BTS Statistics Release: February 2017 Passenger Airline Employment Data

U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 4.2 percent more workers in February 2017 than in February 2016, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today. February was the highest monthly total (420,824) since July 2005 (428,091) and was the 40th consecutive month that U.S. scheduled passenger airline full-time equivalent (FTE) employment exceeded the same month of the previous year.

Month-to-month, the number of FTEs rose 0.7 percent from January to February. Scheduled passenger airline categories include network, low-cost, regional and other airlines.

The four network airlines that collectively employ 65.0 percent of the scheduled passenger airline FTEs reported 2.4 percent more FTEs in February 2017 than in February 2016. Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines increased FTEs from January 2016. Month-to-month, the number of network airline FTEs rose 0.4 percent from January to February.

The network airlines employed 7.2 percent more FTEs in February 2017 than in February 2013. 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 9.4 percent more FTEs in February 2017 than in February 2016. Allegiant Air, Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, and Virgin America increased FTEs from February 2016. Month-to-month, the number of low-cost airline FTEs rose 0.9 percent from January to February. The six low-cost airlines employed 25.0 percent more FTEs in February 2017 than in February 2013. 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 4.5 percent more FTEs in February 2017 than in February 2016. Eight regional airlines – Endeavor Air, Compass Airlines, PSA Airlines, GoJet Airlines, Mesa Airlines, SkyWest Airlines, Envoy Air, and Horizon Air increased FTEs from February 2016. ExpressJet Airlines' FTEs were unchanged while Air Wisconsin reported a decrease. In addition, Republic Airlines reported 2.3 percent more FTEs in February 2017 than the combined total that Republic and Shuttle America reported in February 2016. Month-to-month, the number of regional airline FTEs rose 2.4 percent from January to February. The 11 regional carriers reporting in February 2017 employed 5.0 percent more FTEs in February 2017 than the 15 carriers reporting in February 2013. Regional carriers typically provide service from small cities, using primarily regional jets to support the network carriers' hub and spoke systems.

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

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