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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) aircraft carriers | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 aircraft
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Rent expense | $ 295 | $ 288 | $ 290 |
Capacity purchase arrangements, Carriers | carriers | 3 |  |  |
Horizon [Member] |  |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Capacity purchase arrangements, Percent | 100.00% |  |  |
Aircraft Commitments [Member] |  |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |  |
2016 | $ 505 |  |  |
2017 | 549 |  |  |
2018 | 444 |  |  |
2019 | 390 |  |  |
2020 | 327 |  |  |
Thereafter | 418 |  |  |
Total | 2,633 |  |  |
Capacity Purchase Agreements[Member] |  |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |  |
2016 | 67 |  |  |
2017 | 58 |  |  |
2018 | 60 |  |  |
2019 | 64 |  |  |
2020 | 68 |  |  |
Thereafter | 554 |  |  |
Total | 871 |  |  |
Aircraft Leases [Member] |  |  |  |
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |  |
2016 | 113 |  |  |
2017 | 104 |  |  |
2018 | 98 |  |  |
2019 | 90 |  |  |
2020 | 81 |  |  |
Thereafter | 467 |  |  |
Total | 953 |  |  |
Facility Leases [Member] |  |  |  |
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |  |
2016 | 92 |  |  |
2017 | 88 |  |  |
2018 | 41 |  |  |
2019 | 41 |  |  |
2020 | 38 |  |  |
Thereafter | 142 |  |  |
Total | $ 442 |  |  |
B-737 [Member] |  |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Commited to purchase (in aircraft) | aircraft | 68 |  |  |
Option to purchase additional (in aircraft) | aircraft | 46 |  |  |
B737-900ER [Member] |  |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Commited to purchase (in aircraft) | aircraft | 31 |  |  |
B737 MAX [Member] |  |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Commited to purchase (in aircraft) | aircraft | 37 |  |  |
Q400 [Member] |  |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Commited to purchase (in aircraft) | aircraft | 2 |  |  |
Option to purchase additional (in aircraft) | aircraft | 5 |  |  |
CRJ-700 [Member] | Aircraft Leases [Member] | Airline Capacity Purchase Arrangements [Member] |  |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Number of Aircraft under New Capacity Purchase Agreement | aircraft | 2 |  |  |
Property Subject to Operating Lease [Member] | B-737 [Member] |  |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Operating leases, number of leased assets (in aircraft) | aircraft | 27 |  |  |
Property Subject to Operating Lease [Member] | Q400 [Member] |  |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Operating leases, number of leased assets (in aircraft) | aircraft | 15 |  |  |
Property Subject to Operating Lease [Member] | E-175 [Domain] |  |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Operating leases, number of leased assets (in aircraft) | aircraft | 5 |  |  |
Property Subject to Operating Lease [Member] | CRJ-700 [Member] |  |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Operating leases, number of leased assets (in aircraft) | aircraft | 8 |  |  |
Property Subject to Operating Lease [Member] | CRJ-700 [Member] | Aircraft Leases [Member] | Airline Capacity Purchase Arrangements [Member] |  |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Number of Aircraft under New Capacity Purchase Agreement | aircraft | 6 |  |  |
Operating Aircraft [Member] | CRJ-700 [Member] | Aircraft Leases [Member] | Airline Capacity Purchase Arrangements [Member] |  |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Number of Aircraft under New Capacity Purchase Agreement | aircraft | 8 |  |  |
Operating Aircraft [Member] | Original E175 [Member] | Aircraft Leases [Member] | Airline Capacity Purchase Arrangements [Member] |  |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Number of Aircraft under New Capacity Purchase Agreement | aircraft | 8 |  |  |
SkyWest [Member] | Property Subject to Operating Lease [Member] | E-175 [Domain] |  |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Operating leases, number of leased assets (in aircraft) | aircraft | 15 |  |  |
SkyWest [Member] | Property Subject to Operating Lease [Member] | CRJ-700 [Member] |  |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Operating leases, number of leased assets (in aircraft) | aircraft | 6 |  |  |
SkyWest [Member] | Property Available for Operating Lease [Member] | E-175 [Domain] | Aircraft Leases [Member] |  |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Operating Leases, Number of Additional Units That Could Be Leased | aircraft | 8 |  |  |
Scenario, Forecast [Member] | Property Subject to Operating Lease [Member] | E-175 [Domain] |  |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Operating leases, number of leased assets (in aircraft) | aircraft |  |  |  | 8

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