LEASES

The Company's fleet included 51 aircraft on operating lease and 72 aircraft on capital lease as of December 31, 2018, compared with 53 aircraft on operating lease and 69 aircraft on capital lease, as of December 31, 2017. Amounts applicable to these aircraft on capital lease that are included in property and equipment were:



(in millions)	2018		2017
Flight equipment	$	1,329	$	1,207
Less: accumulated amortization	304		172
	$	1,025	$	1,035

Total rental expense for operating leases, both aircraft and other, charged to operations in 2018, 2017, and 2016 was $935 million, $939 million, and $932 million, respectively. The majority of the Company’s terminal operations space, as well as 124 aircraft, including 73 B717s subleased to Delta, were under operating leases at December 31, 2018. For aircraft operating leases and for terminal operating leases and other real estate leases, expense is recorded on a straight–line basis and included in Other operating expenses and in Landing fees and airport rentals, respectively, in the Consolidated Statement of Income. The majority of the Company’s terminal operations space payments are considered variable, and thus excluded from the Company’s disclosures of future minimum lease payments. Future minimum lease payments under capital leases and noncancelable operating leases and rentals to be received under subleases with initial or remaining terms in excess of one year at December 31, 2018, were:



(in millions)	Capital leases		Operating leases		Subleases			Operating leases, net
2019	$	111	$	348	$	(92	)	$	256
2020	109		357		(78		)	279
2021	105		244		(41		)	203
2022	100		172		(17		)	155
2023	97		146		(7		)	139
Thereafter	335		474		(1		)	473
Total minimum lease payments	$	857	$	1,741	$	(236	)	$	1,505
Less amount representing interest	126
Present value of minimum lease payments (a)	731
Less current portion	85
Long-term portion	$	646

(a) Excludes lease incentive obligation of $114 million.

The aircraft leases generally can be renewed for one to five years at rates based on fair market value at the end of the lease term. Most aircraft leases have purchase options at or near the end of the lease term at fair market value, generally limited to a stated percentage of the lessor’s defined cost of the aircraft.

On July 9, 2012, the Company signed an agreement with Delta Air Lines, Inc. and Boeing Capital Corp. to lease or sublease all 88 of AirTran Airways' B717s to Delta at agreed-upon lease rates. Three operating leases expired during 2018, and, as of December 31, 2018, the following remained: 73 operating leases, ten owned, and two capital leases. The sublease terms for the 73 B717s on operating lease and the two B717s on capital lease coincide with the Company's remaining lease terms for these aircraft from the original lessor, which range from approximately one to six years. The leasing of the ten B717s that are owned by the Company is subject to certain conditions, and the remaining lease terms are up to four years, after which Delta will have the option to purchase the aircraft at the then-prevailing market value. The ten owned B717s are accounted for as sales type leases, the two B717s classified by the Company as capital leases are accounted for as direct financing leases, and the remaining 73 subleases are accounted for as operating leases with Delta. There are no contingent payments and no significant residual value conditions associated with the transaction.

During 2017, the Company retired its remaining 87 Classic aircraft, which included 61 Classic aircraft grounded in September 2017 as part of an accelerated retirement schedule. The Company recorded a charge of $63 million, within Other operating expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Income, related to the leased portion of the Classic fleet, representing the remaining net lease payments due and certain lease return requirements that could have to be performed on these leased aircraft prior to their return to the lessors, as of the cease-use date. As of December 31, 2018, the remaining amounts associated with the cease-use liability have been paid in full.