BTS 18-06
Dave Smallen
202-366-5568
Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 5.8 percent fewer workers in February 2006 than in February 2005, the 14thconsecutive month that full-time equivalent employee (FTE) levels for the scheduled passenger carriers declined compared to the same month of the previous year, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today (Table 2).
BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), reported that the February 2005 to February 2006 decline in FTE's was the seventh consecutive month with a decline in FTE's of more than 5 percent from the same month of the previous year. In FTE calculations, a part-time employee is counted as one-half a full-time employee.
The last month FTE's were higher than the previous year was in December 2004, the last of seven consecutive months of increases from the previous year (Table 2). Scheduled passenger airlines include network, low-cost, regional and other airlines.
Many regional carriers were not required to report employment numbers before 2003, so year-to-year comparisons involving regional carriers, or the total industry, are not available for the years before 2003. Using the available numbers from network, low-cost, regional and other airlines, the 404,000 FTE's employed in February 2006 were the lowest total since at least the beginning of 2003 (Table 3).
The seven network carriers employed 268,000 FTE's in February, 66.4 percent of the passenger airline total (Table 4). Low-cost carriers employed 16.8 percent and regional carriers employed 13.7 percent. The network carriers are the only carrier group to reduce FTE's each February from the previous year since 2002 (Table 5).
American Airlines employs the most FTE's among the network carriers, Southwest Airlines employs the most among low-cost carriers and American Eagle Airlines employs the most among regional carriers. Seven of the top 10 employers in the industry are network carriers (Table 6).
Network carrier FTE's have declined every month since 2003 from the same month the previous year. They declined 7.8 percent in February 2006 compared to February 2005 (Table 7). Numbers from previous years were reported in BTS' Feb. 21 press release http://www.bts.gov/press_releases/2006/bts009_06/html/bts009_06.html.
Network carrier FTE's dropped from 364,000 in February 2002 to 268,000 in February 2006, a decline of 26.4 percent (Table 8).
FTE's at all seven network carriers declined in February 2006 from February 2002. The biggest percentage declines were at US Airways, down 42.0 percent, a reduction of 14,000 FTE's, and United Airlines, down 31.6 percent, a reduction of 25,000 FTE's. Collectively, the seven network carriers have reduced February FTE headcount in 2006 by 96,000 since 2002 (Table 9).
Network carriers operate a significant portion of their flights using at least one hub where connections are made for flights to down-line destinations or spoke cities.
Data for US Airways and America West Airlines, now in the process of merging operations, are separately reported - US Airways' data are included in the network carriers' category and America West's in the low-cost carriers' category.
Low-cost carrier FTE's declined 4.1 percent in February 2006 compared to February 2005, the 11th consecutive month of decreases from the previous year (Table 10). The 68,000 FTE's employed by the seven low-cost carriers in February account for 16.8 percent of the passenger airline total (Table 11 and table 4).
Low-cost carrier FTE's were 61,000 in February 2002, 71,000 in February 2005 and 68,000 in February 2006. The increase from 2002 to 2006 was 11.9 percent (Table 11). Of the airlines operating and reporting in both February 2006 and February 2002, all reported more FTE's in 2006 except Southwest Airlines, down 1.4 percent, and ATA Airlines, down 55.4 percent (Table 12).
Low-cost carriers are those that the industry generally recognizes as operating under a low-cost business model with fewer infrastructure costs.
Employment data for Independence Air, which changed its business model from a regional to low-cost carrier in mid-2004, have been included with low-cost carriers for 2003, 2004 and 2005 for consistency. The airline discontinued all flights on Jan. 5.
Regional carrier FTE's were down 1.2 percent in February compared to February 2005 (Table 13).
Regional carrier FTE's rose from 41,474 in February 2003 to 55,000 in February 2006, an increase of 33.3 percent (Table 14).
The seven regional carriers reporting employment data in both 2002 and 2006 employed 10.5 percent more FTEs in February 2006 than in February 2002. Of that group, Air Wisconsin and Mesaba were the only carriers to report fewer FTE employees in February 2006 than February 2002 (Table 15).
Regional carriers provide service from small cities, using primarily regional jets to support the network carriers' hub and spoke systems.
Airlines that operate at least one aircraft with the capacity to carry combined passengers, cargo and fuel of 18,000 pounds - the payload factor - must report monthly employment statistics.
The Other Carrier category generally reflects those airlines that operate within specific niche markets, such as Aloha and Hawaiian Airlines in serving the Hawaiian Islands.
Data are compiled from monthly reports filed with BTS by commercial air carriers as of April 11.
Additional airline employment data can be found on the BTS website at
http://www.bts.gov/programs/airline_information/number_of_employees/. BTS has scheduled release of March airline employment data for May 16.
Percentage change compared to same month the previous year for the most recent 13 months
Month | Network Carriers (Pct. Change) | Low-Cost Carriers** (Pct. Change) | Regional Carriers (Pct. Change) | All Passenger Airlines*** (Pct. Change) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Feb. 2004-Feb. 2005 | -4.6 | 0.6 | 13.8 | -1.4 |
Mar. 2004-Mar. 2005 | -5.0 | 0.0 | 13.3 | -1.9 |
Apr. 2004-Apr. 2005 | -6.5 | -0.7 | 12.2 | -3.1 |
May 2004-May 2005 | -6.7 | -1.0 | 10.9 | -3.4 |
June 2004-June 2005 | -7.0 | -1.1 | 10.0 | -3.7 |
July 2004-July 2005 | -5.6 | -1.5 | 4.9 | -3.3 |
Aug. 2004-Aug. 2005 | -9.0 | -0.7 | 3.9 | -5.7 |
Sept. 2004-Sept. 2005**** | -8.9 | -1.0 | 3.4 | -5.8 |
Oct. 2004-Oct. 2005 | -8.9 | -1.0 | 2.4 | -5.8 |
Nov. 2004-Nov. 2005 | -9.3 | -2.3 | 0.1 | -6.5 |
Dec. 2004-Dec. 2005 | -8.5 | -1.4 | 0.0 | -5.9 |
Jan. 2005-Jan. 2006 | -7.8 | -5.3 | -1.8 | -6.1 |
Feb. 2005-Feb. 2006 | -7.8 | -4.1 | -1.2 | -5.8 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
* 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 airline discontinued flights on Jan. 5, 2006.
*** Includes network, low-cost, regional and other carriers. Other Carriers generally operate within specific niche markets. They are: Allegiant Air, Aloha Airlines, Casino Express Airlines, Continental Micronesia, Hawaiian Airlines, Midwest Airlines, Shuttle
**** Atlantic Southeast Airlines was granted an extension for the filing of September 2005 employment numbers. For year-to-year comparison purposes, its numbers are not included in September 2004.
Note: Percentage changes based on numbers prior to rounding.
Percentage change compared to same month the previous year
Month | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
---|---|---|---|---|
January | -1.0 | -6.0 | -1.2 | -6.1 |
February | -1.7 | -5.3 | -1.4 | -5.8 |
March | -2.8 | -4.1 | -1.9 | |
April | -4.4 | -2.3 | -3.1 | |
May | -6.7 | -0.8 | -3.4 | |
June | -8.3 | 0.5 | -3.7 | |
July | -9.6 | 2.5 | -3.3 | |
August | -9.5 | 2.2 | -5.7 | |
September*** | -9.3 | 2.4 | -5.8 | |
October | -10.4 | 2.5 | -5.8 | |
November | -9.2 | 2.2 | -6.5 | |
December | -8.3 | 0.9 | -5.9 |
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.
*** Atlantic Southeast Airlines was granted an extension for the filing of September 2005 employment numbers. For year-to-year comparison purposes, its numbers are not included in September 2004.
Note: Percentage changes based on numbers prior to rounding.
Numbers in thousands (000's)
Month | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | Percentage Change 2003-2006 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
January | 465 | 437 | 432 | 405 | -12.9 |
February | 459 | 435 | 429 | 404 | -12.0 |
March | 454 | 436 | 428 | ||
April | 448 | 438 | 424 | ||
May | 443 | 440 | 424 | ||
June | 439 | 441 | 424 | ||
July | 433 | 444 | 428 | ||
August | 433 | 443 | 418 | ||
September | 430 | 440 | 414 | ||
October | 428 | 439 | 413 | ||
November | 430 | 439 | 411 | ||
December | 430 | 434 | 409 | ||
Monthly Average | 441 | 439 | 421 | ||
Jan.-Feb Average | 462 | 436 | 430 | 405 | -12.5 |
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: Percentage changes and averages based on numbers prior to rounding.
Numbers in thousands (000's)
Network | Low-Cost | Regional* | All Passenger Airlines** | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2002 | 364 | 64 | 30 | 467 |
2003 | 342 | 66 | 42 | 459 |
2004 | 305 | 70 | 49 | 435 |
2005 | 291 | 71 | 56 | 429 |
2006 | 268 | 68 | 55 | 404 |
Pct. Change 2002-2006*** | -26.4% | 6.9% | 32.5% | -13.5% |
Percent of Total Passenger Airline Employees in 2006 | 66.4% | 16.8% | 13.7% |
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.
*** Percentage change comparison is for 2003 to 2006 because of the number of airlines in these categories that did not meet the standard for reporting monthly employment numbers.
Note: Percentage changes based on numbers prior to rounding.
Percentage Change from the previous year
Network | Low-Cost | Regional | All Passenger Airlines** | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2002 | -15.2 | -1.0 | -14.0 | -13.3 |
2003 | -6.0 | 3.6 | 38.7 | -1.7 |
2004 | -11.0 | 6.9 | 17.3 | -5.3 |
2005 | -4.6 | 0.6 | 13.8 | -1.4 |
2006 | -7.8 | -4.1 | -1.2 | -5.8 |
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.
Note: Percentage changes based on numbers prior to rounding.
Ranked by Number of Full-Time Equivalent Employees*
Rank | Airline | Total FTE Employees (000) | Carrier Group | Feb. 2005 Rank | Feb. 2004 Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | American | 75 | Network | 1 | 1 |
2 | United | 53 | Network | 2 | 2 |
3 | Delta | 47 | Network | 3 | 3 |
4 | Continental | 33 | Network | 5 | 5 |
5 | Southwest | 31 | Low Cost | 6 | 6 |
6 | Northwest | 31 | Network | 4 | 4 |
7 | US Airways | 20 | Network | 7 | 7 |
8 |
|
11 | Low Cost | 8 | 8 |
9 | American Eagle | 9 | Regional | 9 | 10 |
10 | Alaska | 9 | Network | 10 | 9 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
* Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.
Percentage change compared to same month the previous year
Month | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
---|---|---|---|---|
January | -5.3 | -12.5 | -4.3 | -7.8 |
February | -10.7 | -11.0 | -4.6 | -7.8 |
March | -8.2 | -8.7 | -5.0 | |
April | -10.0 | -6.6 | -6.5 | |
May | -12.7 | -4.9 | -6.7 | |
June | -14.4 | -3.6 | -7.0 | |
July | -15.8 | -2.0 | -5.6 | |
August | -16.4 | -1.7 | -9.0 | |
September | -16.6 | -1.7 | -8.9 | |
October | -16.6 | -1.7 | -8.9 | |
November | -15.4 | -1.7 | -9.3 | |
December | -14.1 | -3.4 | -8.5 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
* Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.
Note: Percentage changes based on numbers prior to rounding.
Numbers in thousands (000's)
2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | Percentage Change 2002-2006 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
January | 368 | 349 | 305 | 293 | 270 | -26.8 |
February | 364 | 342 | 305 | 290 | 268 | -26.4 |
March | 364 | 334 | 305 | 289 | ||
April | 363 | 327 | 306 | 286 | ||
May | 369 | 322 | 306 | 286 | ||
June | 371 | 318 | 306 | 285 | ||
July | 371 | 313 | 306 | 289 | ||
August | 372 | 311 | 305 | 278 | ||
September | 369 | 308 | 302 | 275 | ||
October | 369 | 308 | 302 | 275 | ||
November | 361 | 305 | 300 | 272 | ||
December | 356 | 306 | 296 | 271 | ||
Monthly Average | 366 | 320 | 304 | 282 | ||
Jan.-Feb Average | 366 | 346 | 305 | 292 | 269 | -26.6 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
* Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.
Note: Percentage changes and averages based on numbers prior to rounding.
(Ranked by February 2006 FTE Employees)
Numbers in thousands (000's)
Rank | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | Percentage Change 2002-2006 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | American** | 97 | 95 | 79 | 76 | 75 | -23.0 |
2 | United | 78 | 69 | 59 | 57 | 53 | -31.6 |
3 | Delta | 66 | 62 | 58 | 55 | 47 | -28.1 |
4 | Continental | 36 | 36 | 34 | 32 | 33 | -7.7 |
5 | Northwest | 44 | 42 | 38 | 38 | 31 | -29.0 |
6 | US Airways | 34 | 28 | 26 | 24 | 20 | -42.0 |
7 | Alaska | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | -8.2 |
Total | 364 | 342 | 305 | 291 | 268 | -26.4 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Note: Detail may not add to total due to rounding
* Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.
Note: Percentage changes based on numbers prior to rounding.
Percentage change compared to same month the previous year
Month | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
---|---|---|---|---|
January | 9.2 | 8.5 | 0.4 | -5.3 |
February | 8.5 | 6.9 | 0.6 | -4.1 |
March | 14.1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | |
April | 12.4 | 0.6 | -0.7 | |
May | 11.7 | 0.8 | -1.0 | |
June | 10.0 | 1.5 | -1.1 | |
July | 9.2 | 2.3 | -1.5 | |
August | 9.6 | 1.1 | -0.7 | |
September | 9.8 | 0.7 | -1.0 | |
October | 9.8 | 0.7 | -1.0 | |
November | 9.0 | 0.6 | -2.5 | |
December | 1.7 | 0.5 | -1.4 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
* Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.
Note: 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 airline discontinued flights on Jan. 5, 2006.
Note: Percentage changes based on numbers prior to rounding.
Numbers in thousands (000's)
2002 | 2003** | 2004** | 2005** | 2006 | Percentage Change 2002-2006 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
January | 60 | 66 | 71 | 72 | 68 | 12.8 |
February | 61 | 66 | 70 | 71 | 68 | 11.9 |
March | 62 | 70 | 71 | 71 | ||
April | 63 | 70 | 71 | 70 | ||
May | 63 | 71 | 71 | 71 | ||
June | 64 | 71 | 72 | 71 | ||
July | 65 | 71 | 72 | 71 | ||
August | 65 | 71 | 72 | 71 | ||
September | 64 | 71 | 71 | 71 | ||
October | 64 | 71 | 71 | 70 | ||
November | 66 | 72 | 72 | 70 | ||
December | 66 | 67 | 72 | 71 | ||
Monthly Average | 64 | 70 | 71 | 71 | ||
Jan.-Feb Average | 60 | 66 | 71 | 71 | 68 | 12.3 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Note: Percentage changes and averages based on numbers prior to rounding.
Note: Detail may not add to total due to rounding
* 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 airline discontinued flights on Jan. 5, 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 |
|
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 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Note: Percentage changes based on numbers prior to rounding.
Note: Detail may not add to total due to rounding
* 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.
Percentage change compared to same month the previous year
Month | 2004** | 2005 | 2006 |
---|---|---|---|
January | 16.9 | 15.8 | -1.8 |
February | 18.0 | 13.8 | -1.2 |
March | 20.0 | 13.3 | |
April | 22.1 | 12.2 | |
May | 23.5 | 10.9 | |
June | 25.8 | 10.0 | |
July | 31.4 | 4.9 | |
August | 31.8 | 3.9 | |
September | 36.9 | 3.4 | |
October | 32.6 | 2.4 | |
November | 32.3 | 0.1 | |
December | 18.7 | 0.0 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
* Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.
** Three regional airlines, Mesa, Pinnacle and PSA, did not meet the reporting standard in 2003. The three airlines have reported employment numbers since 2004.
Note: Percentage changes based on numbers prior to rounding.
Numbers in thousands (000's)
2003 | 2004** | 2005 | 2006 | Percentage Change 2003-2006 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
January | 41 | 48 | 58 | 55 | 33.7 |
February | 41 | 49 | 56 | 55 | 33.3 |
March | 41 | 50 | 56 | ||
April | 41 | 50 | 57 | ||
May | 42 | 51 | 57 | ||
June | 41 | 52 | 57 | ||
July | 41 | 54 | 57 | ||
August | 42 | 55 | 57 | ||
September | 36 | 49 | 51 | ||
October | 42 | 55 | 57 | ||
November | 42 | 56 | 56 | ||
December | 43 | 55 | 55 | ||
Monthly Average | 41 | 52 | 56 | ||
Jan.-Feb Average | 41 | 49 | 57 | 55 | 33.5 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
* Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.
** Three regional airlines, Mesa, Pinnacle and PSA, did not meet the reporting standard in 2003. The three airlines reported employment numbers since 2004.
Note: Percentage changes based on numbers prior to rounding.
(Ranked by February 2006 FTE Employees)
Rank | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | Percentage Change 2002-2006 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | American Eagle | 8,510 | 7,781 | 7,794 | 9,373 | 9,345 | 9.8 |
2 | Sky West | N/A | 5,224 | 5,895 | 7,329 | 8,147 | N/A |
3 | Express Jet | 5,569 | 5,418 | 5,898 | 6,456 | 6,429 | 15.4 |
4 | Comair | N/A | 5,191 | 5,790 | 6,174 | 6,087 | N/A |
5 | Atlantic Southeast | 4,329 | 5,198 | 5,449 | 5,415 | 5,294 | 22.3 |
6 | Horizon | 3,419 | 3,390 | 3,376 | 3,341 | 3,508 | 2.6 |
7 | Mesa | N/A | N/A | 3,378 | 3,178 | 3,222 | N/A |
8 | Mesaba | 3,153 | 3,159 | 2,904 | 3,288 | 3,065 | -2.8 |
9 | Pinnacle | N/A | N/A | 1,991 | 2,753 | 2,991 | N/A |
10 | Air Wisconsin | 2,838 | 2,974 | 3,315 | 3,644 | 2,358 | -16.9 |
11 | Executive | 1,249 | 1,964 | 1,876 | 1,786 | 1,778 | 42.4 |
12 | PSA | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1,758 | 1,595 | N/A |
13 | Trans States | 997 | 1,176 | 1,270 | 1,436 | 1,452 | 45.6 |
Total** | 30,064 | 41,475 | 48,936 | 55,931 | 55,271 | 83.8 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Note: Detail may not add to total due to rounding
* Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.
** Many regional carriers were not required to report employment numbers before 2003, so year-to-year comparisons involving regional carriers, or the total industry, are not appropriate for the years before 2003.
N/A: Not applicable because carriers did not meet the standard for filing.