Recent Accounting Developments

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract]

Recent Accounting Developments

Recent Accounting Developments

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, (ASU 2014-09) "Revenue from Contracts with Customers." The objective of ASU 2014-09 is to establish a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2018 utilizing the full retrospective method of adoption allowed by the standard, in order to provide for comparative results in all periods presented. The most significant impact of this ASU is the elimination of the incremental cost method for frequent flier program accounting, which requires the Company to re-value and record a liability associated with customer flight miles earned as part of the Company’s frequent flier program with a relative fair value approach. The classification and timing of recognition of certain ancillary fees is also impacted by the adoption of ASU 2014-09. While the adoption did not have a significant impact on earnings, the classification of certain revenues, such as bags, seats and other travel-related fees are now deemed part of the single performance obligation of providing passenger transportation. Refer to Note 4, Revenue Recognition for information regarding the Company's adoption of ASU 2014-09 and to Note 5, Revenue Disaggregation for the presentation of passenger revenues disaggregated by fare and non-fare.

Financial Instruments

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, “Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10).” ASU 2016-01 makes several modifications to Subtopic 825-10 including the elimination of the available-for-sale classification of equity investments, and requires equity investments with readily determinable fair values to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. ASU 2016-01 is effective for the Company for interim and annual periods beginning January 1, 2018. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2018 with no material impact on the financial statements.

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)." This standard will generally require all leases with durations greater than twelve months to be recognized on the condensed balance sheet and is effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2019, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the new guidance and believes adoption of this standard will have a significant impact on its condensed balance sheets although adoption is not expected to significantly change the recognition, measurement or presentation of lease expenses within the statements of

operations and cash flows. Refer to Note 10, Commitments and Contingencies for information regarding the Company's undiscounted future lease payments and the timing of those payments.

Accounting for Credit Losses

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses." The standard requires the use of an "expected loss" model on certain types of financial instruments. The standard also amends the impairment model for available-for-sale securities and requires estimated credit losses to be recorded as allowances instead of reductions to amortized cost of the securities. This standard is effective for the Company for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating the new guidance, but does not expect it to have a material impact on its financial statements.

Statement of Cash Flows

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, "Statement of Cash Flows." The standard is intended to reduce diversity in practice in how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. This standard is effective for the Company for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning January 1, 2018. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2018 with no material impact on the financial statements.

Income Taxes

In March 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-05, Income Taxes (Topic 740) - Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118. The standard amends Accounting Standards Codification 740, Income Taxes (ASC 740) to provide guidance on accounting for the tax effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the Tax Act) pursuant to Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118. The provisional income tax amounts recorded may be affected as the Company gains a more thorough understanding of the tax law, including those related to the deductibility of acquired assets, state tax treatment and amounts related to employee compensation. The Company is evaluating the new guidance, but does not expect it to have a material impact on its financial statements.