Leases (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Leases [Abstract]

Schedule of lease asset and liability balance sheet position by category

The table below presents the lease-related assets and liabilities recorded on the balance sheet.

Lease asset and liability balance sheet position by category
		December 31,
(in millions)	Classification on the Balance Sheet	2021			2020
Assets
Operating lease assets	Operating lease right-of-use assets	$	7,237		$	5,733
Finance lease assets	Property and equipment, net	1,596			1,002
Total lease assets		$	8,833		$	6,735
Liabilities
Current
Operating	Current maturities of operating leases	$	703		$	678
Finance	Current maturities of debt and finance leases	280			289
Noncurrent
Operating	Noncurrent operating leases	7,056			5,713
Finance	Debt and finance leases	1,556			894
Total lease liabilities		$	9,595		$	7,574
Weighted-average remaining lease term
Operating leases		13 years			12 years
Finance leases		6 years			5 years
Weighted-average discount rate
Operating leases		3.81		%	4.88		%
Finance leases		3.36		%	3.61		%

Schedule of lease cost by category

The table below presents certain information related to the lease costs for finance and operating leases.

Lease cost by category
	Year Ended December 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020		2019
Finance lease cost
Amortization of leased assets	$	131	$	131	$	110
Interest of lease liabilities	55		32		29
Operating lease cost(1)	863		1,019		1,013
Short-term lease cost	245		264		500
Variable lease cost(1)	1,599		1,406		1,456
Total lease cost	$	2,893	$	2,852	$	3,108

(1)Expenses are classified within aircraft rent, landing fees and other rents and regional carrier expense on the income statement. For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, operating lease costs of $111 million, $187 million and $174 million, respectively, are attributed to our regional carriers. For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, variable lease costs of $29 million, $50 million and $64 million, respectively, are attributable to our regional carriers.

Schedule supplemental lease-related cash flow information

The table below presents supplemental cash flow information related to leases.

Supplemental lease-related cash flow information
	Year Ended December 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020		2019
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities
Operating cash flows for operating leases	$	999	$	1,053	$	1,166
Operating cash flows for finance leases	46		32		27
Financing cash flows for finance leases	336		255		192

Schedule of future cash flows and reconciliation to the balance sheet, operating leases

The table below reconciles the undiscounted cash flows for each of the first five years and total of the remaining years to the finance lease liabilities and operating lease liabilities recorded on the balance sheet.

Future lease cash flows and reconciliation to the balance sheet
(in millions)	Operating Leases		Finance Leases
2022	$	944	$	324
2023	974		286
2024	894		369
2025	866		232
2026	766		168
Thereafter	5,307		636
Total minimum lease payments	9,751		2,015
Less: amount of lease payments representing interest	(1,992)		(179)
Present value of future minimum lease payments	7,759		1,836
Less: current obligations under leases	(703)		(280)
Long-term lease obligations	$	7,056	$	1,556

Schedule of future cash flows and reconciliation to the balance sheet, finance leases

The table below reconciles the undiscounted cash flows for each of the first five years and total of the remaining years to the finance lease liabilities and operating lease liabilities recorded on the balance sheet.

Future lease cash flows and reconciliation to the balance sheet
(in millions)	Operating Leases		Finance Leases
2022	$	944	$	324
2023	974		286
2024	894		369
2025	866		232
2026	766		168
Thereafter	5,307		636
Total minimum lease payments	9,751		2,015
Less: amount of lease payments representing interest	(1,992)		(179)
Present value of future minimum lease payments	7,759		1,836
Less: current obligations under leases	(703)		(280)
Long-term lease obligations	$	7,056	$	1,556