NOTE 10 - SPECIAL CHARGES

For the three and six months ended June 30, special charges consisted of the following (in millions):


	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
Operating:	2016		2015		2016		2015
Impairment of intangible asset related to Newark Liberty International Airport (“Newark”) slots	$	412	$	—	$	412	$	—
Labor agreement costs		10		—		110		—
Severance and benefit costs		6		25		14		75
Cleveland airport lease restructuring		—		—		74		—
(Gains) losses on sale of assets and other special charges		6		30		14		44

Special charges		434		55		624		119
Nonoperating and income taxes:
(Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt and other		(9)		128		(1)		134
Income tax benefit related to special charges		(153)		—		(225)		—

Total special charges, net of tax	$	272	$	183	$	398	$	253

In April 2016, the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) announced that it will designate Newark as a Level 2 schedule-facilitated airport under the International Air Transport Association Worldwide Slot Guidelines effective October 30, 2016. The designation was associated with an updated demand and capacity analysis of Newark by the FAA. In the second quarter of 2016, the Company has determined that the FAA’s action has impaired the entire value of its Newark slots because the slots will no longer be the mechanism that governs take-off and landing rights. Accordingly, the Company recorded a $412 million special charge ($264 million net of taxes) to write off the intangible asset. The Newark slots served as part of the collateral for the term loans under the Company’s Credit Agreement and under the Second Amended and Restated Co-Branded Card Marketing Services Agreement with Chase Bank USA, N.A. (the “Chase Agreement”). The Credit Agreement and the Chase Agreement have been amended to remove the Newark slots as collateral with no replacement collateral required.

The fleet service, passenger service, storekeeper and other employees represented by the IAM ratified seven new contracts with the Company which extended the contracts through 2021. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, the Company recorded $10 million ($6 million net of taxes) and $110 million ($70 million net of taxes), respectively, of special charges primarily for bonus payments to be made in conjunction with the ratification of these contracts.

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, the Company recorded $6 million ($4 million net of taxes) and $14 million ($9 million net of taxes), respectively, of severance and benefit costs. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, the Company recorded $25 million and $75 million, respectively, of severance and benefit costs. The severance and benefit costs primarily related to a voluntary early-out program for its flight attendants. In 2014, more than 2,500 flight attendants elected to voluntarily separate from the Company and will receive a severance payment, with a maximum value of $100,000 per participant, based on years of service, with retirement dates through the end of 2016.

During the six months ended June 30, 2016, the City of Cleveland agreed to amend the lease, which runs through 2029, associated with certain excess airport terminal space (principally Terminal D) and related facilities at Hopkins International Airport. The Company recorded an accrual for remaining payments under the lease for facilities that the Company no longer uses and will continue to incur costs under the lease without economic benefit to the Company. This liability was measured and recorded at its fair value when the Company ceased its right to use such facilities leased to it pursuant to the lease. The Company recorded a net charge of $74 million ($47 million net of taxes) related to the amended lease.

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, the Company recorded gains and losses on sale of assets and other special charges of $6 million ($4 million net of taxes) and $14 million ($9 million net of taxes), respectively.

During the six months ended June 30, 2016, the Company recorded $8 million ($5 million net of taxes) of losses due to exchange rate changes in Venezuela applicable to funds held in local currency, and the Company recorded a $9 million ($6 million net of taxes) gain on the sale of an affiliate.

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, the Company recorded $30 million and $44 million, respectively, for integration costs, impairment of assets and other special gains and losses.

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, the Company recorded $128 million and $134 million, respectively, of losses as part of Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net due to the write-off of the unamortized non-cash debt discount related to the extinguishment of the 6% Notes due 2026 and 6% Notes due 2028.

Accruals

The accrual balance for severance and benefits was $30 million as of June 30, 2016, compared to $104 million as of June 30, 2015. The severance-related accrual as of June 30, 2016 is expected to be mostly paid through 2016. The following is a reconciliation of severance accrual activity for the period:


	Severance and Benefits
Balance at December 31, 2015	$	27
Accrual		14
Payments		(11)

Balance at June 30, 2016	$	30