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BTS 43-13
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Contact: Dave Smallen
Tel: 202-366-5568 BTS Releases July Passenger Airline Employment Data;
July 2013 Employment Down 2.6 Percent from July 2012 U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 381,070 workers in July 2013, 2.6 percent fewer than in July 2012, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today. July was the 11th 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 July 2013 FTE total for scheduled passenger carriers was 10,216 fewer than in July 2012. Scheduled passenger airline categories include network, low-cost, regional and other airlines. The 2.6 percent decline in FTEs in July 2013 from July 2012 may, in part, be due to two factors. First, American Airlines, the industry’s third largest employer, filed for bankruptcy in November 2011 and reduced FTEs by 8.0 percent year-to-year. Second, network carriers have experienced increased fuel costs and have reduced contracts with the regional airlines that operate less fuel-efficient regional jets. Regional airline employment is down 6.3 percent year-to-year. The five network airlines that collectively employ two-thirds of the scheduled passenger airline FTEs reported 2.8 percent fewer FTEs in July 2013 than in July 2012, the 12th consecutive month with a decline from the same month of the previous year. Delta Air Lines reduced FTEs by 4.1 percent from July 2012, American Airlines by 8.0 percent from July 2012 and United Airlines by 0.1 percent. US Airways reported 2.5 percent more FTEs, while Alaska Airlines increased FTEs by 3.8 percent from July 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. Of the six low-cost carriers, three - Spirit Airlines, Allegiant Airlines and JetBlue Airways - reported an increase in FTEs from July 2012 while three - Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Virgin America - reported a decline. 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. -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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