Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS)
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Bottom-Line Statistics: First Quarter 2006 versus 2001

The airline industry has undergone a major shift in operations in the past five years.  As of the first quarter 2006, the legacy or network airlines have reduced their capacity (measured by available seat-miles or ASMs), by 14.1 percent since 2001, while four network carriers, United Airlines, US Airways (twice), Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines, filed for bankruptcy. During the same period, low-cost carriers increased capacity 51.2 percent and accounted for nearly one-fifth of all passenger revenue-miles in First Quarter 2006 – a 39 percent increase in low-cost carrier market share from First Quarter 2001. During this period, only one low-cost carrier, ATA Airlines, filed for bankruptcy

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  Network Carriers Low-Cost Carriers
Full-Time Equivalent Employees −37.60% 15.20%
2001 429,974 59,139
2006 268,367 68,157
Number of Aircraft −20.10% 38.10%
2001 3,355 643
2006 2,679 888
Mainline Passenger Revenue (excluding regional jet activity) −$2.2 B $1.2 B
2001 $17.9 B $2.7 B
2006 $15.7 B $3.9 B
Operating Expense (excluding Fuel & Regional Contract Operations) −$4.4 B $0.8 B
2001 $17.6 B $2.0 B
2006 $13.2 B $2.8 B