CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2025	Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 428,334	$ 322,962	$ 34,342
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	364,497	383,880	383,115
Stock based compensation expense	18,729	19,864	17,125
Increase (decrease) in credit loss reserves	7,520	(3,628)	(185)
Gain on disposal of fixed assets	(8,077)	(8,245)	(14,295)
Loss on investments in other companies	1,051	6,815	479
Net increase in deferred income taxes	122,763	100,368	539
Impairment (gain) on assets held for sale		(4,157)	2,318
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Decrease (increase) in receivables	(52,480)	(41,171)	19,818
Decrease (increase) in income tax receivable	(2,249)	(7,504)	997
Increase in inventories	(29,545)	(11,888)	(3,905)
Decrease (increase) in other current assets	(21)	(13,813)	1,593
Decrease (increase) in operating lease right-of-use assets	5,788	(1,004)	25,954
Increase (decrease) in operating lease liabilities	(5,788)	1,004	(54,984)
Increase (decrease) in deferred revenue	(48,467)	(40,012)	229,862
Decrease (increase) in unbilled revenue	(13,772)	(7,871)	12,601
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and other current liabilities	152,081	(3,138)	80,960
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	940,364	692,462	736,334
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of marketable securities	(1,113,292)	(1,430,733)	(1,339,465)
Sales of marketable securities	1,103,432	1,543,256	1,600,877
Acquisition of property and equipment:
Aircraft and rotable spare parts	(546,040)	(265,854)	(238,068)
Buildings and ground equipment	(32,023)	(44,895)	(13,258)
Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment	15,588	5,154	15,879
Deposits on aircraft	(75,303)	(17,535)	(65,000)
Aircraft deposits applied towards acquired aircraft			11,649
Decrease (increase) in other assets, net	(4,196)	(18,020)	4,158
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(651,834)	(228,627)	(23,228)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	208,839	116,165	69,689
Principal payments on long-term debt	(491,903)	(452,855)	(447,604)
Payment of debt issuance cost	(634)	(670)	(175)
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	2,651	2,864	2,811
Employee income tax paid on vested equity awards	(27,242)	(6,930)	(585)
Purchase of treasury stock and related excise tax	(84,930)	(43,324)	(291,949)
NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(393,219)	(384,750)	(667,813)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(104,689)	79,085	45,293
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	227,362	148,277	102,984
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	122,673	227,362	148,277
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Change in accrued capital expenditures for the period	(29,079)	99,266	12,583
Derecognition of right of use assets			(39,247)
Derecognition of operating lease liabilities			39,247
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest, net of capitalized amounts	105,882	113,571	128,288
Income taxes, net of refunds	$ 16,863	$ 18,588	$ 13,610