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BTS Home > Press Releases > 2008
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July 2008 Passenger Airline Employment Down 0.8 Percent from July 2007

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BTS 46-08
Dave Smallen
202-366-5568

Tuesday, September 16, 2008 - U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 0.8 percent fewer workers in July 2008 than in July 2007, the first decrease in full-time equivalent employee (FTE) levels for the scheduled passenger carriers from the same month of the previous year since January 2007, 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.

Of the network airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines decreased employment from July 2007 to July 2008 (Table 9) as did low-cost carriers AirTran Airways and Frontier Airlines (Table 12). Regional carriers SkyWest Airlines, ExpressJet Airlines, Horizon Air, Mesa Airlines, Executive Airlines, and PSA Airlines also reported reduced employment levels (Table 15) compared to last year.

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 280,293 FTEs in July, 68.2 percent of the passenger airline total, while low-cost carriers employed 14.9 percent and regional carriers also employed 14.8 percent (Table 4). 

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

America West Airlines and US Airways now operate under a single certificate.  Joint reporting began with October 2007 data.  US Airways' employment numbers were included with the network airlines prior to October 2007 while America West's numbers were included with the low-cost airlines.  Beginning with October 2007, US Airways' numbers are combined with America West's numbers in the network category.  The combined carrier's numbers were included in the low-cost category for October 2007 through February 2008 in the releases for those months.  The numbers for those months have been revised beginning with the March 2008 release to include the combined carrier's numbers in the network category for all months.  The revision was due to a BTS recalculation based on the airline's fourth quarter financial report released May 19.

The merged airline, listed in the network category, reported 32,611 FTEs for July 2008.  In July 2007, US Airways reported 20,399 FTEs in the network category and America West reported 12,451 FTEs in the low-cost category for a total of 32,850. 

Network Airlines

FTEs at the seven network carriers increased 4.3 percent in July 2008 compared to July 2007, the 15th consecutive monthly gain from the same month of the previous year.  Prior to an increase in July 2007, the network group had reduced FTEs from the previous year every month since September 2001 (Table 7).

Three network carriers decreased FTEs from July 2007 to July 2008: Delta, 1.6 percent, United, 1.5 percent, and Northwest, 0.4 percent. The year-to-year increases were US Airways 59.9 percent, Alaska Airlines 2.0 percent, Continental Airlines 1.9 percent, and American Airlines 0.3 percent (Table 9). US Airways' July 2007 FTE number was reported prior to joint reporting with America West.

FTEs at five network carriers declined during the four years from July 2004 to July 2008. The exceptions were Continental with a 4.2 percent increase and the newly combined US Airways with a 25.8 percent gain (Table 8).  The biggest percentage decline was at Northwest, down 24.6 percent, a reduction of 9,500 FTEs, followed by Delta at 16.9 percent.  The other FTE decreases during that time were United, down 13.4 percent, American, down 8.4 percent and Alaska, down 2.4 percent (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.

Low-Cost Airlines

Since the America West and US Airways report was combined last October and following the BTS recalculation of the carrier groups to place the merged airline in the network category, low-cost carrier FTEs decreased each month for 10 consecutive months through July compared to the same month of the previous year (Tables 10, 11).   

AirTran and Frontier Airlines also reported FTE decreases in 2008 from July 2007. Although the merger resulted in a year-to-year decline for the group, three low-cost carriers reported year-to-year increases: JetBlue Airways, 8.5 percent, Spirit Airlines 5.8 percent and Southwest Airlines, 2.2 percent.  ATA Airlines, which reported 2,383 FTEs in July 2007, stopped operating on April 3 and ceased reporting employment data effective in March (Table 12).

Low-cost carriers are those that the industry recognizes as operating under a low-cost business model, with lower infrastructure costs and higher productivity. Two new low-cost carriers, SkyBus Airlines and Virgin America, began reporting employment data in August.  SkyBus ceased operations on April 5. Virgin America reported 1,200 FTE employees in July 2008 (Table 12).

Regional Airlines

Regional carrier FTEs were up 1.4 percent in July 2008 compared to July 2007 (Table 13).

Republic Airlines and Air Wisconsin reported the largest increases in the group.  Republic employed 27.1 percent more FTEs in July 2008 than July 2007, while Air Wisconsin employed 27.2 percent more (Table 15).

Regional carrier FTEs rose from 57,574 in July 2005 to 60,698 in July 2008, an increase of 5.4 percent (Table 14).  

The 12 regional carriers reporting employment data in both 2004 and 2008 employed 5.1 percent more FTEs in July 2008 than in July 2004.  Of that group, Pinnacle Airlines reported the biggest gain, 57.2 percent, followed by SkyWest at 45.4 percent and ExpressJet at 12.0 percent. Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Air Wisconsin, Mesa, PSA, and Executive reported fewer FTEs in July 2008 than July 2004 (Table 15).

Effective with April 2008 reporting, Trans States Airlines no longer met the reporting requirements for filing monthly airline employment data. Trans States reported 1,319 FTEs in July 2007.

Regional carrier Compass Airlines began reporting employment data in November 2007. Compass reported 641 FTEs in July (Table 15). Regional carrier Lynx Airlines began reporting employment data in February 2008.  Lynx reported 341 FTEs in July (Table 15). Regional carrier Colgan Airlines began reporting employment data in April 2008. Colgan reported 1,323 FTEs in July (Table 15).

Regional carriers typically 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 Continental Micronesia and Hawaiian Airlines in serving the Hawaiian Islands.

Data are compiled from monthly reports filed with BTS by commercial air carriers as of September 10.

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 July airline employment data for Oct. 21.

Table 1: Change in Passenger Airline Full-time Equivalent Employees* by Carrier Group

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

Excel | CSV

Month Network Carriers** (Pct. Change) From Table 7 Low-Cost Carriers*** (Pct. Change) From Table 10 Regional Carriers (Pct. Change) From Table13 All Passenger Airlines**** (Pct. Change)  From Table 2
July 2006-July 2007 1.5 5.9 4.8 2.8
Aug. 2006-Aug. 2007 1.5 5.3 4.9 2.6
Sept. 2006-Sept. 2007 1.8 6.0 5.2 3.0
Oct. 2006-Oct. 2007 7.2 -11.8 5.5 3.5
Nov. 2006-Nov. 2007 7.5 -10.9 5.1 3.7
Dec. 2006-Dec. 2007 7.5 -11.2 4.9 3.7
Jan. 2007-Jan. 2008 7.5 -11.4 3.7 3.4
Feb. 2007-Feb. 2008 7.7 -11.9 1.1 3.0
Mar 2007-Mar 2008 7.5 -15.2 0.6 1.6
Apr. 2007-Apr. 2008 7.1 -15.9 2.0 1.3
May 2007-May 2008 6.4 -15.4 1.3 0.8
June 2007-June 2008 5.3 -15.6 1.8 0.1
July 2007-July 2008 4.3 -16.8 1.4 -0.8

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

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

** US Airways' employment numbers were included with the network airlines prior to October 2007 while America West's numbers were included with the low-cost airlines.  Beginning with October 2007, US Airways' numbers are combined with America West's numbers in the network category.  The combined carrier's numbers were included in the low-cost category for October 2007 through February 2008 in the releases for those months.  The numbers for those months have been revised beginning with the March 2008 release to include the combined carrier's numbers in the network category for all months.  The revision was due to a BTS recalculation based on the airline's fourth quarter financial report released May 19.

*** Employment numbers in 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, Casino Express Airlines, Continental Micronesia, Hawaiian Airlines, Midwest Airlines, Sun Country Airlines and USA3000 Airlines.  Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding.

Table 2: Change in Total Passenger Airline* Full-time Equivalent Employees** from the Previous Year

Percent change compared to same month the previous year

Excel | CSV

Month 2005 2006 2007 2008
January -0.8 -6.0 -0.4 3.4
February -1.4 -5.8 0.4 3.0
March -1.9 -5.4 0.7 1.6
April -3.1 -4.6 1.4 1.3
May -3.5 -4.9 2.2 0.8
June -3.8 -4.8 2.5 0.1
July -3.5 -5.9 2.8 -0.8
August -5.8 -3.1 2.6  
September -5.8 -2.6 3.0  
October -6.0 -2.2 3.5  
November -6.5 -1.6 3.7  
December -5.9 -0.9 3.7  

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 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 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Percent Change     
2004-2008 2007-2008
January 435.0 431.5 405.7 404.3 418.1 -3.9% 3.4%
February 435.0 428.9 404.5 406.0 418.3 -3.8% 3.0%
March 435.9 427.7 405.1 408.0 414.8 -4.8% 1.6%
April 437.8 424.1 404.5 410.2 415.5 -5.1% 1.3%
May 439.6 424.4 403.6 412.4 415.6 -5.4% 0.8%
June 440.9 424.3 403.8 414.0 414.6 -6.0% 0.1%
July 444.1 428.5 403.3 414.6 411.1 -7.4% -0.8%
August 443.0 417.5 404.7 415.4      
September 440.0 414.5 403.7 416.3      
October 439.1 412.7 403.6 417.9      
November 439.5 411.0 404.5 419.4      
December 434.0 408.8 405.0 419.8      
12-Month Average 438.7 421.2 404.3 413.2      
Jan-July Average 438.3 427.0 404.4 409.9 415.4 -5.2% 1.3%

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* (FTEs) by Carrier Group, July 2004-2008

FTE Numbers in thousands (000's)

Excel | CSV

  Network** Low-Cost** Regional All Passenger Airlines***
2004 306.3 72.4 54.3 444.1
2005 288.2 71.3 57.6 428.5
2006 264.9 69.4 57.1 403.3
2007 268.7 73.5 59.9 413.7
2008 280.3 61.2 60.7 411.1
Pct. Change 2004-2008**** -8.5% -15.5% 5.4% -4.0%
Percent of Total Passenger Airline Employees in 2008 68.2% 14.9% 14.8%  

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

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

** America West's employment numbers were included with the low-cost airlines prior to October 2007.  Beginning with October 2007, America West's numbers are combined with US Airways numbers in the network category.

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

**** Percent change comparison for regional airlines and for all passenger airlines is for 2005 to 2008  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, July 2004-2008

Percent Change from the previous year

Excel | CSV

  Network** Low-Cost** Regional*** All Passenger Airlines****
2004 -2.0 2.3 N/A N/A
2005 -5.9 -1.5 6.0 -5.5
2006 -8.1 -2.6 -0.8 -5.9
2007 1.5 5.9 4.8 2.8
2008 4.3 -16.8 1.4 -0.8

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

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

** America West's employment numbers were included with the low-cost airlines prior to October 2007.  Beginning with October 2007, America West's numbers are combined with US Airways numbers in the network category.

*** Some regional carriers were not required to report employment numbers before 2005, so year-to-year comparisons involving regional carriers, or the total industry, are not appropriate for the years before 2005.

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

Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding.

Table 6: Top 10 Airlines, July 2008

Ranked by Number of Full-Time Equivalent Employees*

Excel | CSV

Rank Airline Total FTE Employees (000) Carrier Group** Top 10 Airlines June 2007
1 American 73.1 Network American
2 United 50.9 Network United
3 Delta 48.1 Network Delta
4 Continental 36.5 Network Continental
5 Southwest 34.3 Low Cost Southwest
6 US Airways 32.6 Network Northwest
7 Northwest 29.1 Network US Airways
8 JetBlue 10.4 Low Cost America West
9 Alaska 10.0 Network Alaska
10 American Eagle 9.6 Regional SkyWest

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

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

** America West's employment numbers were included with the low-cost airlines prior to October 2007.  Beginning with October 2007, America West's numbers are combined with US Airways numbers in the network category.

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 2005 2006 2007 2008
January -4.1 -8.1 -2.6 7.5
February -4.6 -7.8 -2.2 7.7
March -5.0 -7.4 -1.4 7.5
April -6.5 -6.7 -0.7 7.1
May -6.6 -7.0 0.3 6.7
June -7.0 -6.8 1.3 5.3
July -5.9 -8.1 1.5 4.3
August -9.0 -4.7 1.5  
September -8.9 -4.1 1.8  
October -8.9 -4.0 7.2  
November -9.3 -3.4 7.5  
December -8.5 -2.9 7.5  

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

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

** US Airways' employment numbers were included with the network airlines prior to October 2007 while America West's numbers were included with the low-cost airlines.  Beginning with October 2007, US Airways' numbers are combined with America West' numbers in the network category.  The combined carrier's numbers were included in the low-cost category for October 2007 through February 2008 in the releases for those months.  The numbers for those months have been revised beginning with the March 2008 release to include the combined carrier's numbers in the network category for all months.  The revision was due to a BTS recalculation based on the airline's fourth quarter financial report released May 19.

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

  2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Percent Change     
2004-2008 2007-2008
January 305.1 292.7 269.1 262.0 281.7 -18.4 7.5
February 304.7 290.9 268.2 262.4 282.6 -18.0 7.7
March 304.6 289.3 267.8 264.1 283.9 -6.8 7.5
April 305.6 285.8 266.6 264.8 283.7 -7.2 7.1
May 306.0 285.8 265.8 266.6 283.6 -7.3 6.4
June 306.1 284.8 265.3 268.6 282.8 -7.6 5.3
July 306.3 288.2 264.9 268.7 280.3 -8.5 4.3
August 305.3 277.8 264.8 268.8      
September 302.4 275.4 264.0 268.8      
October 300.9 274.1 263.0 281.9      
November 300.2 272.4 263.0 282.7      
December 295.7 270.6 262.9 282.7      
12-Month Average 305.1 285.6 266.3 270.2      
Jan-July Average 305.5 288.2 266.8 265.3 282.7 -7.5% 6.5%

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

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

** US Airways' employment numbers were included with the network airlines prior to October 2007 while America West's numbers were included with the low-cost airlines.  Beginning with October 2007, US Airways' numbers are combined with America West's numbers in the network category.  The combined carrier's numbers were included in the low-cost category for October 2007 through February 2008 in the releases for those months.  The numbers for those months have been revised beginning with the March 2008 release to include the combined carrier's numbers in the network category for all months.  The revision was due to a BTS recalculation based on the airline's fourth quarter financial report released May 19.

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

Table 9: Network Carrier Full-time Equivalent Employees*, July 2004-2008**

(Ranked by July 2008 FTEs)

Numbers in thousands (000's)

Excel | CSV

Rank   2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Percent Change     
2004-2008 2007-2008
1 American 79.8 80.5 73.3 72.9 73.1 -8.4 0.3
2 United 58.8 54.5 53.0 51.7 50.9 -13.4 -1.5
3 Delta 57.9 52.3 45.3 48.9 48.1 -16.9 -1.6
4 Continental 35.0 32.6 34.3 35.8 36.5 4.2 1.9
5 US Airways 25.9 21.7 19.2 20.4 32.6 25.8 59.9
6 Northwest 38.6 37.6 30.4 29.2 29.1 -24.6 -0.4
7 Alaska 10.3 9.0 9.4 9.8 10.0 -2.4 2.0
  Total 306,264 288,244 264,875 268,726 280,293 -8.5 4.3

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.

** Beginning with October 2007, US Airways' numbers are combined with America West Airlines' numbers in the network category.  For America West's previous year numbers in the low-cost category, see Table 12.

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 2005 2006 2007 2008
January 0.5 -5.3 4.5 -11.4
February 0.6 -4.1 5.0 -11.9
March*** 0.0 -3.0 4.4 -15.2
April -0.7 -2.2 5.7 -15.9
May -1.0 -2.1 5.3 -15.4
June -1.2 -2.0 5.3 -15.6
July -1.5 -2.6 5.9 -16.8
August -0.7 -0.8 5.3  
September -1.0 -0.4 6.0  
October -1.2 0.8 -11.8  
November -2.5 0.9 -10.9  
December -1.4 1.4 -11.2  

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

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

** US Airways' employment numbers were included with the network airlines prior to October 2007 while America West's numbers were included with the low-cost airlines.  Beginning with October 2007, US Airways' numbers are combined with America West's numbers in the network category.  The combined carrier's numbers were included in the low-cost category for October 2007 through February 2008 in the releases for those months.  The numbers for those months have been revised beginning with the March 2008 release to include the combined carrier's numbers in the network category for all months.  The revision was due to a BTS recalculation based on the airline's fourth quarter financial report released May 19.

*** ATA Airlines ceased operating on April 3, 2008 and stopped reporting employment data effective in March.

Note: Employment numbers in 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

  2004*** 2005*** 2006 2007**** 2008 Percent Change     
2004-2008 2007-2008
January 71.2 71.6 67.8 70.8 62.8 -11.8 -11.4
February 70.5 70.9 68.0 71.4 62.9 -10.8 -11.9
March***** 70.8 70.8 69.7 71.7 60.8 -14.2 -15.2
April 71.0 70.3 68.9 72.8 61.2 -13.7 -15.9
May 71.3 70.5 69.1 72.7 61.5 -13.7 -15.4
June 71.7 70.8 69.4 73.1 61.7 -14.0 -15.6
July 72.4 71.3 69.4 73.5 61.2 -15.5 -16.8
August 71.6 71.1 70.5 74.2      
September 71.3 70.6 70.3 74.5      
October 71.2 70.4 70.9 62.6      
November 72.3 70.5 71.1 63.4      
December 71.6 70.6 71.6 63.6      
12-Month Average 71.3 70.9 69.2 70.4      
Jan-July Average 71.3 70.9 68.9 72.3 61.7 13.4% 14.6%

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

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

** US Airways' employment numbers were included with the network airlines prior to October 2007 while America West's numbers were included with the low-cost airlines.  Beginning with October 2007, US Airways' numbers are combined with America West Airlines' numbers in the network category.  The combined carrier's numbers were included in the low-cost category for October 2007 through February 2008 in the releases for those months.  The numbers for those months have been revised beginning with the March 2008 release to include the combined carrier's numbers in the network category for all months.  The revision was due to a BTS recalculation based on the airline's fourth quarter financial report released May 19.

***Employment numbers in 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.

**** Virgin America and SkyBus began reporting employment data in August 2007. SkyBus stopped reporting employment data effective in April 2008 resulting from its bankruptcy filing.

***** ATA Airlines ceased operating on April 3, 2008 and stopped reporting employment data effective in March.

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

Note: Detail may not add to total due to rounding.

Table 12: Low-Cost Carrier Full-time Equivalent Employees,* July 2004-2008**

(Ranked by July 2008 FTEs)

Excel | CSV

Rank   2004*** 2005*** 2006 2007**** 2008 Percent Change     
2004-2008 2007-2008
1 Southwest 31,676 31,428 31,731 33,554 34,285 8.2 2.2
2 JetBlue 6,052 7,674 9,676 9,605 10,424 72.2 8.5
3 AirTran 5,720 6,293 7,222 8,245 8,182 43.0 -0.8
4 Frontier 3,969 4,117 4,529 5,076 4,742 19.5 -6.6
5 Spirit 2,426 2,153 2,033 2,195 2,323 -4.2 5.8
6 Virgin America N/A N/A N/A N/A 1,200 N/A N/A
7 ATA***** 6,688 4,486 2,612 2,383 N/A N/A N/A
8 SkyBus N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
9 Independence 4,348 3,165 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
10 America West 11,472 11,941 11,630 12,451 N/A N/A N/A
  Total 72,351 71,257 69,433 73,509 61,154 -15.5 -16.8

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

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

** US Airways' employment numbers were included with the network airlines prior to October 2007 while America West's numbers were included with the low-cost airlines.  Beginning with October 2007, US Airways' numbers are combined with America West Airlines' numbers in the network category.  The combined carrier's numbers were included in the low-cost category for October 2007 through February 2008 in the releases for those months.  The numbers for those months have been revised beginning with the March 2008 release to include the combined carrier's numbers in the network category for all months.  The revision was due to a BTS recalculation based on the airline's fourth quarter financial report released May 19.

***Employment numbers in 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.

**** Virgin America and SkyBus began reporting employment data in August 2007. SkyBus stopped reporting employment data effective in April 2008 resulting from its bankruptcy filing.

***** ATA Airlines ceased operating on April 3, 2008 and stopped reporting employment data effective in March.

N/A: Carrier did not meet the standard for filing, was no longer operating, merged with another operating carrier or failed to file.  See previous notes.

Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding.

Note: Detail may not add to total due to rounding.

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

  2005** 2006 2007*** 2008****
January 15.5 2.5 3.0 3.7
February 14.3 1.1 5.9 1.1
March 13.7 0.5 5.6 0.6
April 12.6 0.6 5.6 2.0
May 11.1 -0.6 7.2 1.3
June 11.0 -1.6 5.1 1.8
July 6.0 -0.8 4.8 1.4
August 5.1 -1.0 4.9  
September 4.3 -0.3 5.2  
October 2.7 0.6 5.5  
November 2.1 2.4 5.1  
December 2.2 3.0 4.9  

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

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

** Republic, Shuttle America and GoJet reported for part of 2005.

*** Compass began reporting employment numbers in November 2007.

**** Lynx Airlines began reporting in February 2008. Colgan Airlines began reporting in April 2008. Trans States Airlines no longer met reporting requirements beginning in April 2008.

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**** 2008***** Percent Change
 2005-2008 2007-2008
January 48.3 55.8 57.2 58.9 61.1 9.5 3.7
February 48.9 55.9 56.6 59.9 60.5 8.3 1.1
March 49.6 56.4 56.7 59.9 60.2 6.9 0.6
April 50.3 56.6 56.9 60.1 61.3 8.4 2.0
May 51.2 56.9 56.5 60.6 61.4 7.9 1.3
June 51.9 57.6 57.0 59.9 61.0 5.8 1.8
July 54.3 57.6 57.1 59.9 60.7 5.4 1.4
August 55.0 57.8 57.2 60.2      
September 55.2 57.6 57.4 60.7      
October 55.8 57.4 57.7 61.2      
November 55.6 56.8 58.1 61.1      
December 55.3 56.3 58.2 61.1      
12-Month Average 51.6 56.9 57.0 60.3      
Jan-July Average 50.6 56.7 56.9 59.9 60.9 7.4% 1.7%

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 reported for part of 2005.

**** Compass began reporting employment numbers in November 2007.

**** Lynx Airlines began reporting in February 2008. Colgan Airlines began reporting in April 2008. Trans States Airlines no longer met reporting requirements beginning in April 2008.

Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding.

Table 15: Regional Carrier Full-time Equivalent Employees*, July 2004-2008

(Ranked by July 2008 FTEs)

Excel | CSV

Rank   2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Percent Change**     
2004-2008 2007-2008
1 American Eagle 8,604 9,373 9,211 9,499 9,616 11.8 1.2
2 SkyWest 6,399 7,794 8,144 9,761 9,304 45.4 -4.7
3 ExpressJet 6,229 6,501 6,717 7,878 6,979 12.0 -11.4
4 Comair 5,873 6,544 6,101 6,099 6,140 4.5 0.7
5 Atlantic Southeast 5,771 5,537 5,569 4,356 4,478 -22.4 2.8
6 Horizon 3,360 3,409 3,477 3,827 3,675 9.4 -4.0
7 Pinnacle 2,264 3,071 3,048 3,492 3,560 57.2 1.9
8 Mesaba 3,104 3,306 2,776 2,609 3,277 5.6 25.6
9 Mesa 3,743 3,314 3,376 3,163 2,992 -20.1 -5.4
10 Air Wisconsin 3,701 3,228 2,199 2,250 2,861 -22.7 27.2
11 Executive 2,027 1,848 1,813 1,726 1,695 -16.4 -1.8
12 Colgan N/A N/A N/A N/A 1,323 N/A N/A
13 Republic N/A N/A 561 998 1,268 N/A 27.1
14 Shuttle America N/A 478 1,033 1,069 1,122 N/A 5.0
15 PSA 1,843 1,708 1,463 1,459 1,062 -42.4 -27.2
16 Compass N/A N/A N/A N/A 641 N/A N/A
17 GoJet N/A N/A 325 350 364 N/A 4.0
18 Lynx N/A N/A N/A N/A 341 N/A N/A
19 Trans States*** 1,399 1,463 1,310 1,319 N/A N/A N/A
  Total 54,317 57,574 57,123 59,855 60,698 5.1 1.4

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

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

** Some regional carriers were not required to report employment numbers before 2005, so year-to-year comparisons involving regional carriers, or the total industry, are not appropriate for the years before 2005. The Percent Change 2004-2008 is based on the 11 carriers reporting in both years.

*** Effective with April 2008 reporting, Trans States Airlines no longer met the reporting requirements for filing monthly airline employment data.

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

Note: Detail may not add to total due to rounding.
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