CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	$ 313,540	$ 186,369
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of marketable securities	(864,241)	(198,690)
Sales of marketable securities	849,942	293,056
Proceeds from the sale of equipment	5,771	3,468
Proceeds received from sale of Trip Linhas Aereas S.A. stock		17,237
Acquisition of property and equipment:
Aircraft and rotable spare parts	(647,250)	(479,451)
Buildings and ground equipment	(7,443)	(16,017)
Return of deposits on aircraft	5,178
Increase in other assets	(2,713)	(12,218)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(660,756)	(392,615)
CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	546,232	323,665
Principal payments on long-term debt	(184,336)	(124,660)
Tax deficiency from exercise of common stock options	(2,093)	(1,245)
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	6,791	3,831
Purchase of treasury stock	(18,726)	(8,414)
Payment of cash dividends	(6,183)	(6,174)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	341,685	187,003
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(5,531)	(19,243)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	132,275	170,636
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	126,744	151,393
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest, net of capitalized amounts	56,117	46,757
Income taxes	$ 1,494	$ 485