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Financial Derivative Instruments and Risk Management
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]  
Financial Derivative Instruments and Risk Management Financial Derivative Instruments and Risk Management
As part of our risk management techniques, we periodically purchase over the counter energy derivative instruments to manage our exposure to the effect of changes in the price of aircraft fuel. Prices for the underlying commodities have historically been highly correlated to aircraft fuel, making derivatives of them effective at providing short-term protection against sharp increases in average fuel prices. We do not hold or issue any derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.
Aircraft fuel derivatives
We attempt to obtain cash flow hedge accounting treatment for each fuel derivative that we enter into. This treatment is provided for under the Derivatives and Hedging topic of the FASB Codification which allows for gains and losses on the effective portion of qualifying hedges to be deferred until the underlying planned aircraft fuel consumption occurs, rather than recognizing the gains and losses on these instruments into earnings during each period they are outstanding.
For the effective portion of hedges, when aircraft fuel is consumed and the related derivative contract settles, any gain or loss previously recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) is recognized in aircraft fuel expense. All cash flows related to our fuel hedging derivatives are classified as operating cash flows.
Ineffectiveness occurs, in certain circumstances, when the change in the total fair value of the derivative instrument differs from the change in the value of our expected future cash outlays for the purchase of aircraft fuel. If a hedge does not qualify for hedge accounting, the periodic changes in its fair value are recognized in interest income and other.
Our current approach to fuel hedging is to enter into hedges on a discretionary basis. We view our hedge portfolio as a form of insurance to help mitigate the impact of price volatility and protect us against severe spikes in oil prices, when possible.
The following table illustrates the approximate hedged percentages of our projected fuel usage by quarter related to our outstanding fuel hedging contracts that were designated as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes as of December 31, 2023.
Aircraft fuel call option spread agreements
First Quarter 202430 %
Second Quarter 202416 %
Third Quarter 2024%
Fourth Quarter 2024%
The table below reflects quantitative information related to our derivative instruments and where these amounts are recorded in our financial statements (dollar amounts in millions):
Year Ended December 31,
 20232022
Fuel derivatives 
Asset fair value recorded in prepaid expenses and other current assets (1)
$$
Longest remaining term (months)33
Hedged volume (barrels, in thousands)2,706 450 
Estimated amount of existing gains (losses) expected to be reclassified into earnings in the next 12 months(3)
(1) Gross asset or liability of each contract prior to consideration of offsetting positions with each counterparty and prior to impact of collateral paid.
Year Ended December 31,
 202320222021
Fuel derivatives
Hedge effectiveness gains (losses) recognized in aircraft fuel expense
$$(7)$— 
Hedge gains (losses) on derivatives recognized in comprehensive income(3)— 
Percentage of actual consumption economically hedged25 %%— %
Any outstanding derivative instrument exposes us to credit loss in connection with our fuel contracts in the event of nonperformance by the counterparties to our agreements; however, we do not expect that any of our counterparties will fail to meet their obligations. The amount of such credit exposure is generally the fair value of our outstanding contracts for which we are in a receivable position. To manage credit risks we select counterparties based on credit assessments, limit our overall exposure to any single counterparty, and monitor the market position with each counterparty. Some of our agreements require cash deposits from either JetBlue or our counterparty if market risk exposure exceeds a specified threshold amount.
We have master netting arrangements with our counterparties allowing us the right of offset to mitigate credit risk in derivative transactions. The financial derivative instrument agreements we have with our counterparties may require us to fund all, or a portion of, outstanding loss positions related to these contracts prior to their scheduled maturities. The amount of collateral posted, if any, is periodically adjusted based on the fair value of the hedge contracts. Our policy is to offset the liabilities represented by these contracts with any cash collateral paid to the counterparties.
There were no offsetting derivative instruments as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.