The United capacity purchase agreement includes weekly provisional cash payments based on a projected level of flying each month. The Company and United subsequently reconcile these payments to the actual completed flight activity on a monthly basis.
Under the United capacity purchase agreement, the Company is eligible to receive incentive compensation upon the achievement of certain performance criteria (provided that, pursuant to the amendment to the United capacity purchase agreement, no incentive or penalty payments were made for the period from April 1, 2020 through September 30, 2020). The incentives are defined in the agreement and are determined and measured on a monthly basis. At the end of each month during the term of the agreement, the Company calculates the incentives achieved during that period and recognizes revenue accordingly, subject to the variable constraint guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).
As discussed above, under the United capacity purchase agreement, Air Wisconsin is paid a fixed amount per aircraft per day for each month during the term of the agreement. In accordance with GAAP, the Company recognizes revenue related to the fixed payments on a proportional basis taking into account the number of flights actually completed in that period relative to the number of flights expected to be completed in subsequent periods during the remaining term of the agreement. Due to the material decrease in completed flights for the year ended December 31, 2020 from historical levels and anticipated future levels in periods within the remaining contract term, Air Wisconsin determined that the amount of the fixed payments it received was disproportionately high relative to anticipated fixed revenue for future periods due to fewer flights completed in the year ended December 31, 2020. Air Wisconsin anticipates the future number of flights it will complete over the remainder of the agreement will significantly increase from 2020 levels. Accordingly, Air Wisconsin deferred recognizing revenue of $43,220 in the year ended December 31, 2020. Air Wisconsin’s deferred revenue related to the fixed portion will adjust over the remaining contract term based on the number of flights completed each reporting period relative to the number of flights anticipated over the remaining contract term. The current portion of the deferred revenue, in the amount of $12,500, is recorded as part of contract liabilities, and the long-term portion of the deferred revenue, in the amount of $30,720, is recorded as deferred revenue on the consolidated balance sheets. Due to fewer flights during the year ended December 31, 2020, Air Wisconsin also recognized less non-refundable upfront fee revenue, as well as lower fulfillment costs, both of which are being amortized over the remaining term of the agreement in proportion to flights flown. During the year ended December 31, 2020, Air Wisconsin recorded $2,504 of revenue from upfront fees and $269 of fulfillment costs, compared to $3,725 and $400 for the year ended December 31, 2019, respectively. The timing of the recognition of these items in future periods is subject to considerable uncertainty due to a number of factors, including the actual number of completed flights in any particular period relative to the estimated number of flights anticipated to be flown in the same period.
The amount of revenue recognized for the year ended December 31, 2020 that was previously recorded as a contract liability is $7,116.
In October 2020, Air Wisconsin entered into an amendment to the United capacity purchase agreement (CPA amendment), which, among other things, provided for the payment or accrual of certain amounts by United to Air Wisconsin based on certain scheduling benchmarks. In conjunction with the significant reduction in departures and block hours caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and as a result of the CPA amendment, management determined, using a significant amount of judgement, that from an accounting perspective, a new performance obligation was created by United requiring Air Wisconsin to stand ready to deliver flight services. Air Wisconsin determined, using the expected cost plus a margin method, that the United stand ready rate represents the relative stand-alone selling price of the performance obligation. The stand ready performance obligation will be recognized over time on a straight line basis based on the number of unscheduled block hours below a minimum threshold at the stand ready rate as determined by the CPA amendment. For the year ending December 31, 2020, Air Wisconsin recorded $21,392 in revenue related to this performance obligation. This amount was recorded in tong-term notes receivable on the balance sheet as of December 31, 2020.
As part of the CPA amendment, Air Wisconsin also settled outstanding issues, including the opening and closing of maintenance bases. United agreed to accrue a liability to Air Wisconsin in the amount of $11,048 along with a cash settlement of $670. These amounts were recognized using a cumulative catchup adjustment based on prior and future expected departures. In total, Air Wisconsin recognized revenue of $7,307 and deferred the remaining portion which will be recognized in proportion to future departures.
These accrued amounts contain a significant financing component and any interest income is separately reported in the statement of operations. Further, the accrued amounts are evidenced by notes receivable payable by United to Air Wisconsin. As of December 31, 2020, these notes totaled $32,440, bore interest at the rate of 4.5%, and had a maturity date of February 28, 2023. As of December 31,
2020, interest receivable on these notes totaled $309.
United makes provisional cash payments to the Company during each month of service based on monthly flight schedules. These provisional cash payments are reconciled based on actual completed flights after each month’s flight activity is completed. As of December 31, 2020, United owed Air Wisconsin $1,180 which is recorded in “Accounts receivable less allowances” on the balance sheet.
Other revenues are immaterial and primarily consist of the sales of parts to other airlines. The transaction price for the sale of these parts generally is fair market value.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Investments and deposits with a maturity of three months or less when acquired and money market funds are considered cash and cash equivalents.
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