Purchase Commitments and Contingencies (Details 2)	Dec. 31, 2011
Entity Number of Employees	78,400
Delta Pilots [Member]
Entity Number of Employees	10,850
Union Representing Employee Group	ALPA
Date on which collective bargaining agreement becomes amendable	Dec. 31, 2012
Delta Flight Superintendents (Dispatchers) [Member]
Entity Number of Employees	340
Union Representing Employee Group	PAFCA
Date on which collective bargaining agreement becomes amendable	Dec. 31, 2013
Comair Pilots [Member]
Entity Number of Employees	790
Union Representing Employee Group	ALPA
Date on which collective bargaining agreement becomes amendable	Mar. 02, 2011
Comair Maintenance Employees [Member]
Entity Number of Employees	280
Union Representing Employee Group	IAM
Date on which collective bargaining agreement becomes amendable	Dec. 31, 2010
Comair Flight Attendants [Member]
Entity Number of Employees	550
Union Representing Employee Group	IBT
Date on which collective bargaining agreement becomes amendable	Dec. 31, 2010