"Table 12: Low-Cost Carrier Full-time Equivalent Employees,* May 2004-2008**",,,,,,,,
(Ranked by May 2008 FTEs),,,,,,,,
Rank,,2004***,2005***,2006,2007****,2008,Percent Change      ,
,,,,,,,2004-2008,2007-2008
1,Southwest,"31,402","31,242","31,684","33,230","33,909",8.0,2.0
2,JetBlue,"5,738","7,248","9,580","9,600","10,611",84.9,10.5
3,AirTran,"5,506","6,181","7,030","7,986","8,265",50.1,3.5
4,Frontier,"3,906","4,066","4,423","4,883","5,093",30.4,4.3
5,Spirit,"2,440","2,049","1,978","2,151","2,501",2.5,16.3
6,Virgin America****,N/A,N/A,N/A,N/A,"1,123",N/A,N/A
7,ATA,"6,900","4,521","2,722","2,408",N/A,N/A,N/A
8,SkyBus*****,N/A,N/A,N/A,N/A,N/A,N/A,N/A
9,Independence,"3,911","3,252",N/A,N/A,N/A,N/A,N/A
10,America West,"11,468","11,976","11,663","12,480",N/A,N/A,N/A
,Total,"71,271","70,535","69,080","72,738","61,502",-13.7,-15.4
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.,,,,,,,,
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