FLEET TRANSITION

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Fleet Transition and Related Activities Disclosure

NOTE 2. FLEET TRANSITION

In 2022, the Company announced plans to accelerate the transition of its mainline operations to an all-Boeing fleet. It also announced plans to transition its regional operations to an all-Embraer fleet. The removal of all A320 and Q400 aircraft from operating service was completed in January 2023. The removal of all A321neo aircraft from operating service was completed in September 2023. During 2023, Alaska reached agreements with multiple lessors to exit its ten A321neo operating leases and purchase the aircraft. Alaska also reached an agreement to subsequently sell the ten aircraft to a third party. Nine aircraft purchases and eight sales closed by December 31, 2023. The remaining purchase and sales closed in January 2024. As a result of the purchase agreement with the lessor, the operating lease associated with the aircraft that was not purchased by December 31, 2023 was considered modified, and upon evaluation was reclassified as a finance lease.

Valuation of Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the total carrying value of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable. In 2023, the Company recorded impairment charges of $278 million related to the A321neo fleet, reflecting the amount by which carrying value exceeded fair value of the aircraft. This charge was included within Special items - fleet transition and other in the consolidated statements of operations.

Other Fleet Related Disclosure

As of December 31, 2023, the finance lease associated with the one A321neo that had not been purchased was included within Current portion of long-term debt and finance leases in the consolidated balance sheets. The two A321neo aircraft that had not been sold to the third party as of the balance sheet date were included within Other current assets.

There were also two A321neo aircraft sales to the third party that transacted in 2023 but were not paid in full until January 2024. The receivable balance associated with these transactions was included within Receivables - net on the consolidated balance sheets.

Special charges were also recognized during the year for other fleet transition costs, including accelerated aircraft ownership expenses, certain aircraft maintenance work performed as a result of the fleet retirements, adjustments to estimated costs to return the A320 fleet, and penalty rent for Airbus aircraft which have not yet been returned to the lessor as of the lease expiration date. Interest expense associated with the finance leases of $18 million for 2023 was recognized within Special items - net non-operating in the consolidated statements of operations.

The following table summarizes our special charges for fleet transition costs related to our Airbus and Q400 fleets for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022:

	Twelve Months Ended December 31,
(in millions)	2023		2022
Impairment of long-lived assets(a)	$	268	$	70
Other costs(b)	124		426
Special items - fleet transition and other	$	392	$	496

(a) Net of immaterial gains associated with the sale of certain Q400 aircraft in 2023 that were previously impaired in 2022.

(b) Inclusive of immaterial activity associated with the agreement to acquire Hawaiian Airlines recorded in 2023 and $15 million associated with certain incremental litigation accrual costs recorded in 2022.