Long-term Debt, Short-term Borrowings and Finance Lease Obligations (Notes)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Long-term Debt, Short-term Borrowings, and Capital Lease Obligations

Long-term Debt, Short-term Borrowings and Finance Lease Obligations

During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we made principal payments of $1.3 billion on our outstanding debt and finance lease obligations. Of this amount, $998 million represents the early repayment of outstanding balance on our 364-day delayed draw term loan facility during the third quarter.

We had pledged aircraft, engines, other equipment, and facilities with a net book value of $6.2 billion at September 30, 2020 as security under various financing arrangements.

At September 30, 2020, scheduled maturities of our long-term debt and finance lease obligations were $95 million for the remainder of 2020, $438 million in 2021, $417 million in 2022, $1.1 billion in 2023, $966 million in 2024, and $1.9 billion thereafter.

The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of our long-term debt, net of debt acquisition costs, at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 were as follows (in millions):



	September 30, 2020				December 31, 2019
	Carrying Value		Estimated Fair Value⁽²⁾		Carrying Value		Estimated Fair Value⁽²⁾
Public Debt
Fixed rate special facility bonds, due through 2036	$	42	$	43	$	42	$	46
Fixed rate enhanced equipment notes:
2019-1 Series AA, due through 2032	574		414		581		586
2019-1 Series A, due through 2028	179		146		181		186
2019-1 Series B, due through 2027	114		142		—		—
2020-1 Series A, due through 2032	628		611		—		—
2020-1 Series B, due through 2028	170		213		—		—
Non-Public Debt
Fixed rate enhanced equipment notes, due through 2023	114		115		133		141
Floating rate equipment notes, due through 2028	164		150		201		207
Fixed rate equipment notes, due through 2028	935		920		1,107		1,201
Floating rate term loan credit facility, due through 2024	709		750		—		—
Unsecured CARES Act Payroll Support Program loan, due through 2030	259		192		—		—
Secured CARES Act Loan, due through 2025	105		100		—		—
2020 sale-leaseback transactions, due through 2024	235		262		—		—
Citibank line of credit, due through 2023	546		520		—		—
Total⁽¹⁾	$	4,774	$	4,578	$	2,245	$	2,367

(1) Total excludes finance lease obligations of $65 million and $89 million at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

(2) The estimated fair values of our publicly held long-term debt are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. The fair values of our enhanced equipment notes and our special facility bonds were based on quoted market prices in markets with low trading volumes. The fair value of our non-public debt was estimated using a discounted cash flow analysis based on our borrowing rates for instruments with similar terms and therefore classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The fair values of our other financial instruments approximate their carrying values. Refer to Note 9 to our condensed consolidated financial statements for an explanation of the fair value hierarchy structure.

We have financed certain aircraft with Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates, or EETCs. One of the benefits of this structure is being able to finance several aircraft at one time, rather than individually. The structure of EETC financing is that we create pass-through trusts in order to issue pass-through certificates. The proceeds from the issuance of these certificates are then used to purchase equipment notes, which are issued by us and are secured by our aircraft. These trusts meet the definition of a variable interest entity, or VIE, as defined in the Consolidations topic of the Codification, and must be considered for consolidation in our financial statements. Our assessment of our EETCs considers both quantitative and qualitative factors including the purpose for which these trusts were established and the nature of the risks in each. The main purpose of the trust structure is to enhance the credit worthiness of our debt obligation through certain bankruptcy protection provisions and liquidity facilities, and also to lower our total borrowing cost. We concluded that we are not the primary beneficiary in these trusts because our involvement in them is limited to principal and interest payments on the related notes, the trusts were not set up to pass along variability created by credit risk to us, and the likelihood of our defaulting on the notes. Therefore, we have not consolidated these trusts in our financial statements.

Floating Rate Term Loan Credit Facility

On June 17, 2020, we entered into a $750 million term loan credit facility with Barclays Bank PLC, as administrative agent. The loans under this term loan credit facility bear interest at a variable rate equal to LIBOR (subject to a 1.00% floor), or at our election another rate, in each case, plus a specified margin. Our obligations are secured on a senior basis by airport takeoff and landing slots at LaGuardia Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and Reagan National Airport and the right to use certain intellectual property assets comprising the JetBlue brand. The term loan facility is subject to amortization payments of 5% per year, payable quarterly, commencing on September 30, 2020 with the remaining balance due and payable in a single payment on the maturity date of June 17, 2024.

The interest rate on our outstanding balance was 6.25% as of September 30, 2020.

Unsecured CARES Act Payroll Support Program Loan

As discussed in Note 2 to our condensed consolidated financial statements, on April 23, 2020, we entered into the PSP Agreement under the CARES Act with the Treasury. Pursuant to the agreement, JetBlue received a Payroll Support Payment of $936 million (the "Payroll Support Payment") which included a grant of $685 million and a promissory note for $251 million. The note matures 10 years after issuance and is payable in a lump sum at maturity. As part of the agreement, JetBlue issued to the Treasury warrants to acquire more than 2.6 million shares of our common stock under the program. The warrants expire five years after issuance.

On September 30, 2020, Treasury provided us Additional Payroll Support Payment of $27 million consisting of $19 million in grants and $8 million in an unsecured term loan under the PSP Agreement. The terms of the unsecured term loan are identical to those under the initial loan issued on April 23, 2020. In consideration for the Additional Payroll Support Payment, we issued Additional PSP Warrants to purchase approximately 85,540 additional shares of our common stock to the Treasury at an exercise price of $9.50 per share. The Additional PSP Warrants have the same terms and exercise price as the initial warrants issued on April 23, 2020.

Secured CARES Act Loan Program

As discussed in Note 2 to our condensed consolidated financial statements, on April 29, 2020, we submitted our application for the Loan Program of the CARES Act. Under the Loan Program, we have the ability to borrow up to approximately $1.14 billion from the Treasury. Any loans issued under the Loan Program are expected to be senior secured obligations of the Company. If we accept the full amount of the loan, we will issue warrants to purchase approximately 12.0 million shares of our common stock to the Treasury. Any amount received under the Loan Program will be subject to the relevant provisions of the CARES Act, including many of those described above under the Payroll Support Program.

On September 29, 2020, we entered into the Loan Agreement with the Treasury under the Loan Program of the CARES Act. Pursuant to the Loan Agreement, Treasury agreed to extend loans to us in an aggregate principal amount of up to $1.14 billion until March 26, 2021, subject to specified terms. Unless otherwise terminated early, all borrowings under the Loan Agreement are due and payable on the fifth anniversary of the initial borrowing date. We made a drawing of $115 million under the Loan Agreement on September 29, 2020. Borrowings under the Loan Agreement bear interest at a variable rate equal to LIBOR (or another rate based on certain market interest rates, plus a margin of 1% per annum, in each case with a floor of 0%), plus a margin of 2.75% per annum. Our obligations under the Loan Agreement are secured by liens on (i) certain eligible aircraft collateral, (ii) certain loyalty program assets, including JetBlue's rights in certain loyalty program agreements, loyalty program data and intellectual property, and (iii) certain cash accounts (collectively, the "Collateral"). Under the terms of the Loan Agreement, we may also pledge eligible spare parts, slots, gates and routes, and additional aircraft, real property, ground support equipment, flight simulators and equity interests. The Loan Agreement includes affirmative and negative covenants that restrict our ability to, among other things, dispose of Collateral, merge, consolidate or sell assets, incur certain additional indebtedness or pay certain dividends. In addition, we are required to maintain unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and unused commitments available under all revolving credit facilities aggregating not less than $550 million and to maintain a minimum ratio of the borrowing base of the Collateral (determined as the sum of a specified percentage of the appraised value of each type of Collateral) to outstanding obligations under the Loan Agreement of not less than 1.6 to 1.0. If we do not meet the minimum collateral coverage ratio, we must either provide additional Collateral to secure our obligations under the Loan Agreement or repay the loans by an amount necessary to maintain compliance with the collateral coverage ratio. The Loan Agreement contains events of default customary for similar financings. Upon the occurrence of an event of default, the outstanding obligations under the Loan Agreement may be accelerated and become due and payable immediately. In addition, if certain change of control events occur with respect to JetBlue, we will be required to prepay the loans in full under the Loan Agreement.

In connection with the Loan Agreement, on September 29, 2020, we entered into a warrant agreement with Treasury, pursuant to which we agreed to issue to Treasury warrants to purchase approximately 1.2 million shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $9.50 per share.

In November 2020, we entered into an agreement with the Treasury to increase our borrowing capacity under the Loan Program of the CARES Act to $1.95 billion.

Fixed Rate Enhanced Equipment Notes

2020-1A and B Equipment Notes

In August 2020, we completed a public placement of equipment notes in an aggregate principal amount of $808 million secured by 24 Airbus A321 aircraft. The equipment notes were issued in two series: (i) Series A, bearing interest at the rate of 4.00% per annum in the aggregate principal amount equal to $636 million, and (ii) Series B, bearing interest at the rate of 7.75% per annum in the aggregate principal amount equal to $172 million. Principal and interest are payable semi-annually.

2019-1B Equipment Notes

In August 2020, we completed a public placement of equipment notes in an aggregate principal amount of $115 million bearing interest at a rate of 8.00% per annum. These equipment notes are secured by 25 Airbus A321 aircraft, which were included in the collateral pool of our 2019-1 Series AA and Series A offerings completed in November 2019. Principal and interest are payable semi-annually.

2020 Sale-Leaseback Transactions

In the second quarter of 2020, we executed $118 million of sale-leaseback transactions. These transactions did not qualify as sales for accounting purposes. The assets associated with these transactions remain on our consolidated balance sheets within property and equipment and the related liabilities under the lease are classified within debt and finance leases obligations. These transactions are treated as cash from financing activities on our condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.

In the third quarter of 2020, we executed $327 million of sale-leaseback transactions. Of these transactions, $118 million did not qualify as sales for accounting purposes. The remaining $209 million qualified as sales and generated a loss of $106 million. The assets associated with sale-leaseback transactions which qualified as sales are recorded within operating lease assets. The liabilities are recorded within current operating lease liabilities and long-term operating lease liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets. These transactions are treated as cash from investing activities on our condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.

Citibank Line of Credit

In August 2019, we amended our revolving Credit and Guaranty Agreement with Citibank N.A. as the administrative agent. The amendment increased our borrowing capacity by $125 million to $550 million and extended the term of the facility through August 2023. Borrowings under the Credit and Guaranty Agreement bear interest at a variable rate equal to LIBOR, plus a margin. The Credit and Guaranty Agreement was previously secured by Slots at John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Reagan National Airport, as well as certain other assets. Slots are rights to take-off or land at a specific airport during a specific time period during the day and a means by which airport capacity and congestion can be managed. On May 29, 2020, we exercised our pre-existing right and removed the Slots from the collateral pool to the facility. In exchange for the Slots, we added unencumbered aircraft, simulators, and certain other assets to the facility as permitted. The Credit and Guaranty Agreement includes covenants that require us to maintain certain minimum balances in unrestricted cash, cash equivalents, and unused commitments available under revolving credit facilities. In addition, the covenants restrict our ability to, among other things, dispose of certain collateral, or merge, consolidate, or sell assets.

We borrowed the full amount of $550 million under this revolving credit facility on April 22, 2020. The interest rate on our outstanding balance was 2.22% as of September 30, 2020.

Short-term Borrowings

Morgan Stanley Delayed Draw Term Loan Agreement

In March 2020, we entered into a 364-day delayed draw term loan credit agreement with Morgan Stanley Senior Funding Inc., as the administrative agent. The delayed draw term loan agreement provided for a term loan facility of up to $1 billion. Borrowings under the credit agreement bear interest at a variable rate equal to LIBOR (but not less than 1% per annum), plus a margin, or at our election, another rate based on certain market interest rates.

Our obligations under the delayed draw term loan agreement were secured by liens on certain aircraft and spare engines. The delayed draw term loan agreement includes provisions that require us to maintain unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and unused commitments available under all revolving credit facilities (including the term loan facility) aggregating not less than $550 million.

We borrowed the full amount of the term loan facility in March 2020. Amortization payments equal to 0.25% of the outstanding principal of the term loan will be due on the last day of each quarter during the term. The remaining outstanding principal amount of the term loan was required be repaid in a single installment on the maturity date on March 15, 2021. We may prepay all or a portion of the term loan from time to time, at par plus accrued and unpaid interest.

We repaid the full balance of this facility during the third quarter of 2020.

Morgan Stanley Line of Credit

We have a revolving line of credit with Morgan Stanley for up to approximately $200 million. This line of credit is secured by a portion of our investment securities held by Morgan Stanley and the amount available to us under this line of credit may vary accordingly. This line of credit bears interest at a floating rate based upon LIBOR, plus a margin. As of and for the periods ended September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, we did not have a balance outstanding or any borrowings under this line of credit.