Segment Reporting (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($) segment	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Segment Reporting
Number of reporting segments | segment	2
Operating revenues	$ 3,004,925	$ 2,713,491	$ 2,127,106
Operating expense	2,823,763	2,437,624	2,018,304
Depreciation and amortization expense	394,552	440,198	474,959
Special items - impairment charges		84,592
Interest expense	127,083	123,122	123,173
Segment profit	54,079	152,745	(14,371)
Total assets	7,414,553	7,125,947	6,887,622
Capital expenditures (including non-cash)	662,317	567,037	460,483
SkyWest Airlines
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	2,492,318	2,192,432	1,636,762
Operating expense	2,525,076	2,177,524	1,716,808
Depreciation and amortization expense	182,475	210,281	221,216
Special items - impairment charges		84,592
Interest expense	12,805	13,360	12,381
Segment profit	(45,563)	1,548	(92,427)
Total assets	2,977,804	2,957,745	2,804,259
Capital expenditures (including non-cash)	82,891	128,712	124,825
SkyWest Leasing
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	512,607	521,059	490,344
Operating expense	298,687	260,100	301,496
Depreciation and amortization expense	212,077	229,917	253,743
Interest expense	114,278	109,762	110,792
Segment profit	99,642	151,197	78,056
Total assets	4,436,749	4,168,202	4,083,363
Capital expenditures (including non-cash)	$ 579,426	$ 438,325	$ 335,658