Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Commitment and Contingencies

v3.21.4
Commitment and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2021
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies
Capacity Purchase Agreements
Blade has contractual relationships with various aircraft operators to provide aircraft service. Under these Capacity Purchase Agreements (“CPAs”), the Company pays the operator contractually agreed fees (carrier costs) for operating these flights. The fees are generally based on fixed hourly rates for flight time multiplied by hours flown. Under these CPAs, the Company is also responsible for landing fees and other costs, which are either passed through by the operator to the Company without any markup or directly incurred by the Company.
As of September 30, 2021, the Company has a remaining unfulfilled obligation for the years ended September 30, 2022, 2023 and 2024 under agreements with operators to purchase flights with an aggregate value of approximately $4,539, $1,128 and $8,328, respectively. Blade has the right for immediate termination of certain agreements if a government authority enacts travel restrictions, this right is applicable to unfulfilled obligation for the years ended September 30, 2022, 2023 and 2024 with an aggregate value of approximately $264, $1,128 and $8,328, respectively. In addition, obligations with a value of $7,200 for the year ended 2024 could be terminated by Blade for convenience upon 60 days notice.
Legal and Environmental
From time to time, we may be a party to litigation that arises in the ordinary course of business. Other than described below, we do not have any pending litigation that, separately or in the aggregate, would, in the opinion of management, have a material adverse effect on the results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows. As of September 30, 2021, management believes, after considering a number of factors, including (but not limited to) the information currently available, the views of legal counsel, the nature of contingencies to which the Company is subject, and prior experience, that the ultimate disposition of these other litigation and claims will not materially affect the Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations. The Company records liabilities for legal and environmental claims when a loss is probable and reasonably estimable. These amounts are recorded based on the Company's assessments of the likelihood of their eventual disposition.
On February 9, 2021, an individual complaint, captioned Digennaro v. Experience Investment Corp., et al. (No. 020921-104), was filed in New York state court. The complaint names EIC; its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Eric Affeldt; and its directors, Mr. Martin J. Newburger, Mr. Brian C. Witherow, Mr. Rafael Pastor, and Mr. Edward Philip. Additionally, the complaint names Experience Merger Sub, Inc. and Blade Urban Air Mobility, Inc as defendants. The complaint asserts claims for breach of fiduciary duty against EIC’s CEO and directors and aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary against the entities in connection with alleged material misstatements and omissions made in the Company's Form S-4, filed January 29, 2021. The complaint seeks, inter alia, injunctive relief enjoining or rescinding the Transaction, injunctive relief directing the filing of an amended registration statement, and damages. On May 18, 2021, this complaint was voluntarily dismissed.
On April 1, 2021, Shoreline Aviation, Inc. filed an Amended Complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York naming Cynthia L. Herbst, Sound Aircraft Flight Enterprises, Inc., Ryan A. Pilla, Blade Urban Air Mobility, Inc., Robert Wiesenthal and Melissa Tomkiel as defendants. The case is captioned Shoreline Aviation, Inc. v. Sound Aircraft Flight Enterprises, Inc. et al., No. 2:20-cv-02161-JMA-SIL (E.D.N.Y.). The complaint alleges, among other things, claims of misappropriation, violation of the Defend Trade Secrets Act, unfair competition, tortious interference with business relations, constructive trust, tortious interference with contract, and aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty against Blade, Robert Wiesenthal, and Melissa Tomkiel (together the “Blade Defendants”). Claims against the Blade Defendants relate to the May 2018 Asset Purchase Agreement between Blade and Sound Aircraft Flight Enterprises, Inc. (“SAFE”) and Cindy Herbst, pursuant to which Blade purchased SAFE’s complete customer list, including names, contact information, and customer flight histories. The complaint demands compensatory and consequential damages in excess of
$13 million relating to the claims against the Blade Defendants, as well as punitive damages, certain equitable remedies, interest and attorneys’ fees and costs. The Company believes the outcome would not result in a material contingency.
As of September 30, 2021, the Company has not accrued a reserve for any contingencies related to the above legal proceedings.