Additional Indebtedness Long-Term Debt

No definition available.

Name:	atsg_AdditionalIndebtednessLongTermDebt
Namespace Prefix:	atsg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Collateralized Property Units

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	atsg_CollateralizedPropertyUnits
Namespace Prefix:	atsg_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Collateral, Coverage Percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	atsg_DebtInstrumentCollateralCoveragePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	atsg_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Covenant Limitation on Common Stock Repurchase Amount

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	atsg_DebtInstrumentCovenantLimitationOnCommonStockRepurchaseAmount
Namespace Prefix:	atsg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment Terms, Balloon Payment Percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	atsg_DebtInstrumentPeriodicPaymentTermsBalloonPaymentPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	atsg_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Increase in Additional Indebtedness. Long-Term Debt

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	atsg_IncreaseinAdditionalIndebtedness.LongTermDebt
Namespace Prefix:	atsg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line of Credit Facility, Accordion Feature Amount

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	atsg_LineOfCreditFacilityAccordionFeatureAmount
Namespace Prefix:	atsg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line of Credit Facility, Increased Borrowing Capacity

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	atsg_LineOfCreditFacilityIncreasedBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	atsg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The average effective interest rate during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

When presenting a range of interest rates, the highest effective rate for funds borrowed under the debt agreement as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentageRateRangeMaximum
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

When presenting a range of interest rates, the lowest effective rate for funds borrowed under the debt agreement as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentageRateRangeMinimum
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, including current and noncurrent amounts. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 9

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20, 22

-Article 5

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 7

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=atsg_SeniorSubordinatedNotesAndLineOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Debt Obligations (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
Debt Obligations (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) aircrafts	May. 05, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term obligations	$ 309,347		$ 344,094
Unsubordinated term loan and Revolving credit facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Collateral coverage percentage	150.00%
Unsubordinated term loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term obligations	$ 105,000		116,250
Increase in Additional Indebtedness. Long-Term Debt		$ 50,000
Additional Indebtedness Long-Term Debt		150,000
Variable interest rate	1.95%
Revolving credit facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term obligations	$ 165,000		180,000
Accordion feature amount		50,000
Increased borrowing capacity		50,000
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$ 325,000
Variable interest rate	1.95%
Credit facility, revolving credit loan, remaining borrowing capacity	$ 151,700
Letters of credit outstanding	8,300
Aircraft loans [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term obligations	$ 39,347		46,294
Collateralized property (in aircrafts) \| aircrafts	6
Balloon payment percentage	20.00%
Variable interest rate, minimum	6.74%
Variable interest rate, maximum	7.36%
Promissory note due to DHL, unsecured [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term obligations	$ 0		$ 1,550
Maximum [Member] \| Unsubordinated term loan and Revolving credit facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Collateral coverage percentage	175.00%
Maximum amount of common stock authorized for repurchase	$ 50,000
Minimum [Member] \| Unsubordinated term loan and Revolving credit facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Collateral coverage percentage	50.00%