Passenger and Ground Handling Revenue (Details)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016 item aircraft
Agreements with other airlines
Percentage of ASMs flown under fixed-fee arrangements	95.80%
Percentage of ASMs flown under pro-rate arrangements	4.20%
Delta Connection Agreements \| CRJ 200 \| Sky West Airlines Inc
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract	48
Delta Connection Agreements \| CRJ 200 \| ExpressJet
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract	41
Delta Connection Agreements \| CRJ 700 \| Sky West Airlines Inc
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract	20
Delta Connection Agreements \| CRJ 700 \| ExpressJet
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract	40
Delta Connection Agreements \| CRJ 900 \| Sky West Airlines Inc
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract	36
Delta Connection Agreements \| CRJ 900 \| ExpressJet
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract	28
Delta Connection Agreements \| E 175
Agreements with other airlines
Number of additional aircrafts into service \| aircraft	19
Delta Connection Pro-rate Agreement \| Sky West Airlines Inc
Agreements with other airlines
Notice period for termination of agreement	30 days
Delta Connection Pro-rate Agreement \| CRJ 200 \| Sky West Airlines Inc
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract	21
United Express Agreements \| CRJ 200 \| Sky West Airlines Inc
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract	57
United Express Agreements \| CRJ 700 \| Sky West Airlines Inc
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract	69
United Express Agreements \| E 175
Agreements with other airlines
Number of additional aircrafts into service \| aircraft	24
United Express Agreements \| E 175 \| Sky West Airlines Inc
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract	41
United Express Agreements \| ERJ 145 \| ExpressJet
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract	161
United Express Agreements \| ERJ135 \| ExpressJet
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract	5
United Express Prorate Agreement \| Sky West Airlines Inc
Agreements with other airlines
Notice period for termination of agreement	120 days
United Express Prorate Agreement \| CRJ 200 \| Sky West Airlines Inc
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract	26
Alaska Capacity Purchase Agreement \| CRJ 700 \| Sky West Airlines Inc
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract	9
Alaska Capacity Purchase Agreement \| E 175 \| Sky West Airlines Inc
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract	7
American Capacity Purchase Agreement \| CRJ 200 \| Sky West Airlines Inc
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract	12
American Capacity Purchase Agreement \| CRJ 200 \| ExpressJet
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract \| aircraft	11
American Capacity Purchase Agreement \| ERJ 145 \| ExpressJet
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract \| aircraft	16
American Prorate Agreement \| Sky West Airlines Inc
Agreements with other airlines
Notice period for termination of agreement	120 days
American Prorate Agreement \| CRJ 200 \| Sky West Airlines Inc
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract	5
American Prorate Agreement \| CRJ 200 \| ExpressJet
Agreements with other airlines
Number of aircraft under contract	3
Prorate Agreement \| ExpressJet
Agreements with other airlines
Notice period for termination of agreement	120 days

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Number of aircraft operated by the carrier.

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