Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 45,768	$ 44,541	$ 42,622
Operating expenses:
Aircraft fuel and related taxes	7,526	8,053	6,128
Salaries, wages and benefits	12,609	12,251	11,954
Regional expenses	7,501	7,133	6,546
Maintenance, materials and repairs	2,380	2,050	1,959
Other rent and landing fees	2,055	1,900	1,806
Aircraft rent	1,326	1,264	1,197
Selling expenses	1,602	1,520	1,477
Depreciation and amortization	1,982	1,839	1,702
Special items, net	635	787	712
Other	5,087	5,088	4,910
Total operating expenses	42,703	41,885	38,391
Operating income	3,065	2,656	4,231
Nonoperating income (expense):
Interest income	127	118	94
Interest expense, net	(1,095)	(1,056)	(1,053)
Other income, net	159	166	123
Total nonoperating expense, net	(809)	(772)	(836)
Income before income taxes	2,256	1,884	3,395
Income tax provision	570	472	2,113
Net income	$ 1,686	$ 1,412	$ 1,282
Earnings per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 3.80	$ 3.04	$ 2.62
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 3.79	$ 3.03	$ 2.61
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	443,363	464,236	489,164
Diluted (in shares)	444,269	465,660	491,692
Cash dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.40	$ 0.40	$ 0.40
Passenger [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 42,010	$ 40,676	$ 39,131
Cargo [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	863	1,013	890
Other [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	2,895	2,852	2,601
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	45,761	44,530	42,610
Operating expenses:
Aircraft fuel and related taxes	7,526	8,053	6,128
Salaries, wages and benefits	12,600	12,240	11,942
Regional expenses	7,518	7,064	6,572
Maintenance, materials and repairs	2,380	2,050	1,959
Other rent and landing fees	2,055	1,900	1,806
Aircraft rent	1,326	1,264	1,197
Selling expenses	1,602	1,520	1,477
Depreciation and amortization	1,982	1,839	1,702
Special items, net	635	787	712
Other	5,090	5,090	4,910
Total operating expenses	42,714	41,807	38,405
Operating income	3,047	2,723	4,205
Nonoperating income (expense):
Interest income	515	330	215
Interest expense, net	(1,109)	(1,028)	(988)
Other income, net	152	167	123
Total nonoperating expense, net	(442)	(531)	(650)
Income before income taxes	2,605	2,192	3,555
Income tax provision	633	534	2,270
Net income	1,972	1,658	1,285
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Passenger [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	42,010	40,676	39,131
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Cargo [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	863	1,013	890
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Other [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 2,888	$ 2,841	$ 2,589