U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 4.3 percent more workers in September 2016 than in September 2015, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today. September was the highest monthly total (414,591) since July 2005 (414.923) and was the 35th consecutive month that U.S. scheduled passenger airline full-time equivalent (FTE) employment exceeded the same month of the previous year (Tables 1, 2, 3).

Month-to-month, the number of FTEs rose 0.1 percent from August to September (Table 1A). Scheduled passenger airline categories include network, low-cost, regional and other airlines. Historical employment data can be found on the BTS web site.

The four network airlines that collectively employ two-thirds of the scheduled passenger airline FTEs reported 2.6 percent more FTEs in September 2016 than in September 2015 (Tables 7, 8, 9). United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines increased FTEs from September 2015 (Table 9). Month-to-month, the number of network airline FTEs was virtually unchanged from August to September (Table 1A).

The network airlines employed 5.5 percent more FTEs in September 2016 than in September 2012 (Tables 8, 9). Network airlines 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.

The six low-cost carriers reported 10.7 percent more FTEs in September 2016 than in September 2015 (Tables 10, 11, 12). Allegiant Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Virgin America and Southwest Airlines increased FTEs from September 2015 (Table 12). Month-to-month, the number of low-cost airline FTEs rose 0.6 percent from August to September (Table 1A).  The six low-cost airlines employed 21.2 percent more FTEs in September 2016 than in September 2012 (Tables 11, 12). Low-cost airlines operate under a low-cost business model, with infrastructure and aircraft operating costs below the overall industry average.

The 12 regional carriers reported 2.9 percent more FTEs in September 2016 than in September 2015 (Tables 13, 14, 15). Nine regional airlines – Republic Airlines, Compass Airlines, PSA Airlines, Mesa Airlines, Endeavor Air, GoJet Airlines, Envoy Air, SkyWest Airlines, and Horizon Air – increased FTEs from September 2015. The others reported decreases (Table 15). Month-to-month, the number of regional airline FTEs fell 0.6 percent from August to September (Table 1A). The 12 regional carriers reporting in September 2016 employed 0.8 percent fewer FTEs in September 2016 than the 15 carriers reporting in September 2012 (Tables 14, 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 four network airlines employed 65.6 percent of the 414,591 FTEs employed by all scheduled passenger airlines in September, the six low-cost carriers employed 20.3 percent and the 12 regional carriers employed 12.2 percent (Table 4). In comparison, in September 2006, the network airlines employed 65.5 percent of the FTEs, the six low-cost carriers employed 17.4 percent and the 12 regional carriers employed 13.8 percent (Table 5).

Top Employers by Group: American employed the most FTEs (99,037) in September among the network airlines, Southwest employed the most FTEs (53,072) among low-cost airlines, and Envoy employed the most FTEs (10,889) among regional airlines (Table 6). The three airlines with the most FTEs in September – American, Delta and United – employed 62.9 percent of the month’s total passenger airline FTEs (Tables 3, 6).

Reporting Notes

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 the Hawaiian Islands served by Hawaiian Airlines and Island Air Hawaii. 

Data are compiled from monthly reports filed with BTS by commercial air carriers as of Nov. 10. Additional airline employment data and previous press releases can be found on the BTS website. BTS has scheduled release of October passenger airline employment data for Dec. 16.