DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND RISK MANAGEMENT

Fuel Hedge Contracts

The Company’s operations are inherently dependent upon the price and availability of aircraft fuel. To manage economic risks associated with fluctuations in aircraft fuel prices, the Company periodically enters into call options for crude oil. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had outstanding fuel hedge contracts covering approximately 425 million gallons of crude oil that will be settled from January 2022 to June 2023.

Interest Rate Swap Agreements

The Company is exposed to market risk from adverse changes in variable interest rates on long-term debt. To manage this risk, the Company periodically enters into interest rate swap agreements. As of December 31, 2021, the Company has 12 interest rate swap agreements with third parties designed to hedge the volatility of the underlying variable interest rates on $469 million of debt. All of the interest rate swap agreements stipulate that the Company pay a fixed interest rate and receive a floating interest rate over the term of the underlying contracts. All significant terms of the swap agreements match the terms of the underlying hedged items and have been designated as qualifying hedging instruments, which are accounted for as cash flow hedges.

As qualifying cash flow hedges, the interest rate swaps are recognized at fair value on the balance sheet, and changes in the fair value are recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss. The effective portion of the derivative represents the change in fair value of the hedge that offsets the change in fair value of the hedged item. To the extent the change in fair value of the hedge does not perfectly offset the change in the fair value of the hedged item, the ineffective portion of the hedge is recognized in interest expense, if material.

Fair Values of Derivative Instruments

Fair values of derivative instruments on the consolidated balance sheet (in millions):


	2021		2020
Fuel hedge contracts (not designated as hedges)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	71	$	11
Other assets	10		4
Interest rate swaps (designated as hedges)


Other accrued liabilities	(6)		(10)
Other liabilities	(3)		(15)
Gains (losses) in accumulated other comprehensive loss (AOCL)	17		(21)

The net cash received from settlements offset by cash paid for new fuel hedge positions was $38 million during 2021, compared to net cash paid of $14 million and $19 million during 2020 and 2019.

Pretax effect of derivative instruments on earnings and AOCL (in millions):


	2021		2020		2019
Fuel hedge contracts (not designated as hedges)
Gains (losses) recognized in Aircraft fuel	$	104	$	(10)	$	(10)
Interest rate swaps (designated as hedges)
Losses recognized in Aircraft rent	—		(3)		(3)
Gains (losses) recognized in other comprehensive income (OCI)	17		(21)		(13)

The amounts shown as recognized in aircraft rent for cash flow hedges (interest rate swaps) represent the realized losses transferred out of AOCL to aircraft rent. Losses related to interest rate swaps on variable rate debt of $10 million were recognized in interest expense during 2021. The amounts shown as recognized in OCI are prior to the losses recognized in aircraft rent during the period. The Company expects to reclassify from OCI $6 million in interest expense within the next twelve months.