During 2009, we recorded an income tax benefit of $344 million , including a non-cash income tax benefit of $321 million on the loss from continuing operations, with an offsetting non-cash income tax expense of $321 million on other comprehensive income. This deferred income tax expense of $321 million will remain in accumulated other comprehensive loss until all amounts in accumulated other comprehensive loss that relate to fuel derivatives which are designated as accounting hedges are recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. All amounts relating to our fuel derivative contracts that were previously designated as accounting hedges will be recognized by June 2012 (original settlement date of those contracts). As a result, a non-cash income tax expense of $321 million will be recognized in the June 2012 quarter unless we enter into and designate additional fuel derivative contracts as accounting hedges prior to June 2012.  

 

At December 31, 2011 , we had $16.8 billion of U.S. federal pre-tax net operating loss carryforwards. Accordingly, we believe we will not pay any cash federal income taxes during the next several years. Our U.S. federal pre-tax net operating loss carryforwards do not begin to expire until 2022 .  

 

Financial Condition and Liquidity  

 

We expect to meet our cash needs for the next 12 months from cash flows from operations, cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and financing arrangements. As of December 31, 2011 , we had $5.4 billion in unrestricted liquidity, consisting of $3.6 billion in cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments and $1.8 billion in undrawn revolving credit facilities.  

 

Debt and Capital Leases. At December 31, 2011 , total debt and capital leases, including current maturities, was $13.8 billion , a $1.5 billion reduction from December 31, 2010 and a $3.4 billion reduction from December 31, 2009. Our ability to obtain additional financing, if needed, on acceptable terms could be adversely affected by the fact that a significant portion of our assets are subject to liens.  

 

Pension Obligations. We sponsor defined benefit pension plans for eligible employees and retirees. These plans are closed to new entrants and are frozen for future benefit accruals. Our funding obligations for these plans are generally governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. We contributed $598 million and $728 million to our defined benefit pension plans during 2011 and 2010, respectively. We estimate the funding requirements under these plans will total approximately $700 million in 2012.  

 

Advance Purchase of SkyMiles. In 2008, we entered into a multi-year extension of our American Express agreements and received $1.0 billion from American Express for an advance purchase of SkyMiles (the "prepayment"). The 2008 agreement provided that our obligations with respect to the advance purchase would be satisfied as American Express uses the purchased miles over a specified future period (“SkyMiles Usage Period”), rather than by cash payments from us to American Express. Due to the SkyMiles Usage Period and other restrictions placed upon American Express