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Special Charges and Unrealized (Gains) Losses on Investments - Narrative (Details) | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
May 31, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) Employee | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Special Charges [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Write-off of unexercised aircraft purchase |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 18,000,000 |  |
Other miscellaneous impairments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 20,000,000 |  |
Severance and benefit costs |  | $ 2,000,000 | $ 2,000,000 | $ 6,000,000 | $ 6,000,000 | $ 7,000,000 | $ 9,000,000 | $ 11,000,000 | $ 14,000,000 |  | 16,000,000 | $ 41,000,000 | $ 116,000,000
Charge related to a contract termination |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 25,000,000 |  |
Charge for the settlement of certain legal matters |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 18,000,000 |  |
Gain (loss) on the sale and disposition of assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (14,000,000) |  | (11,000,000)
Other charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,000,000 |  | 12,000,000
Gains due to the change in fair value of derivatives |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 13,000,000 |  |
Gain on change in market value of equity investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 28,000,000 |
Fair value adjustments related to aircraft purchased off lease, write-off of unexercised aircraft purchase options and other impairments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 66,000,000 |
Termination of an engine maintenance service agreement |  |  |  |  |  | 64,000,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |  | 0 | 64,000,000 | 0
Losses due to the change in fair value of derivatives |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 33,000,000 |
Impairment of assets |  | 102,000,000 | $ 0 | $ 61,000,000 | $ 8,000,000 | $ 232,000,000 | $ 11,000,000 | $ 111,000,000 | $ 23,000,000 |  | 171,000,000 | 377,000,000 | 25,000,000
Weather-related damages |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12,000,000
Aircraft Engines |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Special Charges [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of assets removed from operations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 43,000,000 |  |
Obsolete Spare Parts Inventory |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Special Charges [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10,000,000
Maintenance Service Agreement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Special Charges [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Intangible assets impairment charge |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 15,000,000
Management Reorganization Initiative |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Special Charges [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Severance and benefit costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 33,000,000
International Brotherhood of Teamsters |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Special Charges [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Severance and benefit costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,000,000 | 22,000,000 | $ 83,000,000
International Brotherhood of Teamsters | Voluntary Early Out Program |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Special Charges [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of technicians and related employees electing to voluntarily separate from the Company | Employee |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,000 |  |  |
Severance payment per participant |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 100,000 |  |  |
Management |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Special Charges [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Severance and benefit costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 14,000,000 | 19,000,000 |
Hong Kong Routes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Special Charges [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Intangible assets impairment charge |  | $ 90,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 206,000,000 |
Brazil Routes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Special Charges [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Intangible assets impairment charge | $ 105,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Azul |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Special Charges [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain on change in market value of equity investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 140,000,000 |  |

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