CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	$ 35,206	$ (34,295)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of marketable securities	(109,900)	(53,440)
Sales of marketable securities	147,830	92,772
Proceeds from the sale of equipment	2,966
Acquisition of property and equipment:
Aircraft and rotable spare parts	(258,795)us-gaap_PaymentsForFlightEquipment	(66,728)us-gaap_PaymentsForFlightEquipment
Buildings and ground equipment	(6,905)	(3,892)
Increase in other assets	(13,934)	(14,257)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(238,738)	(45,545)
CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Principal payments on long-term debt	(39,528)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	(32,932)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	203,083	29,281
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	2,730	1,854
Tax deficiency from exercise of commons stock	(1,873)	(1,266)
Purchase of treasury stock		(3,076)
Payment of cash dividends	(2,047)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends	(2,054)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES	162,365	(8,193)
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(41,167)	(88,033)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	132,275	170,636
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	91,108	82,603
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest, net of capitalized amounts	15,281us-gaap_InterestPaidNet	13,122us-gaap_InterestPaidNet
Income taxes	$ 573us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaidNet	$ 451us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaidNet

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The cash outflow for acquisition of buildings (properties) whether for investment or use and for acquisition of ground equipment.

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Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation.

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Amount of increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents are the amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Includes effect from exchange rate changes.

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Amount of cash inflow from realized tax benefit related to deductible compensation cost reported on the entity's tax return for equity instruments in excess of the compensation cost for those instruments recognized for financial reporting purposes.

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The amount of cash paid during the current period to foreign, federal, state, and local authorities as taxes on income, net of any cash received during the current period as refunds for the overpayment of taxes.

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The amount of cash paid for interest during the period net of cash paid for interest that is capitalized.

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Amount of cash inflow (outflow) of investing activities, excluding discontinued operations. Investing activity cash flows include making and collecting loans and acquiring and disposing of debt or equity instruments and property, plant, and equipment and other productive assets.

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Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from operating activities, excluding discontinued operations. Operating activity cash flows include transactions, adjustments, and changes in value not defined as investing or financing activities.

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The cash outflow for acquisition of long-lived depreciable flight assets, including owned aircraft or capital improvements.

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The cash outflow to reacquire common stock during the period.

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Cash outflow in the form of capital distributions and dividends to common shareholders, preferred shareholders and noncontrolling interests.

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The cash outflow to acquire equity securities classified as available-for-sale securities, because they are not classified as trading securities.

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The cash outflow for acquisition of or capital improvements on other tangible or intangible assets not otherwise defined in the taxonomy.

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The cash inflow from the additional capital contribution to the entity.

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The cash inflow from a debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer.

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The cash inflow associated with the sale of debt and equity securities classified as available-for-sale securities.

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The cash inflow from the sale of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale.

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The cash outflow for debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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