Geographic Information (Notes)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block]

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

Operating segments, airline and refinery, are defined as components of an enterprise whose separate financial information is regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker and used in resource allocation and performance assessments.

Our airline segment is managed as a single business unit that provides air transportation for passengers and cargo. This allows us to benefit from an integrated revenue pricing and route network. Our flight equipment forms one fleet, which is deployed through a single route scheduling system. When making resource allocation decisions, our chief operating decision maker evaluates flight profitability data, which considers aircraft type and route economics, but gives no weight to the financial impact of the resource allocation decision on an individual carrier basis. Our objective in making resource allocation decisions is to optimize our consolidated financial results.

Our refinery segment operates for the benefit of the airline segment. The revenues of the refinery, primarily consisting of fuel sales to the airline, have been eliminated in the Consolidated Financial Statements. For more information regarding our refinery and segment information, see Note 2.

Operating revenue is assigned to a specific geographic region based on the origin, flight path and destination of each flight segment. Our operating revenue by geographic region (as defined by the DOT) is summarized in the following table:

	Year Ended December 31,
(in millions)	2012		2011		2010
Domestic	$	23,827	$	22,722	$	20,744
Atlantic	6,481		6,486		5,931
Pacific	3,979		3,644		3,283
Latin America	2,383		2,263		1,797
Total	$	36,670	$	35,115	$	31,755

Our tangible assets consist primarily of flight equipment, which is mobile across geographic markets. Accordingly, assets are not allocated to specific geographic regions.