Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 44,541	$ 42,622	$ 40,142
Operating expenses:
Aircraft fuel and related taxes	8,053	6,128	5,071
Salaries, wages and benefits	12,251	11,954	10,967
Regional expenses	7,133	6,546	6,044
Maintenance, materials and repairs	2,050	1,959	1,834
Other rent and landing fees	1,900	1,806	1,772
Aircraft rent	1,264	1,197	1,203
Selling expenses	1,520	1,477	1,323
Depreciation and amortization	1,839	1,702	1,525
Special items, net	787	712	709
Other	5,088	4,910	4,634
Total operating expenses	41,885	38,391	35,082
Operating income	2,656	4,231	5,060
Nonoperating income (expense):
Interest income	118	94	63
Interest expense, net	(1,056)	(1,053)	(991)
Other income, net	166	123	20
Total nonoperating expense, net	(772)	(836)	(908)
Income before income taxes	1,884	3,395	4,152
Income tax provision	472	2,113	1,568
Net income	$ 1,412	$ 1,282	$ 2,584
Earnings per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 3.04	$ 2.62	$ 4.68
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 3.03	$ 2.61	$ 4.65
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	464,236	489,164	552,308
Diluted (in shares)	465,660	491,692	556,099
Cash dividends declared per common share	$ 0.4	$ 0.4	$ 0.4
Passenger [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 40,676	$ 39,131	$ 37,045
Cargo [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	1,013	890	785
Other [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	2,852	2,601	2,312
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	44,530	42,610	40,125
Operating expenses:
Aircraft fuel and related taxes	8,053	6,128	5,071
Salaries, wages and benefits	12,240	11,942	10,958
Regional expenses	7,064	6,572	6,009
Maintenance, materials and repairs	2,050	1,959	1,834
Other rent and landing fees	1,900	1,806	1,772
Aircraft rent	1,264	1,197	1,203
Selling expenses	1,520	1,477	1,323
Depreciation and amortization	1,839	1,702	1,525
Special items, net	787	712	709
Other	5,090	4,910	4,641
Total operating expenses	41,807	38,405	35,045
Operating income	2,723	4,205	5,080
Nonoperating income (expense):
Interest income	330	215	104
Interest expense, net	(1,028)	(988)	(906)
Other income, net	167	123	18
Total nonoperating expense, net	(531)	(650)	(784)
Income before income taxes	2,192	3,555	4,296
Income tax provision	534	2,270	1,607
Net income	1,658	1,285	2,689
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Passenger [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	40,676	39,131	37,045
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Cargo [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	1,013	890	785
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Other [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 2,841	$ 2,589	$ 2,295