Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Income Taxes

Schedule of significant components of income tax expense (benefit)

	Year Ended December 31,
	2012		2011			2010
	(in thousands)
Current
Federal	$	—	$	(36,515	)	$	18,364
State		1,216		(5,686	)		5,360
		1,216		(42,201	)		23,724
Deferred
Federal	$	27,936	$	37,150		$	(44,158	)
State		3,397		6,618			(7,832	)
		31,333		43,768			(51,990	)
Income tax expense (benefit)	$	32,549	$	1,567		$	(28,266	)

Schedule of reconciliation between income tax expense (benefit) and amounts computed at the statutory federal income tax rate

	Year Ended December 31,
	2012			2011			2010
	(in thousands)
Income tax expense (benefit) computed at the statutory federal rate	$	30,025		$	(368	)	$	28,696
Increase (decrease) resulting from:
State income taxes, net of federal tax effect		2,999			132			5,033
Nondeductible meals		910			538			436
Change in tax law—Medicare Part D Subsidy		—			—			1,341
Change in valuation allowance		—			—			(57,530	)
Change in uncertain tax positions		—			(1,983	)		(5,980	)
Effect of change in state apportionment rates and tax rates		—			2,624			—
Settlement of prior year tax matters		—			618			—
Other		(1,385	)		6			(262	)
Income tax expense (benefit)	$	32,549		$	1,567		$	(28,266	)

Schedule of the components of deferred tax asset and liabilities

	December 31,
	2012			2011
	(in thousands)
Deferred tax assets:
Accumulated pension and other postretirement benefits	$	135,922		$	120,958
Leases		5,610			6,491
Air traffic liability		10,745			9,745
Federal and state net operating loss carryforwards		75,223			39,271
Alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards		5,909			4,563
Other assets		25,814			22,466
Total deferred tax assets	$	259,223		$	203,494
Deferred tax liabilities:
Intangible assets	$	(10,169	)	$	(16,429	)
Plant and equipment, principally accelerated depreciation		(187,222	)		(104,754	)
Other liabilities		(7,781	)		(7,456	)
Total deferred tax liabilities		(205,172	)		(128,639	)
Net deferred tax asset	$	54,051		$	74,855

Schedule of reconciliation of beginning and ending amounts of unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions

	2012		2011			2010
	(in thousands)
Balance at January 1	$	—	$	1,983		$	8,577
Increases related to prior year tax positions		—		—			686
Decreases related to prior year tax positions		—		(367	)		—
Settlements with taxing authority		—		(490	)		(1,133	)
Effect of the expiration of statutes of limitation		—		(1,126	)		(6,147	)
Balance at December 31	$	—	$	—		$	1,983