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BTS 60-12
Friday, December 21, 2012
Contact: Dave Smallen
Tel: 202-366-5568 BTS Releases October Passenger Airline Employment Data;
October 2012 Employment Down 1.3 Percent from October 2011 U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 384,310 workers in October 2012, 1.3 percent fewer than in October 2011, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today. Scheduled passenger airline categories include network, low-cost, regional and other airlines. This was the second consecutive month that full-time equivalent (FTE) employment for U.S. scheduled passenger carriers has been lower than the same month of the previous year. This follows 22 months of year-to-year increases that began in October 2010. BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the October 2012 FTE total for scheduled passenger carriers was 5,134 fewer than in October 2011 and is the lowest monthly total since May 2011. Historical employment data can be found on the BTS web site. There were 0.5 percent fewer FTEs in October 2012 than in September 2012. Month-to-month changes can be affected by seasonal factors, such as the number of flights and passengers. The five network airlines that collectively employ two-thirds of the scheduled passenger airline FTEs reported 1.4 percent fewer FTEs in October, the third consecutive decline for the group. Delta Air Lines, eliminating positions following its merger with Northwest Airlines, reduced FTEs by 2.0 percent from October 2011. American Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy in November 2011, reduced FTEs by 5.7 percent. United Airlines reported a post-merger total of 82,312 FTEs in October 2012, 1,613 or 2.0 percent more FTEs than the 80,699 United and Continental Airlines reported separately in October 2011. 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. Among the six low-cost carriers, Allegiant Airlines, Virgin America Airlines, Spirit Airlines and JetBlue Airways reported an increase in FTEs. Frontier Airlines was the only low-cost carrier reporting fewer FTEs. Southwest Airlines reported 46,015 FTEs in October 2012 in a joint report following its merger with AirTran Airways. The combined total was 709 or 1.6 percent more than the 45,306 FTEs the two airlines reported separately in October 2011. 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.-end- You are subscribed to DOT News for Department of Transportation. This information has recently been updated, and is now available.
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