Share-based payment plans - Share Appreciation Rights (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018 $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2017 $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2016 $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Omnibus and DigitalGlobe Equity Incentive Plan
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Aggregate Disclosures [Abstract]
Weighted average remaining period (in years)		1 year 4 months 24 days
Liability classified awards
Number of Awards
Outstanding at the beginning of the period (in shares)		2,638,857
Granted (in shares)		0
Exercised (in shares)		(23,604)
Cancelled or expired (in shares)		(1,283,592)
Outstanding at the end of the period (in shares)		1,331,661		2,638,857
Vested and expected to vest at the end of the period		1,319,781
Exercisable at the end of the period		1,071,358
Weighted Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at the beginning of the period (per share) | $ / shares	$ 81.56
Exercised (per share) | $ / shares	57.99
Cancelled or expired (per share) | $ / shares	82.67
Outstanding at the end of the period (per share) | $ / shares	84.32		$ 81.56
Vested and expected to vest at the end of the period | $ / shares	84.43
Exercisable at the end of the period | $ / shares	86.01
Contractual Term (in years)
Outstanding at the end of the period		2 years 8 months 12 days
Vested and expected to vest at the end of the period		2 years 8 months 12 days
Exercisable at the end of the period		2 years 3 months 18 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Total intrinsic value of exercised shares | $		$ 1		$ 6		$ 8
Total intrinsic value of vested shares | $		$ 3		$ 4		2
Weighted Average Grand Date Fair Value
Granted (per share) | $ / shares			65.38		$ 78.75
SARs accounted for as equity-settled awards
Number of Awards
Outstanding at the beginning of the period (in shares)		3,338,148
Granted (in shares)		10,307
Exercised (in shares)		(19,837)
Cancelled or expired (in shares)		(689,150)
Outstanding at the end of the period (in shares)		2,639,468		3,338,148
Vested and expected to vest at the end of the period		2,543,453
Exercisable at the end of the period		1,715,148
Weighted Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at the beginning of the period (per share) | $ / shares	78.61
Granted (per share) | $ / shares	49.71
Exercised (per share) | $ / shares	66.72
Cancelled or expired (per share) | $ / shares	80.65
Outstanding at the end of the period (per share) | $ / shares	76.49		78.61
Vested and expected to vest at the end of the period | $ / shares	76.71
Exercisable at the end of the period | $ / shares	79.98
Contractual Term (in years)
Outstanding at the end of the period		5 years 4 months 24 days
Vested and expected to vest at the end of the period		5 years 3 months 18 days
Exercisable at the end of the period		3 years 10 months 24 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Total intrinsic value of vested shares | $		$ 6		$ 8		$ 8
Weighted Average Grand Date Fair Value
Granted (per share) | $ / shares	10.37		75.04		$ 67.75
SARs accounted for as equity-settled non vested awards
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Aggregate Disclosures [Abstract]
Total unrecognized compensation expense | $							$ 4
Weighted average remaining period (in years)		1 year 8 months 12 days
Restricted Share Units | Omnibus and DigitalGlobe Equity Incentive Plan
Number of Awards
Vested (in shares)						0
Weighted Average Grand Date Fair Value
Total fair value of vested awards | $		$ 13		$ 6
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Aggregate Disclosures [Abstract]
Total unrecognized compensation expense | $							$ 18
Restricted Share Units | Omnibus Plan
Number of Awards
Outstanding at the beginning of the period (in shares)		590,663
Granted (in shares)		161,748
Vested (in shares)		(174,825)
Cancelled or expired (in shares)		(73,174)
Outstanding at the end of the period (in shares)		504,412		590,663
Weighted Average Exercise Price
Cancelled or expired (per share) | $ / shares	79.35
Weighted Average Grand Date Fair Value
Outstanding at the beginning of the period (per share) | $ / shares	79.68
Granted (per share) | $ / shares	52.03
Vested (per share) | $ / shares	79.24
Outstanding at the end of the period (per share) | $ / shares	$ 70.80		$ 79.68
Restricted Share Units | DigitalGlobe Equity Plan
Number of Awards
Outstanding at the beginning of the period (in shares)		470,101
Granted (in shares)		0
Vested (in shares)		(168,432)
Cancelled or expired (in shares)		(27,808)
Outstanding at the end of the period (in shares)		273,861		470,101
Weighted Average Grand Date Fair Value
Outstanding at the beginning of the period (per share) | $ / shares		$ 54.57
Vested (per share) | $ / shares		54.52
Cancelled or expired (per share) | $ / shares		54.57
Outstanding at the end of the period (per share) | $ / shares		$ 54.57		$ 54.57