Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 1,919	$ 2,676	$ 7,610
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization	2,017	1,818	1,609
Deferred income tax provision (benefit)	1,141	1,611	(3,014)
Debt discount and lease amortization	(114)	(119)	(122)
Special items, non-cash	272	270	273
Pension and postretirement	(132)	(68)	(193)
Share-based compensation	90	100	284
Other, net	(39)	(18)	(12)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable	(190)	(160)	352
Increase in other assets	(433)	(184)	(27)
Increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	299	307	173
Increase (decrease) in air traffic liability	66	164	(505)
Increase (decrease) in loyalty program liability	2	264	(295)
Contributions to pension plans	(286)	(32)	(6)
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities	132	(105)	122
Net cash provided by operating activities	4,744	6,524	6,249
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures and aircraft purchase deposits	(5,971)	(5,731)	(6,151)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment and sale-leaseback transactions	947	125	35
Purchases of short-term investments	(4,633)	(6,241)	(8,126)
Sales of short-term investments	5,915	6,092	8,517
Decrease in restricted cash and short-term investments	319	57	79
Purchase of equity investment	(203)	0	0
Proceeds from sale of an investment	0	0	52
Net cash used in investing activities	(3,626)	(5,698)	(5,594)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	3,058	7,701	5,009
Payments on long-term debt and capital leases	(2,332)	(3,827)	(2,153)
Deferred financing costs	(85)	(77)	(87)
Treasury stock repurchases	(1,615)	(4,500)	(3,846)
Dividend payments	(198)	(224)	(278)
Other financing activities	27	33	96
Net cash used in financing activities	(1,145)	(894)	(1,259)
Net decrease in cash	(27)	(68)	(604)
Cash at beginning of year	322	390	994
Cash at end of year	295	322	390
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	1,922	2,781	8,120
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization	1,964	1,762	1,560
Deferred income tax provision (benefit)	1,298	1,652	(3,467)
Debt discount and lease amortization	(119)	(124)	(126)
Special items, non-cash	272	270	295
Pension and postretirement	(132)	(70)	(194)
Share-based compensation	90	100	284
Other, net	(25)	(16)	(21)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable	(189)	(169)	354
Increase in other assets	(405)	(205)	(22)
Increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	266	336	214
Increase (decrease) in air traffic liability	66	164	(505)
Increase in receivables from related parties, net	(1,994)	(4,862)	(3,695)
Increase (decrease) in loyalty program liability	2	264	(295)
Contributions to pension plans	(286)	(32)	(6)
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities	140	(101)	91
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,870	1,750	2,587
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures and aircraft purchase deposits	(5,881)	(5,657)	(6,075)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment and sale-leaseback transactions	922	115	26
Purchases of short-term investments	(4,633)	(6,241)	(8,126)
Sales of short-term investments	5,915	6,092	8,517
Decrease in restricted cash and short-term investments	319	57	79
Purchase of equity investment	(203)	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(3,561)	(5,634)	(5,579)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	3,058	7,701	4,509
Payments on long-term debt and capital leases	(2,332)	(3,827)	(2,153)
Deferred financing costs	(85)	(77)	(80)
Other financing activities	27	33	96
Net cash used in financing activities	668	3,830	2,372
Net decrease in cash	(23)	(54)	(620)
Cash at beginning of year	310	364	984
Cash at end of year	$ 287	$ 310	$ 364