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LEASES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]  
LEASES [Text Block]

8. LEASES

 

The Company had two aircraft classified as capital leases at December 31, 2012, compared to seven aircraft classified as capital leases at December 31, 2011. Amounts applicable to these aircraft that are included in property and equipment were:

 

(in millions) 2012 2011
Flight equipment $45 $177
Less: accumulated amortization  8  132
  $37 $45

Total rental expense for operating leases, both aircraft and other, charged to operations in 2012, 2011, and 2010 was $943 million, $847 million, and $631 million, respectively. The majority of the Company's terminal operations space, as well as 187 aircraft, were under operating leases at December 31, 2012. For aircraft operating leases and for terminal operations leases, expense is included in Aircraft rentals and in Landing fees and other rentals, respectively, in the Consolidated Statement of Income. Future minimum lease payments under capital leases and noncancelable operating leases and rentals to be received under subleases with initial or remaining terms in excess of one year at December 31, 2012, were:

 

  Capital Operating     Operating
(in millions) leases leases* Subleases leases, net
2013 $5 $693 $(5) $688
2014  6  663  (49)  614
2015  6  598  (91)  507
2016  5  497  (105)  392
2017  6  474  (105)  369
Thereafter  18  2,161  (338)  1,823
Total minimum lease payments  46 $5,086 $(693) $4,393
             
Less amount representing interest  10         
Present value of minimum lease payments  36         
Less current portion  3         
Long-term portion $33         
             
* Includes LFMP airport rental payments. See Note 4.
             

The aircraft leases generally can be renewed for one to five years at rates based on fair market value at the end of the lease term. Most aircraft leases have purchase options at or near the end of the lease term at fair market value, generally limited to a stated percentage of the lessor's defined cost of the aircraft.

 

On July 9, 2012, the Company signed an agreement with Delta and Boeing Capital Corp. to lease or sublease all 88 of AirTran's Boeing 717-200 aircraft (“B717s”) to Delta, with the first delivery expected to occur in August 2013, at a rate of approximately three B717s per month. A total of 78 of the B717s are on operating lease, eight are owned, and two are currently classified as capital leases.

 

The B717s would add complexity to Southwest's operations, as it has historically operated an all-Boeing 737 fleet. From a fleet management perspective, the transition of approximately three B717s per month to Delta beginning in August 2013 allows the Company to minimize the impact of this transaction on operations, as the B717 capacity lost is expected to be replaced through the capacity gained as a result of (i) the Company's extension of the retirement dates for a portion of its 737-300 and 737-500 aircraft and (ii) its receipt of new 737 deliveries from Boeing or used 737s that could be acquired.

 

The Company will lease and/or sublease all 88 of the B717s to Delta at agreed-upon lease rates. In addition, the Company will pay the majority of the costs to convert the aircraft to the Delta livery and perform certain maintenance checks prior to the delivery of each aircraft. The agreement to pay these conversion and maintenance costs is a “lease incentive” under applicable accounting guidance. The sublease terms for the 78 B717s currently on operating lease and the two B717s currently classified as capital leases coincide with the Company's remaining lease terms for these aircraft from the original lessor, which range from approximately six years to approximately twelve years. The lease terms for the eight B717s that are owned by the Company are for a period of seven years, after which Delta will have the option to purchase the aircraft at the then-prevailing market value. The Company will account for the lease and sublease transactions with Delta as operating leases, except for the two aircraft classified by the Company as capital leases. The sublease of these two aircraft will be accounted for as direct financing leases. There are no contingent payments and no significant residual value conditions associated with the transaction.

 

The accounting for this transaction is based on the guidance provided for lease transactions. For the components of this transaction finalized in third quarter 2012 and with respect to which the lease inception has been deemed to occur, the Company recorded a charge of approximately $137 million during third quarter 2012. The charge represents the remaining estimated cost, at the scheduled date of delivery of each B717 to Delta (including the conversion, maintenance, and other contractual costs to be incurred), of the Company's lease of the 78 B717s that are currently accounted for as operating leases, net of the future sublease income from Delta. The charges recorded by the Company for this transaction are included as a component of Acquisition and integration costs in the Company's Consolidated Statement of Income and are included as a component of Other, net in Cash flows from operating activities in the Company's Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, and the corresponding liability for this transaction is included as a component of Accrued liabilities and Other noncurrent liabilities in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet. See Note 2 for further information on the Company's Acquisition and integration costs. The Company may also incur other costs associated with this transaction, such as contract termination costs with certain aircraft maintenance vendors. Two of these vendor maintenance contracts have stated termination penalties totaling approximately $106 million if the Company were to terminate such contracts; however, termination of these contracts has not occurred and any charges would only be recorded at the time of contract termination or at the time any associated charges become probable and estimable.