Note 1 - Organization and Business Code-Share Text Detail (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014 aircraftcabins amendmentnumber Aircraft agrmntext flights Seats
US Airways Code-Share Agreement [Abstract]
Flights per day as US Airways Express	355
E175 aircraft under fixed-fee code-share agreements with US airways that terminate in 2019-2020	30
Number of E175 aircraft operating under Delta which come out of service between March 2019 and March 2023	8
Length of US Airways agreement for E175s	12 years
days until written termination notice	90 days
American Code-Share Agreement [Abstract]
Flights per day as AmericanConnection	224
Amended number of E175 aircraft agreed upon to operate under American Eagle brand	47
Remaining E175 aircraft under American to begin service through 2015	6
E175 code-share agreement will terminate on this anniversary	12 years
Number of additional agreement extensions for American	2
Number of years American can extend the E175 agreement	2 years
Delta Code-Share Agreements [Abstract]
Flights provided per day as Delta Connection	367
days notice required by Delta before termination of agreement	180 days
E145 minimum aircraft in service under Delta code-share agreement	12
Months following Delta's written termination notice	12 months
Amendment Number Seven to the Delta Agreement	7
Number of E170 aircraft to be added for Delta under Amendment Number Seven	9
Number of years the additional E170 aircraft will fly for Delta under Amendment Number Seven	6 years
Number of years the 14 E170 aircraft flying for Delta were extended under Amendment Number Seven	4 years
Number of years the 16 E175 aircraft flying for Delta were extended under Amendment Number Seven	5 years
Number of years the 14 E170 and 16 E175 aircraft flying for Delta may be extended under Amendment Number Seven	5 years
United Code-Share Agreements [Abstract]
Flights per day as United Express	353
Fifth Amendment with United Airlines	5
Number of E145s to be removed from service under CPA agreement with United	12
Seventh Amendment with United Express	7
Number of E175 aircraft under United agreement	50
Seats on E170 aircraft under CPA with United	76
Number of cabins on the E175 aircraft under United Express	2
Minimum number of E175 aircraft to be delivered per month	2
Maximum number of E175 aircraft per month under United Express Seventh Amendment	3
Number of additional E175 aircraft United has an option to add under United Express Seventh Amendment	50
Number of years each E175 aircraft will be subject to under UA Express Agreement	12 years
Number of E175 aircraft in a group, which may be extended up to four years	10
Number of years a group of 10 aircraft may be extended by United	4 years
number of E175 aircraft added to fly under the United brand	5
Total number of E175 aircraft that will fly under the United brand after amendment was signed in January 2015	55
Number of E170 aircraft flying for United that were extended	38
Number of years E170 aircraft were extended	3 years