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GENERAL AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2024
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
GENERAL AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES | GENERAL AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Organization and basis of presentation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Alaska Air Group (Air Group, or "the Company"), and its primary subsidiaries, Alaska Airlines, Inc. (Alaska), Horizon Air Industries, Inc. (Horizon), and Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (Hawaiian) (starting September 18, 2024). Purchase accounting impacts resulting from the Hawaiian acquisition are included as of September 18, 2024. Prior periods do not include Hawaiian results. The consolidated financial statements also include McGee Air Services, a ground services subsidiary of Alaska, and other immaterial business units. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Certain rows, columns, figures, or percentages may not recalculate due to rounding. Use of estimates These financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) and their preparation requires the use of management's estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported and disclosed in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates and assumptions due to risks and uncertainties. Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, such as money market funds, commercial paper, and certificates of deposit. They are carried at cost, which approximates market value. The Company reduces cash balances when funds are disbursed. Due to the time delay in funds clearing the banks, the Company normally maintains a negative balance in its cash disbursement accounts, which is reported as a current liability. The amount of the negative cash balance was $7 million and $14 million at December 31, 2024 and 2023, and is included in accounts payable, with the change in the balance during the year included in other financing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows. Restricted cash primarily includes funds held in a controlled account for debt service associated with Alaska's loyalty and intellectual brand offering. The Company also has certain restricted cash balances used to guarantee various letters of credit, self-insurance programs, or other contractual rights. The Company has both current and non-current restricted cash balances, which are presented in the consolidated balance sheets within Restricted cash and Other noncurrent assets. They are carried at cost, which approximates fair value. Marketable securities Investments with original maturities of greater than three months and remaining maturities of less than one year are classified as short-term investments. Investments with maturities beyond one year may be classified as short-term based on their highly liquid nature and because such marketable securities represent the investment of cash that is available for current operations. All cash equivalents and short-term investments are classified as available-for-sale and realized gains and losses are recorded using the specific identification method. Changes in market value are reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The Company evaluates the investment portfolio on a quarterly basis for expected credit losses. The Company uses a systematic methodology that groups assets by relevant market sector, and considers available quantitative and qualitative evidence in evaluating potential allowances for credit losses. If the cost of an investment exceeds its fair value, management evaluates, among other factors, general market and industry conditions, credit quality of debt instrument issuers, the duration and extent to which the fair value is less than cost, the Company's intent and ability to hold, or plans to sell, the investment. In the event a decline in fair value is determined to be the result of an expected credit loss, an allowance is recorded to Other - net in the consolidated statements of operations. Management does not believe any unrealized losses are the result of expected credit losses based on the Company's evaluation of available evidence as of December 31, 2024. Receivables - net Receivables primarily consist of amounts due from credit card processors for the sale of passenger tickets, from affinity card partners and from other partners for the purchase of miles under the Company's loyalty programs, from Amazon for reimbursable expenses under the ATSA, and from taxing authorities for certain tax receivables. Given the nature of these receivables, reserves are immaterial to the overall balance. Inventories and supplies - net Expendable aircraft parts, materials and supplies are stated at average cost and are included in Inventories and supplies - net. An obsolescence allowance for expendable parts is accrued based on estimated lives of the corresponding fleet type and salvage values. The allowance for expendable inventories was $90 million and $60 million at December 31, 2024 and 2023. Removals from the reserve in 2024 were immaterial. Inventory and supplies - net also includes fuel inventory of $30 million and $31 million at December 31, 2024 and 2023. Repairable and rotable aircraft parts inventories are included in flight equipment. Property, equipment, and depreciation Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives less an estimated salvage value, which are as follows:
| Estimated Useful Life | Estimated Salvage Value
Aircraft and other flight equipment: |  |
Boeing 717-200 aircraft | 3 to 4 years | 10%
Boeing 737 aircraft | 20 to 25 years | 10%
Boeing 787-9 aircraft | 25 years | 10%
Airbus A321neo aircraft | 18 to 20 years | 10%
Airbus A330 aircraft | 11 to 15 years | 10%
Embraer E175 aircraft | 20 years | 10%
Buildings | 30 to 40 years | 10%
Minor building and land improvements | 10 years | —%
Capitalized leases and leasehold improvements | Generally shorter of lease term or estimated useful life | —%
Computer hardware and software | 3 to 5 years | —%
Other furniture and equipment | 3 to 10 years | —%
Near the end of an asset's estimated useful life, management updates the salvage value estimates based on current market conditions and expected use of the asset. Repairable and rotable aircraft parts are included in Aircraft and other flight equipment, and are depreciated over the associated fleet life. Capitalized interest, based on the Company’s weighted-average borrowing rate, is added to the cost of the related asset, and is depreciated over the estimated useful life of the asset. The Company capitalizes certain costs related to the acquisition and development of computer software and amortizes these costs using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the software. The net book value of computer software, which is included in Other property and equipment in the consolidated balance sheets, was $155 million and $66 million million at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Amortization expense related to computer software was $47 million, $25 million, and $17 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively. The Company evaluates long-lived assets to be held and used for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the total carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable. The Company groups assets for purposes of such reviews at the lowest level at which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets and liabilities, which is generally the fleet level. An impairment loss is considered when estimated future undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset or asset group and its eventual disposition are less than its carrying amount. If the asset or asset group is not considered recoverable, a write-down equal to the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value will be recorded. For these purposes, the fair value is estimated using a combination of Level 2 inputs, including published market value estimates for the assets being assessed, and Level 3 inputs, including Company-specific and asset-specific indicators. Aircraft maintenance deposits Certain 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. The Company establishes accounting maintenance deposits as assets on the balance sheet using estimates of the anticipated timing and cost of the specific major maintenance events, such that the accounting deposits do not exceed the amount qualified for reimbursement. As of December 31, 2024, total aircraft maintenance deposits recorded on the consolidated balance sheets was $56 million, with $42 million included in Other current assets and $14 million included in Other noncurrent assets, compared to $70 million included in Other current assets as of December 31, 2023. Any expense associated with aircraft maintenance deposits which may not ultimately be claimable in the standard course of operating the aircraft is included in Aircraft maintenance in the consolidated statements of operations. Following the Company's decision in early 2022 to exit the Virgin America Airbus fleet before contractual return timelines, expense associated with aircraft maintenance deposits, including impairment of those deposits which will not be claimed, was recognized ratably over the remaining operating period of the respective aircraft, and classified within Special items - operating in the consolidated statements of operations. See Note 16 for further discussion of these special items. Leased aircraft return costs Costs to return leased aircraft are accrued when the costs are probable and reasonably estimable, usually over the twelve months prior to the lease return, unless a determination is made to remove the leased asset from operation. If the leased aircraft is removed from the operating fleet, the estimated cost to return is accrued at the time of removal. If a leased aircraft has a known early retirement date in the future, the estimated cost to return is accrued through the retirement date. Any accrual is based on the time remaining on the lease, planned aircraft usage, and the provisions included in the lease agreement, although the actual amount due to any lessor upon return may not be known with certainty until lease termination. As leased aircraft are returned, payments made reduce the outstanding lease return liability. As of December 31, 2024, the total outstanding liability was $74 million, with $20 million included in Other accrued liabilities and $54 million included in Other liabilities, compared to $112 million included in Other accrued liabilities as of December 31, 2023. Expense associated with lease returns in the standard course of operating the aircraft is included in Aircraft maintenance in the consolidated statements of operations. Expense associated with lease returns when aircraft are permanently parked or anticipated to be removed from the fleet before its contractual return date is recorded as a charge at the date the aircraft is permanently parked, regardless of contractual return date, and is classified within Special items - operating in the consolidated statements of operations. Refer to Note 16 for further discussion of these special items. Passenger ticket and ancillary services revenue The primary performance obligation on a typical passenger ticket is to provide air travel to the passenger. Ticket revenue is collected in advance of travel and recorded as air traffic liability on the consolidated balance sheets. The Company satisfies its performance obligation and recognizes ticket revenue for each flight segment when the transportation is provided. Ancillary passenger revenue relates to items such as checked-bag fees and on-board food and beverage sales, all of which are provided at time of flight. As such, the obligation to perform these services is satisfied at the time of travel and is recorded with ticket revenue in Passenger revenue. Revenue is also recognized for tickets that are expected to expire unused, a concept referred to as “passenger ticket breakage.” Passenger ticket breakage is recorded at the intended travel date using estimates made at the time of sale based on the Company’s historical experience of expired tickets, and other facts such as program changes and modifications. Differences between advance passenger ticket breakage estimates and actual expirations are recognized as revenue when changes to estimate assumptions are observed or when tickets are no longer valid. In addition to selling tickets on its own marketed flights, Alaska and Hawaiian have interline and codeshare agreements with partner airlines under which it sells multi-city tickets with one or more segments of the trip flown by a partner airline, or it operates a connecting flight sold by a partner airline. Each segment in a connecting flight represents a separate performance obligation. Revenue on segments sold and operated by the Company is recognized as Passenger revenue in the gross amount of the allocated ticket price when the travel occurs, while the commission paid to the partner airline is recognized as a selling expense when the related transportation is provided. Revenue on segments operated by a partner airline is deferred for the full amount of the consideration received at the time the ticket is sold and, once the segment has been flown the Company records the net amount, after compensating the partner airline, as Cargo and other revenue. A portion of revenue from our loyalty programs is recorded in Passenger revenue. As members are awarded mileage credits on flown tickets, these credits become a distinct performance obligation to the Company. The Company allocates the transaction price to each performance obligation identified in a passenger ticket contract on a relative standalone selling price basis. The standalone selling price for loyalty mileage credits issued is discussed in the Loyalty mileage credits section of this Note below. The amount allocated to the mileage credits is deferred on the balance sheet. Once a member travels using a travel award redeemed with mileage credits on one of the Company's airline carriers, the revenue associated with those mileage credits is recorded as Passenger revenue. Taxes collected from passengers, including transportation excise taxes, airport and security fees, and other fees, are recorded on a net basis within Passenger revenue in the consolidated statements of operations. As passenger tickets and related ancillary services are primarily sold via credit cards, certain amounts due from credit card processors are recorded as airline traffic receivables. These credit card receivables and receivables from affinity credit card partners represent $444 million and $243 million on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023. For performance obligations with performance periods of less than one year, GAAP provides a practical expedient that allows the Company not to disclose the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations and the timing of related revenue recognition. As passenger tickets expire one year from ticketing, if unused or not exchanged, the Company elected to apply this practical expedient. Loyalty mileage credits The Company’s loyalty programs provide travel awards to program members based upon accumulated loyalty mileage credits. Mileage credits are earned through travel, purchases using the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature and Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard co-branded credit cards and purchases from other participating partners. Outstanding mileage credits have no expiry date. The Company offers redemption of mileage credits through free, discounted, or upgraded air travel on flights operated by Alaska, Hawaiian, and its regional partners or on one of its 31 partners, as well as redemption at partner hotels. The Company uses a relative standalone selling price to allocate consideration to material performance obligations in contracts with customers that include loyalty mileage credits. As directly observable selling prices for mileage credits are not available, the Company determines the standalone selling price of mileage credits primarily using actual ticket purchase prices for similar tickets flown, adjusted for the likelihood of redemption, or breakage. In determining similar tickets flown, the Company considers current market prices, class of service, type of award, and other factors. For mileage credits accumulated through travel on partner airlines, the Company uses actual consideration received from the partners. Revenue related to air transportation is deferred in the amount of the relative standalone selling price allocated to the loyalty mileage credits as they are issued. The Company satisfies its performance obligation when the mileage credits are redeemed and the related air transportation is delivered. The Company estimates breakage for the portion of loyalty mileage credits not expected to be redeemed using a statistical analysis of historical data, including source of mileage credit earned, slow-moving, and low-credit accounts, among other factors. The Company recognizes breakage proportionally as mileage credits are redeemed. The Company reviews the breakage rate used on an annual basis. The total deferred revenue liability included on the consolidated balance sheets represents the remaining transaction price that has been allocated to loyalty program performance obligations not yet satisfied by the Company. In general, the current amounts will be recognized as revenue within 12 months and the long-term amounts will be recognized as revenue over a period of approximately three to four years. This period of time represents the average time that members have historically taken to earn and redeem miles. Mileage credits are combined into one homogeneous pool and are not specifically identifiable once deposited. As such, loyalty revenue disclosed earlier in this Note comprises miles that were part of the deferred revenue and liabilities balances at the beginning of the period and miles that were issued during the period. Co-branded credit card agreements and other In addition to mileage credits, the co-branded credit card agreements, referred to herein as the Agreements, also include, depending on the airline, performance obligations for waived bag fees, Companion Fare offers to purchase an additional ticket at a discount, other discounts and purchase credits, marketing, priority boarding, and the use of intellectual property including the brand (unlimited access to the use of the Company’s brand and loyalty program member lists), which is the predominant element in the Agreements. The co-branded card bank partners are the customer for some elements, including the brand and marketing, while the members of the loyalty programs are the customer for other elements such as mileage credits, bag waivers, priority boarding, and other discounted travel. At the inception of the Agreements, management estimated the selling price of each of the performance obligations. The objective was to determine the price at which a sale would be transacted if the product or service was sold on a stand-alone basis. The Company determined its best estimate of selling price for each element by considering multiple inputs and methods including, but not limited to, the estimated selling price of comparable travel, discounted cash flows, brand value, published selling prices, number of miles awarded, and number of miles redeemed. The Company estimated the selling prices and volumes over the term of the Agreements in order to determine the allocation of proceeds to each of the multiple deliverables. The estimates of the standalone selling prices of each element do not change subsequent to the original valuation of the contract unless the contract is materially modified, but the allocation between elements may change based upon the actual and updated projected volumes of each element delivered during the term of the contract. Consideration received from the bank partners is variable and is primarily from consumer spend on the cards, among other items. The Company allocates consideration to each of the performance obligations, including mileage credits, waived bag fees, companion fares, and brand and marketing, using their relative standalone selling price. Because the performance obligation related to providing use of intellectual property including the brand is satisfied over time, it is recognized in Loyalty program other revenue in the period that those elements are sold. The Company records passenger revenue related to the air transportation and certificates for discounted companion travel when the transportation is delivered. In contracts with non-bank partners, the Company has identified two performance obligations in most cases - travel and brand. The travel performance obligation is deferred until the transportation is provided in the amount of the estimated standalone selling price of the ticket, less breakage, and the brand performance obligation is recognized using the residual method as commission revenue when the brand element is sold. Mileage credit sales recorded under the residual approach are immaterial to the overall program. Partner airline loyalty The Company's airlines have interline and loyalty arrangements with certain airlines whereby its members may earn and redeem miles on those airlines, and members of a partner airline’s loyalty program may earn and redeem loyalty program credits on flights operated by our airlines. When a member earns credits on a partner airline, the partner airline remits a contractually-agreed upon fee to the Company which is deferred until credits are redeemed. When a member redeems credits on a partner airline, the Company pays a contractually agreed upon fee to the other airline, which is netted against the revenue recognized associated with the award travel. When a member of a partner airline redeems loyalty program credits on the Company's airlines, the partner airline remits a contractually-agreed upon amount to the Company, recognized as Passenger revenue upon travel. If the partner airline’s member earns loyalty program credits on our flight, the Company remits a contractually-agreed upon fee to the partner airline and records a commission expense. Aircraft and engine maintenance expense Maintenance and repairs on our aircraft are expensed when incurred. Major modifications that extend the life or improve the usefulness of aircraft are capitalized and depreciated over their estimated period of use. Certain contractual commitments require monthly payments based upon utilization, such as flight hours, cycles, and age of the aircraft. In turn, these maintenance agreements may transfer certain risks to the third-party service provider. Alaska, Hawaiian, and Horizon have contracts for maintenance on certain aircraft engines, avionics, landing systems, and other components. Selling costs Certain costs such as credit card fees, travel agency and other commissions paid, as well as Global Distribution Systems booking fees, are incurred when the Company sells passenger tickets and ancillary services in advance of the travel date. The Company defers such costs and recognizes them as expenses when the travel occurs. Prepaid expense recorded on the consolidated balance sheets for such costs was $50 million and $35 million as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. The Company recorded related expense on the consolidated statements of operations of $387 million, $334 million and $311 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022. Advertising expenses The Company's advertising expenses include advertising, sponsorship, and promotional costs. Advertising production costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expense was $97 million, $78 million, and $85 million during the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022. Derivative financial instruments The Company's operations are significantly impacted by changes in aircraft fuel prices and interest rates. In an effort to manage exposure to these risks, the Company has entered into fuel and interest rate derivative instruments. These instruments qualify as cash flow hedges and are recognized at fair value on the balance sheet. The effective portion of the derivative represents the change in fair value of the hedge that offsets the change in fair value of the hedged item. To the extent the change in the fair value of the hedge does not perfectly offset the change in the fair value of the instrument, the ineffective portion of the hedge is recognized in interest expense, if material. Cash flows related to these derivative instruments are classified as operating cash flows within the consolidated statements of cash flows. Income taxes The Company uses the asset and liability approach for accounting for and reporting income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities, and their respective tax bases and for operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance would be established, if necessary, for the amount of any tax benefits that, based on available evidence, are not expected to be realized. As of December 31, 2024, there is a partial valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets. The Company accounts for unrecognized tax benefits in accordance with the applicable accounting standards. See Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements for more discussion of income taxes. Stock-based compensation The Company grants equity awards to directors, officers, and employees in exchange for services. Equity awards are measured based on the fair value of the award as of the grant date. Expense is recognized over the award's requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period of the award. No compensation expense is recognized for awards for which participants do not render the requisite services. For equity awards earned based on performance or upon occurrence of a contingent event, expected performance achievement of the awards will be estimated and related compensation expense is recorded over the service period. An adjustment is recorded to compensation expense if the expected performance achievement changes. Stock-based compensation expense for officers and employees is recorded in wages and benefits in the consolidated statements of operations. Recent accounting pronouncements In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740), which requires public entities to provide disclosure of specific categories in the rate reconciliation, as well as disclosure of income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction on an annual basis. ASU 2023-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2023-09. In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income - Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Topic 220), which requires public entities to disclose information about purchases of inventory, employee compensation, depreciation, intangible asset amortization, and depletion for each income statement line item that contains those expenses. ASU 2024-03 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2024-03. Recently adopted accounting pronouncements In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280), which requires public entities to disclose information about their reportable segments’ significant expenses and other segment items on an interim and annual basis. ASU 2023-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and for interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. We have adopted this guidance, which did not have an impact on our financial statements. Adoption of the standard resulted in modifications to our reportable segment disclosures, which can be found in Note 14 to our consolidated financial statements.

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