CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Operating Revenues
Passenger, Mainline	$ 4,098	$ 3,939	$ 3,774
Passenger, Regional	908	854	805
Total passenger revenue	5,006	4,793	4,579
Freight and mail	108	108	114
Other—net	817	697	675
Total Operating Revenues	5,931	5,598	5,368
Operating Expenses
Wages and benefits	1,382	1,254	1,136
Variable incentive pay	127	120	116
Aircraft fuel, including hedging gains and losses	831	954	1,418
Aircraft maintenance	270	253	229
Aircraft rent	114	105	110
Landing fees and other rentals	320	296	279
Contracted services	247	214	196
Selling expenses	225	211	199
Depreciation and amortization	363	320	294
Food and beverage service	126	113	93
Third-party regional carrier expense	95	72	58
Third-party regional carrier expense	365	356	308
Special items—merger-related costs and other	117	32	(30)
Total Operating Expenses	4,582	4,300	4,406
Operating Income	1,349	1,298	962
Nonoperating Income (Expense)
Interest income	27	21	21
Interest expense	(55)	(42)	(48)
Interest capitalized	25	34	20
Other—net	(1)	1	20
Nonoperating Income (Expense) Total	(4)	14	13
Income before income tax	1,345	1,312	975
Income tax expense	531	464	370
Net Income	$ 814	$ 848	$ 605
Basic Earnings Per Share:	$ 6.59	$ 6.61	$ 4.47
Diluted Earnings Per Share:	$ 6.54	$ 6.56	$ 4.42
Shares used for computation:
Basic	123,557	128,373	135,445
Diluted	124,389	129,372	136,801
Cash dividend declared per share	$ 1.10	$ 0.80	$ 0.50