Retirement Benefits - Schedule of Amounts Recognized in Consolidated Balance Sheets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Noncurrent liability	$ 7,450	$ 7,562
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Noncurrent liability	7,410	7,522
Pension Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Current liability	7	10
Noncurrent liability	6,681	6,598
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets	6,688	6,608
Pension Benefits [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Current liability	7	10
Noncurrent liability	6,643	6,559
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets	6,650	6,569
Retiree Medical And Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Current liability	109	117
Noncurrent liability	769	964
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets	878	1,081
Retiree Medical And Other Postretirement Benefits [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Current liability	109	117
Noncurrent liability	767	963
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets	$ 876	$ 1,080