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DEBT AND FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS - Additional Information (Detail)
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12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dec. 31, 2011
USD ($)
CreditFacility
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Dec. 31, 2010
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2009
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2011
Maximum
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Dec. 31, 2011
Commercial paper
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Foreign Commercial Paper Program
EUR (€)
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Nov. 30, 2010
Senior Notes
USD ($)
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Mar. 31, 2009
Senior Notes
USD ($)
|
Jan. 31, 2008
Senior Notes
USD ($)
|
Jan. 31, 2008
4.50% senior notes
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2011
4.50% senior notes
|
Dec. 31, 2010
4.50% senior notes
|
Jan. 31, 2008
5.50% senior notes
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2011
5.50% senior notes
|
Dec. 31, 2010
5.50% senior notes
|
Jan. 31, 2008
6.20% senior notes
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2011
6.20% senior notes
|
Mar. 31, 2009
3.875% senior notes
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2011
3.875% senior notes
|
Dec. 31, 2010
3.875% senior notes
|
Mar. 31, 2009
5.125% senior notes
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2011
5.125% senior notes
|
Dec. 31, 2010
5.125% senior notes
|
Nov. 30, 2010
3.125% senior notes
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2011
3.125% senior notes
|
Dec. 31, 2010
3.125% senior notes
|
Nov. 30, 2010
4.875% senior notes
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2011
4.875% senior notes
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Jan. 31, 1998
8.375% debentures Due 2020
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2011
8.375% debentures Due 2020
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Dec. 31, 2010
8.375% debentures Due 2020
USD ($)
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Jan. 31, 1998
8.375% debentures Due 2030
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Dec. 31, 2011
8.375% debentures Due 2030
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Jan. 31, 1998
8.375% debentures Due 2030
Until April 1, 2020
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Jan. 31, 1998
8.375% debentures Due 2030
After April 1, 2020 for the Final 10 Years
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Floating rate senior notes
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2010
Floating rate senior notes
USD ($)
Year
|
Dec. 31, 2009
Floating rate senior notes
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Capital lease obligations
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Facility Notes and Bonds Worldport Louisville
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2010
Facility Notes and Bonds Worldport Louisville
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Facility Notes and Bonds Airfreight Louisville
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2010
Facility Notes and Bonds Airfreight Louisville
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Facility Notes and Bonds International Airport Dallas Fort Worth
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2011
Facility Notes and Bonds Delaware Airport Philadelphia
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2010
Facility Notes and Bonds Delaware Airport Philadelphia
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Oct. 31, 2009
Facility notes and bonds
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2011
Facility notes and bonds
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May 31, 2007
5.50% Pound Sterling Notes
GBP (£)
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Dec. 31, 2001
5.50% Pound Sterling Notes
GBP (£)
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Dec. 31, 2011
5.50% Pound Sterling Notes
GBP (£)
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May 31, 2007
5.13% Pound Sterling Notes
GBP (£)
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Dec. 31, 2011
Revolving credit facility expiring in 2012
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2011
Revolving credit facility expiring in 2012
Maximum
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Dec. 31, 2011
Revolving credit facility expiring in 2012
Minimum
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Dec. 31, 2011
Revolving Credit Facility Expiring In 2015
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2011
Revolving Credit Facility Expiring In 2015
Minimum
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Dec. 31, 2011
Revolving Credit Facility Expiring In 2015
Minimum Applicable Margin Lower Rate
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Dec. 31, 2011
Revolving Credit Facility Expiring In 2015
Minimum Applicable Margin Upper Rate
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Dec. 31, 2011
Revolving Credit Facility Expiring In 2015
Maximum Applicable Margin Lower Rate
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Revolving Credit Facility Expiring In 2015
Maximum Applicable Margin Upper Rate
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| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commercial paper program, authorized to borrow | $ 10,000,000,000 | € 1,000,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate description | The floating rate senior notes bear interest at one-month LIBOR less 45 basis points. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exchanged Pound Sterling notes principal amount | 455,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt instrument, face amount | 1,750,000,000 | 750,000,000 | 1,500,000,000 | 1,000,000,000 | 1,000,000,000 | 1,500,000,000 | 500,000,000 | 500,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debentures | 700,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Principal Balance | 149,000,000 | 43,000,000 | 29,000,000 | 100,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revolving credit facilities | 1,500,000,000 | 1,000,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Applicable margin below one month LIBOR | 0.45% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Original debt amount | 276,000,000 | 434,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maturity | Jan. 15, 2013 | Jan. 15, 2013 | Jan. 15, 2018 | Jan. 15, 2018 | Jan. 15, 2038 | Jan. 15, 2038 | Apr. 15, 2014 | Apr. 15, 2014 | Apr. 15, 2019 | Apr. 15, 2019 | Jan. 15, 2021 | Jan. 15, 2021 | Nov. 15, 2040 | Nov. 15, 2040 | Apr. 01, 2020 | Apr. 01, 2020 | Apr. 01, 2030 | Jan. 31, 2029 | Nov. 30, 2036 | May 31, 2032 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Feb. 12, 2031 | Feb. 28, 2050 | Apr. 12, 2012 | Apr. 14, 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate | 4.50% | 4.50% | 5.50% | 5.50% | 6.20% | 6.20% | 3.875% | 3.875% | 5.125% | 5.125% | 3.125% | 3.125% | 4.875% | 4.875% | 8.375% | 8.375% | 8.375% | 8.375% | 7.62% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fixed interest rate | 5.11% | 5.50% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average interest rate | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.11% | 0.22% | 0.11% | 0.24% | 0.11% | 0.20% | 5.13% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maturity - Minimum Date | 2012 | 2049 | 2049 | 2049 | 2012 | 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Redemption price description | The new notes are callable at our option at a redemption price equal to the greater of 100% of the principal amount and accrued interest, or the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payout of principal and interest thereon discounted to the date of redemption at a benchmark U.K. government bond yield plus 15 basis points and accrued interest. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maturity - Maximum Date | 2012 | 2053 | 2053 | 2053 | 3004 | 2036 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior notes earliest callable period | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior notes earliest putable period | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Principal value of redeemed notes | 10,000,000 | 23,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior notes offering, cash proceeds | 279,000,000 | 2,195,000,000 | 3,160,000,000 | 1,972,000,000 | 1,989,000,000 | 3,961,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debentures not subject to redemption prior to maturity | 424,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average interest rate payable on the swaps | 2.39% | 2.42% | 2.53% | 2.22% | 0.99% | 1.02% | 2.04% | 1.69% | 0.52% | 1.76% | 5.97% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maturity date of newly converted debentures | Apr. 01, 2030 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt redemption price basis points above comparable treasury yield | 0.05% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt instrument, redemption price | 100.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Facility notes and bonds, matured | 62,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt instrument early redemption | 46,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pound Sterling notes not exchanged | 66,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average fixed interest rates payable on swaps | 5.72% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating leases, expiration year | 2038 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rent expense related to operating leases | 629,000,000 | 615,000,000 | 622,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding letters of credit | 1,551,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Surety bonds written | 583,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of credit agreements | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Covenants that limit amount of secured indebtedness and attributable debt in sale-leaseback transactions, percentage of net tangible assets | 10.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Covenants that limit the amount of secured indebtedness, and amount of attributable debt in sale-leaseback transactions, net tangible assets amount | 2,550,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minimum net worth amount that must be maintained | 5,000,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net worth | 10,138,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt fair value | $ 12,035,000,000 | $ 11,355,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Applicable margin rates, LIBOR | 0.75% | 0.15% | 0.25% | 0.50% | 1.00% | 1.50% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Applicable margin for base rate below LIBOR | 1.00% | 0.00% | 1.00% | 0.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||