Retirement Benefits - Schedule of Assumption Used to Determine Benefit Obligations (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Pension Benefits [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations, Discount rate	4.70%	4.30%
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost, Discount rate	4.30%	5.10%
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost, Expected return on plan assets	8.00%	8.00%
Pension Benefits [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations, Discount rate	4.70%
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost, Discount rate	4.30%
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost, Expected return on plan assets	8.00%
Retiree Medical And Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations, Discount rate	4.42%	4.00%
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost, Discount rate	4.00%	4.74%
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost, Expected return on plan assets	8.00%	8.00%
Retiree Medical And Other Postretirement Benefits [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations, Discount rate	4.42%
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost, Discount rate	4.00%
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost, Expected return on plan assets	8.00%