Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011 subsidiary segment
Segment Reporting
Operating segments number					2
Number of operating subsidiaries representing operating segments					2
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	$ 937,214	$ 933,697	$ 1,858,388	$ 1,799,648
Operating expense	890,408	914,657	1,791,125	1,780,382
Depreciation and amortization expense	64,182	63,697	128,497	126,890
Interest expense	19,387	20,052	39,167	40,272
Segment profit (loss)	27,419	(1,012)	28,096	(21,006)
Identifiable intangible assets, other than goodwill	18,373	20,622	18,373	20,622	19,497
Total assets	4,238,810	4,339,741	4,238,810	4,339,741	4,281,908
Capital expenditures (including non - cash)	11,279	19,047	30,494	36,666
SkyWest
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	509,135	513,326	1,004,046	992,944
Operating expense	467,497	479,905	940,403	936,720
Depreciation and amortization expense	38,646	36,825	77,429	73,280
Interest expense	12,353	12,621	24,915	25,351
Segment profit (loss)	29,285	20,800	38,728	30,873
Total assets	2,604,012	2,545,336	2,604,012	2,545,336
Capital expenditures (including non - cash)	6,700	11,318	21,953	21,618
ExpressJet
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	425,445	417,497	849,074	800,956
Operating expense	421,640	433,371	848,192	840,962
Depreciation and amortization expense	25,536	26,872	51,068	53,610
Interest expense	5,959	6,332	12,005	12,711
Segment profit (loss)	(2,154)	(22,206)	(11,123)	(52,717)
Identifiable intangible assets, other than goodwill	18,373	20,622	18,373	20,622
Total assets	1,634,798	1,794,405	1,634,798	1,794,405
Capital expenditures (including non - cash)	4,579	7,729	8,541	15,048
Other
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	2,634	2,874	5,268	5,748
Operating expense	1,271	1,381	2,530	2,700
Interest expense	1,075	1,099	2,247	2,210
Segment profit (loss)	$ 288	$ 394	$ 491	$ 838