Scheduled Passenger Airline Full-Time Equivalent Employees,
Month of April, 1990-2014

 

 

 

U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 384,265 workers in April 2014, 1.0 percent more than in April 2013, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today. April was the fifth consecutive month that full-time equivalent (FTE) employment for U.S. scheduled passenger carriers was higher than the same month of the previous year (Tables 1, 2, 3).

The April 2014 FTE total for scheduled passenger carriers was 3,778 more than in April 2013 and the highest monthly total since October 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 five network airlines that collectively employ two-thirds of the scheduled passenger airline FTEs reported 0.4 percent more FTEs in April 2014 than in April 2013 (Table 7). Alaska Airlines, US Airways, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines increased FTEs from April 2013 while United Airlines reduced FTEs (Table 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.

Of the six low-cost carriers, four - Spirit Airlines, Allegiant Airlines, JetBlue Airways and Virgin America - reported an increase in FTEs from April 2013 while two - Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines - 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, three carriers reported reduced employment levels in April compared to the previous year: Chautauqua Airlines, Endeavor Airlines, and Envoy Air. The others reported increases (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 66.8 percent of the total number of FTEs employed by all scheduled passenger airlines in April, the six low-cost carriers employed 18.4 percent and the 13 regional carriers employed 13.1 percent (Table 4). The three airlines with the most FTEs in April – United, Delta and American – employed 56.0 percent of the month’s total passenger airline FTEs (Tables 3, 6). These three airlines carried 40.1 percent of total passengers traveling on U.S. airlines in March, the most recent month available. See Air Traffic press releases.

Top employers by group: United employed the most FTEs (80,397) in April among the network airlines, Southwest employed the most FTEs (45,217) among low-cost airlines, and Envoy employed the most FTEs (10,862) among regional airlines. Four of the top five employers in the industry are network airlines (Table 6).

Airline Mergers: Airlines that announce mergers typically begin joint reporting following U.S. Department of Transportation approval and issuance of a single economic certificate.  Southwest and AirTran Airways began joint reporting of their financial data, including employment numbers, in April 2012 under a waiver granted by the Department, while reporting the rest of their data as separate carriers. American and US Airways, following their December 2013 merger announcement, will report separately until the Department approves single carrier reporting and a single economic certificate is issued.

In March 2014 (for January 2014 data), the Department began displaying combined on-time performance data, mishandled baggage data, oversales data and complaint data in its Air Travel Consumer Report for Southwest and Air Tran as well as for American and U.S. Airways because both sets of airlines are sufficiently integrated that consumers perceive them as a single airline. The Air Travel Consumer Report also continues to display the separate performance of each of these airlines and will continue to do so until a single economic certificate is issued.

Network Airlines
Recent Changes: The network airlines employed 1,059 more FTEs in April 2014 than in April 2013, a 0.4 percent increase. Four of the five network carriers reported an FTE increase from April 2013 while United reported a decrease (Tables 8, 9).

Longer-term Changes: The network airlines employed 1,035 more FTEs in April 2014 than in April 2010, a 0.4 percent increase. American (-9.1 percent) reported a decrease in FTE employment from 2010 to 2014 while US Airways (7.4 percent), Alaska (6.5) and Delta (-0.3) reported increases. United’s numbers for the two years are not directly comparable because of the intervening merger. United reported 5.2 percent more FTEs in April 2014 than United and Continental Airlines reported separately in April 2010 (Tables 8, 9).

Low-Cost Airlines
Recent Changes: The six low-cost airlines reported 1.5 percent more FTEs as a group from April 2013 to April 2014. Frontier and Southwest reported year-to-year decreases while the remaining four airlines reported increases (Table 12).

Longer-term Changes: The low-cost carriers employed 7,180 more FTEs in April 2014 than in April 2010, an 11.3 percent increase. Spirit reported the largest percentage increase, 87.2 percent, while Frontier was the only low-cost carrier to report a decline, 26.3 percent. April 2014 numbers for Southwest are not directly comparable to 2010 because of the intervening merger. Southwest reported 6.8 percent more FTEs in April 2014 than Southwest and AirTran reported separately in April 2010 (Table 12). 

Regional Airlines
Recent Changes: Regional airlines reported a 2.3 percent increase in FTE employment in April 2014 compared to April 2013. PSA Airlines and Republic reported the largest percentage increases in FTEs from April 2013 to April 2014. Chautauqua and Endeavor reported the largest percentage decreases (Table 15).

Longer-term Changes: The 13 regional carriers operating in April employed 1.9 percent fewer FTEs in 2014 than the 18 carriers operating in April 2010.  Mesa reported a decline of 12.4 percent.  GoJet Airlines reported the biggest four-year percentage gain. The ExpressJet/Atlantic Southeast combination reported 2.1 percent more FTE’s in April 2014 than the two airlines reported separately in April 2010. The Endeavor/Mesaba combination reported 30.2 percent fewer FTE’s in April 2014 than the two airlines reported separately in April 2010 (Table 15).

Envoy operated as American Eagle prior to April 2014. Endeavor operated as Pinnacle prior to August 2013.

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 June 11.  Additional airline employment data and previous press releases can be found on the BTS website. BTS has scheduled release of May passenger airline employment data for July 21.

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

Month	Network Airlines	Low-Cost Airlines	Regional Airlines	All Passenger Airlines**
Apr 2012-Apr 2013	-3.0	-0.3	-3.8	-2.4
May 2012-May 2013	-3.0	-0.3	-4.4	-2.4
Jun 2012-Jun 2013	-2.8	-0.6	-4.4	-2.4
Jul 2012-Jul 2013	-2.8	-0.4	-6.3	-2.6
Aug 2012-Aug 2013	-2.5	0.0	-5.1	-2.2
Sep 2012-Sep 2013	-2.1	-0.2	-3.0	-1.6
Oct 2012-Oct 2013	-1.4	-0.1	-0.8	-0.8
Nov 2012-Nov 2013	-0.4	-0.1	-0.5	-0.1
Dec 2012-Dec 2013	0.4	-0.6	-0.5	0.3
Jan 2013-Jan 2014	0.4	0.3	-0.4	0.5
Feb 2013-Feb 2014	0.1	0.7	0.5	0.4
Mar 2013-Mar 2014	0.6	0.8	0.9	0.8
Apr 2013-Apr 2014	0.4	1.5	2.3	1.0

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

Month	2011	2012	2013	2014
January	0.4	2.1	-2.3	0.5
February	1.0	2.1	-2.4	0.4
March	1.5	2.1	-2.7	0.8
April	2.0	1.8	-2.4	1.0
May	2.1	1.6	-2.5
June	1.9	1.4	-2.4
July	2.3	0.8	-2.6
August	2.8	0.1	-2.2
September	2.9	-0.6	-1.6
October	3.0	-1.3	-0.8
November	2.6	-2.0	-0.1
December	2.7	-2.6	0.3

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 2010-2014

Month	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	Percent Change
						2010-2014	2013-2014
January	379,388	380,949	388,778	380,042	381,819	0.6	0.5
February	378,020	381,831	389,901	380,414	381,985	1.0	0.4
March	377,261	382,796	390,761	380,540	383,575	1.7	0.8
April	376,204	383,411	390,243	380,487	384,265	2.1	1.0
May	376,957	384,974	390,957	381,423
June	378,297	385,383	390,923	381,672
July	378,060	386,843	391,286	381,299
August	377,835	388,523	389,000	380,564
September	377,676	388,641	386,372	380,165
October	378,112	389,444	384,310	381,178
November	379,335	389,361	381,639	381,224
December	379,651	389,728	379,576	380,809
12-Month Average	378,066	385,990	387,812	380,818
Jan-Apr Average	377,718	382,247	389,921	380,371	382,911	1.4	0.7

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*, April 2010-2014

	Network	Low-Cost	Regional	All Passenger Airlines**
2010	255,697	63,571	51,502	376,204
2011	260,347	66,114	52,596	383,411
2012	263,666	69,861	51,811	390,243
2013	255,674	69,677	49,387	380,487
2014	256,732	70,751	50,526	384,265
Pct. Change 2010-2014	0.4%	11.3%	-1.9%	2.1%
Percent of Total Passenger Airline Employees in 2014	66.8%	18.4%	13.1%

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*, April 2010-2014

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

	Network	Low-Cost	Regional	All Passenger Airlines**
2010	-3.6	0.5	-9.3	-4.1
2011	1.8	4.0	2.1	1.9
2012	1.3	5.7	-1.5	1.8
2013	-3.0	-0.3	-3.8	-2.4
2014	0.4	1.5	2.3	1.0

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, April 2014

Ranked by Number of Full-Time Equivalent Employees*

Rank	Airline	Total FTE Employees	Carrier Group**	Top 10 Airlines April 2014
1	United	80,397	Network	United
2	Delta	74,996	Network	Delta
3	American	59,899	Network	American
4	Southwest	45,217	Low-Cost	Southwest
5	US Airways	31,665	Network	US Airways
6	JetBlue	13,638	Low-Cost	JetBlue
7	Envoy**	10,862	Regional	American Eagle
8	Alaska	9,775	Network	Alaska
9	SkyWest	9,764	Regional	SkyWest
10	ExpressJet	9,333	Regional	ExpressJet

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

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

** Envoy operated as American Eagle prior to April 2014

*** 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

	2011	2012	2013	2014
January	0.3	1.5	-3.1	0.4
February	1.1	1.2	-3.0	0.1
March	1.5	1.2	-3.3	0.6
April	1.8	1.3	-3.0	0.4
May	2.1	1.3	-3.0
June	1.6	1.4	-2.8
July	2.1	0.8	-2.8
August	2.7	-0.2	-2.5
September	2.7	-0.8	-2.1
October	2.7	-1.4	-1.4
November	2.6	-2.4	-0.4
December	2.3	-3.3	0.4

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 2010-2014

Month	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	Percent Change
						2010-2014	2013-2014
January	257,787	258,653	262,561	254,377	255,518	-0.9	0.4
February	256,756	259,545	262,788	254,955	255,158	-0.6	0.1
March	256,504	260,454	263,464	254,871	256,342	-0.1	0.6
April	255,697	260,347	263,666	255,673	256,732	0.4	0.4
May	255,518	260,832	264,183	256,272
June	256,576	260,689	264,301	256,791
July	256,373	261,818	263,793	256,474
August	256,122	263,063	262,428	255,800
September	255,751	262,639	260,649	255,194
October	255,890	262,912	259,245	255,741
November	256,432	263,129	256,836	255,914
December	256,834	262,617	254,065	255,155
12-Month Average	256,353	261,392	261,498	255,601
Jan-Apr Average	256,686	259,750	263,120	254,969	255,938	-0.3	0.4

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*, April 2010-2014

(FTEs for April of each year. Ranked by April 2014 FTEs)

Rank	Airline	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	Percent Change
							2010-2014	2013-2014
1	UA/CO Combined	76,423	76,962	82,300	82,446	80,397	5.2	-2.5
	United**	43,680	43,481	82,300	82,446	80,397	N/A	-2.5
	Continental**	32,743	33,481	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
2	Delta	74,737	78,099	76,659	73,863	74,996	0.3	1.5
3	American	65,885	66,407	65,290	59,047	59,899	-9.1	1.4
4	US Airways	29,476	29,982	30,387	30,878	31,665	7.4	2.5
5	Alaska	9,178	8,899	9,031	9,440	9,775	6.5	3.5
	Total	255,697	260,347	263,666	255,674	256,732	0.4	0.4

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.

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

Month	2011	2012	2013	2014
January	2.2	5.7	1.1	0.3
February	2.3	6.4	0.2	0.7
March	2.3	7.1	-0.1	0.8
April	4.0	5.7	-0.3	1.5
May	4.1	5.3	-0.3
June	5.0	4.0	-0.6
July	5.3	3.5	-0.4
August	5.7	2.5	0.0
September	5.9	2.5	-0.2
October	6.2	1.9	-0.1
November	5.9	1.4	-0.1
December	6.6	1.3	-0.6

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 2010-2014

	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	Percent Change
						2010-2014	2013-2014
January	63,600	64,978	68,684	69,464	69,693	9.6	0.3
February	63,845	65,321	69,473	69,630	70,135	9.9	0.7
March	63,783	65,273	69,886	69,853	70,384	10.3	0.8
April	63,571	66,114	69,861	69,677	70,751	11.3	1.5
May	63,933	66,553	70,053	69,817
June	64,046	67,261	69,969	69,574
July	63,981	67,373	69,756	69,510
August	64,022	67,682	69,380	69,364
September	64,113	67,875	69,573	69,426
October	64,297	68,267	69,551	69,496
November	64,657	68,450	69,441	69,402
December	64,652	68,887	69,781	69,365
12-Month Average	64,042	67,003	69,617	69,548
Jan-Apr Average	63,700	65,422	69,476	69,656	70,241	10.3	0.8

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*, April 2010-2014

(FTEs for April of each year. Ranked by April 2014 FTEs)

Rank		2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	Percent Change
							2010-2014	2013-2014
1	WN/FL Combined	42,351	43,707	46,124	45,590	45,217	6.8	-0.8
	Southwest**	34,572	35,644	46,124	45,590	45,217	N/A	-0.8
	AirTran	7,779	8,063	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
2	JetBlue	11,200	11,745	12,594	12,872	13,638	21.8	6.0
3	Spirit	1,951	2,281	2,692	3,159	3,652	87.2	15.6
4	Frontier	4,920	4,929	4,331	3,737	3,628	-26.3	-2.9
5	Virgin America	1,527	1,842	2,393	2,420	2,527	65.5	4.4
6	Allegiant	1,623	1,613	1,728	1,899	2,089	28.7	10.0
	Total	63,571	66,114	69,861	69,677	70,751	11.3	1.5

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

Month	2011	2012	2013	2014
January	0.4	0.1	-4.1	-0.4
February	0.9	0.8	-5.0	0.5
March	1.8	0.2	-4.6	0.9
April	2.1	-1.5	-3.8	2.3
May	1.6	-2.2	-4.4
June	1.5	-2.5	-4.4
July	1.9	-3.3	-6.3
August	2.1	-2.3	-5.1
September	2.0	-4.3	-3.0
October	2.1	-6.0	-0.8
November	0.6	-5.4	-0.5
December	1.5	-5.4	-0.5

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 2010-2014

	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	Percent Change
						2010-2014	2013-2014
January	52,531	52,764	52,796	50,640	50,425	-4.0	-0.4
February	51,952	52,409	52,831	50,191	50,458	-2.9	0.5
March	51,522	52,468	52,581	50,181	50,623	-1.7	0.9
April	51,502	52,596	51,811	49,387	50,526	-1.9	2.3
May	52,074	52,930	51,746	49,478
June	52,210	52,984	51,664	49,415
July	52,229	53,197	52,715	49,387
August	52,179	53,284	52,082	49,434
September	52,322	53,361	51,082	49,546
October	52,402	53,490	50,305	49,890
November	52,656	52,954	50,100	49,851
December	52,549	53,328	50,426	50,191
12-Month Average	52,177	52,980	51,678	49,799
Jan-Apr Average	51,877	52,559	52,505	50,100	50,508	-2.6	0.8

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*, April 2010-2014

(FTEs for April of each year. Ranked by April 2014 FTEs)

Rank		2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	Percent Change
							2010-2014	2013-2014
1	Envoy**	9,108	9,690	9,772	11,164	10,862	19.3	-2.7
2	SkyWest	8,849	9,176	9,307	9,391	9,764	10.3	4.0
3	XE/EV Combined	9,145	8,930	9,448	8,873	9,333	2.1	5.2
	ExpressJet***	5,546	5,174	9,448	8,873	9,333	N/A	5.2
	Atlantic Southeast***	3,599	3,756	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
4	9E/XJ Combined	5,472	5,686	4,681	4,394	3,822	-30.2	-13.0
	Endeavor****	3,278	3,523	4,681	4,394	3,822	N/A	-13.0
	Mesaba****	2,194	2,163	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
5	Republic	2,049	2,196	1,879	2,295	2,821	37.7	22.9
6	Horizon	3,038	2,836	2,817	2,672	2,788	-8.2	4.3
7	Air Wisconsin	2,528	2,571	2,623	2,520	2,555	1.1	1.4
8	Shuttle America	1,300	1,402	1,895	2,012	2,039	56.8	1.3
9	Mesa	2,176	1,961	1,743	1,611	1,906	-12.4	18.3
10	PSA	971	991	1,051	1,063	1,338	37.8	25.9
11	Compass	951	931	1,071	1,091	1,223	28.6	12.1
12	GoJet	577	586	861	1,093	1,111	92.5	1.6
13	Chautauqua#	N/A	N/A	N/A	1,208	964	N/A	-20.2
14	Executive##	1,326	1,864	1,543	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
15	Colgan###	1,260	1,558	1,522	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
16	Comair####	2,505	2,223	1,600	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
17	Lynx#####	250	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
	Total	51,502	52,596	51,811	49,387	50,526	-1.9	2.3

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

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

** Envoy Air operated as American Eagle prior to April 2014.

*** 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 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.