Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

DEBT AND FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS - Additional Information (Detail)

v3.3.1.900
DEBT AND FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS - Additional Information (Detail)
£ in Millions
 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
May. 31, 2007
Jan. 31, 1998
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Credit_Agreements
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Tranches
Credit_Agreements
Dec. 31, 2015
GBP (£)
Tranches
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2001
Dec. 31, 2015
GBP (£)
Credit_Agreements
Dec. 31, 2015
EUR (€)
Credit_Agreements
Nov. 30, 2015
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2015
USD ($)
Apr. 01, 2014
USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Debt instrument, face amount       $ 14,167,000,000 $ 14,167,000,000                  
Number of tranches in debt instrument | Tranches         2 2                
Rent expense related to operating leases         $ 669,000,000   $ 676,000,000 $ 575,000,000            
Outstanding letters of credit       1,808,000,000 1,808,000,000                  
Surety bonds written       $ 623,000,000 $ 623,000,000                  
Number of credit agreements | Credit_Agreements       2 2         2 2      
Covenants limit the amount of secured indebtedness that we may incur, and limit the amount of attributable debt in sale-leaseback transactions, to percentage of net tangible assets       10.00% 10.00%         10.00% 10.00%      
Covenants limit the amount of secured indebtedness that we may incur, and limit the amount of attributable debt in sale-leaseback transactions, net tangible assets amount       $ 2,265,000,000 $ 2,265,000,000                  
Long-term debt fair value $ 12,257,000,000     15,524,000,000 15,524,000,000   $ 12,257,000,000              
Long-term Debt       $ 13,692,000,000 $ 13,692,000,000                  
Maximum                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Operating leases, expiration year         2038 2038                
8.375% Debentures                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Interest rate       837.50% 837.50%         837.50% 837.50%      
8.375% debentures Due 2030                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Original debt amount         $ 276,000,000                  
Interest rate       8.375% 8.375%         8.375% 8.375%      
Debt instrument redemption price       100.00% 100.00%         100.00% 100.00%      
Maturity - Maximum Date         Jan. 01, 2030 Jan. 01, 2030                
Maturity date of newly converted debentures     Apr. 01, 2030                      
8.375% debentures Due 2030 | Until April 1, 2020                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Interest rate       8.375% 8.375%         8.375% 8.375%      
8.375% debentures Due 2030 | After April 1, 2020 for the Final 10 Years                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Interest rate       7.62% 7.62%         7.62% 7.62%      
Debt instrument, period that interest rate is reduced to 7.62%         10 years 10 years                
8.375% debentures Due 2020                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Interest rate       8.375% 8.375%         8.375% 8.375%      
Debt not subject to early redemption       $ 424,000,000 $ 424,000,000                  
Derivative, average swaption interest rate 4.99%     5.04% 5.04%   4.99%     5.04% 5.04%      
Maturity - Maximum Date         Jan. 01, 2020 Jan. 01, 2020                
Floating rate senior notes                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Average interest rate         0.01% 0.01% 0.00%              
Senior notes earliest callable period         30 years 30 years                
Senior notes earliest putable period         10 years 10 years                
Principal value of redeemed notes $ 1,000,000           $ 1,000,000              
Principal Balance $ 90,000,000     $ 40,000,000 $ 40,000,000   $ 90,000,000           $ 104,000,000  
Applicable margin rates       0.45%                    
Maturity - Minimum Date         Jan. 01, 2049 Jan. 01, 2049                
Maturity - Maximum Date         Jan. 01, 2053 Jan. 01, 2053                
Floating rate senior notes | LIBOR                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Applicable margin rates 3000.00%                          
Floating rate senior notes | Maximum | LIBOR                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Applicable margin rates         4500.00% 4500.00%                
Floating rate senior notes | Minimum | LIBOR                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Applicable margin rates         3000.00% 3000.00%                
Capital lease obligations                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Maturity - Minimum Date         Jan. 01, 2014 Jan. 01, 2014                
Maturity - Maximum Date         Jan. 01, 3004 Jan. 01, 3004                
Facility Notes and Bonds Worldport Louisville                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Average interest rate         0.03% 0.03% 0.05%              
Principal Balance       $ 149,000,000 $ 149,000,000                  
Maturity         Jan. 31, 2029 Jan. 31, 2029                
Facility Notes and Bonds Airfreight Louisville                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Average interest rate         0.02% 0.02% 0.05%              
Principal Balance       42,000,000 $ 42,000,000                  
Maturity         Nov. 30, 2036 Nov. 30, 2036                
Facility Notes and Bonds International Airport Dallas Fort Worth                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Principal Balance       $ 29,000,000 $ 29,000,000                  
Fixed interest rate       5.11% 5.11%         5.11% 5.11%      
Maturity         May 31, 2032 May 31, 2032                
Facility Notes and Bonds Delaware Airport Philadelphia                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Average interest rate         0.02% 0.02% 0.04%              
Principal Balance       $ 100,000,000 $ 100,000,000                  
Maturity         Dec. 31, 2015 Dec. 31, 2015                
Facility Notes and Bonds, Delaware County, Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority, Due September 2045                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Average interest rate         0.00% 0.00%                
Principal Balance                         $ 100,000,000  
Facility notes and bonds                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Maturity - Minimum Date         Jan. 01, 2015 Jan. 01, 2015                
Maturity - Maximum Date         Jan. 01, 2036 Jan. 01, 2036                
5.50% Pound Sterling Notes                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Number of tranches in debt instrument | Tranches         2 2                
Pound Sterling notes not exchanged | £                   £ 66        
Maturity                 Feb. 12, 2031          
5.50% senior notes                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Interest rate       5.50% 5.50%         5.50% 5.50%      
5.13% Pound Sterling Notes                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Average interest rate         5.125% 5.125%                
Exchanged Pound Sterling notes principal amount | £           £ 455                
Redemption price description         These 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. These 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   Feb. 28, 2050                        
Revolving credit facility expiring in 2012                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Maturity         Mar. 28, 2014 Mar. 28, 2014                
Revolving credit facility expiring in 2014                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Revolving credit facilities       $ 1,500,000,000.0 $ 1,500,000,000.0                  
Maturity         Mar. 26, 2016 Mar. 26, 2016                
Revolving credit facility expiring in 2014 | Federal funds effective rate                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Applicable margin rates         0.50% 0.50%                
Revolving credit facility expiring in 2014 | LIBOR                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Applicable margin rates         1.00% 1.00%                
Revolving credit facility expiring In 2015                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Maturity         Mar. 29, 2018 Mar. 29, 2018                
Revolving credit facility expiring in 2018                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Revolving credit facilities       $ 3,000,000,000.0 $ 3,000,000,000.0                  
Maturity         Mar. 27, 2020 Mar. 27, 2020                
Applicable margin for base rate below LIBOR       1.00% 1.00%         1.00% 1.00%      
Revolving credit facility expiring in 2018 | Federal funds effective rate                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Applicable margin rates         0.50% 0.50%                
Revolving credit facility expiring in 2018 | LIBOR                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Applicable margin rates         1.00% 1.00%                
Revolving credit facility expiring in 2018 | Minimum                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Applicable margin for base rate below LIBOR       0.00% 0.00%         0.00% 0.00%      
LIBOR [Member] | Revolving credit facility expiring in 2014 | Maximum                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Applicable margin rates       0.75%                    
LIBOR [Member] | Revolving credit facility expiring in 2014 | Minimum                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Debt Instrument, Credit Default Swap Spread, Term         1 year 1 year                
Applicable margin rates       0.10%                    
LIBOR [Member] | Revolving credit facility expiring in 2018 | Minimum                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Applicable margin rates       0.10%                    
Citibank base rate [Member] | Revolving credit facility expiring in 2014 | Maximum                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Applicable margin rates       1.00%                    
Citibank base rate [Member] | Revolving credit facility expiring in 2014 | Minimum                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Applicable margin rates       0.00%                    
Citibank base rate [Member] | Revolving credit facility expiring in 2018 | Minimum                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Applicable margin rates       0.75%                    
Commercial paper                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Debt instrument, face amount       $ 2,965,000,000 $ 2,965,000,000                  
Long-term Debt $ 772,000,000     2,965,000,000 2,965,000,000   $ 772,000,000              
Commercial paper | U.S. Commercial Paper Program                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Commercial paper program, authorized to borrow       10,000,000,000.0 10,000,000,000.0                  
Long-term Debt       2,618,000,000 2,618,000,000                  
Commercial paper | Foreign Commercial Paper Program                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Commercial paper program, authorized to borrow | €                     € 5,000,000,000.0      
Long-term Debt       $ 347,000,000 $ 347,000,000         £ 234        
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate       0.50% 0.50%         0.50% 0.50%      
Commercial Paper, Euro Denominated | U.S. Commercial Paper Program                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Long-term Debt       $ 339,000,000 $ 339,000,000           € 310,000,000      
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate       0.12% 0.12%         0.12% 0.12%      
Commercial Paper, U.S. Dollar Denominated | U.S. Commercial Paper Program                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate       0.21% 0.21%         0.21% 0.21%      
Senior notes | 5.50% senior notes                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Debt instrument, face amount       $ 750,000,000 $ 750,000,000                  
Interest rate       5.50% 5.50%         5.50% 5.50%      
Maturity - Maximum Date         Jan. 01, 2018 Jan. 01, 2018                
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage 2.49%     2.54% 2.54%   2.49%     2.54% 2.54%      
Long-term Debt $ 802,000,000     $ 787,000,000 $ 787,000,000   $ 802,000,000              
Senior notes | 3.875% senior notes                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Debt instrument, face amount       $ 1,000,000,000 $ 1,000,000,000                 $ 1,000,000,000
Interest rate       3.875% 3.875%         3.875% 3.875%     3.875%
Maturity - Maximum Date         Jan. 01, 2014 Jan. 01, 2014                
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage 0.94%     0.00% 0.00%   0.94%     0.00% 0.00%      
Senior notes | 1.125% senior notes                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Debt instrument, face amount       $ 375,000,000 $ 375,000,000                  
Interest rate       1.125% 1.125%         1.125% 1.125%      
Maturity - Maximum Date         Jan. 01, 2017 Jan. 01, 2017                
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage 0.60%     0.68% 0.68%   0.60%     0.68% 0.68%      
Long-term Debt $ 369,000,000     $ 372,000,000 $ 372,000,000   $ 369,000,000              
Senior notes | 5.125% senior notes                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Debt instrument, face amount       $ 1,000,000,000 $ 1,000,000,000                  
Interest rate       5.125% 5.125%         5.125% 5.125%      
Maturity - Maximum Date         Jan. 01, 2019 Jan. 01, 2019                
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage 1.97%     2.06% 2.06%   1.97%     2.06% 2.06%      
Long-term Debt $ 1,076,000,000     $ 1,064,000,000 $ 1,064,000,000   $ 1,076,000,000              
Senior notes | 3.125% senior notes                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Debt instrument, face amount       $ 1,500,000,000 $ 1,500,000,000                  
Interest rate       3.125% 3.125%         3.125% 3.125%      
Maturity - Maximum Date         Jan. 01, 2021 Jan. 01, 2021                
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage 1.06%     1.04% 1.04%   1.06%     1.04% 1.04%      
Long-term Debt $ 1,616,000,000     $ 1,613,000,000 $ 1,613,000,000   $ 1,616,000,000              
Senior notes | 8.375% debentures Due 2030                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Debt instrument, face amount       276,000,000 276,000,000                  
Long-term Debt 282,000,000     282,000,000 282,000,000   282,000,000              
Senior notes | 8.375% debentures Due 2020                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Debt instrument, face amount       424,000,000 424,000,000                  
Long-term Debt 480,000,000     474,000,000 474,000,000   480,000,000              
Senior notes | Floating rate senior notes                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Debt instrument, face amount       606,000,000 606,000,000                  
Long-term Debt $ 458,000,000     600,000,000 600,000,000   $ 458,000,000              
Senior notes | Euro Senior Notes Due July 2020                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Debt instrument, face amount                       $ 500,000,000    
Senior notes | Euro Senior Notes Due November 2025                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Debt instrument, face amount                       $ 700,000,000    
Interest rate                       1.625%    
Senior notes | 2.45% senior notes                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Debt instrument, face amount       $ 1,000,000,000 $ 1,000,000,000                  
Interest rate       2.45% 2.45%         2.45% 2.45%      
Maturity - Maximum Date         Jan. 01, 2022 Jan. 01, 2022                
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage 0.82%     0.87% 0.87%   0.82%     0.87% 0.87%      
Long-term Debt $ 976,000,000     $ 991,000,000 $ 991,000,000   $ 976,000,000