February 2008 Passenger Airline Employment Up 3.0 Percent from February 2007

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Contact BTS 18-08 Dave Smallen 202-366-5568

Tuesday, April 15, 2008 - U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 3.0 percent more workers in February 2008 than in February 2007, the 13th consecutive increase in full-time equivalent employee (FTE) levels for the scheduled passenger carriers from the same month of the previous year, 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.

The six network carriers all added FTEs from February 2007 to February 2008 (Table 9). All of the low-cost carriers except ATA Airlines (Table 12), and regional carriers American Eagle Airlines, SkyWest Airlines, ExpressJet Airlines, Horizon Air, Pinnacle Airlines, Mesaba Airlines, Executive Airlines, Trans States Airlines, Shuttle America and GoJet Airlines (Table 15) increased their FTEs 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 six network carriers employed 249,800 FTEs in February, 59.7 percent of the passenger airline total, while low-cost carriers employed 22.9 percent and regional carriers employed 14.5 percent (Table 4). 

American Airlines employed the most FTEs in February among the network carriers, Southwest Airlines employed the most among low-cost carriers, and SkyWest employed the most among regional carriers. Six 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.  The combined airline’s employment numbers are included with the low-cost carriers while US Airways’ previous numbers remain with network carriers and America West’s previous numbers are listed separately as a low-cost carrier.

The merged airline, which is listed in the low-cost category, reported 32,828 FTEs for February 2008.  In February 2007, US Airways reported 19,537 FTEs in the network category and America West reported 12,401 FTEs in the low-cost category for a total of 31,938. 

Network Airlines

FTEs at the six remaining network carriers, not including US Airways in previous years, increased 2.9 percent in February 2008 compared to February 2007, the 10th consecutive monthly gain from the same month of the previous year.  Prior to an increase in May, the network group had reduced FTEs from the previous year every month since September 2001 (Table 7).

All the network carriers increased FTEs from February 2007 to February 2008.  The year-to-year increases were Delta Air Lines 7.8 percent, Alaska Airlines 6.4 percent, Continental Airlines 4.1 percent, United Airlines 1.0 percent, American 0.9 percent, and Northwest Airlines 0.8 percent (Table 9). 

FTEs at five network carriers declined during the four years from February 2004 to February 2008. The exception was Continental with a 6.1 percent increase (Table 8).  The biggest percentage decline was at Northwest, down 23.2 percent, a reduction of 8,900 FTEs, followed by Delta at 16.5 percent.  The other FTE decreases during that time were United, down 10.5 percent; American, down 7.6 percent; and Alaska, down 0.1 percent (Table 9).

Low-Cost Airlines

Low-cost carrier FTEs in February continued the 16-month trend of increasing from the same month of the previous year (Tables 10, 11).   The trend continued even without combining US Airways’ numbers, which were listed in previous months in the network airline category, with America West’s numbers for February.

All the low-cost carriers had FTE increases from February 2007 to February 2008 except ATA, down 9.2 percent.  Frontier Airlines reported an increase of 13.9 percent (Table 12).

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 2004 and 2005 for consistency. 

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 reported 448 FTEs in February. Virgin America has requested confidentiality for its data (Table 12).

Regional Airlines

Regional carrier FTEs were up 1.1 percent in February 2008 compared to February 2007 (Table 13).

SkyWest and Mesaba reported the largest increases in the group.  SkyWest employed 9.4 percent more FTEs in February 2008 than February 2007, while Mesaba employed 18.0 percent more (Table 15).

Regional carrier FTEs rose from 55,900 in February 2005 to 60,500 in February 2008, an increase of 8.3 percent (Table 14).  

The 12 regional carriers reporting employment data in both 2004 and 2008 employed 15.5 percent more FTEs in February 2008 than in February 2004.  Of that group, Pinnacle reported the biggest gain, 80.6 percent, followed by SkyWest at 72.2 percent and ExpressJet at 29.2 percent. Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Air Wisconsin Airlines, Mesa Airlines and Executive Airlines reported fewer FTEs in February 2008 than February 2004 (Table 15).

Regional carrier Compass Airlines began reporting employment data in November. Compass reported 411 FTEs in February (Table 12). Regional carrier Lynx Airlines began reporting employment data in February 2008.  Lynx reported 301 FTEs in February (Table 12).

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. Aloha failed to file its February report.

Data are compiled from monthly reports filed with BTS by commercial air carriers as of April 9.

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 March airline employment data for May 20.

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

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.  Beginning with October 2007, US Airways’ numbers are combined with America West Airlines’ numbers in the low-cost category.

***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, Aloha Airlines, Boston-Maine Airways, Casino Express Airlines, Continental Micronesia, Eos Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Midwest Airlines, Sun Country Airlines and USA3000 Airlines.  Aloha Airlines failed to file its February employment report.

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

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

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, February 2004-2008

FTE Numbers in thousands (000’s)

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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.  Beginning with October 2007, US Airways’ numbers are combined with America West Airlines’ numbers in the low-cost 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, February 2004-2008

Percent Change from the previous year

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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.  Beginning with October 2007, US Airways’ numbers are combined with America West Airlines’ numbers in the low-cost 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, February 2008

Ranked by Number of Full-Time Equivalent Employees*

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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

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.  Beginning with October 2007, US Airways’ numbers are combined with America West Airlines’ numbers in the low-cost category.

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

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.  Beginning with October 2007, US Airways numbers’ are combined with America West Airlines’ numbers in the low-cost category.

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

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

(Ranked by February 2008 FTEs)

Numbers in thousands (000's)

Excel | CSV

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.

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

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

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.  Beginning with October 2007, US Airways’ numbers are combined with America West Airlines’ numbers in the low-cost category.

Note: 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.

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

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.  Beginning with October 2007, US Airways’ numbers are combined with America West Airlines’ numbers in the low-cost category.

*** 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

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,* February 2004-2008**

(Ranked by February 2008 FTEs)

Excel | CSV

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.  Beginning with October 2007, US Airways’ numbers are combined with America West Airlines’ numbers in the low-cost category.

***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 carrier did not meet the standard for filing in previous years. The airline discontinued flights on Jan. 5, 2006.

**** Virgin America and SkyBus began reporting employment data in August 2007

***** Virgin America has requested confidentiality for its data.

N/A: Carriers 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

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 began reporting in February 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

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 began reporting in February 2008.

Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding.

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

(Ranked by February 2008 FTEs)

Excel | CSV

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 12 carriers reporting in both years.

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

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