BTS Statistics Release: March 2017 Passenger Airline Employment Data

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BTS 26-17      

Thursday May 18, 2017

Contact: Dave Smallen

Tel: 202-366-5568

david.smallen@dot.gov                                                                                                                  

BTS Statistics Release: March 2017 Passenger Airline Employment Data

 

U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 4.0 percent more workers in March 2017 than in March 2016, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today. March was the highest monthly full-time equivalent (FTE) total (422,278) since July 2005 (428,091) and was the 41st consecutive month that U.S. scheduled passenger airline FTEs exceeded the same month of the previous year (Tables 1, 2, 3).

 Fig1

 

 

 

Month-to-month, the number of FTEs rose 0.6 percent from February to March (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 reported 2.7 percent more FTEs in March 2017 than in March 2016 (Tables 7, 8, 9). American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines increased FTEs from March 2016. Month-to-month, the number of network airline FTEs rose 0.8 percent from February to March (Table 1A).

 

The network airlines employed 8.1 percent more FTEs in March 2017 than in March 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 9.1 percent more FTEs in March 2017 than in March 2016 (Tables 10, 11, 12). Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines, Allegiant Airlines, Frontier Airlines and Virgin America increased FTEs from January 2016 (Table 12). Month-to-month, the number of low-cost airline FTEs rose 0.6 percent from February to March, rising for the 20th consecutive month (Table 1A). The six low-cost airlines employed 25.3 percent more FTEs in March 2017 than in March 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 2.0 percent more FTEs in March 2017 than in March 2016 (Tables 13, 14, 15). Nine regional airlines – Envoy Air, SkyWest Airlines, Republic Airlines, Endeavor Air, Horizon Air, Mesa Airlines, PSA Airlines, Compass Airlines and GoJet Airlines increased FTEs from March 2016. ExpressJet Airlines and Air Wisconsin reported a decrease (Table 15). Month-to-month, the number of regional airline FTEs dropped 0.3 percent from February to March (Table 1A). The 11 regional carriers reporting in March 2017 employed 2.5 percent more FTEs in March 2017 than the 15 carriers reporting in March 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 65.2 percent of the 422,278 FTEs employed by all scheduled passenger airlines in March, the six low-cost carriers employed 20.7 percent and the 11 regional carriers employed 12.2 percent (Table 4). In comparison, in March 2006, the network airlines employed 66.2 percent of the FTEs, the six low-cost carriers employed 17.2 percent and the regional carriers employed 14.5 percent (Table 5).

 

Top Employers by Group: American Airlines employed the most FTEs (100,295) in March among the network airlines, Southwest Airlines employed the most FTEs (54,652) among low-cost airlines, and Envoy Air employed the most FTEs (11,238) among regional airlines. The three airlines with the most FTEs in March – American, United and Delta– employed 62.4 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 May 9. Additional airline employment data and previous press releases can be found on the BTS website.  BTS has scheduled release of April 2017 passenger airline employment data for June 21. 

 

Table 1: Yearly Change in Scheduled Passenger Airline Full-time Equivalent Employees* by Airline Group

Most recent 13 months - percent change from same month of the previous year

 

Network Airlines

Low-cost Airlines

Regional Airlines

Other Airlines

All Passenger Airlines **

Mar 2015 - Mar 2016

2.9

9.6

0.1

7.4

3.9

Apr 2015 - Apr 2016

2.4

10.2

0.1

8.1

3.6

May 2015 – May 2016

2.3

10.7

0.2

9.3

3.7

Jun 2015 - Jun 2016

2.3

11.0

0.9

10.6

3.9

Jul 2015 - Jul 2016

2.4

11.3

3.3

11.2

4.3

Aug 2015 - Aug 2016

2.5

11.0

3.3

11.9

4.3

Sep 2015 - Sep 2016

2.6

10.6

2.9

13.0

4.3

Oct 2015 - Oct 2016

2.7

10.3

0.3

12.7

4.0

Nov 2015 - Nov 2016

2.3

9.8

0.2

13.5

3.7

Dec 2015 - Dec 2016

2.4

9.5

0.2

13.7

3.7

Jan 2016 - Jan 2017

2.3

9.7

1.9

12.7

3.9

Feb 2016 - Feb 2017

2.4

9.4

2.4

11.8

3.9

Mar 2016 - Mar 2017

2.7

9.1

2.0

11.7

4.0

           

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 1A: Monthly Change in Scheduled Passenger Airline Full-time Equivalent Employees* by Airline Group

Percent change in FTEs from the previous month

     

 

Network Airlines

Low-cost Airlines

Regional Airlines

Other Airlines

All Passenger Airlines **

Mar 2016 - Apr 2016

0.3

1.2

-0.1

0.8

0.4

Apr 2016 - May 2016

0.5

1.1

0.4

1.6

0.6

May 2016 - Jun 2016

0.3

0.9

0.5

0.8

0.5

Jun 2016 - Jul 2016

0.2

0.8

0.4

1.0

0.3

Jul 2016 - Aug 2016

0.1

0.4

-0.1

0.9

0.1

Aug 2016 - Sep 2016

0.0

0.5

-0.5

1.5

0.1

Sep 2016 - Oct 2016

0.2

0.9

-0.1

0.8

0.3

Oct 2016 - Nov 2016

-0.2

0.5

0.0

1.5

0.0

Nov 2016 - Dec 2016

0.1

0.0

0.0

0.5

0.1

Dec 2016 - Jan 2017

-0.1

1.0

1.6

0.5

0.4

Jan 2017 - Feb 2017

0.4

0.9

0.4

0.6

0.5

Feb 2017 - Mar 2017

0.8

0.6

-0.3

0.6

0.6

           

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

2014

2015

2016

2017

January

0.5

1.2

4.1

3.9

February

0.4

1.8

3.8

3.9

March

0.8

1.9

3.9

4.0

April

1.0

2.4

3.6

 

May

1.1

2.6

3.7

 

June

0.9

3.0

3.9

 

July

1.3

2.7

4.3

 

August

1.0

3.3

4.3

 

September

1.1

3.3

4.3

 

October

0.9

4.0

4.0

 

November

1.5

3.7

3.7

 

December

1.4

3.9

3.7

 

         

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 3: Scheduled Passenger Airline* Full-time Equivalent Employees** by Month 2013 - 2017

FTE numbers in thousands (000’s)

Month

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Percent Change

2013 - 2017

2016 - 2017

January

380.0

381.8

386.5

402.2

417.8

9.9

3.9

February

380.4

382.0

389.0

403.9

419.8

10.3

3.9

March

380.5

383.6

390.8

406.0

422.3

11.0

4.0

April

380.5

384.3

393.4

407.8

 

   

May

381.4

385.6

395.6

410.3

 

   

June

381.7

385.2

397.0

412.3

 

   

July

381.3

386.2

396.5

413.7

 

   

August

380.5

384.5

397.0

414.2

 

   

September

380.2

384.5

397.3

414.6

 

   

October

381.2

384.7

399.9

416.0

 

   

November

381.2

386.9

401.3

416.0

 

   

December

380.8

386.2

401.4

416.3

 

   

Jan - Mar Average

380.3

382.5

388.8

404.0

420.0

10.4

3.9

12-Month Average

380.7

384.8

397.3

413.2

 

 

 

               

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*, March 2013 - 2017

FTE numbers in thousands (000’s)

 

Network Airlines

Low-cost Airlines

Regional Airlines

Other Airlines

All Passenger Airlines**

2013

254.9

69.9

50.2

5.6

380.5

2014

256.3

70.4

50.6

6.2

383.6

2015

260.8

73.2

50.4

6.5

390.8

2016

268.4

80.2

50.4

7.0

406.0

2017

275.5

87.5

51.4

7.8

422.3

Percent of Total Passenger Airline Employees in 2017

65.2%

20.7%

12.2%

1.8%

100%

 

Table 5: Carrier Group Percent of Total Scheduled Passenger Airline FTEs

(March of each year)

     

Year

Network Airlines

Low-cost Airlines

Regional Airlines

Other Airlines

2006

66.2

17.2

14.5

2.1

2012

67.2

18.0

13.5

1.3

2016

66.1

19.8

12.4

1.7

2017

65.2

20.7

12.2

1.8

         

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, March 2016

Ranked by Number of Full-Time Equivalent Employees*

   

Rank

Airline

Total FTE Employees

Carrier Group**

Top 10 Airlines March 2016

1

American

100,295

Network

American.

2

United

82,524

Network

United

3

Delta

80,713

Network

Delta

4

Southwest

54,652

Low-cost

Southwest

5

JetBlue

17,007

Low-cost

JetBlue

6

Alaska

11,971

Network

Alaska

7

Envoy Air

11,238

Regional

Envoy

8

SkyWest

11,058

Regional

SkyWest

9

ExpressJet

5,983

Regional

ExpressJet

10

Spirit

5,782

Low-cost

Hawaiian

         

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

Percent change compared to same month of the previous year

 

2014

2015

2016

2017

January

0.4

0.8

3.3

2.3

February

0.1

1.4

3.2

2.4

March

0.6

1.7

2.9

2.7

April

0.4

2.4

2.4

 

May

0.5

2.7

2.3

 

June

0.3

3.1

2.3

 

July

0.4

3.1

2.4

 

August

0.1

3.7

2.5

 

September

0.4

3.6

2.6

 

October

0.3

3.6

2.7

 

November

0.4

3.7

2.3

 

December

0.8

3.5

2.4

 

         

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 2013 - 2017

FTE numbers in thousands (000’s)

 

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Percent Change

2013 - 2017

2016 - 2017

January

254.4

255.5

257.6

266.2

272.4

           7.1

     2.3

February

255.0

255.2

258.8

267.0

273.4

               7.2

   2.4

March

254.9

256.3

260.8

268.4

275.5

           8.1

       2.7

April

255.7

256.7

262.9

269.2

 

   

May

256.3

257.6

264.4

270.6

 

   

June

256.8

257.5

265.5

271.5

 

   

July

256.5

257.5

265.6

272.0

 

   

August

255.8

256.1

265.6

272.1

 

   

September

255.2

256.1

265.3

272.1

 

   

October

255.7

256.4

265.7

272.8

 

   

November

255.9

256.8

266.3

272.3

 

   

December

255.2

257.3

266.1

272.6

 

   

Jan - Mar Average

254.7

255.7

259.1

267.2

273.8

7.5

2.5

12-Month Average

255.6

256.6

263.7

270.6

 

 

 

               

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 9: Network Airline Full-time Equivalent Employees*, March 2013 - 2017

(FTEs for March of each year. Ranked by March 2017 FTEs)

           

FTE numbers in thousands (000’s)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rank

Airline

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Percent Change

2013 - 2017

2016 - 2017

1

American (+ US)

89.7

91.5

94.6

97.7

100.3

11.8

2.6

 

American

59.0

59.8

62.1

97.7

100.3

70.0

N/A

 

US Airways

30.7

31.7

32.5

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2

United

82.4

80.7

78.7

80.1

82.5

N/A

3.1

3

Delta

73.4

74.5

77.0

79.6

80.7

10.0

1.4

4

Alaska

9.4

9.6

10.5

11.0

12.0

27.6

8.8

 

Total

254.9

256.3

260.8

268.4

275.5

8.1

2.7

                 

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

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

** American Airlines and US Airways merged and began reporting combined numbers in July 2015.

 

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

 

2014

2015

2016

2017

January

0.3

4.6

7.9

9.7

February

0.7

4.6

8.5

9.4

March

0.8

3.9

9.6

9.1

April

1.5

4.2

10.2

 

May

1.8

4.3

10.7

 

June

2.2

4.9

11.0

 

July

2.5

5.2

11.3

 

August

3.0

5.8

11.0

 

September

2.9

6.6

10.6

 

October

3.8

6.9

10.3

 

November

5.2

6.5

9.8

 

December

4.4

7.8

9.5

 

         

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 11: Low-cost Airlines Full-time Equivalent Employees* by Month 2013 - 2017

FTE numbers in thousands (000’s)

 

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Percent Change

2013 - 2017

2016 - 2017

January

69.5

69.7

72.9

78.6

86.3

24.2

9.7

February

69.6

70.1

73.4

79.6

87.0

25.0

9.4

March

69.9

70.4

73.2

80.2

87.5

25.3

9.1

April

69.7

70.8

73.7

81.2

 

   

May

69.8

71.1

74.2

82.1

 

   

June

69.6

71.1

74.6

82.8

 

   

July

69.5

71.3

75.0

83.5

 

   

August

69.3

71.4

75.5

83.8

 

   

September

69.4

71.4

76.2

84.3

 

   

October

69.5

72.1

77.1

85.0

 

   

November

69.4

73.0

77.8

85.4

 

   

December

69.4

72.4

78.0

85.4

 

   

Jan - Mar Average

69.6

70.1

73.1

79.5

86.9

24.8

9.4

12-Month Average

69.5

71.2

75.1

82.7

 

 

 

               

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*, March 2013 - 2017

(FTEs for March of each year. Ranked by March 2017 FTEs)

           

Rank

Airline

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Percent Change

2013 - 2017

2016 - 2017

1

Southwest

45,791

45,163

47,005

50,911

54,652

19.4

7.3

2

JetBlue

12,775

13,513

13,980

15,457

17,007

33.1

10.0

3

Spirit

3,215

3,569

4,159

4,943

5,782

79.8

17.0

4

Allegiant

3,808

3,504

3,022

3,015

3,534

-7.2

17.2

5

Frontier

1,879

2,130

2,443

3,024

3,531

87.9

16.8

6

Virgin America

2,386

2,505

2,554

2,852

3,026

26.8

6.1

 

Total

69,854

70,384

73,163

80,202

87,532

25.3

9.1

                 

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 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

2014

2015

2016

2017

January

-0.4

-1.9

2.0

1.9

February

0.5

-0.3

0.2

2.4

March

0.9

-0.5

0.1

2.0

April

2.3

-0.4

0.1

 

May

2.4

-0.3

0.2

 

June

1.9

0.1

0.9

 

July

3.5

-3.3

3.3

 

August

2.5

-2.7

3.3

 

September

2.1

-2.7

2.9

 

October

-0.2

1.4

0.3

 

November

1.5

-0.2

0.2

 

December

-0.2

0.9

0.2

 

         

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 2013 - 2017

FTE numbers in thousands (000’s)

 

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Percent Change

2013 - 2017

2016 - 2017

January

50.6

50.4

49.5

50.5

51.4

1.6

1.9

February

50.2

50.5

50.3

50.4

51.6

2.8

2.4

March

50.2

50.6

50.4

50.4

51.4

2.5

2.0

April

49.4

50.5

50.3

50.4

 

   

May

49.4

50.6

50.5

50.6

 

   

June

49.4

50.3

50.4

50.8

 

   

July

49.4

51.1

49.4

51.0

 

   

August

49.4

50.7

49.3

51.0

 

   

September

49.5

50.6

49.2

50.7

 

   

October

49.9

49.8

50.5

50.6

 

   

November

49.9

50.6

50.5

50.6

 

   

December

50.2

50.1

50.5

50.6

 

   

Jan - Mar Average

50.3

50.5

50.1

50.4

51.5

2.3

2.1

12-Month Average

49.8

50.5

50.1

50.6

     

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 15: Regional Airline Full-time Equivalent Employees*, March 2013 - 2017

(FTEs for March of each year. Ranked by March 2017 FTEs)

Rank

Airline

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Percent Change

2013 - 2017

2016 - 2017

1

Envoy

11,244

10,865

11,019

10,658

11,238

-0.1

5.4

2

SkyWest

9,414

9,912

9,845

10,632

11,058

17.5

4.0

3

ExpressJet

8,848

9,223

8,364

7,100

5,983

-32.4

-15.7

4

YX/S5/RP Combined#

5,525

5,847

5,923

5,333

5,481

-0.8

2.8

 

Republic

2,273

2,767

3,160

3,276

5,481

141.1

67.3

 

Shuttle America

2,040

2,003

2,763

2,057

N/A

N/A

N/A

 

Chautauqua

1,212

1,077

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

5

Endeavor

4,432

3,857

3,302

3,389

3,839

-13.4

13.3

6

Horizon

2,650

2,810

2,959

3,239

3,306

24.8

2.1

7

Mesa

1,545

1,912

2,380

2,793

3,052

97.5

9.3

8

PSA

1,067

1,311

2,068

2,550

2,870

169.0

12.5

9

Compass

1,090

1,200

1,448

1,715

1,904

74.7

11.0

10

Air Wisconsin

2,543

2,567

1,904

1,807

1,357

-46.6

-24.9

11

GoJet

1,086

1,119

1,149

1,208

1354

24.7

12.1

12

Executive##

737

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

 

Total

50,181

50,623

50,361

50,424

51,442

2.5

2.0

                 

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

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

#  Effective the end of December 2016, Republic and Shuttle America combined operations and Shuttle America ceased operating. Effective the end of December 2014, Shuttle America and Chautauqua Airlines combined operations and Chautauqua ceased operating.

## Effective the end of March 2013, Executive 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.