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DEBT AND FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS - Additional Information (Detail)
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12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dec. 31, 2012
USD ($)
Tranches
Credit_Agreements
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Dec. 31, 2011
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2010
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2012
Maximum
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Dec. 31, 2012
Commercial paper
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2012
Foreign Commercial Paper Program
EUR (€)
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Dec. 31, 2012
8.375% debentures Due 2020
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2011
8.375% debentures Due 2020
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Jan. 31, 1998
8.375% debentures Due 2030
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Dec. 31, 2012
8.375% debentures Due 2030
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Dec. 31, 2012
8.375% debentures Due 2030
Until April 1, 2020
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Dec. 31, 2012
8.375% debentures Due 2030
After April 1, 2020 for the Final 10 Years
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Dec. 31, 2012
Floating rate senior notes
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2011
Floating rate senior notes
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2012
Capital lease obligations
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Dec. 31, 2012
Facility Notes and Bonds Worldport Louisville
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2011
Facility Notes and Bonds Worldport Louisville
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Dec. 31, 2012
Facility Notes and Bonds Airfreight Louisville
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2011
Facility Notes and Bonds Airfreight Louisville
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Dec. 31, 2012
Facility Notes and Bonds International Airport Dallas Fort Worth
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2012
Facility Notes and Bonds Delaware Airport Philadelphia
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2011
Facility Notes and Bonds Delaware Airport Philadelphia
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Dec. 31, 2012
Facility notes and bonds
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Dec. 31, 2012
5.50% Pound Sterling Notes
GBP (£)
Tranches
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Dec. 31, 2001
5.50% Pound Sterling Notes
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Dec. 31, 2012
5.50% senior notes
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May 31, 2007
5.13% Pound Sterling Notes
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Dec. 31, 2012
5.13% Pound Sterling Notes
GBP (£)
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Dec. 31, 2012
Revolving credit facility expiring in 2012
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2012
Revolving Credit Facility Expiring In 2015
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2012
Revolving Credit Facility Expiring In 2015
Minimum
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Dec. 31, 2012
LIBOR [Member]
Revolving credit facility expiring in 2012
Maximum
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Dec. 31, 2012
LIBOR [Member]
Revolving credit facility expiring in 2012
Minimum
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Dec. 31, 2012
LIBOR [Member]
Revolving Credit Facility Expiring In 2015
Maximum
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Dec. 31, 2012
LIBOR [Member]
Revolving Credit Facility Expiring In 2015
Minimum
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Dec. 31, 2012
Citibank base rate [Member]
Revolving credit facility expiring in 2012
Maximum
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Dec. 31, 2012
Citibank base rate [Member]
Revolving credit facility expiring in 2012
Minimum
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Dec. 31, 2012
Citibank base rate [Member]
Revolving Credit Facility Expiring In 2015
Maximum
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Dec. 31, 2012
Citibank base rate [Member]
Revolving Credit Facility Expiring In 2015
Minimum
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Dec. 31, 2012
Commercial paper
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2011
Commercial paper
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2012
Senior notes
4.50% senior notes
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2011
Senior notes
4.50% senior notes
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2012
Senior notes
5.50% senior notes
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2011
Senior notes
5.50% senior notes
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2012
Senior notes
3.875% senior notes
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2011
Senior notes
3.875% senior notes
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2012
Senior notes
1.125% senior notes
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2011
Senior notes
1.125% senior notes
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2012
Senior notes
5.125% senior notes
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2011
Senior notes
5.125% senior notes
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2012
Senior notes
3.125% senior notes
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2011
Senior notes
3.125% senior notes
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2012
Senior notes
8.375% debentures Due 2020
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2011
Senior notes
8.375% debentures Due 2020
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2012
Senior notes
8.375% debentures Due 2030
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2011
Senior notes
8.375% debentures Due 2030
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Senior notes
Floating rate senior notes
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Senior notes
Floating rate senior notes
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Senior notes
2.45% senior notes
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Senior notes
2.45% senior notes
USD ($)
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| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt instrument, face amount | $ 12,432,000,000 | $ 0 | $ 1,750,000,000 | $ 750,000,000 | $ 1,000,000,000 | $ 375,000,000 | $ 1,000,000,000 | $ 1,500,000,000 | $ 424,000,000 | $ 276,000,000 | $ 378,000,000 | $ 1,000,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commercial paper program, authorized to borrow | 10,000,000,000 | 1,000,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of tranches in debt instrument | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Original debt amount | 276,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate | 8.375% | 8.375% | 8.375% | 7.62% | 5.50% | 4.50% | 5.50% | 3.875% | 1.125% | 5.125% | 3.125% | 2.45% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt instrument, period that interest rate is reduced to 7.62% | 10 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt instrument redemption price | 100.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt not subject to early redemption | 424,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative, average swaption interest rate | 5.73% | 5.97% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average interest rate | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.15% | 0.11% | 0.15% | 0.11% | 0.13% | 0.11% | 5.13% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior notes earliest callable period | 30 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior notes earliest putable period | 10 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Principal value of redeemed notes | 2,000,000 | 10,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Principal Balance | 149,000,000 | 42,000,000 | 29,000,000 | 100,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fixed interest rate | 5.11% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pound Sterling notes not exchanged | 66,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exchanged Pound Sterling notes principal amount | 455,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average fixed interest rates payable on swaps | 5.72% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rent expense related to operating leases | 619,000,000 | 629,000,000 | 615,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding letters of credit | 1,369,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Surety bonds written | 584,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of credit agreements | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revolving credit facilities | 1,500,000,000 | 1,000,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maturity | Jan. 31, 2029 | Nov. 30, 2036 | May 31, 2032 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Feb. 12, 2031 | Feb. 28, 2050 | Apr. 11, 2013 | Apr. 12, 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt Instrument, Credit Default Swap Spread, Term | 1 year | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Applicable margin rates, LIBOR | 0.45% | 0.75% | 0.10% | 0.75% | 0.10% | 1.00% | 0.00% | 1.25% | 0.375% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Applicable margin for base rate below LIBOR | 1.00% | 0.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | 2,770,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minimum net worth amount that must be maintained | 5,000,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net worth | 8,007,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt fair value | 14,658,000,000 | 12,035,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maturity - Minimum Date | Jan. 01, 2013 | Jan. 01, 2049 | Jan. 01, 2013 | Jan. 01, 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maturity - Maximum Date | Jan. 01, 2013 | Jan. 01, 2020 | Jan. 01, 2030 | Jan. 01, 2053 | Jan. 01, 3004 | Jan. 01, 2036 | Jan. 01, 2013 | Jan. 01, 2018 | Jan. 01, 2014 | Jan. 01, 2017 | Jan. 01, 2019 | Jan. 01, 2021 | Jan. 01, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maturity date of newly converted debentures | Apr. 01, 2030 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating leases, expiration year | 2038 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage | 2.51% | 2.39% | 2.71% | 2.53% | 1.14% | 0.99% | 0.57% | 0.00% | 2.20% | 2.04% | 1.28% | 0.52% | 0.86% | 0.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term Debt | $ 11,992,000,000 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 1,751,000,000 | $ 1,778,000,000 | $ 851,000,000 | $ 841,000,000 | $ 1,033,000,000 | $ 1,050,000,000 | $ 373,000,000 | $ 0 | $ 1,140,000,000 | $ 1,119,000,000 | $ 1,655,000,000 | $ 1,641,000,000 | $ 512,000,000 | $ 504,000,000 | $ 284,000,000 | $ 284,000,000 | $ 374,000,000 | $ 376,000,000 | $ 996,000,000 | $ 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||