COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2024

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Aircraft-related commitments

Alaska and Hawaiian have contractual commitments for aircraft with Boeing. Horizon has contractual commitments for aircraft with Embraer. The amounts disclosed below reflect commitments for firm aircraft and engine orders. Option deliveries are excluded until exercise.

Boeing has communicated that certain B737 and B787-9 aircraft are expected to be delivered later than the contracted delivery timing. For Alaska, this includes B737-9 aircraft contracted for delivery in 2024 that have moved to 2025, certain B737-8 aircraft contracted for delivery in 2024 and 2025 that have moved later in the contracted year or into the year following the contracted delivery, and certain B737-10 aircraft contracted for delivery in 2025 and 2026 that have moved to 2026 or 2027, pending certification of the aircraft type. For Hawaiian, this includes B787-9 aircraft contracted for delivery between 2024 and 2026 that have been moved later into the contracted year or into the year following the contracted delivery. Management expects that other Boeing aircraft deliveries could be delayed beyond the contractual delivery. The tables below reflect Boeing's communications and management's internal expectations.

Details for contractual aircraft delivery commitments:


	Firm Orders	Options and Other Rights
Aircraft Type	2025-2029	2026-2030



B737	74	100
B787-9	10	—
E175	6	—
Total	90	100

Capacity purchase agreement commitments

Alaska has obligations associated with its CPA with SkyWest. The amounts disclosed below consider certain assumptions regarding the level of flying performed by the carrier on behalf of Alaska and exclude lease costs associated with the CPA.

A summary of aircraft-related and capacity purchase agreement commitments:


(in millions)	Aircraft-Related Commitments		Capacity Purchase Agreements
2025	$	1,003	$	204
2026	791		207
2027	1,313		213
2028	1,115		219
2029	259		224
Thereafter	—		283
Total	$	4,481	$	1,350

Contingencies

The Company is a party to routine litigation matters incidental to its business and with respect to which no material liability is expected. Liabilities for litigation related contingencies are recorded when a loss is determined to be probable and estimable.

As part of the 2016 acquisition of Virgin America, Alaska assumed responsibility for the Virgin trademark license agreement with the Virgin Group. In 2019, pursuant to that agreement's venue provision, the Virgin Group sued Alaska in England, alleging that the agreement requires Alaska to pay $8 million per year as a minimum annual royalty through 2039, adjusted annually for inflation and irrespective of Alaska's actual use (or non-use) of the mark. Alaska stopped making royalty payments in 2019 after ending all use of the Virgin brand. On February 16, 2023, the commercial court issued a ruling adopting Virgin Group’s interpretation of the license agreement. The Company appealed the decision. On June 11, 2024, the appellate court issued a final decision affirming the lower court ruling in favor of the Virgin Group. Alaska also commenced a separate claim for breach of the agreement against the Virgin Group that may affect the Company’s total liability in the matter. Alaska recorded an accrual for $53 million in 2024, representing the expenses associated with the trademark license agreement incurred through December 31, 2024, and management's current estimate of the amount due to the Virgin Group. The expense was classified within Special items – operating in the consolidated statements of operations.

Credit card agreements

Alaska and Hawaiian have agreements with a number of credit card companies to process the sale of tickets and other services. Under these agreements, there are material adverse change clauses that, if triggered, could result in the credit card companies holding back a reserve of up to 100% of the credit card receivable balance associated with that processor, which would result in a restriction of cash. For example, certain agreements require Alaska to maintain a reserve if Air Group's credit rating is downgraded to or below a rating specified by the agreement or if its cash and marketable securities balance fell below $500 million. The Company is not currently required to maintain any reserve under these agreements. If Air Group were unable to obtain a waiver of, or otherwise mitigate the increase in the restriction of cash, it could have a material impact on the Company's operations, business or financial condition.