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Scheduled Passenger Airline Full-Time Equivalent Employees,
Month of August, 1990-2013

U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 380,564 workers in August 2013, 2.2 percent fewer than in August 2012, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today. August was the 12th consecutive month that full-time equivalent (FTE) employment for U.S. scheduled passenger carriers was below that of the same month of the previous year (Tables 1, 2).

BTS, a part of the Department’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the August 2013 FTE total for scheduled passenger carriers was 8,436 fewer than in August 2012 (Table 3). Scheduled passenger airline categories include network, low-cost, regional and other airlines. Historical employment data can be found on the BTS web site.

The 2.2 percent decline in FTEs in August 2013 from August 2012 may be due, in part, to two factors.  First, American Airlines, the industry’s third largest employer, filed for bankruptcy in November 2011 and reduced FTEs by 7.2 percent year-to-year (Table 9). Second, network carriers have experienced increased fuel costs and have reduced contracts with the regional airlines that operate less fuel-efficient regional jets.  Regional airline employment is down 5.1 percent year-to-year (Table 1).

The five network airlines that collectively employ two-thirds of the scheduled passenger airline FTEs reported 2.5 percent fewer FTEs in August 2013 than in August 2012, the 13th consecutive month with a decline from the same month of the previous year. Delta Air Lines reduced FTEs by 4.2 percent from August 2012 and American Airlines by 7.2 percent. United Airlines reported 0.2 percent more FTEs, while US Airways increased FTEs by 2.8 percent and Alaska Airlines by 3.1 percent from August 2012 (Table 9). Network airlines operate a significant portion of flights using at least one hub where connections are made for flights to down-line destinations or spoke cities.

Of the six low-cost carriers, three - Spirit Airlines, Allegiant Airlines and JetBlue Airways - reported an increase in FTEs from August 2012 while three - Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Virgin America - reported a decline (Table 12). Low-cost airlines operate under a low-cost business model, with infrastructure and aircraft operating costs below the overall industry average.

Among the 13 regional carriers, nine carriers reported reduced employment levels in August compared to the previous year: Endeavor Airlines, Chautauqua Airlines, Air Wisconsin, Horizon Airlines, ExpressJet Airlines, Mesa Airlines, PSA Airlines, SkyWest Airlines and Compass Airlines (Table 15). Regional carriers typically provide service from small cities, using primarily regional jets to support the network carriers’ hub and spoke systems.

Carrier Groups: The five network airlines employed 67.3 percent of the total number of FTEs employed by all scheduled passenger airlines in August, the six low-cost carriers employed 18.2 percent and the 13 regional carriers employed 13.0 percent (Table 4). The three airlines with the most FTEs in August – United, Delta and American – employed 56.6 percent of the month’s total passenger airline FTEs (Table 6). These three airlines carried 40.6 percent of total passengers traveling on U.S. airlines in August, the most recent month available.

Top employers by group: United employed the most FTEs (82,082) in August among the network airlines, Southwest employed the most FTEs (45,000) among low-cost airlines, and American Eagle Airlines employed the most FTEs (11,138) among regional airlines. Four of the top five employers in the industry are network airlines (Table 6).

Network Airlines

Recent Changes: The network airlines employed 6,628 fewer FTEs in August 2013 than in August 2012, a 2.5 percent decrease. Three of the five network carriers reported an FTE increase from August 2012 to August 2013 (Tables 8, 9).

Five-Year Changes: The network airlines employed 2,769 fewer FTEs in August 2013 than in August 2009, a 1.1 percent decrease. American reported the only percentage decline in FTE employment from 2009 to 2013, 12.8 percent. US Airways reported an increase of 1.8 percent. August 2009 and August 2013 numbers for United and Delta are not directly comparable because of the intervening mergers. United reported 3.3 percent more FTEs in August 2013 than United and Continental reported separately in August 2009. Delta reported 3.7 percent more FTEs in August 2013 than Delta and Northwest reported separately in August 2009 (Tables 8, 9).

Low-Cost Airlines

Recent Changes: The six low-cost airlines reported virtually no change as a group in FTEs from August 2012 to August 2013. Frontier, Southwest and Virgin America reported year-to-year decreases while the remaining three airlines reported increases (Table 12).

Five-Year Changes: The low-cost carriers employed 6,588 more FTEs in August 2013 than in August 2009, a 10.5 percent increase. Spirit reported the largest percentage increase, 19.9 percent, while Frontier reported a 12.5 percent decline. August 2013 numbers for Southwest are not directly comparable to 2009 because of the intervening merger. Southwest reported 5.4 percent more FTEs in August 2013 than Southwest and AirTran reported separately in August 2009 (Table 12). 

Regional Airlines

Recent Changes: Regional airlines reported a 5.1 percent decrease in FTE employment in August 2013 compared to August 2012; three regional airlines  discontinued service since a year ago. Republic Airlines and American Eagle reported the largest percentage increases in FTEs from August 2012 to August 2013. Endeavor and Chautauqua reported the largest percentage decreases (Table 15).

Five-Year Changes: The 13 regional carriers operating in August employed 12.1 percent fewer FTEs in 2013 than the 18 carriers operating in August 2009.  Endeavor reported the largest percentage decline followed by Mesa.  The ExpressJet/Atlantic Southeast combination reported 1.7 percent more FTE’s in August 2013 as the two airlines reported separately in August 2009.  GoJet reported the biggest four-year percentage gain (Table 15).

Endeavor operated as Pinnacle prior to August 2013.

Airlines that operate at least one aircraft that has more than 60 seats or the capacity to carry a payload of passengers, cargo and fuel weighing more than 18,000 pounds must report monthly employment statistics.

The “Other Carrier” category generally reflects those airlines that operate within specific niche markets such as Hawaiian Airlines and Island Air Hawaii serving the Hawaiian Islands.

Data are compiled from monthly reports filed with BTS by commercial air carriers as of Oct. 21.  Additional airline employment data and previous press releases can be found on the BTS website. BTS has scheduled release of September passenger airline employment data for Nov. 26.

Table 1: Change from Previous Year in Scheduled Passenger Airline Full-time Equivalent Employees* by Airline Group

Most recent 13 months - percent change compared to same month the previous year

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

* Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.

** Includes network, low-cost, regional and other carriers. Other Carriers generally operate within specific niche markets. They are: Hawaiian Airlines, Sun Country Airlines and Island Air Hawaii.

Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding.

Note: See Table 2 for all passenger airlines, Table 7 for Network, Table 10 for Low-Cost and Table 13 for Regional.

Table 2: Change from Previous Year in Scheduled Passenger Airline* Full-time Equivalent Employees**

Percent change compared to same month the previous year

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: Scheduled Passenger Airline Full-time Equivalent Employees* by Month

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 4: Airline Group Full-time Equivalent Employees*, August 2009-2013

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

* Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.

** Includes network, low-cost, regional and other carriers.

Table 5: Year-to-Year Change in Airline Group Full-time Equivalent Employees*, August 2009-2013

Percent change in FTEs from the same month of the previous year

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

* Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.

** Includes network, low-cost, regional and other carriers.

Table 6: Top 10 Airlines, August 2013

Ranked by Number of Full-Time Equivalent Employees*

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

* Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.

** See Table 9 for Network, Table 12 for Low-Cost and Table 15 for Regional.

Table 7: Network Airline Year-to-Year Change in Full-time Equivalent Employees* from the Previous Year**

Percent change compared to same month of the previous year

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

* Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.

Table 8: Network Airlines Full-time Equivalent Employees* by Month 2009-2013

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

* 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 9: Network Airline Full-time Equivalent Employees*, August 2009-2013

(FTEs for August of each year. Ranked by August 2013 FTEs)

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

* Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.

** United Airlines and Continental Airlines merged and began reporting combined numbers in January 2012.

*** Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines merged and began reporting combined numbers in January 2010.

Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding.

Table 10: Low-Cost Airline Year-to-Year Change in Full-time Equivalent Employees* from the Previous Year

Percent change compared to same month of the previous year

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

* 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 11: Low-Cost Airline Full-time Equivalent Employees* by Month

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

Note: Percent changes and averages based on numbers prior to rounding.

* Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.

Table 12: Low-Cost Airline Full-time Equivalent Employees*, August 2009-2013

(FTEs for August of each year. Ranked by August 2013 FTEs)

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

* Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.

** Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways merged and began reporting combined numbers in April 2012.

Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding.

Table 13: Regional Airline Year-to-Year Change in Full-time Equivalent Employees* from the Previous Year

Percent change compared to same month of the previous year

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

* 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 14: Regional Airline Full-time Equivalent Employees* by Month

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

* 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 15: Regional Airline Full-time Equivalent Employees*, August 2009-2013

(FTEs for August of each year. Ranked by August 2013 FTEs)

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

* Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.

** ExpressJet Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Airlines began reporting combined numbers in January 2012.

*** Endeavor Airlines operated as Pinnacle prior to August 2013. Pinnacle Airlines and Mesaba Airlines began reporting combined numbers in January 2012.

**** Effective with November 2009 reporting, Republic Airlines' employment numbers include FTE's from Midwest Airlines. Midwest employment data were formerly included in the "Other Airlines" category.

# Effective July 2012 Chautauqua Airlines began reporting employment data.

## Effective the end of March 2013, Executive Airlines ceased operations.

### Effective the end of September 2012, Colgan Airlines ceased operations.

#### Effective the end of October 2012, Comair ceased operations.

##### Effective the end of March 2011, Lynx Airlines ceased operations.

N/A: Carriers 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.