January 2012 Passenger Airline Employment Rose 2.1 Percent from January 2011

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Scheduled Passenger Airline Full-Time Equivalent Employees, Month of January, 1990-2012

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Wednesday, March 28, 2012 - U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 2.1 percent more workers in January 2012 than they did in January 2011, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today. This is the 14th consecutive month that full-time equivalent employee (FTE) levels for the scheduled passenger carriers have been higher than the same month of the previous year (Tables 1, 2). FTE calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.

BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the January FTE total of 388,778 for the scheduled passenger carriers was 7,829 more than that of January 2011 (Table 3). These monthly increases reflect gradual improvement in the industry's employment following declines that began in July 2008 (Table 2). However, the January 2012 employment growth rate was the lowest since June 2011 (Table 2). Historical employment data can be found on the BTS web site.

Of the network airlines, only Delta Air Lines, which has been eliminating duplicate positions following its merger with Northwest Airlines, decreased employment from January 2011 to January 2012. United Airlines reported 81,352 FTEs in January 2012 in the first joint report following the merger with Continental Airlines. The combined report was 4,248 more FTEs or 5.5 percent more than the 77,104 FTEs the two airlines reported separately in January 2011 (Table 9).

All low-cost carriers reported more FTEs in January 2012 than in January 2011, except for AirTran Airways, Allegiant Air and Frontier Airlines.  The low-cost carriers with more reported FTEs are Virgin America Airlines, Spirit Airlines, JetBlue Airways and Southwest Airlines (Table 12).

Among the 15 regional carriers, the five carriers reporting reduced employment levels compared to last year were Horizon Airlines, Republic Airlines, Comair, Mesa Airlines and Executive Airlines (Table 15). 

Scheduled passenger airline categories include network, low-cost, regional and other airlines.

Carrier Groups: The five network airlines employed 67.5 percent of the scheduled passenger airline total in December, the seven low-cost carriers employed 17.7 percent and the 15 regional carriers employed 13.6 percent. The 2011 to 2012 increases for all carrier groups result from the relatively consistent profits for most of the industry (Table 4). 

Top employers by group: The newly-merged United employed the most FTEs in January among the network airlines, Southwest employed the most FTEs among low-cost airlines, and American Eagle Airlines employed the most FTEs among regional airlines. Four of the top five employers in the industry are network airlines (Table 6).

Network Airlines

Recent Trend: The network airlines employed 3,907 more FTEs in January 2012 than in January 2011. Four of the five network carriers increased FTEs from January 2011 to January 2012. January 2012 numbers for United are not comparable to 2011 because of the intervening merger (Table 9).

Five-Year Trend: The network airlines employed 19,140 fewer FTEs in January 2012 than in January 2008. American Airlines reported the biggest percentage decline in FTE employment from 2008 to 2012, down 10.1 percent, followed by Alaska Airlines down 9.1 percent. January 2012 numbers for Delta and United are not comparable to 2008 because of the intervening mergers (Tables 8, 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.

Low-Cost Airlines

Recent Trend: The seven low-cost airlines' FTEs were up 5.7 percent in January 2012 from January 2011. All low-cost airlines except Allegiant, AirTran and Frontier reported year-to-year increases (Table 12).

Five-Year Trend: The seven low-cost carriers reporting employment data in both 2008 and 2012 employed 10.7 percent more FTEs in January 2012 than in January 2008.  Virgin America reported the largest percentage increase, up 158.7 percent but Frontier and AirTran reported declines (Table 12).

Low-cost airlines are those that the industry recognizes as operating under a low-cost business model, with lower infrastructure and aircraft operating costs.

Regional Airlines

Recent Trend: The regional airlines' FTEs were up 0.1 percent in January 2012 compared to January 2011. GoJet and Shuttle America report the largest percentage increases in FTEs from January 2011 to January 2012 among airlines not involved in mergers. Comair and Republic reported the largest percentage decreases. Atlantic Southeast Airlines and ExpressJet Airlines reported separately in January 2011 as did Pinnacle Airlines and Mesaba Airlines while their reports were combined in January 2012 (Table 15).

Five-Year Trend: The 14 regional carriers reporting employment data in both 2007 and 2012 employed 6.9 percent fewer FTEs in 2012 than in 2008. Republic reported the largest percentage decline followed by Comair and Mesa. Compass Airlines reported the biggest four-year percentage gain followed by GoJet Airlines. Effective with January 2011 reporting, Republic's employment numbers include FTEs from Midwest Airlines. Midwest employment data were formerly included in the "Other Airlines" category (Table 15).

Regional carriers typically provide service from small cities, using primarily regional jets to support the network carriers' hub and spoke systems.

Reporting Notes

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 Hawaiian Airlines serving the Hawaiian Islands and the Far East.

Data are compiled from monthly reports filed with BTS by commercial air carriers as of March 21. Additional airline employment data can be found on the BTS website. BTS has scheduled release of February 2012 passenger airline employment data for April 27.

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 of the previous year

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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 USA3000 Airlines.

Note: Percent Changes based on numbers prior to rounding.

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

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

Percent Change compared to same month the previous year

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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

Numbers in thousands (000's)

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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 and averages based on numbers prior to rounding.

Table 4: Airline Group Full-time Equivalent Employees*, January 2008-2012

FTE numbers in thousands (000's)

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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: Percent Changes based on numbers prior to rounding.

Table 5: Year-to-Year Change in Airline Group Full-time Equivalent Employees*, January 2008-2012

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

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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: Percent Changes based on numbers prior to rounding.

Table 6: Top 10 Airlines, January 2012

Ranked by Number of Full-Time Equivalent Employees*

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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 Airlines - Year-to-Year Change in Full-time Equivalent Employees* from the Previous Year

Percent Change compared to same month the previous year

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

Numbers in thousands (000's)

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Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

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

Table 9: By Network Airline: Full-time Equivalent Employees*, January 2008-2012

(FTEs for January of each year.  Ranked by January 2012 FTEs)

Numbers in thousands (000's)

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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.

** Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines completed their merger and began reporting combined numbers in January 2010

*** 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 Airlines - Year-to-Year Change in Full-time Equivalent Employees* from the Previous Year

Percent Change compared to same month the previous year

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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 Airlines Full-time Equivalent Employees* by Month**

Numbers in thousands (000's)

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Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

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

** ATA Airlines ceased operations on April 3, 2008 and stopped reporting employment data effective in March.

***SkyBus stopped reporting employment data effective in April 2008 resulting from its bankruptcy filing.

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

Table 12: By Low-Cost Carrier: Full-time Equivalent Employees,* January 2008-2012**

(FTEs for January of each year.  Ranked by January 2012 FTEs)

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Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

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

** The Percent Change 2008-2012 is based on the seven carriers reporting in both years.

***SkyBus stopped reporting employment data effective in April 2008 resulting from its bankruptcy filing.

**** ATA Airlines ceased operating on April 3, 2008 and stopped reporting employment data effective in March.  N/A: Carrier 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.

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

Percent Change compared to same month the previous year

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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 Airlines Full-time Equivalent Employees* by Month

Numbers in thousands (000's)

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Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

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

** Lynx Airlines began reporting in February 2008. Colgan Airlines began reporting in April 2008. Trans States Airlines no longer met reporting requirements beginning in April 2008.

Note: Percent Changes based on numbers prior to rounding.

Table 15: By Regional Airline: Full-time Equivalent Employees*, January 2008- 2012

(FTEs for January of each year.  Ranked by January 2012 FTEs)

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Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

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

** The Percent Change 2008-2012 is based on the 15 carriers reporting in both years.

*** Pinnacle Airlines and Mesaba Airlines began reporting combined numbers in January 2012.

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

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

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

### Effective with April 2008 reporting, Trans States Airlines no longer met the reporting requirements for filing monthly airline employment data.

N/A: Not applicable because carriers did not meet the standard for filing.

Note: Detail may not add to total due to rounding.

Note: Percent Changes based on numbers prior to rounding.