principal amount of debt; 

  

Prepay $435 million of existing debt; 

  

Redeem $75 million of other secured financings; and 

  

Purchase 18 aircraft off lease. 

   We also restructured $820 million of existing debt, including changes in applicable interest rates and other payment terms.  



Sources and Uses of Cash  

Cash Flows From Operating Activities  

     Cash provided by operating activities totaled $2.8 billion for 2010, primarily reflecting (1) $2.6 billion in net income after adjusting for items such as depreciation and amortization, (2) a $516 million increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities primarily related to our broadbased employee profit sharing plans and increased operations due to the improving economy and (3) a $232 million increase in advance ticket sales primarily due to an increase in air fares. Cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2010 was partially offset by a $345 million decrease in frequent flyer liability.  

     Cash provided by operating activities totaled $1.4 billion for 2009, primarily reflecting the return from counterparties of $1.1 billion of hedge margin primarily used to settle hedge losses recognized during the period and $690 million in net income after adjusting for items such as depreciation and amortization.  

     Cash used in operating activities totaled $1.7 billion for 2008, primarily reflecting (1) an increase in aircraft fuel payments due to record high fuel prices for most of the year, (2) the posting of $680 million in margin with counterparties primarily from our estimated fair value loss position on our fuel hedge contracts at December 31, 2008, (3) the payment of $438 million in premiums for fuel hedge derivatives entered into during 2008, (4) a $374 million decrease in advance ticket sales due to the slowing economy and (5) the payment of $158 million in 2008 under our broad-based employee profit sharing plan related to 2007. Cash used in operating activities was partially offset by cash flows driven by a $3.5 billion increase in operating revenue, $2.0 billion of which is directly attributable to Northwest’s operations since the Closing Date.  

Cash Flows From Investing Activities  

     Cash used in investing activities totaled $2.0 billion for 2010, primarily reflecting investments of (1) $1.1 billion for flight equipment, including aircraft modifications and parts, (2) $287 million for ground property and equipment and (3) $730 million for purchases of investments. Flight equipment acquisitions include the purchase of 34 aircraft, four of which were purchased new from the manufacturer, 18 of which were purchased off lease and 12 of which were previously owned.  

     Cash used in investing activities totaled $1.0 billion for 2009, primarily reflecting net investments of $951 million for flight equipment and $251 million for ground property and equipment. Cash used in investing activities was partially offset by a $142 million distribution of our investment in a money market fund that was liquidated in an orderly manner in 2010 and $100 million of proceeds from the sale of flight equipment.  

     Cash provided by investing