Debt Financings (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Debt financings and information regarding the collateral provided for secured debt
Secured debt financing, net of deferred debt discount	$ 9,338,742,000	$ 9,764,631,000
Unsecured debt financing, net of deferred debt discount	13,870,363,000	13,619,641,000
Debt financing, net of deferred debt discount	24,209,105,000	24,384,272,000
Subordinated debt	1,000,000,000	1,000,000,000
Senior Debt Obligations
Debt financings and information regarding the collateral provided for secured debt
Debt financing, net of deferred debt discount	23,209,105,000	23,384,272,000
Secured Debt
Debt financings and information regarding the collateral provided for secured debt
Debt outstanding, before discount	9,346,883,000
Less: Deferred debt discount	(8,141,000)	(17,452,000)
Secured debt financing, net of deferred debt discount	9,338,742,000	9,764,631,000
Net Book Value	17,770,323,000
Collateral provided, number of aircraft	453
Secured Debt \| Senior secured bonds
Debt financings and information regarding the collateral provided for secured debt
Debt outstanding, before discount	3,900,000,000	3,900,000,000
Net Book Value	6,559,515,000
Collateral provided, number of aircraft	174
Secured Debt \| ECA financings
Debt financings and information regarding the collateral provided for secured debt
Debt outstanding, before discount	1,982,649,000	2,335,147,000
Net Book Value	5,399,268,000
Collateral provided, number of aircraft	119
Secured Debt \| Bank debt
Debt financings and information regarding the collateral provided for secured debt
Debt outstanding, before discount	2,014,234,000	2,246,936,000
Net Book Value	2,958,706,000
Collateral provided, number of aircraft	63
Secured Debt \| Bank debt \| Consolidated VIEs
Debt financings and information regarding the collateral provided for secured debt
Non-recourse to ILFC	279,200,000	97,000,000
Secured Debt \| Institutional secured term loans
Debt financings and information regarding the collateral provided for secured debt
Debt outstanding, before discount	1,450,000,000	1,300,000,000
Net Book Value	2,852,834,000
Collateral provided, number of aircraft	97
Secured Debt \| AeroTurbine Revolving Credit Agreement \| Subsidiary borrower
Debt financings and information regarding the collateral provided for secured debt
Debt outstanding, before discount	266,000,000
Unsecured Debt
Debt financings and information regarding the collateral provided for secured debt
Less: Deferred debt discount	(39,701,000)	(39,128,000)
Unsecured debt financing, net of deferred debt discount	13,870,363,000	13,619,641,000
Unsecured Debt \| Bonds and Medium-Term Notes
Debt financings and information regarding the collateral provided for secured debt
Debt outstanding, before discount	$ 13,910,064,000	$ 13,658,769,000

Represents number of aircraft pledged as collateral.

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Including current and noncurrent portions, aggregate carrying amount of long-term borrowings as of the balance sheet date before deducting unamortized discount or premiums (if any). May include notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, which had initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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The amount of debt discount that was originally recognized at the issuance of the instrument that has yet to be amortized.

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Carrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, including current and noncurrent amounts. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

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Amount of debt for which creditor does not have general recourse to the debtor but rather has recourse only to the property used for collateral in the transaction or other specific property.

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The sum of the fair values, as of the date of each statement of financial position presented, of assets which are owned but transferred to serve as collateral for the payment of debt obligations, primarily secured borrowings, repurchase agreements or other current or potential obligations, and that are reclassified and separately reported in the statement of financial position because the transferee has the right by contract or custom to sell or re-pledge them.

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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date, including the current and noncurrent portions, of collateralized debt obligations (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer). Such obligations include mortgage loans, chattel loans, and any other borrowings secured by assets of the borrower.

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Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of subordinated debt (with initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer). Subordinated debt places a lender in a lien position behind debt having a higher priority of repayment in liquidation of the entity's assets.

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Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of uncollateralized debt obligations (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer).

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