February 2017 Passenger Airline Employment Data
U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 4.2 percent more workers in February 2017 than in February 2016, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today. February was the highest monthly total (420,824) since July 2005 (428,091) and was the 40th 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 0.7 percent from January to February (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 65.0 percent of the scheduled passenger airline FTEs reported 2.4 percent more FTEs in February 2017 than in February 2016 (Tables 7, 8, 9). Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines increased FTEs from January 2016. Month-to-month, the number of network airline FTEs rose 0.4 percent from January to February (Table 1A).
The network airlines employed 7.2 percent more FTEs in February 2017 than in February 2013 (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 9.4 percent more FTEs in February 2017 than in February 2016 (Tables 10, 11, 12). Allegiant Air, Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, and Virgin America increased FTEs from February 2016 (Table 12). Month-to-month, the number of low-cost airline FTEs rose 0.9 percent from January to February (Table 1A). The six low-cost airlines employed 25.0 percent more FTEs in February 2017 than in February 2013 (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 11 regional carriers reported 4.5 percent more FTEs in February 2017 than in February 2016 (Tables 13, 14, 15). Eight regional airlines – Endeavor Air, Compass Airlines, PSA Airlines, GoJet Airlines, Mesa Airlines, SkyWest Airlines, Envoy Air, and Horizon Air increased FTEs from February 2016. ExpressJet Airlines’ FTEs were unchanged while Air Wisconsin reported a decrease. In addition, Republic Airlines reported 2.3 percent more FTEs in February 2017 than the combined total that Republic and Shuttle America reported in February 2016 (Table 15). Month-to-month, the number of regional airline FTEs rose 2.4 percent from January to February (Table 1A). The 11 regional carriers reporting in February 2017 employed 5.0 percent more FTEs in February 2017 than the 15 carriers reporting in February 2013 (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 65.0 percent of the 420,824 FTEs employed by all scheduled passenger airlines in February, the six low-cost carriers employed 20.7 percent and the 11 regional carriers employed 12.5 percent (Table 4). In comparison, in February 2006, the network airlines employed 66.6 percent of the FTEs, the six low-cost carriers employed 17.0 percent and the regional carriers employed 14.3 percent (Table 5).
Top Employers by Group: American Airlines employed the most FTEs (99,845) in February among the network airlines, Southwest employed the most FTEs (54,551) among low-cost airlines, and Envoy Air employed the most FTEs (11,171) among regional airlines (Table 6). The three airlines with the most FTEs in February – American, United and Delta– employed 62.2 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 April 10. Additional airline employment data and previous press releases can be found on the BTS website. BTS has scheduled release of March passenger airline employment data for May 18.