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FINANCING ACTIVITIES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
Debt Disclosure [Text Block]
(in millions)December 31, 2020December 31, 2019
737 Aircraft Notes payable through April 2020$— $20 
Term Loan Agreement payable through May 2020 - 5.223%
— 134 
2.65% Notes due November 2020
— 500 
2.75% Notes due 2022
300 300 
Pass Through Certificates due 2022 - 6.24%
137 197 
4.75% Notes due 2023
1,250 — 
1.25% Convertible Notes due 2025
1,945 — 
5.25% Notes due 2025
1,550 — 
Term Loan Agreement payable through 2025 - 1.65%
119 — 
3.00% Notes due 2026
300 300 
Term Loan Agreement payable through 2026 - 1.34%
159 178 
3.45% Notes due 2027
300 300 
5.125% Notes due 2027
2,000 — 
7.375% Debentures due 2027
119 122 
Term Loan Agreement payable through 2028 - 1.65%
184 — 
2.625% Notes due 2030
500 — 
1.000% Payroll Support Program Loan due 2030 (See Note 2)
976 — 
Finance leases542 627
$10,381 $2,678 
Less current maturities220 819 
Less debt discount and issuance costs50 13 
$10,111 $1,846 

AirTran Holdings was party to aircraft purchase financing facilities. Each note was secured by a first mortgage on the aircraft to which it related. The notes bore interest at a floating rate per annum equal to a margin plus the three or six-month LIBOR in effect at the commencement of each semi-annual or three-month period, as applicable. Principal and interest under the notes were payable semi-annually or every three months as applicable. The three remaining notes matured in 2020 (February and April) and were redeemed in full utilizing available cash on hand. As discussed further in Note 11, a portion of the above floating-rate debt had been effectively converted to a fixed rate via interest rate swap agreements which expired as the underlying notes matured.

In third quarter 2020, the Company entered into agreements with a financing institution to borrow $125 million ($121 million, net of fees) secured by four Boeing 737-800 aircraft. These borrowings, which were recorded as a financing transaction in the Company's Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, and as debt in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet, bear interest at a rate equal to the 3 month LIBOR plus 1.4 percent, payable in quarterly installments through September 29, 2025.

During 2020, the Company issued $2.0 billion of unsecured notes due 2027, of which $1.3 billion was issued June 8, 2020 (the “$1.3 billion 2027 Notes”) and $700 million was issued July 31, 2020 (the “$700 million 2027 Notes”). The notes bear interest at 5.125%. Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15, beginning December 15, 2020. The $700 million 2027 Notes were offered as an additional issuance of the Company’s $1.3 billion 2027 Notes issued on June 8, 2020. The $700 million 2027 Notes were issued at a premium and this premium has been included within Capitalized financing items in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. A portion of the proceeds from the $1.3 billion 2027 Notes were used to repay a portion of the outstanding Amended and Restated 364-Day Credit Agreement balance. See below for more information regarding the Amended and Restated 364-Day Credit Agreement.

In second quarter 2020, the Company, through special purpose entities, entered into agreements with a financing institution and trusts to borrow $197 million ($190 million, net of fees) secured by six Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
These borrowings, which were recorded as a financing transaction in the Company's Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, and as debt in the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, bear interest at a rate equal to the 3 month LIBOR plus 1.4 percent, payable in quarterly installments through June 30, 2028. The special purpose entities were determined to be variable interest entities for which the Company is the primary beneficiary, and therefore were consolidated in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements.

During 2020, the Company issued $1.55 billion of unsecured notes due 2025, of which $1.25 billion was issued May 4, 2020 (the “$1.25 billion 2025 Notes”) and $300 million was issued July 31, 2020 (the “$300 million 2025 Notes”). The notes bear interest at 5.250%. Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears on May 4 and November 4, beginning November 4, 2020. The $300 million 2025 Notes were offered as an additional issuance of the Company’s $1.25 billion 2025 Notes issued on May 4, 2020. The $300 million 2025 Notes were issued at a premium and this premium has been included within Capitalized financing items in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. The proceeds from the $1.25 billion 2025 Notes were used to repay a portion of the outstanding Amended and Restated 364-Day Credit Agreement balance.

During 2020, the Company issued $1.25 billion of unsecured notes due 2023, of which $750 million was issued May 4, 2020 (the “$750 million 2023 Notes”) and $500 million was issued June 8, 2020 (the “$500 million 2023 Notes”). The notes bear interest at 4.750%. Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears on May 4 and November 4, beginning November 4, 2020. The $500 million 2023 Notes were offered as an additional issuance of the Company's $750 million 2023 Notes issued on May 4, 2020. The $500 million 2023 Notes were issued at a premium and this premium has been included within Capitalized financing items in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. The proceeds from the $750 million 2023 Notes and a portion of the proceeds of the $500 million 2023 Notes were used to repay a portion of the outstanding Amended and Restated 364-Day Credit Agreement balance.

On May 1, 2020, the Company completed the public offering of $2.3 billion aggregate principal amount of 1.250% Convertible Senior Notes due 2025 (the “Convertible Notes”), which included the full exercise of the underwriters' option to buy an additional $300 million aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes. The Convertible Notes bear interest at the rate of 1.25% per year and will mature on May 1, 2025. Interest on the notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year, beginning on November 1, 2020.

Holders may convert their Convertible Notes at their option at any time prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding February 1, 2025, only under the following circumstances: (1) during any calendar quarter commencing after the calendar quarter ending on June 30, 2020 (and only during such calendar quarter), if the last reported sale price of the common stock for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter is greater than or equal to 130 percent of the conversion price on each applicable trading day; (2) during the five business day period after any ten consecutive trading day period in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes for each trading day of the measurement period was less than 98 percent of the product of the last reported sale price of the Company’s common stock and the conversion rate on each such trading day; or (3) upon the occurrence of specified corporate events as defined. On or after February 1, 2025, until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date, holders may convert their notes at any time, regardless of the foregoing circumstances. As of December 31, 2020, conditions had not been met to convert.

Upon conversion, the Company will pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of the Company’s common stock or a combination of cash and shares of common stock, at the Company’s election. The Company intends, however, to settle conversions by paying cash up to the principal amount, with any excess conversion value settled in shares of common stock. The initial conversion rate is 25.9909 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $38.48 per share of common stock). The conversion rate will be subject to adjustment in some events, but will not be adjusted for any accrued and unpaid interest. In addition, in the event of certain corporate events that occur prior to the maturity date, the Company will increase the conversion rate for a holder who elects to convert its Convertible Notes in connection with such a corporate event in certain circumstances. In the event of a “Fundamental Change,” as defined, the holders may require the Company to purchase for cash all or a portion of their notes at a purchase price equal to 100
percent of the principal amount of the notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any. The Company may not redeem the notes at its option prior to the maturity date.

Upon issuance, the Company bifurcated the Convertible Notes for accounting purposes between a liability component and an equity component utilizing applicable guidance. The liability component was determined by estimating the fair value of a hypothetical issuance of an identical offering excluding the conversion feature of the Convertible Notes, which has been estimated at $1.9 billion, and is reflected as a component of Long-term debt in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The effective interest rate of this liability was 5.2 percent. The equity component was calculated as the difference between the liability component and the face amount of the Convertible Notes, determined to be $403 million, and was classified within Additional paid in capital in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Convertible Notes proceeds are also shown within the financing activities section in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. The amount of the equity component in the transaction also represents a discount on the liability portion of the Convertible Notes, and as such is being amortized as a non-cash component of interest expense over the 5-year term of the notes. The costs incurred in the issuance, including underwriters' discount, totaling $62 million, are classified as a cash outflow within the financing activities section in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, and is also being amortized to expense over the term of the notes. Issuance costs attributable to the equity component of $11 million were netted with the equity component in the Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity. The amortization expense for debt discounts and debt issuance costs for 2020 was $48 million and $5 million, respectively. The Company did not have convertible instruments during 2019 or 2018.

Because the Company intends to settle conversions by paying cash up to the principal amount of the Convertible Notes, with any excess conversion value settled in shares of common stock, the Convertible Notes are being accounted for using the treasury stock method for the purposes of Net income (loss) per share. Using this method, the denominator will be affected when the average share price of the Company's common stock for a given period is greater than the conversion price of approximately $38.48 per share. The Convertible Notes stipulated that holders of the notes may not elect to convert their Convertible Notes to shares of common stock until after June 30, 2020, and therefore there was no dilutive impact related to the notes prior to July 1, 2020. As consideration for the Payroll Support funding, the Company agreed to issue Warrants to the Treasury to purchase the Company's common stock in connection with each disbursement of Payroll Support to the Company. The Company accounts for the Warrants using the treasury stock method. Using this method, the denominator will be affected when the average share price of the Company's common stock for a given period is greater than the warrant exercise price of $36.47 per share. While the Company is reporting a net loss, all potential shares are considered antidilutive and have no impact on Net income (loss) per share.

On March 12, 2020, the Company entered into a new $1.0 billion 364-day term loan credit facility agreement (the “364-Day Credit Agreement”) with a syndicate of lenders identified in the 364-Day Credit Agreement. The 364-Day Credit Agreement was drawn in full on the closing date. On March 30, 2020, the Company amended and restated the 364-Day Credit Agreement (the “Amended and Restated 364-Day Credit Agreement”) with a syndicate of lenders identified in the Amended and Restated 364-Day Credit Agreement to add additional term loan commitments of approximately $2.3 billion, add an uncommitted accordion increase provision to permit additional term loans in an aggregate amount not to exceed approximately $417 million, amend the pricing, amend certain covenants, add certain covenants, and provide for the grant of a security interest in certain aircraft and related assets. The Company drew approximately $2.3 billion under the Amended and Restated 364-Day Credit Agreement on April 1, 2020. On April 24, 2020, the Company drew an additional $350 million under the $417 million accordion feature. The Amended and Restated 364-Day Credit Agreement was originally set to mature in full on March 29, 2021. The outstanding Amended and Restated 364-Day Credit Agreement balance was repaid in full in second quarter 2020, and the agreement has been terminated.

Concurrently with entering into the Amended and Restated 364-Day Credit Agreement on March 30, 2020, the Company also amended its existing $1.0 billion revolving credit facility expiring in August 2022 (the “Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement”) to (i) amend the pricing and fees, (ii) amend certain covenants and provisions, (iii) add certain covenants, and (iv) provide for the grant of a security interest in certain aircraft and
related assets. In second quarter 2020, the Company repaid in full the $1.0 billion drawn on the Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement.

On November 23, 2020, the Company amended the Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement to (i) amend the pricing and fees, (ii) amend certain covenants and provisions, (iii) remove a financial covenant, and (iv) amend an exhibit for conforming changes to the compliance certificate (the "Amendment," and the Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement as amended by the Amendment, the "Amended A&R Credit Agreement"). The amount of the loan commitments, the tenor, and the collateral under the Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement remain unchanged by the Amendment. As of December 31, 2020, there were no amounts outstanding under the Amended A&R Credit Agreement.

Generally, amounts outstanding under the Amended A&R Credit Agreement bear interest at interest rates based on either the LIBOR rate (selected by the Company for designated interest periods) or the “alternate base rate” (being the highest of (1) the Wall Street Journal prime rate, (2) one-month adjusted LIBOR (one-month LIBOR plus a statutory reserve rate) plus 1 percent, and (3) the New York Fed Bank Rate, plus 0.5 percent). The underlying LIBOR rate is subject to a floor of 1 percent per annum and the “alternate base rate” is subject to a floor of 1 percent per annum.

The Amended A&R Credit Agreement contains customary representations and warranties, covenants, and events of default. The Amended A&R Credit Agreement is secured by a pool of 73 aircraft and related assets, each with a minimum appraised value ratio requirement. Under the Amended A&R Credit Agreement, the Company is required to maintain a minimum level of liquidity of $1.5 billion (defined as the sum of (i) the aggregate amount available to be borrowed under the Amended A&R Credit Agreement plus (ii) the aggregate amount of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of the Company plus (iii) the aggregate amount of short-term investments of the Company). As of December 31, 2020, the Company was in compliance with this covenant and all other covenants in the Amended A&R Credit Agreement. The Amended A&R Credit Agreement is a series of short-term borrowings; at the end of each borrowing the Company must elect to roll the facility over into the next borrowing or pay down the facility. The Amended A&R Credit Agreement has an accordion feature that would allow the Company, subject to, among other things, the procurement of incremental commitments, to increase the size of the facility to $1.5 billion.

During February 2020, the Company issued $500 million senior unsecured notes due 2030. The notes bear interest at 2.625 percent. Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears on February 10 and August 10, beginning in 2020.

During November 2017, the Company issued $300 million senior unsecured notes due 2022. The notes bear interest at 2.75 percent. Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears on May 16 and November 16.

Also during November 2017, the Company issued $300 million senior unsecured notes due 2027. The notes bear interest at 3.45 percent. Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears on May 16 and November 16.

During November 2016, the Company issued $300 million senior unsecured notes due 2026. The notes bear interest at 3.00 percent. Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears on May 15 and November 15.

During October 2016, the Company entered into a term loan agreement providing for loans to the Company aggregating up to $215 million, to be secured by mortgages on seven of the Company's 737-800 aircraft. The Company borrowed the full $215 million and secured this loan with the requisite seven aircraft mortgages. The loan matures on October 31, 2026, and is repayable via semi-annual installments of principal that began on April 30, 2018. The loan bears interest at the LIBO Rate (as defined in the term loan agreement) plus 1.10 percent, which equates to a current rate of 1.34 percent, and interest is payable semi-annually in installments.

During November 2015, the Company issued $500 million senior unsecured notes due 2020. The notes bore interest at 2.65 percent, payable semi-annually in arrears on May 5 and November 5. Concurrently, the Company entered into a fixed-to-floating interest rate swap to convert the interest on these unsecured notes to a floating rate until their maturity. The notes were redeemed early in full on October 5, 2020, utilizing available cash on hand.
On May 6, 2008, the Company entered into a term loan agreement providing for loans to the Company aggregating up to $600 million, to be secured by first-lien mortgages on 21 of the Company’s 737-700 aircraft. On May 9, 2008, the Company borrowed the full $600 million and secured these loans with the requisite 21 aircraft mortgages. The loans matured and were fully repaid on May 9, 2020. The loans bore interest at the LIBO Rate (as defined in the term loan agreement) plus 0.95 percent. Pursuant to the terms of the term loan agreement, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement to convert the variable rate on the term loan to a fixed 5.223 percent until maturity.

On October 3, 2007, grantor trusts established by the Company issued $500 million Pass Through Certificates consisting of $412 million 6.15 percent Series A certificates and $88 million 6.65 percent Series B certificates. A separate trust was established for each class of certificates. The trusts used the proceeds from the sale of certificates to acquire equipment notes in the same amounts, which were issued by the Company on a full recourse basis. Payments on the equipment notes held in each trust are passed through to the holders of certificates of such trust. The equipment notes were issued for each of 16 Boeing 737-700 aircraft owned by the Company and are secured by a mortgage on each aircraft. Beginning February 1, 2008, principal and interest payments on the equipment notes held for both series of certificates became due semi-annually until the balance of the certificates mature on August 1, 2022. Prior to their issuance, the Company also entered into swap agreements to hedge the variability in interest rates on the Pass Through Certificates. The swap agreements were accounted for as cash flow hedges, and resulted in a payment by the Company of $20 million upon issuance of the Pass Through Certificates. The effective portion of the hedge is being amortized to interest expense concurrent with the amortization of the debt and is reflected in the above table as a reduction in the debt balance. The ineffectiveness of the hedge transaction was immaterial.

On February 28, 1997, the Company issued $100 million of senior unsecured 7.375 percent debentures due March 1, 2027. Interest is payable semi-annually on March 1 and September 1. The debentures may be redeemed, at the option of the Company, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at a redemption price equal to the greater of the principal amount of the debentures plus accrued interest at the date of redemption or the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon, discounted to the date of redemption at the comparable treasury rate plus 20 basis points, plus accrued interest at the date of redemption.

The Company is required to provide standby letters of credit to support certain obligations that arise in the ordinary course of business. Although the letters of credit are an off-balance sheet item, the majority of the obligations to which they relate are reflected as liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Outstanding letters of credit totaled $138 million at December 31, 2020.

The net book value of the assets pledged as collateral for the Company’s secured borrowings, primarily aircraft, was $2.1 billion at December 31, 2020.

Other Financings

During 2020, the Company entered into sale-leaseback arrangements and issued common stock. See Notes 8 and 9, respectively, for further information.

As of December 31, 2020, aggregate annual principal maturities of debt and finance leases (not including amounts associated with interest on finance leases) for the five-year period ending December 31, 2025, and thereafter, were $220 million in 2021, $524 million in 2022, $1.4 billion in 2023, $152 million in 2024, $4.0 billion in 2025, and $4.4 billion thereafter.