|
Airlines Employed
Fewer Pilots, Maintenance Workers in 2007
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Contact |
BTS 26-08
Dave Smallen
202-366-5568 |
|
Tuesday, May 27, 2008 - U.S. scheduled
passenger airlines employed 4 percent fewer pilots and 32 percent fewer
maintenance workers in 2007 than in 2000, the U.S.
Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS)
reported today (Table 1).
The seven large network carriers employed 29.9
percent fewer pilots and 42.6 percent fewer maintenance workers in 2007 than in
2000. The six low-cost carriers now
operating employed 24.2 percent more pilots and 2.1 percent more maintenance
workers from 2000 to 2007.
United Airlines had the largest reduction in
pilots of any network airline from 2000 to 2007 while Alaska Airlines was the
only network airline to add pilots during that time. Northwest Airlines had the largest reduction
in maintenance workers of any network airline from 2000 to 2007 while Alaska and
Continental Airlines were the only network carriers to add maintenance
employees during that time (Table 2).
All of the low-cost carriers added pilots from
2000 to 2007. JetBlue Airways had the
largest increase while Frontier Airlines had the smallest gain. JetBlue also had the largest increase in
maintenance workers of any low-cost airline from 2000 to 2007 while Spirit
Airlines had the only reduction (Table 3).
Scheduled passenger airlines include network,
low-cost, regional and other airlines. Network
carriers operate a significant portion of their flights using at least one hub
where connections are made for flights on a spoke system. Low-cost carriers are
those that the industry recognizes as operating under a low-cost business model,
with lower infrastructure costs and higher productivity.
Airlines that meet the reporting standards
report annual employment numbers by job category to BTS. The annual numbers are a 12-month average for
the year and are not comparable to the full-time equivalent employee numbers issued
monthly by BTS.
Airlines that operate at least one aircraft with
the capacity to carry combined passengers, cargo and fuel of 18,000 pounds –
the payload factor – and have annual operating revenue of more than $20 million
must report annual employment data.
Pilots
The seven network carriers employed 13.5 pilots
per aircraft in 2007, down from 15.0 pilots per aircraft in 2000. The low-cost carriers employed 11.1 pilots
per aircraft in 2007, down from 13.3 pilots per aircraft in 2000 even though
all of the low-cost carriers added pilots from 2000 to 2007 (Table 4).
Northwest had 12.4 pilots per aircraft in 2007,
down from 14.2 per aircraft in 2000, the fewest of any network airline. United, with 14.7 per aircraft, down from
18.8 per aircraft in 2000, had the largest decline in the number of pilots per
aircraft from 2000 to 2007 but still had the most pilots per aircraft of any
network carrier. Continental, which had the fewest pilots per aircraft of any
network carrier in 2000, was the only one of the group to have more pilots per
aircraft in 2007 than in 2000 (Table 5).
Allegiant Airlines had 9.6 pilots per aircraft
in 2007, the fewest of any low-cost airline. Allegiant did not report employment data by category in 2000. JetBlue, with 14.1 per aircraft, down from 38.3
per aircraft in 2000, its start-up year, had the most pilots per aircraft of the
six major low-cost carriers (Table 6).
Maintenance
The passenger airlines had 8.3 maintenance
workers per aircraft in 2007, down from 13.0 per aircraft in 2000. The network airlines had 12.3 maintenance
workers per aircraft in 2007, down from 16.6 per aircraft in 2000. Spending by network airlines for outsourced
maintenance increased from 29.6 percent of total maintenance spending in 2000
to 45.3 percent in 2007 (Table 7).
The low-cost airlines had 3.6 maintenance
workers per aircraft in 2007, down from 5.2 per aircraft in 2000. Spending by low-cost airlines for outsourced
maintenance increased from 52.0 percent of total maintenance spending in 2000
to 54.2 percent in 2007 (Table 7).
Northwest had 0.8 maintenance workers per
aircraft in 2007, the fewest of any network airline and down from 13.9
employees per aircraft in 2000. Northwest’s spending for outsourcing increased from 23.8 percent of
total spending in 2000 to 71.0 percent in 2007. American Airlines had 22.4 maintenance workers per aircraft in 2007, the
most of any network airline and up from 21.4 employees per aircraft in 2000. American’s spending for outsourcing was
unchanged at 23.4 percent of total maintenance spending in 2007 (Table 8).
Allegiant had 3.1 maintenance workers per
aircraft in 2007 the fewest of any low-cost airline. Allegiant’s spending for outsourcing maintenance
work was 34.6 percent of its total maintenance spending. Allegiant did not report employment data by
category or maintenance expenses in 2000. Frontier had 7.7 maintenance workers per
aircraft in 2007, the most of any low-cost airline but down from 12.8 employees
per aircraft in 2000. Frontier’s
spending for outsourcing increased from 16.6 percent of total maintenance spending
in 2000 to 20.5 percent in 2007 (Table 9).
Reporting Notes
Data are compiled from annual reports filed with
BTS by commercial air carriers as of May 1. There were 36 reporting scheduled
passenger carriers in 2007.
Additional airline employment data and the list
of reporting carriers can be found on the BTS website at http://www.bts.gov/programs/airline_information/number_of_employees/labor_category/index.html
Table 1: Change in Passenger Airline
Employees, Maintenance Workers and Pilots 2000-2007
Total Passenger Airlines, Network
Airlines and Low-Cost Airlines
Excel | CSV
Passenger
Airlines* |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
523,208 |
422,625 |
415,434 |
421,463 |
-19.4 |
Maintenance |
64,248 |
45,210 |
43,549 |
43,490 |
-32.3 |
Pilots |
66,119 |
65,289 |
64,804 |
63,648 |
-3.7 |
Other |
392,841 |
312,120 |
307,081 |
314,325 |
-20.0 |
Network
(7 Airlines) |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
425,233 |
287,615 |
274,194 |
288,767 |
-32.1 |
Maintenance |
55,715 |
32,782 |
30,893 |
31,957 |
-42.6 |
Pilots |
50,201 |
34,497 |
33,993 |
35,186 |
-29.9 |
Other |
319,317 |
220,336 |
209,308 |
221,624 |
-30.6 |
Low-Cost
(6 Airlines)** |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
60,207 |
70,465 |
71,214 |
63,550 |
5.6 |
Maintenance |
3,375 |
4,381 |
4,088 |
3,445 |
2.1 |
Pilots |
8,626 |
11,488 |
11,217 |
10,713 |
24.2 |
Other |
48,206 |
54,596 |
55,909 |
49,392 |
2.5 |
Source:
Bureau of Transportation Statistics, P-10
* All scheduled
passenger airlines reporting annual employment numbers to BTS: 30 in 2000, 33
in 2005, 37 in 2006, 36 in 2007.
** Five
airlines in 2000, six in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
Table 2:
Change in Network Airline Employees, Maintenance Workers and Pilots 2000-2007
Excel | CSV
Alaska |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
9,531 |
9,269 |
9,307 |
9,680 |
1.6 |
Maintenance |
562 |
199 |
152 |
699 |
24.4 |
Pilots |
1,239 |
1,331 |
1,367 |
1,385 |
11.8 |
Other |
7,730 |
7,739 |
7,788 |
7,596 |
-1.7 |
American |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
92,665 |
74,962 |
72,757 |
71,818 |
-22.5 |
Maintenance |
15,139 |
14,694 |
14,296 |
13,980 |
-7.7 |
Pilots |
10,408 |
9,074 |
8,572 |
8,343 |
-19.8 |
Other |
67,118 |
51,194 |
49,889 |
49,495 |
-26.3 |
Continental |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
42,468 |
37,305 |
39,363 |
40,948 |
-3.6 |
Maintenance |
3,443 |
3,504 |
3,676 |
3,808 |
10.6 |
Pilots |
4,656 |
4,184 |
4,408 |
4,598 |
-1.2 |
Other |
34,369 |
29,617 |
31,279 |
32,542 |
-5.3 |
Delta |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
71,384 |
52,231 |
45,562 |
47,286 |
-33.8 |
Maintenance |
5,728 |
5,917 |
4,872 |
5,240 |
-8.5 |
Pilots |
9,123 |
6,181 |
5,706 |
5,904 |
-35.3 |
Other |
56,533 |
40,133 |
34,984 |
36,142 |
-36.1 |
Northwest |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
51,553 |
35,985 |
30,729 |
29,619 |
-42.5 |
Maintenance |
5,852 |
1,460 |
267 |
265 |
-95.5 |
Pilots |
5,981 |
4,995 |
4,531 |
4,340 |
-27.4 |
Other |
39,720 |
29,530 |
25,931 |
25,014 |
-37.0 |
United |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
95,327 |
56,661 |
55,027 |
55,160 |
-42.1 |
Maintenance |
15,846 |
4,785 |
4,848 |
4,891 |
-69.1 |
Pilots |
11,278 |
6,133 |
6,277 |
6,338 |
-43.8 |
Other |
68,077 |
45,743 |
43,902 |
43,931 |
-35.5 |
US
Airways |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
42,652 |
21,202 |
21,449 |
34,256 |
-19.7 |
Maintenance |
5,353 |
2,223 |
2,782 |
3,074 |
-42.6 |
Pilots |
5,330 |
2,599 |
3,132 |
4,278 |
-19.7 |
Other |
31,969 |
16,380 |
15,536 |
26,904 |
-15.8 |
Source:
Bureau of Transportation Statistics, P-10
Table 3:
Change in Low-Cost Airline Employees, Maintenance Workers and Pilots 2000-2007
Excel | CSV
AirTran |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
4,035 |
6,458 |
7,415 |
8,304 |
105.8 |
Maintenance |
337 |
364 |
407 |
409 |
21.4 |
Pilots |
547 |
1,133 |
1,325 |
1,498 |
185.3 |
Other |
3,173 |
4,961 |
5,683 |
6,397 |
101.6 |
Allegiant* |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
N/A |
563 |
841 |
1,133 |
N/A |
Maintenance |
N/A |
46 |
70 |
88 |
N/A |
Pilots |
N/A |
141 |
178 |
268 |
N/A |
Other |
N/A |
394 |
616 |
811 |
N/A |
Frontier |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
1,745 |
3,790 |
4,034 |
5,219 |
199.1 |
Maintenance |
231 |
334 |
363 |
418 |
81.0 |
Pilots |
547 |
599 |
655 |
704 |
28.7 |
Other |
967 |
2,862 |
3,019 |
4,097 |
323.7 |
JetBlue |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
693 |
7,462 |
9,272 |
9,713 |
1,301.6 |
Maintenance |
50 |
397 |
456 |
468 |
836.0 |
Pilots |
203 |
1,059 |
1,451 |
1,707 |
640.9 |
Other |
440 |
6,006 |
7,365 |
7,538 |
1,513.2 |
Southwest |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
28,671 |
31,543 |
32,167 |
33,680 |
17.5 |
Maintenance |
1,146 |
1,657 |
1,643 |
1,682 |
46.8 |
Pilots |
3,316 |
4,535 |
4,845 |
5,317 |
60.3 |
Other |
24,209 |
25,351 |
25,679 |
26,681 |
10.2 |
Spirit |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
1,911 |
2,154 |
2,018 |
2,145 |
12.2 |
Maintenance |
246 |
227 |
199 |
161 |
-34.5 |
Pilots |
244 |
375 |
368 |
442 |
81.1 |
Other |
1,421 |
1,563 |
1,463 |
1,542 |
8.5 |
Source:
Bureau of Transportation Statistics, P-10
* Allegiant did not meet
the standard for reporting in 2000. The
standard is operation of at least one aircraft with the capacity to carry
combined passengers, cargo and fuel of 18,000 pounds – the payload factor – and
annual operating revenue of more than $20 million.
Table 4:
Change in Passenger Airline Pilots and Pilots Per Aircraft 2000-2007
Total
Passenger Airlines, Network Airlines and Low-Cost Airlines
Excel | CSV
Passenger
Airlines* |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Pilots |
66,119 |
65,289 |
64,804 |
63,648 |
-3.7 |
Pilots Per Aircraft |
13.3 |
12.5 |
12.8 |
12.1 |
-9.0 |
Network
(7 Airlines) |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Pilots |
50,201 |
34,497 |
33,993 |
35,186 |
-29.9 |
Pilots Per Aircraft |
15.0 |
12.5 |
13.1 |
13.5 |
-10.0 |
Low-Cost
(6 Airlines)** |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Pilots |
8,626 |
11,488 |
11,217 |
10,713 |
24.2 |
Pilots Per Aircraft |
13.3 |
12.7 |
12.0 |
11.1 |
-16.5 |
Source:
Bureau of Transportation Statistics, P-10
* All scheduled
passenger airlines reporting annual employment numbers to BTS: 30 in 2000, 33
in 2005, 37 in 2006, 36 in 2007.
** Five
airlines in 2000, six in 2005, 2006 and 2007
Table 5:
Change in Passenger Airline Pilots and Pilots Per Aircraft 2000-2007
Excel | CSV
Alaska |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Pilots |
1,239 |
1,331 |
1,367 |
1,385 |
11.8 |
Pilots Per Aircraft |
13.6 |
12.1 |
12.3 |
12.9 |
-5.1 |
American |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Pilots |
10,408 |
9,074 |
8,572 |
8,343 |
-19.8 |
Pilots Per Aircraft |
14.7 |
12.8 |
12.5 |
13.3 |
-9.5 |
Continental |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Pilots |
4,656 |
4,184 |
4,408 |
4,598 |
-1.2 |
Pilots Per Aircraft |
12.9 |
12.5 |
12.6 |
13.7 |
6.2 |
Delta |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Pilots |
9,123 |
6,181 |
5,706 |
5,904 |
-35.3 |
Pilots Per Aircraft |
15.2 |
14.5 |
13.4 |
14.3 |
-5.9 |
Northwest |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Pilots |
5,981 |
4,995 |
4,531 |
4,340 |
-27.4 |
Pilots Per Aircraft |
14.2 |
11.9 |
12.1 |
12.4 |
-12.7 |
United |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Pilots |
11,278 |
6,133 |
6,277 |
6,338 |
-43.8 |
Pilots Per Aircraft |
18.8 |
13.3 |
13.6 |
14.7 |
-21.8 |
US
Airways |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Pilots |
5,330 |
2,599 |
3,132 |
4,278 |
-19.7 |
Pilots Per Aircraft |
13.4 |
9.1 |
13.1 |
12.6 |
-6.0 |
Source:
Bureau of Transportation Statistics, P-10
Table 6:
Change in Low-Cost Airline Pilots and Pilots Per Aircraft 2000-2007
Excel | CSV
AirTran |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Pilots |
547 |
1,133 |
1,325 |
1,498 |
185.3 |
Pilots Per Aircraft |
11.4 |
12.3 |
11.6 |
12.0 |
5.3 |
Allegiant* |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Pilots |
N/A |
141 |
178 |
268 |
N/A |
Pilots Per Aircraft |
N/A |
11.8 |
14.2 |
9.6 |
N/A |
Frontier |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Pilots |
547 |
599 |
655 |
704 |
28.7 |
Pilots Per Aircraft |
12.5 |
13.3 |
13.9 |
13.0 |
4.0 |
JetBlue |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Pilots |
203 |
1,059 |
1,451 |
1,707 |
640.9 |
Pilots Per Aircraft |
38.3 |
13.8 |
13.1 |
14.1 |
-63.2 |
Southwest |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Pilots |
3,316 |
4,535 |
4,845 |
5,317 |
60.3 |
Pilots Per Aircraft |
10.2 |
10.5 |
10.5 |
11.2 |
9.8 |
Spirit |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Pilots |
244 |
375 |
368 |
442 |
81.1 |
Pilots Per Aircraft |
10.2 |
11.7 |
11.5 |
12.6 |
23.5 |
Source:
Bureau of Transportation Statistics, P-10
* Allegiant did not meet the
standard for reporting in 2000. The
standard is operation of at least one aircraft with the capacity to carry
combined passengers, cargo and fuel of 18,000 pounds – the payload factor – and
annual operating revenue of more than $20 million.
Table 7: Change in Passenger Airline Maintenance Employees Per Aircraft
and Percent of Maintenance Spending Outsourced* 2000-2007
Total Passenger Airlines, Network Airlines and Low-Cost Airlines
Excel | CSV
Passenger
Airlines** |
|
|
|
|
|
Maintenance Employees |
64,248 |
45,210 |
43,549 |
43,490 |
-32.3 |
Maintenance Empl Per Aircraft |
13.0 |
8.7 |
8.6 |
8.3 |
-36.2 |
Pct. Outsourced |
29.6 |
42.6 |
44.9 |
45.3 |
53.0 |
Network
(7 Airlines) |
|
|
|
|
|
Maintenance Employees |
55,715 |
32,782 |
30,893 |
31,957 |
-42.6 |
Maintenance Empl Per Aircraft |
16.6 |
11.9 |
11.9 |
12.3 |
-25.9 |
Pct. Outsourced |
24.3 |
40.1 |
41.7 |
42.5 |
74.9 |
Low-Cost
(6 Airlines)*** |
|
|
|
|
|
Maintenance Employees |
3,375 |
4,381 |
4,088 |
3,445 |
2.1 |
Maintenance Empl Per Aircraft |
5.2 |
4.8 |
4.4 |
3.6 |
-30.8 |
Pct. Outsourced |
52.0 |
47.5 |
52.0 |
54.2 |
4.2 |
Source:
Bureau of Transportation Statistics, P-10
* Percent
of total maintenance spending that is contracted outside the airline
** All scheduled
passenger airlines reporting annual employment numbers to BTS: 30 in 2000, 33
in 2005, 37 in 2006, 36 in 2007.
*** Five
airlines in 2000, six in 2005, 2006 and 2007
Table 8: Change in Network Airline
Maintenance Employees Per Aircraft and Percent of Maintenance Spending
Outsourced* 2000-2007
Excel | CSV
Alaska |
|
|
|
|
|
Maintenance |
562 |
199 |
152 |
699 |
24.4 |
Maintenance Empl Per Aircraft |
6.2 |
1.8 |
1.4 |
6.5 |
4.8 |
Pct. Outsourced |
76.2 |
74.3 |
53.5 |
53.8 |
-22.4 Pts |
American |
|
|
|
|
|
Maintenance |
15,139 |
14,694 |
14,296 |
13,980 |
-7.7 |
Maintenance Empl Per Aircraft |
21.4 |
20.8 |
20.9 |
22.4 |
4.7 |
Pct. Outsourced |
23.4 |
23.4 |
22.8 |
23.4 |
0.0 Pts |
Continental |
|
|
|
|
|
Maintenance |
3,443 |
3,504 |
3,676 |
3,808 |
10.6 |
Maintenance Empl Per Aircraft |
9.6 |
10.4 |
10.5 |
11.4 |
18.8 |
Pct. Outsourced |
46.6 |
46.2 |
48.1 |
49.2 |
2.6 Pts |
Delta |
|
|
|
|
|
Maintenance |
5,728 |
5,917 |
4,872 |
5,240 |
-8.5 |
Maintenance Empl Per Aircraft |
9.5 |
13.9 |
13.1 |
12.7 |
33.7 |
Pct. Outsourced |
18.8 |
34.6 |
38.8 |
31.7 |
12.9 Pts |
Northwest |
|
|
|
|
|
Maintenance |
5,852 |
1,460 |
267 |
265 |
-95.5 |
Maintenance Empl Per Aircraft |
13.9 |
3.5 |
0.7 |
0.8 |
-94.2 |
Pct. Outsourced |
23.8 |
54.7 |
69.5 |
71.0 |
47.2 Pts |
United |
|
|
|
|
|
Maintenance |
15,846 |
4,785 |
4,848 |
4,891 |
-69.1 |
Maintenance Empl Per Aircraft |
26.4 |
10.4 |
10.5 |
11.4 |
-56.8 |
Pct. Outsourced |
16.3 |
41.5 |
44.9 |
45.7 |
29.4 Pts |
US
Airways |
|
|
|
|
|
Maintenance |
5,353 |
2,223 |
2,782 |
3,074 |
-42.6 |
Maintenance Empl Per Aircraft |
13.5 |
7.7 |
11.6 |
9.0 |
-33.3 |
Pct. Outsourced |
29.6 |
57.6 |
43.2 |
55.0 |
25.4 Pts |
Source:
Bureau of Transportation Statistics, P-10
* Percent
of total maintenance spending that is contracted outside the airline
Table 9:
Change in Low-Cost Airline Maintenance Employees Per Aircraft and Percent of
Maintenance Spending Outsourced* 2000-2007
Excel | CSV
AirTran |
|
|
|
|
|
Maintenance Employees |
337 |
364 |
407 |
409 |
21.4 |
Maintenance Empl Per Aircraft |
7.0 |
4.0 |
3.6 |
3.3 |
-52.9 |
Pct. Outsourced |
39.2 |
35.0 |
48.5 |
48.4 |
9.2 Pts |
Allegiant** |
|
|
|
|
|
Maintenance Employees |
N/A |
46 |
70 |
88 |
N/A |
Maintenance Empl Per Aircraft |
N/A |
4.0 |
6.4 |
3.1 |
N/A |
Pct. Outsourced |
N/A |
N/A |
38.1 |
34.6 |
N/A |
Frontier |
|
|
|
|
|
Maintenance Employees |
231 |
334 |
363 |
418 |
81.0 |
Maintenance Empl Per Aircraft |
12.8 |
7.4 |
7.7 |
7.7 |
-39.8 |
Pct. Outsourced |
16.6 |
14.9 |
16.8 |
20.5 |
3.9 Pts |
JetBlue |
|
|
|
|
|
Maintenance Employees |
50 |
397 |
456 |
468 |
836.0 |
Maintenance Empl Per Aircraft |
10.0 |
5.2 |
4.1 |
3.9 |
-61.0 |
Pct. Outsourced |
6.8 |
40.6 |
44.2 |
45.7 |
38.9 Pts |
Southwest |
|
|
|
|
|
Maintenance Employees |
1,146 |
1,657 |
1,643 |
1,682 |
46.8 |
Maintenance Empl Per Aircraft |
3.5 |
3.8 |
3.6 |
3.5 |
0.0 |
Pct. Outsourced |
60.0 |
50.9 |
56.2 |
60.5 |
0.5 Pts |
Spirit |
|
|
|
|
|
Maintenance Employees |
246 |
227 |
199 |
161 |
-34.5 |
Maintenance Empl Per Aircraft |
10.3 |
7.1 |
6.2 |
4.6 |
-55.3 |
Pct. Outsourced |
0.0 |
12.4 |
10.0 |
18.9 |
18.9 Pts |
Source:
Bureau of Transportation Statistics, P-10
* Percent
of total maintenance spending that is contracted outside the airline
** Allegiant did not meet the standard
for reporting in 2000. The standard is
operation of at least one aircraft with the capacity to carry combined
passengers, cargo and fuel of 18,000 pounds – the payload factor – and annual
operating revenue of more than $20 million.
|
|