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BTS Home > Press Releases > 2007
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January 2007 Passenger Airline Employment Down 0.5 Percent from January 2006

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BTS 13-07
Dave Smallen
202-366-5568

Thursday, March 20, 2007 - U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 0.5 percent fewer workers in January 2007 than in January 2006, the smallest decrease in full-time equivalent employee (FTE) levels for the scheduled passenger carriers from the same month of the previous year since December 2004, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today (Table 2).  FTE calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.

Only the network carrier group reported fewer FTE employees in January than in the prior year with an 2.6 percent decrease while all other carriers combined employed 3.5 percent more FTEs than a year earlier (Table 1). 

Adding FTEs from January 2006 to January 2007 were network carriers Continental Airlines and Alaska Airlines (Table 9), all of the low-cost carriers except for ATA Airlines (Table 12), and regional carriers SkyWest Airlines, ExpressJet Airlines, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Mesa Airlines, Pinnacle Airlines, Air Wisconsin Airlines, Shuttle America Airlines, Republic Airlines and GoJet Airlines (Table 15).

Scheduled passenger airlines include network, low-cost, regional and other airlines.  Many regional carriers were not required to report employment numbers before 2003, so year-to-year comparisons involving regional carriers, or the total industry, are not available for the years before 2003. 

The seven network carriers employed 262,000 FTEs in January, 65.0 percent of the passenger airline total, while low-cost carriers employed 17.6 percent and regional carriers employed 14.6 percent (Table 4).  The network carriers have employed fewer FTEs each January compared to the previous year since 2002, the only carrier group to do so (Table 5).

American Airlines employed the most FTEs in January among the network carriers, Southwest Airlines employed the most among low-cost carriers and American Eagle Airlines employed the most among regional carriers. Seven of the top 10 employers in the industry are network carriers (Table 6).

Network Airlines

Network carrier FTEs declined 2.6 percent in January 2007 compared to January 2006, the smallest drop from the same month of the previous year since November 2004 (Table 7).

Two network carriers increased FTEs from January 2006 to January 2007.  Continental’s workforce grew 5.1 percent while Alaska’s rose 3.6 percent. The largest FTE decreases were reported by Delta, 7.1 percent, and Northwest, 6.1 percent (Table 9). 

Collectively, the seven network carriers reduced their FTE headcount by 24.9 percent, or 86,700 FTEs, from January 2003 to January 2007.  Network carrier FTEs dropped from 348,700 during the four-year period (Table 8).  

FTEs at all seven network carriers declined in January 2007 from January 2003.  The biggest percentage decline was at Northwest Airlines, down 31.3 percent, a reduction of 13,200 FTEs. United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and US Airways all reported cuts of more than 25 percent in the four years.  Continental’s FTEs were down 2.6 percent and Alaska’s were down 8.1 percent during that time (Table 9).

Network carriers operate a significant portion of their flights using at least one hub where connections are made for flights to down-line destinations or spoke cities.

Data for US Airways and America West Airlines, now in the process of merging operations, are separately reported – US Airways’ data are included in the network carriers’ category and America West’s in the low-cost carriers’ category.

Low-Cost Airlines

Low-cost carrier FTEs rose 4.5 percent in January 2007 compared to January 2006, the fourth consecutive increase after 18 consecutive decreases from the previous year.  It was the largest increase from the same month of the previous year since February 2004 (Table 10). 

All the low-cost carriers had FTE increases from January 2006 to January 2007 except ATA, which reported a 24.4 percent decline. Only AirTran Airways reported an increase of more than 10 percent (Table 12).

Low-cost carrier FTEs were 65,700 in January 2003, 67,800 in January 2006 and 70,800 in January 2007. The rise from 2003 to 2006 was 7.8 percent (Table 11). 

Low-cost carriers are those that the industry recognizes as operating under a low-cost business model, with fewer infrastructure costs and greater expectations of productivity.

Employment data for Independence Air, which changed its business model from a regional to low-cost carrier in mid-2004, have been included with low-cost carriers for 2003, 2004 and 2005 for consistency.  The airline discontinued all flights on Jan. 5, 2006.

Regional Airlines

Regional carrier FTEs were up 3.0 percent in January 2007 compared to January 2006, the second largest increase in FTEs from the previous year since September 2005 (Table 13).

Shuttle America and Republic reported the largest increases in the group.  Shuttle America employed 42.0 percent more FTEs in January 2007 than January 2006 while Republic employed 116.2 percent more (Table 15).

Regional carrier FTEs rose from 48,300 in January 2004 to 58,900 in January 2007, an increase of 22.0 percent (Table 14).  

The 10 regional carriers reporting employment data in both 2003 and 2007 employed 18.5 percent more FTEs in January 2007 than in January 2003.  Of that group, Air Wisconsin, Mesaba Airlines and Executive were the only carriers to report fewer FTEs in January 2007 than January 2003 (Table 15).

Regional carriers provide service from small cities, using primarily regional jets to support the network carriers’ hub and spoke systems.

Reporting Notes

Airlines that operate at least one aircraft with the capacity to carry combined passengers, cargo and fuel of 18,000 pounds – the payload factor – must report monthly employment statistics.

The Other Carrier category generally reflects those airlines that operate within specific niche markets, such as Aloha and Hawaiian Airlines in serving the Hawaiian Islands.

Data are compiled from monthly reports filed with BTS by commercial air carriers as of March 13.

Additional airline employment data can be found on the BTS website at http://www.bts.gov/programs/airline_information/number_of_employees/.  BTS has scheduled release of February airline employment data for April 17.

Table 1: Passenger Airline Full-time Equivalent Employees*

Change from the Previous Year

Percent change compared to same month the previous year for the most recent 13 months

Excel | CSV

Month NetworkCarriers
(Pct. Change)
From Table 7		 Low-Cost Carriers**
(Pct. Change)
From Table 10		 Regional Carriers
(Pct. Change)
From Table 13		 All Passenger Airlines***
(Pct. Change)
From Table 2
Jan. 2005-Jan. 2006 −8.1 −5.3 2.5 −6.0
Feb. 2005-Feb. 2006 −7.8 −4.1 0.7 −5.8
Mar. 2005-Mar. 2006 −7.5 −3.0 0.1 −5.4
Apr. 2005-Apr. 2006 −6.7 −2.2 0.1 −4.7
May 2005-May 2006 −7.0 −2.1 −1.2 −5.0
June 2005-June 2006 −6.9 −2.0 −1.6 −5.0
July 2005-July 2006 −8.1 −2.6 −0.8 −5.9
Aug. 2005-Aug. 2006 −4.7 −0.8 −1.0 −3.1
Sept. 2005-Sept. 2006 −4.1 −0.4 −0.3 −2.7
Oct. 2005-Oct. 2006 −4.0 0.8 0.6 −2.3
Nov. 2005-Nov. 2006 −3.4 0.9 2.4 −1.6
Dec. 2005-Dec. 2006 −2.9 1.4 3.4 −1.0
Jan. 2006-Jan. 2007 −2.6 4.5 3.0 −0.5

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

* 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 airline discontinued flights on Jan. 5, 2006.

*** Includes network, low-cost, regional and other carriers. Other Carriers generally operate within specific niche markets. They are: Allegiant Air, Aloha Airlines, Boston-Maine Airways, Casino Express Airlines, Continental Micronesia, Eos Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Midwest Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, USA3000 Airlines. USA3000 is included in previous months but did not report in January 2007 and December 2006.

Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding.

Table 2: Total Passenger Airline* Full-time Equivalent Employees**

Change from the Previous Year

Percent change compared to same month the previous year

Excel | CSV

Month 2004 2005 2006 2007
January −5.6 −0.8 −6.0 −0.5
February −5.3 −1.4 −5.8  
March −4.1 −1.9 −5.4  
April −2.3 −3.1 −4.7  
May −0.8 −3.5 −5.0  
June 0.5 −3.8 −5.0  
July 2.5 −3.5 −5.9  
August 2.2 −5.8 −3.1  
September 2.4 −5.8 −2.7  
October 2.5 −6.0 −2.3  
November 2.2 −6.5 −1.6  
December 0.9 −5.9 −1.0  

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

* Includes network, low-cost, regional and other carriers.

** Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.

Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding.

Table 3: Total Passenger Airline* Full-time Equivalent Employees** by Month

Numbers in thousands (000's)

Excel | CSV

Month 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Percent Change
2003-2007 2006-2007
January 465.7 435.0 431.5 405.5 403.3 −13.4% −0.5
February 459.4 435.0 428.9 404.1      
March 454.3 435.9 427.7 404.6      
April 448.2 437.8 424.1 404.0      
May 443.2 439.6 424.4 403.1      
June 438.9 440.9 424.3 403.0      
July 433.2 444.1 428.5 403.0      
August 433.3 443.0 417.5 404.4      
September 429.6 440.0 414.5 403.4      
October 428.3 439.1 412.7 403.3      
November 429.9 439.5 411.0 404.2      
December 430.2 434.0 408.6 404.7      

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

* Includes network, low-cost, regional and other carriers.

** Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.

Note: Percent changes and averages based on numbers prior to rounding.

Table 4: Total Number of Full-time Equivalent Employees* by Carrier Group, January 2003-2007

FTE Numbers in thousands (000's)

Excel | CSV

  Network Low-Cost Regional All Passenger Airlines**
2003 348.7 65.7 41.5 465.7
2004 305.1 71.2 48.3 435.0
2005 292.7 71.6 55.8 431.5
2006 269.1 67.8 57.2 405.5
2007 262.0 70.8 58.9 403.3
Pct. Change 2003-2007*** −24.9% 7.8% 22.0% −7.3
Percent of Total Passenger Airline Employees in 2007 65.0% 17.6% 14.6%  

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

* Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.

** Includes network, low-cost, regional and other carriers.

*** Percent change comparison for regional airlines and for all passenger airlines is for 2004 to 2007 because of the number of airlines in these categories that did not meet the standard for reporting monthly employment numbers.

Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding.

Table 5: Full-time Equivalent Employees* by Carrier Group,

Year-to-Year Change, January 2003-2007

Percent Change from the previous year

Excel | CSV

  Network Low-Cost Regional** All Passenger Airlines***
2003 −5.3 4.6 71.9 0.2
2004 −12.5 8.4 16.3 −6.6
2005 −4.1 0.5 15.5 −0.8
2006 −8.1 −5.3 2.5 −6.0
2007 −2.6 4.5 3.0 −0.5

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

* Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.

** Many regional carriers were not required to report employment numbers before 2003, so year-to-year comparisons involving regional carriers, or the total industry, are not appropriate for the years before 2003.

*** Includes network, low-cost, regional and other carriers.

Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding.

Table 6: Top 10 Airlines, January 2007

Ranked by Number of Full-Time Equivalent Employees*

Excel | CSV

Rank Airline Total FTE Employees (000) Carrier Group Jan 2006 Rank Jan 2005 Rank
1 American 72.7 Network 1 1
2 United 52.0 Network 2 2
3 Delta 44.5 Network 3 3
4 Continental 34.8 Network 4 5
5 Southwest 32.5 Low-Cost 5 6
6 Northwest 29.1 Network 6 4
7 US Airways 19.5 Network 7 7
8 America West 12.4 Low-Cost 8 8
9 JetBlue 9.5 Low-Cost 11 11
10 Alaska 9.3 Network 10 10

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

* Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.

Table 7: Network Airline Full-time Equivalent Employees*

Change from the Previous Year

Percent change compared to same month the previous year

Excel | CSV

Month 2004 2005 2006 2007
January −12.5 −4.1 −8.1 −2.6
February −11.0 −4.6 −7.8  
March −8.7 −5.0 −7.5  
April −6.6 −6.5 −6.7  
May −4.9 −6.6 −7.0  
June −3.6 −7.0 −6.9  
July −2.0 −5.9 −8.1  
August −1.7 −9.0 −4.7  
September −1.7 −8.9 −4.1  
October −1.4 −8.9 −4.0  
November −1.8 −9.3 −3.4  
December −3.5 −8.5 −2.9  

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

* Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.

Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding.

Table 8: Network Carrier Full-time Equivalent Employees* by Month

Numbers in thousands (000's)

Excel | CSV

Rank 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Percent Change
2003-2007 2006-2007
January 348.7 305.1 292.7 269.1 262.0 −24.9 −2.6
February 342.3 304.7 290.9 268.2      
March 333.8 304.6 289.3 267.8      
April 327.2 305.6 285.8 266.6      
May 321.9 306.0 285.8 265.8      
June 317.5 306.1 284.8 265.0      
July 312.5 306.3 288.2 264.9      
August 310.6 305.3 277.8 264.8      
September 307.6 302.4 275.4 264.0      
October 305.3 300.9 274.1 263.0      
November 305.7 300.2 272.4 263.0      
December 306.2 295.7 270.6 262.9      

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

* Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.

Note: Percent changes and averages based on numbers prior to rounding.

Table 9: Network Carrier Full-time Equivalent Employees*, January 2003-2007

(Ranked by January 2007 FTE Employees)

Numbers in thousands (000's)

Excel | CSV

Rank   2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Percent Change
2003-2007 2006-2007
1 American 94.7 79.2 76.7 74.7 72.7 −23.3 −2.7
2 United 74.9 58.6 56.9 53.4 52.0 −30.5 −2.7
3 Delta 63.0 58.4 55.6 47.9 44.5 −29.3 −7.1
4 Continental 35.7 34.3 31.9 33.1 34.8 −2.6 5.1
5 Northwest 42.4 38.2 38.4 31.0 29.1 −31.3 −6.1
6 US Airways 27.8 26.5 24.1 19.9 19.5 −29.8 −1.8
7 Alaska 10.2 9.9 9.2 9.0 9.3 −8.1 3.6
  Total 348.7 305.1 292.7 269.1 262.0 −24.9 −2.6

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

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.

Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding.

Table 10: Change in Low-Cost Airline Full-time Equivalent Employees* from the Previous Year

Percent change compared to same month the previous year

Excel | CSV

Month 2004 2005 2006 2007
January 8.4 0.5 −5.3 4.5
February 6.9 0.6 −4.1  
March 0.5 0.0 −3.0  
April 0.6 −0.7 −2.2  
May 0.8 −1.0 −2.1  
June 1.5 −1.2 −2.1  
July 2.3 −1.5 −2.0  
August 1.1 −0.7 −0.8  
September 0.7 −1.0 −0.4  
October −0.2 −1.2 0.8  
November 0.5 −2.5 0.9  
December 0.5 −1.4 1.4  

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

* Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.

Note: 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 airline discontinued flights on Jan. 5, 2006.

Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding.

Table 11: Low-Cost Carrier Full-time Equivalent Employees* by Month

Numbers in thousands (000's)

Excel | CSV

Rank 2003** 2004** 2005** 2006 2,007 Percent Change
2003-2007 2006-2007
January 65.7 71.2 71.6 67.8 70.8 7.8 4.5
February 65.9 70.5 70.9 68.0      
March 70.4 70.8 70.8 68.7      
April 70.6 71.0 70.4 68.9      
May 70.7 71.3 70.5 69.1      
June 70.6 71.7 70.8 69.4      
July 70.7 72.3 71.3 69.4      
August 70.8 71.6 71.1 70.5      
September 70.7 71.3 70.6 70.3      
October 71.3 71.2 70.4 70.9      
November 71.9 72.3 70.5 71.1      
December 71.3 71.6 70.6 71.6      

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

Note: Percent changes and averages 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 airline discontinued flights on Jan. 5, 2006.

Table 12: Low-Cost Carrier Full-time Equivalent Employees*, January 2003-2007

(Ranked by January 2007 FTE Employees)

Numbers in thousands (000's)

Excel | CSV

Rank   2003** 2004** 2005** 2006 2007 Percent Change
2003-2007 2006-2007
1 Southwest 33.4 32.5 31.0 31.4 32.5 −2.8 3.4
2 America West 11.6 11.3 11.5 11.4 12.4 7.1 8.7
3 JetBlue 4.0 5.2 6.8 8.8 9.5 143.6 8.2
4 AirTran 4.7 5.5 5.9 6.7 7.4 55.3 10.1
5 Frontier 2.7 3.5 4.1 4.2 4.5 65.7 8.8
6 ATA 6.9 6.9 5.8 3.2 2.4 −65.0 −24.4
7 Spirit 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.1 2.1 −13.9 0.5
8 Independence N/A 3.9 4.0 N/A N/A N/A N/A
  Total 65.7 71.2 71.6 67.8 70.8 7.8 4.5

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.

Table 13: Change in Regional Airline Full-time Equivalent Employees* from the Previous Year

Percent change compared to same month the previous year

Excel | CSV

  2004** 2005*** 2006 2007
January 16.3 15.5 2.5 3.0
February 17.3 14.3 0.7  
March 21.6 13.7 0.1  
April 21.7 12.6 0.1  
May 23.3 11.1 −1.2  
June 24.9 11.0 −1.6  
July 33.0 6.0 −0.8  
August 31.6 5.1 −1.0  
September 32.4 4.3 −0.3  
October 33.0 2.7 0.6  
November 31.0 2.1 2.4  
December 29.3 1.8 3.4  

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

* Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.

** Mesa, Pinnacle and PSA began reporting employment numbers in 2004.

*** Republic, Shuttle America and GoJet began reporting in 2005.

Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding.

Table 14: Regional Carrier Full-time Equivalent Employees* by Month

Numbers in thousands (000's)

Excel | CSV

  2004** 2005*** 2006 2007 Percent Change
2004-2007 2006-2007
January 48.3 55.8 57.2 58.9 22.0 3.0
February 48.9 56.1 56.3      
March 49.6 56.4 56.4      
April 50.3 56.6 56.6      
May 51.2 56.9 56.2      
June 51.9 57.6 56.7      
July 54.3 57.6 57.1      
August 55.0 57.8 57.2      
September 55.2 57.6 57.4      
October 55.8 57.4 57.7      
November 55.6 56.8 58.1      
December 55.3 56.3 58.2      

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

* Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.

** Mesa, Pinnacle and PSA began reporting employment numbers in 2004.

*** Republic, Shuttle America and GoJet began reporting in 2005.

Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding.

Table 15: Regional Carrier Full-time Equivalent Employees*, January 2003-2007

(Ranked by January 2007 FTE Employees)

Excel | CSV

Rank   2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Percent Change**
2003-2007 2006-2007
1 American Eagle 7,788 7,794 9,267 9,366 9,320 19.7 −0.5
2 SkyWest 5,247 5,716 7,217 8,103 9,175 74.9 13.2
3 Express Jet 5,415 5,826 6,419 6,391 7,034 29.9 10.1
4 Comair 5,117 5,766 6,229 6,161 6,163 20.4 0.0
5 Atlantic Southeast 5,162 5,450 5,740 5,450 5,747 11.3 5.4
6 Horizon 3,400 3,344 3,339 4,120 3,714 9.2 −9.9
7 Mesa N/A 3,192 3,230 3,208 3,228 N/A 0.6
8 Pinnacle N/A 1,963 2,624 2,963 3,194 N/A 7.8
9 Mesaba 3,107 2,882 3,154 3,124 2,532 −18.5 −19.0
10 Air Wisconsin 2,984 3,269 3,617 2,273 2,322 −22.2 2.2
11 Executive 1,968 1,887 1,761 1,765 1,711 −13.1 −3.1
12 PSA N/A N/A 1,730 1,617 1,436 N/A −11.2
13 Trans States 1,170 1,213 1,472 1,366 1,280 9.4 −6.3
14 Shuttle America N/A N/A N/A 752 1,068 N/A 42.0
15 Republic N/A N/A N/A 313 677 N/A 116.2
16 GoJet N/A N/A N/A 237 322 N/A 35.9
  Total 41,358 48,302 55,799 57,209 58,923 18.5 =3.4

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

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.

** Many regional carriers were not required to report employment numbers before 2003, so year-to-year comparisons involving regional carriers, or the total industry, are not appropriate for the years before 2003. The Percent Change 2003-2007 is based on the 10 carriers reporting in both years.

N/A: Not applicable because carriers did not meet the standard for filing.
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