Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 17,337	$ 45,768	$ 44,541
Operating expenses:
Aircraft fuel and related taxes	2,581	7,526	8,053
Salaries, wages and benefits	10,960	12,609	12,251
Regional expenses	4,892	7,501	7,133
Maintenance, materials and repairs	1,583	2,380	2,050
Other rent and landing fees	1,536	2,055	1,900
Aircraft rent	1,341	1,326	1,264
Selling expenses	513	1,602	1,520
Depreciation and amortization	2,040	1,982	1,839
Special items, net	(657)	635	787
Other	2,969	5,087	5,088
Total operating expenses	27,758	42,703	41,885
Operating income (loss)	(10,421)	3,065	2,656
Nonoperating income (expense):
Interest income	41	127	118
Interest expense, net	(1,227)	(1,095)	(1,056)
Other income, net	154	159	166
Total nonoperating expense, net	(1,032)	(809)	(772)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(11,453)	2,256	1,884
Income tax provision (benefit)	(2,568)	570	472
Net income (loss)	$ (8,885)	$ 1,686	$ 1,412
Earnings (loss) per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (18.36)	$ 3.80	$ 3.04
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (18.36)	$ 3.79	$ 3.03
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	483,888	443,363	464,236
Diluted (in shares)	483,888	444,269	465,660
Cash dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.40	$ 0.40
Passenger
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 14,518	$ 42,010	$ 40,676
Cargo
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	769	863	1,013
Other
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	2,050	2,895	2,852
American Airlines, Inc.
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	17,335	45,761	44,530
Operating expenses:
Aircraft fuel and related taxes	2,581	7,526	8,053
Salaries, wages and benefits	10,955	12,600	12,240
Regional expenses	4,676	7,518	7,064
Maintenance, materials and repairs	1,583	2,380	2,050
Other rent and landing fees	1,536	2,055	1,900
Aircraft rent	1,341	1,326	1,264
Selling expenses	513	1,602	1,520
Depreciation and amortization	2,040	1,982	1,839
Special items, net	(657)	635	787
Other	2,991	5,090	5,090
Total operating expenses	27,559	42,714	41,807
Operating income (loss)	(10,224)	3,047	2,723
Nonoperating income (expense):
Interest income	337	515	330
Interest expense, net	(1,171)	(1,109)	(1,028)
Other income, net	155	152	167
Total nonoperating expense, net	(679)	(442)	(531)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(10,903)	2,605	2,192
Income tax provision (benefit)	(2,453)	633	534
Net income (loss)	(8,450)	1,972	1,658
American Airlines, Inc. | Passenger
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	14,518	42,010	40,676
American Airlines, Inc. | Cargo
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	769	863	1,013
American Airlines, Inc. | Other
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 2,048	$ 2,888	$ 2,841