"Table 12: Low-Cost Carrier Full-time Equivalent Employees, February 2002-2006*",,,,,,,
(Ranked by February 2006 FTE Employees),,,,,,,
Numbers in thousands (000’s),,,,,,,
Rank,,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,Percentage Change 2002-2006
1,Southwest,32,34,32,31,31,-1.4
2,America West,11,12,11,12,11,2.8
3,JetBlue,2,4,5,7,9,283.4
4,AirTran,4,5,5,6,7,59.2
5,Frontier,2,3,4,4,4,87.5
6,ATA,7,7,7,5,3,-55.4
7,Spirit,2,2,2,2,2,3.6
8,Independence**,N/A,N/A,4,4,N/A,N/A
,Total,61,66,70,71,68,11.9
* 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.,,,,,,,
Note: Percentage changes based on numbers prior to rounding.,,,,,,,
Note: Detail may not add to total due to rounding,,,,,,,
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics,,,,,,,