2.2.0.25falsefalse006010 - Disclosure - Accounting Policies and Businesstruefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2011 - 3/31/2011
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$c00001http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000948846duration2011-01-01T00:00:002011-03-31T00:00:00u000Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170u002Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0u001Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2true0aai_NotesToFinancialStatementsAbstractaaifalsenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalse3false0us-gaap_OrganizationConsolidationAndPresentationOfFinancialStatementsDisclosureTextBlockus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalselabel1falsefalsefalse00<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Note 1 –Accounting Policies and Business</font></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Basis of Presentation</font></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"></font> </div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (the Company, AirTran, or Holdings) and our wholly-owned subsidiaries, including our principal subsidiary, AirTran Airways, Inc. (AirTran Airways or Airways) (collectively, we, our, or us). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation for all periods presented. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contain all adjustments, which, except as otherwise disclosed, are of a normal recurring nature, necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position, results of operations, cash flows and stockholders’ equity for the periods presented. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for reports on Form 10-Q. These unaudited interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.</font></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">The preparation of the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Notes. Actual results may differ from those estimates and such differences may be material to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.</font></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">We manage our operations on a system-wide basis due to the interdependence of our route structure in the various markets we serve. Most of our revenues are earned in the United States. Because we offer only one service (i.e., air transportation), management has concluded that we only have one segment of business.</font></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Business</font></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"></font> </div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Through AirTran Airways, we offer scheduled airline services, using Boeing B717-200 aircraft (B717) and Boeing B737-700 aircraft (B737), throughout the United States and to selected international locations. Approximately half of our flights originate or terminate at our largest hub in Atlanta, Georgia and we serve a number of markets with non-stop service from our hubs in Baltimore, Maryland; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Orlando, Florida. Air travel in our markets tends to be seasonal, with the highest levels occurring during the winter months to Florida and the summer months to the Northeastern and Western United States. The second quarter tends to be our strongest revenue quarter.</font></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Expected Acquisition of AirTran by Southwest Airlines</font></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">On September 26, 2010, AirTran, Southwest Airlines Co., a Texas corporation (Southwest), and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southwest (the Southwest merger subsidiary) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the Merger Agreement), providing for the acquisition of AirTran by Southwest. The Merger Agreement provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, the Southwest merger subsidiary will be merged with and into AirTran (the Merger), with AirTran continuing as the surviving corporation and as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southwest. Following the effective time of the Merger, AirTran will merge with and into a wholly-owned limited liability company subsidiary of Southwest.</font></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"> </div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">On March 23, 2011, AirTran’s stockholders approved the acquisition of AirTran by Southwest. Additionally, the United States Department of Justice (the DOJ) has informed AirTran and Southwest that it will not seek to oppose the acquisition of AirTran by Southwest. The acquisition of AirTran by Southwest is expected to occur on or after May 2, 2011. When consummated, the acquisition of AirTran by Southwest will combine AirTran with the largest low cost airline in the United States. We believe Southwest possesses one of the strongest brands in the industry and, based on U.S. Department of Transportation data as of September 30, 2010, was the largest domestic air carrier in the United States based on the number of passengers carried.</font></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"> </div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">When consummated, the acquisition of AirTran by Southwest will be accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting. Consequently, Southwest will allocate the purchase price to the fair value of AirTran’s tangible and intangible assets and liabilities at the acquisition date, with the excess purchase price recorded as goodwill. The application of acquisition accounting will likely have material impacts on the financial accounting values of AirTran’s assets and liabilities. The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not incorporate or address either the impact of acquisition accounting or the impacts of changes to liquidity, financial commitments, or financial position of AirTran resulting from the acquisition of AirTran by Southwest.</font></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Morgan Stanley provided AirTran financial advisory services and a financial opinion in connection with the Merger, and AirTran agreed to pay Morgan Stanley a fee of $15.0 million, of which $14.8 million is contingent upon completion of the Merger. AirTran’s engagement letter with Morgan Stanley also provides that AirTran will consider paying Morgan Stanley, in AirTran’s sole and absolute discretion and without any obligation on the part of AirTran, an additional fee of up to $3.5 million for Morgan Stanley’s services.</font></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">AirTran has adopted an Employee Retention Plan to address potential employee concerns related to the expected Merger. The Employee Retention Plan covers certain officers and certain other managerial and administrative employees (each a covered employee). Under the Employee Retention Plan, a maximum of $10.2 million has been allocated to the payment of retention bonuses for covered employees.</font></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">As of March 31, 2011, we have not accrued the Morgan Stanley contingent fee or the retention bonuses because they are contingent upon closing of the acquisition transaction.</font></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">New Accounting Pronouncements</font></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"> </div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">As of January 1, 2011, we have adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (FASB) Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2009-13, “Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables.” The new guidance affects accounting and reporting for companies that enter into multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements with their customers when those arrangements are within the scope of Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 605-25 “Revenue Recognition - Multiple-Element Arrangements.” The new guidance eliminates the residual method of allocation and requires that arrangement consideration be allocated at the inception of the arrangement to all deliverables using the relative selling price method. The new guidance was effective prospectively for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. Since January 1, 2011, we have not entered into any material revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables nor have we materially modified any existing revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables.</font></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"> </div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-06, “Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements.” ASU 2010-06 requires additional disclosures about fair value measurements including transfers in and out of Levels 1 and 2 and more disaggregation for the different types of financial instruments. This ASU was effective January 1, 2010 for most of the new disclosures and effective January 1, 2011 for the new Level 3 disclosures. Comparative disclosures are not required in the first year the disclosures are required. We did not have any significant transfers in or out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements during the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.</font></div>Note 1 –Accounting Policies and BusinessBasis of Presentation Our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts offalsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:textBlockItemTypestringDescription containing the entire organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure. May be provided in more than one note to the financial statements, as long as users are provided with an understanding of (1) the significant judgments and assumptions made by an enterprise in determining whether it must consolidate a VIE and/or disclose information about its involvement with a VIE, (2) the nature of restrictions on a consolidated VIE's assets reported by an enterprise in its statement of financial position, including the carrying amounts of such assets, (3) the nature of, and changes in, the risks associated with an enterprise's involvement with the VIE, and (4) how an enterprise's involvement with the VIE affects the enterprise's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. Describes procedure if disclosures are provided in more than one note to the financial statements.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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