BTS 35-13
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Contact: Dave Smallen
Tel: 202-366-5568 

BTS Releases May Passenger Airline Employment Data;
May 2013 Employment Down 2.1 Percent from May 2012 

U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 382,558 workers in May 2013, 2.1 percent fewer than in May 2012, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today. May was the ninth consecutive month that full-time equivalent (FTE) employment for U.S. scheduled passenger carriers was below that of the same month of the previous year. 

BTS, a part of the Department’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the May 2013 FTE total for scheduled passenger carriers was 8,399 fewer than in May 2012. Scheduled passenger airline categories include network, low-cost, regional and other airlines.  

The five network airlines that collectively employ two-thirds of the scheduled passenger airline FTEs reported 2.5 percent fewer FTEs in May 2013 than in May 2012, the 10th consecutive decline from the same month of the previous year. Delta Air Lines reduced FTEs by 1.9 percent from May 2012. American Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy in November 2011, reduced FTEs by 9.4 percent from May 2012. United Airlines reported 0.1 percent more FTEs than in May 2012. US Airways reported 1.8 percent more FTEs, while Alaska Airlines increased FTEs by 4.1 percent from May 2012. 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. 

Three of the six low-cost carriers - Allegiant Airlines, Spirit Airlines and JetBlue Airways - reported an increase in FTEs from May 2012.  Southwest Airlines, Virgin America and Frontier Airlines reported FTE declines from a year earlier. Low-cost airlines operate under a low-cost business model, with infrastructure and aircraft operating costs below the overall industry average. 

See Passenger Airline Employment press release for summary tables and additional data. Historical employment data can be found on the BTS web site. 

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