into during July 2012, pursuant to which the Company will lease or sublease certain aircraft to Delta Air Lines, Inc., and the resulting impact this transaction will have on how the Company manages the ultimate retirement of its owned 737-300 and 737-500 aircraft. See Note 8 for further information on the lease/sublease transaction. Based on the expected retirement dates and current and expected future market conditions related to its owned 737-300 and 737-500 aircraft, the Company reduced the residual values of these aircraft from approximately ten percent of original cost to approximately two percent of original cost. As this reduction in residual value is considered a change in estimate, it has been accounted for on a prospective basis, and thus the Company will record additional depreciation expense over the remainder of the useful lives for each aircraft. The impact of this change on the year ended December 31, 2012, was an increase in depreciation expense of approximately $34 million, excluding the impact of profitsharing and income taxes ($18 million after the impact of profitsharing and taxes, with a $.02 decrease in both basic and diluted net income per share). The impact of this change on the year ended December 31, 2013, was an increase in depreciation expense of approximately $26 million, excluding profitsharing and income taxes ($14 million after profitsharing and taxes, with a $.02 decrease in both basic and diluted net income per share).

On December 16, 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ratified Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-11, “Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities.” The new disclosure requirements mandate that entities disclose both gross and net information about instruments and transactions eligible for offset in the statement of financial position, as well as instruments and transactions subject to an agreement similar to a master netting arrangement. In addition, the standard requires disclosure of collateral received and posted in connection with master netting agreements or similar arrangements. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and the Company adopted this ASU during first quarter 2013. This ASU did not have a material effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations, but did change the Company's disclosure policies for financial derivative instruments. See Note 10.