Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details 5) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013 segment	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Other Revenue Items
Deemed rental income under code-share agreement									$ 500,200,000	$ 506,700,000	$ 521,300,000
Net Income (loss) Per Common Share
Number of outstanding options not included in computation of Diluted EPS (in shares)									3,072,000	3,889,000	4,323,000
Numerator
Net income (loss)	8,609,000	26,394,000	20,720,000	3,233,000	13,946,000	20,933,000	16,960,000	(682,000)	58,956,000	51,157,000	(27,335,000)
Denominator
Denominator for basic earnings per-share weighted average shares	51,228,000	51,881,000	51,881,000	51,763,000	51,296,000	51,241,000	50,944,000	50,881,000	51,688,000	51,090,000	52,201,000
Dilution due to stock options and restricted stock (in shares)									734,000	656,000
Denominator for diluted earnings per-share weighted average shares	52,034,000	52,610,000	52,547,000	52,497,000	52,161,000	52,153,000	51,789,000	50,881,000	52,422,000	51,746,000	52,201,000
Basic earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.17	$ 0.51	$ 0.40	$ 0.06	$ 0.27	$ 0.41	$ 0.33	$ (0.01)	$ 1.14	$ 1.00	$ (0.52)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.17	$ 0.50	$ 0.39	$ 0.06	$ 0.27	$ 0.40	$ 0.33	$ (0.01)	$ 1.12	$ 0.99	$ (0.52)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS):
Net Income (Loss)	8,609,000	26,394,000	20,720,000	3,233,000	13,946,000	20,933,000	16,960,000	(682,000)	58,956,000	51,157,000	(27,335,000)
Proportionate share of other companies foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax									66,000	(251,000)	(295,000)
Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on marketable securities, net of tax									(13,000)	316,000	534,000
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									59,009,000	51,222,000	(27,096,000)
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Fair value of long-term debt	1,509,200,000				1,744,200,000				1,509,200,000	1,744,200,000
Carrying amount of long-term debt	$ 1,470,568,000				$ 1,642,022,000				$ 1,470,568,000	$ 1,642,022,000
Segment Reporting
Operating segments number									2
Number of operating subsidiaries representing operating segments									2
Delta Connection Agreements | ExpressJet
Agreements with other airlines
Term of agreement									4 years 4 months 24 days
Delta Connection Agreements | SkyWest Airlines, Inc.
Agreements with other airlines
Term of agreement									5 years 9 months 18 days
Delta Connection Agreements | CRJ 200 | ExpressJet
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract									76
Delta Connection Agreements | CRJ 200 | SkyWest Airlines, Inc.
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract									41
Delta Connection Agreements | CRJ700 | ExpressJet
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract									41
Delta Connection Agreements | CRJ700 | SkyWest Airlines, Inc.
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract									19
Delta Connection Agreements | CRJ 900 | ExpressJet
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract									28
Delta Connection Agreements | CRJ 900 | SkyWest Airlines, Inc.
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract									32
United Express Agreements | ExpressJet
Agreements with other airlines
Term of agreement									4 years 3 months 18 days
United Express Agreements | SkyWest Airlines, Inc.
Agreements with other airlines
Term of agreement									3 years 9 months 18 days
United Express Agreements | CRJ 200 | SkyWest Airlines, Inc.
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract									61
United Express Agreements | CRJ 200 | Atlantic Southeast Airlines,Inc.
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract									14
United Express Agreements | CRJ700 | SkyWest Airlines, Inc.
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract									70
United Express Agreements | EMB 120 | SkyWest Airlines, Inc.
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract									9
United Express Agreements | EMB 145 | ExpressJet
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract									22
United Express Agreements | EMB 135 | ExpressJet
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract									9
United Express Agreements | EMB 145 one | ExpressJet
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract									220
Prorate Agreement | SkyWest Airlines, Inc.
Agreements with other airlines
Notice period for termination of agreement									120 days
Prorate Agreement | CRJ 200 | SkyWest Airlines, Inc.
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract									8
Prorate Agreement | EMB 120 | SkyWest Airlines, Inc.
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract									9
United Express Prorate Agreement | SkyWest Airlines, Inc.
Agreements with other airlines
Notice period for termination of agreement									120 days
United Express Prorate Agreement | CRJ 200 | SkyWest Airlines, Inc.
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract									17
United Express Prorate Agreement | EMB 120 | SkyWest Airlines, Inc.
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract									27
Alaska Capacity Purchase Agreement | CRJ700 | SkyWest Airlines, Inc.
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract									7
US Airways Express Agreement | CRJ 200 | SkyWest Airlines, Inc.
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract									10
US Airways Express Agreement | CRJ 900 | SkyWest Airlines, Inc.
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract									4
US Airways Express Prorate Agreement | SkyWest Airlines, Inc.
Agreements with other airlines
Notice period for termination of agreement									120 days
US Airways Express Prorate Agreement | CRJ 200 | SkyWest Airlines, Inc.
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract									1
American Capacity Purchase Agreement | CRJ 200 | ExpressJet
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract									11
American Capacity Purchase Agreement | CRJ 200 | SkyWest Airlines, Inc.
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract									12