May 2008 Passenger Airline Employment Up 0.8 Percent from May 2007

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Contact BTS 35-08 Dave Smallen 202-366-5568

Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 0.8 percent more workers in May 2008 than in May 2007, the 16th consecutive increase in full-time equivalent employee (FTE) levels for the scheduled passenger carriers from the same month of the previous year but the smallest year-to-year increase since March 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.

The seven network carriers all added FTEs from May 2007 to May 2008 (Table 9). All of the currently reporting low-cost carriers (Table 12) and regional carriers American Eagle Airlines, Pinnacle Airlines, Mesaba Airlines, Executive Airlines, Air Wisconsin Airlines, Republic 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 seven network carriers employed 283,628 FTEs in May, 68.2 percent of the passenger airline total, while low-cost carriers employed 14.8 percent and regional carriers also employed 14.8 percent (Table 4). 

American Airlines employed the most FTEs in May 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 33,088 FTEs for May 2008.  In May 2007, US Airways reported 20,393 FTEs in the network category and America West reported 12,480 FTEs in the low-cost category for a total of 32,873. 

Network Airlines

FTEs at the seven network carriers increased 6.7 percent in May 2008 compared to May 2007, the 13th consecutive monthly gain from the same month of the previous year.  Prior to an increase in May 2007, the network group had reduced FTEs from the previous year every month since September 2001 (Table 7).

Every network carrier increased FTEs from May 2007 to May 2008.  The year-to-year increases were US Airways 62.3 percent, Delta Air Lines 4.8 percent, Alaska Airlines 5.8 percent, Continental Airlines 2.1 percent, Northwest Airlines 1.1 percent, United Airlines 0.8 percent and American 0.1 percent (Table 9). 

FTEs at five network carriers declined during the four years from May 2004 to May 2008. The exceptions were Continental with a 5.8 percent increase and the newly combined US Airways with a 27.6 percent gain (Table 8).  The biggest percentage decline was at Northwest, down 23.6 percent, a reduction of 9,053 FTEs, followed by Delta at 16.1 percent.  The other FTE decreases during that time were United, down 12.0 percent, American, down 7.5 percent and Alaska, down 0.6 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 have decreased for eight consecutive months through May compared to the same month of the previous year (Tables 10, 11).   

Although the merger resulted in a year-to-year decline for the group, all the carriers remaining in the low-cost group for May 2008 had FTE increases from May 2007. Spirit Airlines reported an increase of 16.3 percent.  ATA Airlines, which reported 2,408 FTEs in May 2007, stopped operating on April 3 and ceased reporting employment data effective in March (Table 12).

Employment data for Independence Air, which changed its business model from a regional to low-cost carrier in mid-2004 and ceased operation in January 2006, have been included with low-cost carriers for 2004 and 2005. 

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 1,123 FTE employees in May 2008 (Table 12).

Regional Airlines

Regional carrier FTEs were up 1.3 percent in May 2008 compared to May 2007 (Table 13).

Republic and Air Wisconsin reported the largest increases in the group.  Republic employed 59.8 percent more FTEs in May 2008 than May 2007, while Air Wisconsin employed 27.7 percent more (Table 15).

Regional carrier FTEs rose from 56,874 in May 2005 to 61,358 in May 2008, an increase of 7.9 percent (Table 14).  

The 11 regional carriers reporting employment data in both 2004 and 2008 employed 13.2 percent more FTEs in May 2008 than in May 2004.  Of that group, Pinnacle reported the biggest gain, 62.9 percent, followed by SkyWest Airlines at 53.0 percent and ExpressJet at 18.9 percent. Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Air Wisconsin, Mesa Airlines, and Executive reported fewer FTEs in May 2008 than May 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 1,278 FTEs in May 2007.

Regional carrier Compass Airlines began reporting employment data in November 2007. Compass reported 551 FTEs in May (Table 15). Regional carrier Lynx Airlines began reporting employment data in February 2008.  Lynx reported 345 FTEs in May (Table 15).Regional carrier Colgan Airlines began reporting employment data in April 2008. Colgan reported 1,348 FTEs in May (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 July 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 June airline employment data for Aug. 19.

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

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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 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

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)

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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, May 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.

** 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, May 2004-2008

Percent Change from 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.

** 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, May 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.

** 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

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

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*, May 2004-2008**

(Ranked by May 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.

** 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

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 May 3, 2008 and stopped reporting employment data effective in March.

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 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 May 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,* May 2004-2008**

(Ranked by May 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.

** Beginning with October 2007, US Airways' numbers are combined with America West’s numbers in the network category.  For US Airways previous year numbers and for the combined number in the network category, see Table 9.

***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

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

****** SkyBus ceased operating on May 5, 2008 and stopped reporting employment data effective in May.

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

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

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*, May 2004-2008

(Ranked by May 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 11 carriers reporting in both years.

*** Effective with May 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.