2008 Passenger Airline Employment by Job Category

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Contact BTS 26-09 Dave Smallen 202-366-5568

Tuesday, May 26, 2009 - U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 2.3 percent more pilots and 5.9 percent more maintenance workers in 2008 than in 2007 while total industry jobs declined by 3.0 percent, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today (Table 1).  

BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the seven large network carriers employed 1.1 percent more pilots and 8.6 percent more maintenance workers in 2008 than in 2007.  The seven largest low-cost carriers employed 5.2 percent more pilots and 6.8 percent fewer maintenance workers from 2007 to 2008.

Delta Air Lines had the largest increase in pilots of any network airline from 2007 to 2008 while Alaska Airlines had the greatest percentage decrease in pilot employment of the network airlines.  United Airlines had the largest increase in maintenance workers of any network airline from 2007 to 2008 while Northwest Airlines had the smallest increase (Table 2).  

All of the low-cost carriers except Frontier Airlines added pilots from 2007 to 2008.  Spirit Airlines had the largest increase in pilot employment followed by Allegiant Airlines. Allegiant had the largest increase in maintenance workers of any low-cost airline from 2007 to 2008 while Spirit had the largest 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 and aircraft operating costs.

The merged US Airways and America West Airlines began joint reporting of annual employment numbers in 2008.  US Airways’ employment numbers for previous years do not include America West, which is included in Tables 1, 4 and 7 as a low-cost carrier for 2000 and 2006.  America West did not file a 2007 report. 

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 13.2 pilots per aircraft in 2008, down from 13.5 pilots per aircraft in 2007.   The low-cost carriers employed 11.2 pilots per aircraft in 2008, down 1.8 percent from 11.4 pilots per aircraft in 2007 (Table 4).

Alaska had 12.0 pilots per aircraft in 2008, down from 12.9 per aircraft in 2007, the fewest of any network airline.  Delta, with 14.9 per aircraft, up from 14.3 per aircraft in 2008, had the largest increase in the number of pilots per aircraft from 2007 to 2008 and had the most pilots per aircraft of any network carrier (Table 5).  

Allegiant had 9.3 pilots per aircraft in 2008, the fewest of any low-cost airline, compared to 9.6 pilots per aircraft in 2007. Spirit, with 15.5 per aircraft, up from 12.6 per aircraft in 2007 had the most pilots per aircraft in the low-cost group (Table 6).  

Maintenance

The passenger airlines had 8.9 maintenance workers per aircraft in 2008, up from 8.3 per aircraft in 2007.  The network airlines had 12.9 maintenance workers per aircraft in 2008, up from 12.3 per aircraft in 2007.  Spending by network airlines for outsourced maintenance increased from 42.5 percent of total maintenance spending in 2007 to 42.8 percent in 2008 (Table 7). 

The low-cost airlines had 3.2 maintenance workers per aircraft in 2008, down from 3.7 per aircraft in 2007.  Spending by low-cost airlines for outsourced maintenance increased from 52.1 percent of total maintenance spending in 2007 to 54.6 percent in 2007 (Table 7). 

Northwest had 0.8 maintenance workers per aircraft in 2008, the fewest of any network airline and unchanged from the 0.8 employees per aircraft in 2007.  Northwest’s spending for outsourcing declined from 71.0 percent of total spending in 2007 to 65.9 percent in 2008.  American Airlines had 22.4 maintenance workers per aircraft in 2008, the most of any network airline.  American’s spending for outsourcing was 23.6 percent of total maintenance spending in 2008, the lowest percentage spending share of the network carriers (Table 8).

Virgin America had 1.7 maintenance workers per aircraft in 2008 the fewest of any low-cost airline. Of the low-cost airlines, Spirit spent the smallest portion of its maintenance expense on outsourcing at 22.6 percent.  Southwest had the highest percentage share for outsourcing at 61.3 percent. Frontier had 3.9 maintenance workers per aircraft in 2008, the most of any low-cost airline but down from 7.7 employees per aircraft in 2007.  Frontier’s spending for outsourcing increased from 20.5 percent of total maintenance spending in 2007 to 24.9 percent in 2008 (Table 9).

Reporting Notes

Data are compiled from annual reports filed with BTS by commercial air carriers as of May 20. There were 37 reporting scheduled passenger carriers in 2008. Hawaiian Airlines failed to file its report.

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 2007-2008

Total Passenger Airlines, Network Airlines and Low-Cost Airlines

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Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, P-10

* All scheduled passenger airlines reporting annual employment numbers to BTS: 30 in 2000, 37 in 2006, 36 in 2007 and 37 in 2008.

** US Airways’ 2008 report followed merger with America West.  Previous years do not include America West.

*** Nine airlines in 2000, eight in 2006 and 2007, seven in 2008.  For numbers for largest low-cost carriers by revenue see Table 3.

Table 2: Change in Network Airline Employees, Maintenance Workers and Pilots 2007-2008

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Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, P-10

* US Airways’ 2008 report followed merger with America West.  Previous years do not include America West.

Table 3: Change in Low-Cost Airline Employees, Maintenance Workers and Pilots 2007-2008

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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 2007-2008

Total Passenger Airlines, Network Airlines and Low-Cost Airlines

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Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, P-10

* All scheduled passenger airlines reporting annual employment numbers to BTS: 30 in 2000, 37 in 2006, 36 in 2007 and 37 in 2008.

** US Airways’ 2008 report followed merger with America West.  Previous years do not include America West.

*** Nine airlines in 2000, eight in 2006 and 2007, seven in 2008.  For numbers for largest low-cost carriers by revenue see Table 6.

Table 5: Change in Network Airline Pilots and Pilots Per Aircraft 2007-2008

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Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, P-10

* US Airways’ 2008 report followed merger with America West.  Previous years do not include America West

Table 6: Change in Low-Cost Airline Pilots and Pilots Per Aircraft 2007-2008

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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* 2007-2008

Total Passenger Airlines, Network Airlines and Low-Cost Airlines

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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, 37 in 2006, 36 in 2007 and 37 in 2008.

*** US Airways’ 2008 report followed merger with America West.  Previous years do not include America West.

**** Nine airlines in 2000, eight in 2006 and 2007, seven in 2008.  For numbers for largest low-cost carriers by revenue see Table 9.

Table 8: Change in Network Airline Maintenance Employees Per Aircraft and Percent of Maintenance Spending Outsourced* 2007-2008

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Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, P-10

* Percent of total maintenance spending that is contracted outside the airline

** US Airways’ 2008 report followed merger with America West.  Previous years do not include America West.

Table 9: Change in Low-Cost Airline Maintenance Employees Per Aircraft and Percent of Maintenance Spending Outsourced* 2007-2008

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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.