April 2016 US passenger airline employment data released

WASHINGTON, DC – US scheduled passenger airlines employed 3.6 percent more workers in April 2016 than in April 2015, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today. April was the highest monthly total (407,763) since July 2008 and was the 29th consecutive month that US scheduled passenger airline full-time equivalent (FTE) employment exceeded the same month of the previous year.

Month-to-month, the number of FTEs rose 0.4 percent from March to April. Scheduled passenger airline categories include network, low-cost, regional and other airlines.

The four network airlines that collectively employ two-thirds of the scheduled passenger airline FTEs reported 2.4 percent more FTEs in April 2016 than in April 2015. Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines increased FTEs from April 2015. The fourth network airline, American Airlines, which has merged with US Airways, reported 2.3 percent more FTEs in April 2016 than American and US Airways reported separately in April 2015. July 2015 was the first month for which the two merged airlines submitted a combined report. Month-to-month, the number of network airline FTEs rose 0.3 percent from March to April.

The network airlines employed 3.2 percent more FTEs in April 2016 than in April 2012. 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 10.2 percent more FTEs in April 2016 than in April 2015. Allegiant Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Virgin America, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways and Frontier Airlines increased FTEs from April 2015. Month-to-month, the number of low-cost airline FTEs rose 1.2 percent from March to April, rising for the 13th consecutive month. The six low-cost airlines employed 16.2 percent more FTEs in April 2016 than in April 2012. Low-cost airlines operate under a low-cost business model, with infrastructure and aircraft operating costs below the overall industry average.

The 12 regional carriers reported 0.1 percent more FTEs in April 2016 than in April 2015. Eight regional airlines – Mesa Airlines, PSA Airlines, Compass Airlines, GoJet Airlines, SkyWest Airlines, Endeavor Air, Republic Airlines and Horizon Air – increased FTEs from April 2015. The others reported decreases. Month-to-month, the number of regional airline FTEs fell 0.4 percent from March to April. The 12 regional carriers reporting in April 2016 employed 2.9 percent fewer FTEs in April 2016 than the 15 carriers reporting in April 2012. Regional carriers typically provide service from small cities, using primarily regional jets to support the network carriers’ hub and spoke systems.