Segment Reporting (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) segment	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Segment Reporting
Operating segments number | segment				2
Number of operating subsidiaries representing operating segments | segment				2
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues		$ 794,004	$ 834,633	$ 2,342,819	$ 2,423,592
Operating expense		715,708	775,553	2,160,515	2,379,044
Depreciation and amortization expense		66,603	65,822	196,953	192,389
Interest expense		19,914	16,883	56,460	48,697
Segment profit (loss)		59,763	68,344	128,561	20,168
Identifiable intangible assets, other than goodwill		11,061	13,311	11,061	13,311	$ 12,748
Total assets		4,926,443	4,397,632	4,926,443	4,397,632	$ 4,409,928
Capital expenditures (including non - cash)		149,504	192,830	672,574	506,364
Corporate/Consolidating
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues		6,439	474	15,414	1,422
Operating expense		651	(77)	2,355	(97)
Depreciation and amortization expense		262		787
Interest expense			699		2,208
SkyWest Airlines
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues		504,531	493,606	1,430,722	1,416,149
Operating expense		428,116	430,024	1,246,378	1,289,218
Depreciation and amortization expense		44,766	43,853	131,249	125,811
Interest expense		17,048	11,492	46,515	32,180
Total assets		3,523,549	2,825,243	3,523,549	2,825,243
Capital expenditures (including non - cash)		144,367	186,678	652,714	487,711
Express Jet Airlines Inc
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues		283,034	340,553	896,683	1,006,021
Operating expense		286,941	345,606	911,782	1,089,923
Depreciation and amortization expense		21,575	21,969	64,917	66,578
Interest expense		2,866	4,692	9,945	14,309
Identifiable intangible assets, other than goodwill		11,061	13,311	11,061	13,311
Total assets		1,402,894	1,572,389	1,402,894	1,572,389
Capital expenditures (including non - cash)		5,137	6,152	19,860	18,653
Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting
Segment profit (loss)	[1]	58,382	42,197	125,844	(4,149)
Segment [Member] | Corporate/Consolidating
Segment Reporting
Segment profit (loss)	[1]	5,788	(148)	13,059	(689)
Segment [Member] | SkyWest Airlines
Segment Reporting
Segment profit (loss)	[1]	59,367	52,090	137,829	94,751
Segment [Member] | Express Jet Airlines Inc
Segment Reporting
Segment profit (loss)	[1]	$ (6,773)	$ (9,745)	$ (25,044)	$ (98,211)

[1] Segment profit (loss) is equal to operating income less interest expense