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COVID-19 Pandemic
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract]  
Impacts of COVID-19 COVID-19 PANDEMIC
The public health and economic crises resulting from the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) beginning in the first quarter of 2020 has had an unprecedented impact on the Company. Travel restrictions, event cancellations and social distancing guidelines implemented throughout the country drove significant declines in demand beginning in February, and adversely impacted revenues beginning in March. Consistent with expectations, the financial impact to the second quarter was more significant than the first quarter. There continue to be travel restrictions in place throughout the United States, and the resurgence in COVID-19 cases threatens to halt or reverse progress towards reopening in many states and cities. It is uncertain when these restrictions may lift and when demand may return.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company implemented a "Peace-of-Mind" waiver, which allows travelers to book tickets for travel for a specified period of time that can be changed or canceled without incurring change fees. In the second quarter, the waiver has been extended to cover all ticketed travel purchased through September 8, 2020. Cancellations and postponement of travel exceeded new bookings in March and April, and had a material impact on second quarter passenger revenues, air traffic liability, and cash position. Refer to Note 3 for further discussion.

The Company has taken decisive action to reduce costs and preserve cash and liquidity. In the first quarter, the Company implemented a company-wide hiring freeze, reduced salaries of senior management and hours for management employees, suspended annual pay increases and solicited voluntary leaves of absence. In addition to these payroll saving measures, the Company has actively negotiated with vendor partners to reduce contractual minimums and spending in line with the reduction in demand.

With demand dramatically depressed, the Company has significantly reduced its planned flying capacity. As a result, many aircraft have been parked or removed from service. As of June 30, 2020, 101 mainline aircraft were temporarily grounded. The
Company made the decision in the first quarter of 2020 to permanently remove 12 Airbus aircraft from the operating fleet. As of June 30, 2020, all operating regional aircraft were in service.

Valuation of long-lived assets

The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes indicate that the total carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable.

To determine if impairment exists, a recoverability test is performed comparing the sum of estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be directly generated by the assets to the asset carrying value. Assets are grouped at the individual fleet level, which is the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are available. The Company developed estimates of future cash flows utilizing historical results, adjusted for the current operating environment, including the impact of parked aircraft.

Given the temporary and permanent parking of certain aircraft described above, the Company performed impairment tests on certain long-lived assets as of March 31, 2020 and again as of June 30, 2020. All individual fleets passed the recoverability test, except for the Q400 fleet and the permanently parked Airbus aircraft, which did not pass in the first quarter of 2020.

In the first quarter, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $83 million for the 12 permanently parked Airbus aircraft, which was comprised of operating lease right of use assets, estimable return costs, and related leasehold improvements. In the second quarter, the Company identified additional estimable return costs relating to those permanently parked aircraft, and recorded an additional $70 million charge.

Also in the first quarter, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $58 million reflecting the amount for which carrying value exceeded fair value of the Q400 fleet. The Company also recorded additional impairment charges relating to two non-operating Q400 aircraft, which remain parked and held-for-sale, in the first quarter of 2020.

A summary of the impairment charges recorded for aircraft and other flight equipment in the condensed consolidated statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2020 is as follows (in millions):
Airbus AircraftQ400 AircraftTotal Impairment
Aircraft and other flight equipment, net$11  $58  $69  
Operating lease assets62  —  62  
Inventory and supplies - net  —   
Prepaid expenses and other current assets—    
Other accrued liabilities78  —  78  
Total impairment charges - Long-lived assets$153  $61  $214  

The Company will continue to evaluate the need for further impairment of long-lived assets as expectations of future demand, market conditions and fleet decisions evolve.

Valuation of intangible assets and goodwill

The Company reviews definite- and indefinite-lived intangible assets and goodwill for impairment on an annual basis in the fourth quarter, or more frequently should events or circumstances indicate that an impairment may exist.

Given strain in the general economic environment and a significant decline in Alaska Air Group market capitalization, the Company performed impairment tests on all three asset types as of March 31, 2020 and again as of June 30, 2020. As a result of these analyses, indefinite-lived intangible assets and goodwill were deemed recoverable, and no impairment charges were recorded. Of the company’s definite-lived intangibles, leased gates at Dallas-Love Field (DAL Gates) were deemed not recoverable and an impairment charge of $10 million was recorded in the first quarter. No additional impairment charges were identified for definite-lived intangibles as a result of the June 30, 2020 impairment test.

Other considerations

The Company also evaluated outstanding receivable balances for risk of non-payment. The Company identified a $5 million receivable from a vendor that filed for bankruptcy during the first quarter. The Company fully expects to file a bankruptcy claim but, as the note is unsecured, management determined that collectability is not probable. Therefore, the full $5 million
was reserved and charged to Special charges - impairment charges and other in the condensed consolidated statement of operations in the first quarter.

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, the Company concluded that the use of a year-to-date effective tax rate estimate was more appropriate than the annual effective tax rate method as estimates of the Company's full-year loss is not reliable at this time given the uncertainty of the travel demand environment.

Although it is not certain when the impacts of COVID-19 will subside and demand for air travel will return, the Company has implemented meaningful plans to reduce expenses, build liquidity and preserve cash. At June 30, 2020, given the balance of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, as well as anticipated access to liquidity and cash flows from future operations, the Company expects it will meet all cash obligations, as well as remain in compliance with the financial debt covenants in its existing financing arrangements, for the next 12 months. Refer to Note 5. Long-Term Debt for further information regarding liquidity obtained in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

CARES Act Funding

During the second quarter, Alaska, Horizon, and McGee finalized agreements with the U.S. Department of the Treasury through the payroll support program (PSP) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Under the PSP and associated agreements, Alaska and Horizon received $992 million in the second quarter. Similarly, McGee entered into an agreement to receive a total of $30 million, of which $15 million was received in the second quarter, with the remainder expected to be received in two installments in the third quarter.

The funds are to be used exclusively toward continuing to pay employee salaries, wages and benefits. Upon receipt of the funds, the Company is subject to various conditions, including, but not limited to, refraining from conducting involuntary furloughs or reducing employee rates of pay through September 30, 2020 and placing limits on executive compensation. Other conditions also prohibit the Company from repurchasing common stock and from paying dividends until September 30, 2021, and require the Company to continue to maintain essential air service as directed by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The funds received took the form of debt, warrants and a grant. The secured debt portion of $276 million was recorded at par. An additional $5 million of debt is expected to be issued in the third quarter as the remaining $15 million in funding is received by McGee. See Note 5 for further discussion. Warrants of $7 million were recorded on the condensed consolidated balance sheet at fair value determined using the Black-Scholes model. The residual amount of $723 million was recorded as grant proceeds on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as a deferred wage offset. The grant will be recognized into earnings as eligible wages, salaries and benefits are incurred. During the three months ended June 30, 2020, the Company recognized $362 million of the PSP grant proceeds as a wage offset.