XML 148 R132.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.8.0.1

Commitments and contingencies (Narrative) (Details) |  |  |  | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Oct. 24, 2014 USD ($) claim | Mar. 16, 2009 USD ($) | Feb. 23, 2006 USD ($) | Oct. 31, 2013 claim | Jul. 31, 2011 USD ($) claim | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) aircraft guarantee | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Jul. 31, 2006 lease | Dec. 31, 1992 aircraft engine | Jan. 01, 1990 aircraft engine entity
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of aircraft | aircraft |  |  |  |  |  | 980 |  |  |  |  |
Gain from the settlement of asset value guarantees |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 22,600,000 |  |  |  |
Guarantee carrying value |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2,272,000 |  | $ 51,804,000 |  |  |
Asset Value Guarantees [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of asset value guarantees settled | guarantee |  |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |
Gain from the settlement of asset value guarantees |  |  |  |  |  | $ 3,200,000 |  |  |  |  |
Number of asset value guarantees exercised | guarantee |  |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |
Number of asset value guarantees expired unexercised | guarantee |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |
Number of asset value guarantees outstanding | guarantee |  |  |  |  |  | 4 |  |  |  |  |
Guarantee carrying value |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0 |  | 37,500,000 |  |  |
Maximum aggregate potential commitment |  |  |  |  |  | $ 66,500,000 |  |  |  |  |
Other Guarantees, Future Re-lease |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of asset value guarantees settled | guarantee |  |  |  |  |  | 4 |  |  |  |  |
Guarantee carrying value |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0 |  | 11,400,000 |  |  |
Number of aircraft sold with a guarantee of the future lease cash flows | aircraft |  |  |  |  |  | 4 |  |  |  |  |
Other Guarantees, Replacement Lease Rental [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of asset value guarantees settled | guarantee |  |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |
Number of asset value guarantees outstanding | guarantee |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |
Guarantee carrying value |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2,300,000 |  | $ 2,900,000 |  |  |
Maximum aggregate potential commitment |  |  |  |  |  | 10,500,000 |  |  |  |  |
VASP Litigation [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Damages suffered |  |  | $ 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Damages awarded | $ 36,900,000 | $ 40,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
VASP Litigation [Member] | Judicial Ruling [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of judgments | claim | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
VASP Litigation [Member] | VASP Litigation English Court [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of leases that company incurred obligations due to another company's default | lease |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7 |  |
Claim award for loss of profit plus accrued interest | $ 40,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
VASP Litigation [Member] | VASP Litigation Irish Court [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Claim award for loss of profit plus accrued interest | $ 24,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
VASP Litigation [Member] | Aircraft [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of capital leased assets | aircraft |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 13 |
Number of leases that company incurred obligations due to another company's default | aircraft |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 13 |
VASP Litigation [Member] | Engines [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of capital leased assets | engine |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 |
Number of leases that company incurred obligations due to another company's default | engine |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 |
Transbrasil Litigation [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Damages suffered |  |  |  |  | $ 0 |  |  |  |  |  |
Aggregate amount due from AerCap |  |  |  |  | $ 210,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of actions | claim |  |  |  |  | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of claims dismissed | claim |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Transbrasil Litigation [Member] | Recovery of Attorneys' Fees [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of actions | claim |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |
Transbrasil Litigation [Member] | Indemnity Claim [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of actions | claim |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |
Transbrasil Litigation [Member] | Statutory Penalties [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of actions | claim |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |
Transbrasil Litigation [Member] | Aircraft [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of capital leased assets | aircraft |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1
Transbrasil Litigation [Member] | Engines [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of capital leased assets | engine |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2
Number of AerCap lessors | entity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2
Boeing [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Non-refundable deposits |  |  |  |  |  | 899,500,000 |  |  |  |  |
Airbus [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Non-refundable deposits |  |  |  |  |  | 718,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Embraer [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Non-refundable deposits |  |  |  |  |  | $ 13,500,000 |  |  |  |  |
Capital Addition Purchase Commitments [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of aircraft | aircraft |  |  |  |  |  | 438 |  |  |  |  |

X
- Definition Claim Award For Loss Of Profit Plus Accrued Interest + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aer_ClaimAwardForLossOfProfitPlusAccruedInterest
Namespace Prefix: | aer_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Gain (Loss) From Settlement Of Asset Value Guarantee + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aer_GainLossFromSettlementOfAssetValueGuarantee
Namespace Prefix: | aer_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Guarantee Obligations, Number Of Aircraft, Future Lease Cash Flow Guarantee + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aer_GuaranteeObligationsNumberOfAircraftFutureLeaseCashFlowGuarantee
Namespace Prefix: | aer_
Data Type: | xbrli:positiveIntegerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Loss contingencies, due from lessor + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aer_LossContingenciesDueFromLessor
Namespace Prefix: | aer_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of aircraft + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aer_NumberOfAircraft
Namespace Prefix: | aer_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number Of Asset Value Guarantees, Exercised + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aer_NumberOfAssetValueGuaranteesExercised
Namespace Prefix: | aer_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number Of Asset Value Guarantees, Expired Unexercised + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aer_NumberOfAssetValueGuaranteesExpiredUnexercised
Namespace Prefix: | aer_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number Of Asset Value Guarantees, Outstanding + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aer_NumberOfAssetValueGuaranteesOutstanding
Namespace Prefix: | aer_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number Of Guarantees Settled + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aer_NumberOfGuaranteesSettled
Namespace Prefix: | aer_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number Of Leases That Company Incurred Obligations Due To Another Company's Default + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aer_NumberOfLeasesThatCompanyIncurredObligationsDueToAnotherCompanySDefault
Namespace Prefix: | aer_
Data Type: | xbrli:positiveIntegerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of Related Companies + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aer_NumberofRelatedCompanies
Namespace Prefix: | aer_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number of units (items of property) under capital lease arrangements. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CapitalLeasedAssetsNumberOfUnits
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The current carrying amount of the liability for the freestanding or embedded guarantor's obligations under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 460 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12069-110248 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsCurrentCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 460 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12069-110248 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of claims dismissed. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyClaimsDismissedNumber
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of claims settled. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyClaimsSettledNumber
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of damages awarded to the plaintiff in the legal matter. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14435-108349 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14557-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyDamagesAwardedValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of loss pertaining to the specified contingency that was charged against earnings in the period, including the effects of revisions in previously reported estimates. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyLossInPeriod
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The total number of new claims filed pertaining to a loss contingency during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14435-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyNewClaimsFiledNumber
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of cash paid for deposits on goods and services during the period; excludes time deposits and deposits with other institutions, which pertain to financial service entities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 25 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3536-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PaymentsForDeposits
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=aer_AssetValueGuaranteesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=aer_OtherGuaranteesFutureReleaseMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=aer_OtherGuaranteesReplacementLeaseRentalMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=aer_VaspLitigationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis=us-gaap_JudicialRulingMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=aer_VASPLitigationEnglishCourtMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=aer_VASPLitigationIrishCourtMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=aer_AircraftMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=aer_EnginesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=aer_TransbrasilLitigationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=aer_RecoveryofAttorneysFeesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=aer_IndemnityClaimMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=aer_StatutoryPenaltiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis=aer_BoeingMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis=aer_AirbusMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis=aer_EmbraerMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationByCategoryOfItemPurchasedAxis=us-gaap_CapitalAdditionsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |