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LONG-TERM DEBT LONG-TERM DEBT - SECURED DEBT (Details) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) aircraft | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |
Debt instrument, increase | $ 2,300 |  |
Secured debt, number of aircrafts securing debt financing | aircraft | 56 |  |
Long-term debt payments | $ 249 | $ 116 | $ 119
Repayments of debt | 12 |  |
Secured Debt [Member] |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |
Proceeds from issuance of secured debt | 2,000 |  |
Secured Debt [Member] | Secured Debt, Aircraft Collateral [Member] |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |
Proceeds from issuance of secured debt | 1,600 |  |
Secured Debt [Member] | Secured Debt, Aircraft Purchase Agreements [Member] |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |
Proceeds from issuance of secured debt | $ 400 |  |
Boeing, 737-900ER [Member] |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |
Secured debt, number of aircrafts securing debt financing | aircraft | 37 |  |
B737-800 [Member] |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |
Secured debt, number of aircrafts securing debt financing | aircraft | 19 |  |
Virgin America Inc. [Member] |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |
Long-term debt payments | $ 95 |  |

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- Definition Net increase or decrease in the carrying amount of the debt instrument for the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(f)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690 + Details
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- Definition The cash inflow from amounts received from issuance of long-term debt that is wholly or partially secured by collateral. Excludes proceeds from tax exempt secured debt. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3255-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Financing Activities -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228 + Details
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