Segment Reporting (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) segment aircraft	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Segment Reporting
Operating segments number | segment									3
Operating revenues	$ 752,744	$ 794,004	$ 788,417	$ 760,398	$ 813,854	$ 834,633	$ 816,574	$ 772,386	$ 3,095,563	$ 3,237,447	$ 3,297,725
Operating expense									2,861,048	3,212,599	3,144,614
Depreciation and amortization expense									264,507	259,642	245,005
Interest expense									75,850	65,995	68,658
Segment profit (loss)									158,665	(41,147)	84,453
Identifiable intangible assets, other than goodwill	10,499				12,748				10,499	12,748	14,998
Total assets	4,802,886				4,409,928				4,802,886	4,409,928	4,233,219
Capital expenditures (including non - cash)									$ 715,089	696,923	142,044
CRJ 200
Segment Reporting
Number of aircraft lease to third party | aircraft									2
SkyWest Airlines
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues									$ 1,848,363	1,873,675	1,827,568
Operating expense									1,630,200	1,758,145	1,644,129
Depreciation and amortization expense									141,189	162,699	155,667
Interest expense									36,141	39,452	43,920
Segment profit (loss)									182,022	76,078	139,519
Total assets	2,319,295				2,492,828				2,319,295	2,492,828	2,532,431
Capital expenditures (including non - cash)									30,897	137,678	103,387
SkyWest Airlines | E 175 | Restated Adjustment
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues										(15,000)
Depreciation and amortization expense										(8,500)
Interest expense										(5,000)
Segment profit (loss)										(1,600)
Total assets					(527,000)					(527,000)
Capital expenditures (including non - cash)										(535,500)
Express Jet Airlines Inc
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues									1,169,923	1,346,859	1,466,341
Operating expense									1,192,070	1,446,050	1,494,302
Depreciation and amortization expense									86,382	88,459	89,338
Interest expense									12,091	18,754	21,034
Segment profit (loss)									(34,238)	(117,945)	(48,995)
Identifiable intangible assets, other than goodwill	10,499				12,748				10,499	12,748	14,998
Total assets	1,332,995				1,390,129				1,332,995	1,390,129	1,700,788
Capital expenditures (including non - cash)									24,679	23,790	38,657
Other Segments
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	(7,900)								77,277	16,913	3,816
Operating expense									38,778	8,404	6,183
Depreciation and amortization expense									36,936	8,484
Interest expense									27,618	7,789	3,704
Segment profit (loss)									10,881	720	$ (6,071)
Total assets	$ 1,150,596				526,971				1,150,596	526,971
Capital expenditures (including non - cash)									$ 659,513	535,455
Other Segments | E 175 | Restated Adjustment
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues										15,000
Depreciation and amortization expense										8,500
Interest expense										5,000
Segment profit (loss)										1,600
Total assets					$ 527,000					527,000
Capital expenditures (including non - cash)										$ 535,500