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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Future minimum payments for commitments as of December 31, 2017 (in millions):
| Aircraft Leases |  | Facility Leases |  | Aircraft Purchase Commitments |  | Capacity Purchase Agreements (a) |  | Aircraft Maintenance Deposits |  | Aircraft Maintenance and Parts Management
2018 | $ | 354 |  |  | $ | 77 |  |  | $ | 955 |  |  | $ | 129 |  |  | $ | 61 |  |  | $ | 98 |
2019 | 356 |  |  | 67 |  |  | 816 |  |  | 151 |  |  | 65 |  |  | 102 |
2020 | 330 |  |  | 61 |  |  | 377 |  |  | 159 |  |  | 68 |  |  | 105 |
2021 | 285 |  |  | 53 |  |  | 268 |  |  | 165 |  |  | 64 |  |  | 121 |
2022 | 262 |  |  | 34 |  |  | 193 |  |  | 173 |  |  | 52 |  |  | 76 |
Thereafter | 1,021 |  |  | 142 |  |  | 145 |  |  | 1,079 |  |  | 39 |  |  | 80 |
Total | $ | 2,608 |  |  | $ | 434 |  |  | $ | 2,754 |  |  | $ | 1,856 |  |  | $ | 349 |  |  | $ | 582 |
(a) | Includes all non-aircraft lease costs associated with capacity purchase agreements.
Lease Commitments Aircraft lease commitments include future obligations for all of the Company's operating airlines—Alaska, Virgin America and Horizon, as well as aircraft leases operated by third parties. At December 31, 2017, the Company had lease contracts for 10 B737 (B737) aircraft, 57 Airbus aircraft, 15 Bombardier Q400 aircraft, and 23 Embraer 175 (E175) aircraft with SkyWest Airlines, Inc. (SkyWest). The Company has an additional six scheduled lease deliveries of A321neo aircraft through 2018, as well as 12 scheduled lease deliveries of E175 aircraft through 2018 to be operated by SkyWest. All lease contracts have remaining non-cancelable lease terms ranging from 2018 to 2030. The Company has the option to increase capacity flown by SkyWest with eight additional E175 aircraft with deliveries in 2020. Options to lease are not reflected in the commitments table above. Facility lease commitments primarily include airport and terminal facilities and building leases. Total rent expense for aircraft and facility leases was $552 million, $315 million and $295 million, in 2017, 2016 and 2015. Aircraft Purchase Commitments Aircraft purchase commitments include non-cancelable contractual commitments for aircrafts and engines. As of December 31, 2017, the Company had commitments to purchase 44 B737 aircraft (12 B737 NextGen aircraft and 32 B737 MAX aircraft, with deliveries in 2018 through 2023) and 23 E175 aircraft with deliveries in 2018 through 2019. The Company also has cancelable purchase commitments for 30 Airbus A320neo aircraft with deliveries from 2020 through 2022. In addition, the Company has options to purchase 37 B737 aircraft and 30 E175 aircraft. The cancelable purchase commitments and option payments are not reflected in the table above. The Company expects to defer certain purchase commitments in 2019 and beyond, which is not currently reflected in the contractual aircraft purchase commitments above. Capacity Purchase Agreements (CPAs) At December 31, 2017, Alaska had CPAs with three carriers, including the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Horizon. Horizon sells 100% of its capacity under a CPA with Alaska. In addition, Alaska has CPAs with SkyWest to fly certain routes in the Lower 48 and Canada and with Peninsula Airways, Inc. (PenAir) to fly certain routes in the state of Alaska. Under these agreements, Alaska pays the carriers an amount which is based on a determination of their cost of operating those flights and other factors intended to approximate market rates for those services. Future payments (excluding Horizon) are based on minimum levels of flying by the third-party carriers, which could differ materially due to variable payments based on actual levels of flying and certain costs associated with operating flights such as fuel. Aircraft Maintenance Deposits Certain Airbus leases include contractually required maintenance deposit payments to the lessor, which collateralize the lessor for future maintenance events should the Company not perform required maintenance. Most of the lease agreements provide that maintenance deposits are reimbursable upon completion of the major maintenance event in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the amount qualified for reimbursement from maintenance deposits held by the lessor associated with the specific major maintenance event or (ii) the qualifying costs related to the specific major maintenance event. Aircraft Maintenance and Parts Management Through its acquisition of Virgin America, the Company has a separate maintenance-cost-per-hour contract for management and repair of certain rotable parts to support Airbus airframe and engine maintenance and repair. On October 1, 2017, Alaska entered into a similar contract for maintenance on its B737-800 aircraft engines. These agreements require monthly payments based upon utilization, such as flight hours, cycles and age of the aircraft, and, in turn, the agreement transfers certain risks to the third-party service provider. There are minimum payments under both agreements, which are reflected in the table above. Accordingly, payments could differ materially based on actual aircraft utilization. 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. In 2015, three flight attendants filed a class action lawsuit seeking to represent all Virgin America flight attendants for damages based on alleged violations of California and City of San Francisco wage and hour laws. Plaintiffs received class certification in November 2016. Virgin America filed a motion for summary judgment seeking to dismiss all claims on various federal preemption grounds. In January 2017, the Court denied in part and granted in part Virgin America’s motion. In January 2018, Virgin America filed a motion to decertify the class and Plaintiffs filed a motion for summary judgment seeking the court to rule in their favor on all remaining claims. The Company believes the claims in this case are without factual and legal merit and intends to defend this lawsuit. Management believes the ultimate disposition of these matters is not likely to materially affect the Company's financial position or results of operations. This forward-looking statement is based on management's current understanding of the relevant law and facts, and it is subject to various contingencies, including the potential costs and risks associated with litigation and the actions of arbitrators, judges and juries.

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