Table 12: Low-Cost Carrier Full-time Equivalent Employees* August 2002-2006,,,,,,,
(Ranked by August 2006 FTE Employees),,,,,,,
Numbers in thousands (000’s),,,,,,,
Rank,,2002,2003**,2004**,2005**,2006,Percent Change 2002-2006
1,Southwest,34,33,31,31,32,-4.5
2,America West,12,11,11,12,13,7.0
3,JetBlue,3,5,6,8,10,212.4
4,AirTran,5,5,6,6,7,56.9
5,Frontier,3,3,4,4,5,70.6
6,ATA,7,7,7,4,3,-61.5
7,Spirit,2,2,2,2,2,-14.4
8,Independence,N/A,4,4,3,N/A,N/A
,Total****,65,71,72,71,71,9.3
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics,,,,,,,
Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding.,,,,,,,
Note: Detail may not add to total due to rounding,,,,,,,
* Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.,,,,,,,
"**Employment numbers in 2003, 2004 and 2005 for Independence Air, which changed its business model from a regional to low-cost carrier in mid-2004, are included with low-cost carriers.  The carrier did not meet the standard for filing in previous years. The airline discontinued flights on Jan. 5, 2006.",,,,,,,
N/A: Not applicable because carriers did not meet the standard for filing.,,,,,,,