BTS Bureau of Transportation Statistics : November 2016 Passenger Airline Employment Data

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U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 3.7 percent more workers in November 2016 than in November 2015, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today. November was the highest monthly FTE total (416,046) since January 2005 (417,789) and was the 37th consecutive month that U.S. scheduled passenger airline full-time equivalent (FTE) employment exceeded the same month of the previous year (Tables 1, 2, 3).

U.S. Scheduled Passenger Airline Employment Percent Change from Previous Year (Last 24 months)

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Month-to-month, the number of FTEs was virtually unchanged from October to November (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 that collectively employ two-thirds of the scheduled passenger airline FTEs reported 2.3 percent more FTEs in November 2016 than in November 2015 (Tables 7, 8, 9). Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines increased FTEs from November 2015 (Table 9). Month-to-month, the number of network airline FTEs declined 0.2 percent from October to November (Table 1A).

The network airlines employed 6.3 percent more FTEs in November 2016 than in November 2012 (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 9.8 percent more FTEs in November 2016 than in November 2015 (Tables 10, 11, 12). Spirit Airlines, Allegiant Airlines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Virgin America and Southwest Airlines increased FTEs from November 2015 (Table 12). Month-to-month, the number of low-cost airline FTEs rose 0.6 percent from October to November (Table 1A). The six low-cost airlines employed 23.0 percent more FTEs in November 2016 than in November 2012 (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 12 regional carriers reported 0.2 percent more FTEs in November 2016 than in November 2015 (Tables 13, 14, 15). Nine regional airlines - Republic Airlines, Compass Airlines, Endeavor Air, PSA Airlines, Mesa Airlines, GoJet Airlines, SkyWest Airlines, Horizon Air and Envoy Air increased FTEs from November 2015. The others reported decreases (Table 15). Month-to-month, the number of regional airline FTEs was virtually unchanged from October to November (Table 1A). The 12 regional carriers reporting in November 2016 employed 1.0 percent more FTEs in November 2016 than the 14 carriers reporting in November 2012 (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 65.5 percent of the 416,046 FTEs employed by all scheduled passenger airlines in November, the six low-cost carriers employed 20.5 percent and the 12 regional carriers employed 12.2 percent (Table 4). In comparison, in November 2006, the network airlines employed 65.1 percent of the FTEs, the six low-cost carriers employed 17.6 percent and the 12 regional carriers employed 14.4 percent (Table 5).

Top Employers by Group: American employed the most FTEs (99,426) in November among the network airlines, Southwest employed the most FTEs (53,678) among low-cost airlines, and Envoy employed the most FTEs (10,887) among regional airlines (Table 6). The three airlines with the most FTEs in November - American, Delta and United - employed 62.7 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 Jan. 10. Additional airline employment data and previous press releases can be found on the BTS website. BTS has scheduled release of December passenger airline employment data for Feb. 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	All Passenger Airlines**
Nov 2014-Nov 2015	3.7	6.5	-0.2	3.7
Dec 2014-Dec 2015	3.5	7.8	0.9	3.9
Jan 2015-Jan 2016	3.3	7.9	2.0	4.1
Feb 2015-Feb 2016	3.2	8.5	0.2	3.8
Mar 2015-Mar 2016	2.9	9.6	0.4	3.9
Apr 2015-Apr 2016	2.4	10.2	0.1	3.6
May 2015-May 2016	2.3	10.7	0.2	3.7
June 2015-Jun 2016	2.3	11.0	0.9	3.9
July 2015-July 2016	2.4	11.3	3.3	4.3
Aug 2015-Aug 2016	2.5	11.0	3.3	4.3
Sep 2015-Sep 2016	2.6	10.6	2.9	4.3
Oct 2015-Oct 2016	2.7	10.2	0.3	4.0
Nov 2015-Nov 2016	2.3	9.8	0.2	3.7

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	All Passenger Airlines**
Nov 2015-Dec 2015	0.0	0.3	0.0	0.0
Dec 2015-Jan 2016	0.0	0.8	0.0	0.2
Jan 2016-Feb 2016	0.3	1.2	-0.1	0.4
Feb 2016-Mar 2016	0.5	0.8	0.3	0.5
Mar 2016-Apr 2016	0.3	1.2	-0.4	0.4
Apr 2016-May2016	0.5	1.1	0.4	0.6
May 2016-Jun2016	0.3	0.9	0.5	0.5
Jun 2016-July 2016	0.2	0.8	0.4	0.3
July 2016-Aug 2016	0.1	0.4	-0.1	0.1
Aug 2016-Sep 2016	0.0	0.6	-0.6	0.1
Sep 2016-Oct 2016	0.2	0.8	-0.1	0.3
Oct 2016-Nov 2016	-0.2	0.6	0.0	0.0

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 2: Change from Previous Year in Scheduled Passenger Airline* Full-time Equivalent Employees**

Percent change compared to same month the previous year

Month	2013	2014	2015	2016
January	-1.6	0.5	1.2	4.1
February	-1.7	0.4	1.8	3.8
March	-1.9	0.8	1.9	3.9
April	-1.8	1.0	2.4	3.6
May	-1.8	1.1	2.6	3.7
June	-1.7	0.9	3.0	3.9
July	-1.8	1.3	2.7	4.3
August	-1.6	1.0	3.3	4.3
September	-0.9	1.1	3.3	4.3
October	-0.3	0.9	4.0	4.0
November	0.1	1.5	3.7	3.7
December	0.3	1.4	3.9

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 2012-2016

Month	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	Percent Change
						2012-2016	2015-2016
January	386,166	380,042	381,819	386,528	402,208	4.2	4.1
February	387,091	380,414	381,985	388,976	403,917	4.3	3.8
March	387,968	380,540	383,575	390,817	406,113	4.7	3.9
April	387,501	380,487	384,265	393,439	407,763	5.2	3.6
May	388,341	381,372	385,619	395,621	410,338	5.7	3.7
June	388,165	381,672	385,243	396,973	412,333	6.2	3.9
July	388,475	381,299	386,243	396,503	413,746	6.5	4.3
August	386,749	380,486	384,478	397,007	414,242	7.1	4.3
September	383,604	380,165	384,501	397,326	414,558	8.1	4.3
October	382,162	381,178	384,700	399,928	415,979	8.8	4.0
November	380,949	381,224	386,912	401,280	416,046	9.2	3.7
December	379,575	380,809	386,222	401,440
12-Month Average	385,562	380,807	384,630	395,487
Jan-Nov Average	386,106	380,807	384,485	394,945	410,658	6.4	4.0

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*, November 2012-2016

Network	Low-Cost	Regional	All Passenger Airlines**
2012	256,141	69,442	50,102	380,949
2013	255,914	69,402	49,851	381,224
2014	256,823	73,014	50,605	386,912
2015	266,251	77,783	50,522	401,280
2016	272,347	85,439	50,625	416,046
Percent of Total Passenger Airline Employees in 2016	65.5%	20.5%	12.2%	100.0%

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.

Table 5: Carrier Group Percent of Total Scheduled Passenger Airline FTEs 2007-2016

(November of each year)

Network	Low-Cost	Regional	Other
2006	65.1	17.6	14.4	3.0
2011	67.6	17.6	13.6	1.2
2015	66.4	19.4	12.6	1.7
2016	65.5	20.5	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, November 2016

Ranked by Number of Full-Time Equivalent Employees*

Rank	Airline	Total FTE Employees	Carrier Group**	Top 10 Airlines November 2015
1	American	99,426	Network	American
2	United	82,027	Network	Delta
3	Delta	79,347	Network	United
4	Southwest	53,678	Low-Cost	Southwest
5	JetBlue	16,681	Low-Cost	JetBlue
6	Alaska	11,547	Network	Alaska
7	Envoy	10,887	Regional	SkyWest
8	SkyWest	10,746	Regional	Envoy
9	ExpressJet	6,399	Regional	ExpressJet
10	Hawaiian	5,570	Other	Spirit

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

2013	2014	2015	2016
January	-2.1	0.4	0.8	3.3
February	-1.9	0.1	1.4	3.2
March	-2.2	0.6	1.7	2.9
April	-2.0	0.4	2.4	2.4
May	-2.0	0.5	2.7	2.3
June	-1.8	0.3	3.1	2.3
July	-1.7	0.4	3.1	2.4
August	-1.5	0.1	3.7	2.5
September	-1.0	0.4	3.6	2.6
October	-0.6	0.3	3.6	2.7
November	-0.1	0.4	3.7	2.3
December	0.4	0.8	3.5

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 2012-2016

Month	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	Percent Change
						2012-2016	2015-2016
January	259,749	254,377	255,518	257,627	266,245	2.5	3.3
February	259,971	254,955	255,158	258,796	266,987	2.7	3.2
March	260,666	254,871	256,342	260,794	268,375	3.0	2.9
April	260,876	255,674	256,732	262,905	269,169	3.2	2.4
May	261,426	256,274	257,578	264,438	270,559	3.5	2.3
June	261,539	256,791	257,491	265,486	271,503	3.8	2.3
July	260,982	256,474	257,541	265,551	271,963	4.2	2.4
August	259,617	255,800	256,095	265,567	272,112	4.8	2.5
September	257,875	255,194	256,133	265,315	272,136	5.5	2.6
October	257,270	255,741	256,409	265,704	272,787	6.0	2.7
November	256,141	255,914	256,823	266,251	272,347	6.3	2.3
December	254,065	255,155	257,251	266,136
12-Month Average	259,181	255,602	256,589	263,714
Jan-Nov Average	259,647	255,642	256,529	263,494	270,380	4.1	2.6

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*, November 2012-2016

(FTEs for November of each year. Ranked by November 2016 FTEs)

Rank	Airline	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	Percent Change
							2012-2016	2015-2016
1	AA/US Combined	91,840	90,960	92,314	97,361	99,426	8.3	2.1
	American**	61,457	59,462	60,614	97,361	99,426	N/A	2.1
	US Airways**	30,383	31,498	31,700	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
2	United	82,381	81,880	78,890	78,838	82,027	-0.4	4.0
3	Delta	72,712	73,575	75,487	79,116	79,347	9.1	0.3
4	Alaska	9,208	9,499	10,132	10,936	11,547	25.4	5.6
	Total	256,141	255,914	256,823	266,251	272,347	6.3	2.3

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

Month	2013	2014	2015	2016
January	0.8	0.3	4.6	7.9
February	0.2	0.7	4.6	8.5
March	0.0	0.8	3.9	9.6
April	-0.3	1.5	4.2	10.2
May	-0.3	1.8	4.3	10.7
June	-0.6	2.2	4.9	11.0
July	-0.4	2.5	5.2	11.3
August	-0.9	3.0	5.8	11.0
September	-0.2	2.9	6.6	10.6
October	-0.1	3.8	6.9	10.2
November	-0.1	5.2	6.5	9.8
December	-0.6	4.4	7.8

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 Airline Full-time Equivalent Employees* by Month 2012-2016

2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	Percent Change
					2012-2016	2015-2016
January	68,926	69,465	69,693	72,909	78,638	14.1	7.9
February	69,476	69,630	70,135	73,351	79,578	14.5	8.5
March	69,887	69,854	70,384	73,163	80,202	14.8	9.6
April	69,862	69,677	70,751	73,695	81,180	16.2	10.2
May	70,055	69,818	71,095	74,167	82,070	17.2	10.7
June	69,970	69,574	71,074	74,592	82,796	18.3	11.0
July	69,756	69,510	71,272	74,999	83,481	19.7	11.3
August	69,940	69,286	71,387	75,549	83,823	19.8	11.0
September	69,575	69,426	71,428	76,176	84,284	21.1	10.6
October	69,552	69,496	72,110	77,063	84,945	22.1	10.2
November	69,442	69,402	73,014	77,783	85,439	23.0	9.8
December	69,781	69,365	72,399	78,035
12-Month Average	69,685	69,542	71,229	75,124
Jan-Nov Average	69,676	69,558	71,122	74,859	82,403	18.3	10.1

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*, November 2012-2016

(FTEs for November of each year. Ranked by November 2016 FTEs)

Rank	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	Percent Change
						2012-2016	2015-2016
1	Southwest	45,953	44,911	46,299	49,578	53,678	16.8	8.3
2	JetBlue	12,465	12,990	13,677	15,214	16,681	33.8	9.6
3	Spirit	2,888	3,521	4,447	4,623	5,484	89.9	18.6
4	Frontier	3,950	3,444	3,672	2,875	3,380	-14.4	17.6
5	Allegiant	1,779	2,048	2,398	2,737	3,223	81.2	17.8
6	Virgin America	2,407	2,488	2,521	2,756	2,993	24.3	8.6
	Total	69,442	69,402	73,014	77,783	85,439	23.0	9.8

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	2013	2014	2015	2016
January	-4.1	-0.4	-1.9	2.0
February	-5.0	0.5	-0.3	0.2
March	-4.6	0.9	-0.5	0.4
April	-4.8	2.3	-0.4	0.1
May	-4.7	2.4	-0.3	0.2
June	-4.4	1.9	0.1	0.9
July	-6.3	3.5	-3.3	3.3
August	-5.1	2.5	-2.7	3.3
September	-3.0	2.1	-2.7	2.9
October	-0.5	-0.2	1.4	0.3
November	-0.5	1.5	-0.2	0.2
December	-0.5	-0.2	0.9

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 Airline Full-time Equivalent Employees* by Month 2012-2016

2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	Percent Change
					2012-2016	2015-2016
January	52,800	50,640	50,425	49,477	50,482	-4.4	2.0
February	52,835	50,191	50,458	50,318	50,416	-4.6	0.2
March	52,584	50,181	50,623	50,361	50,424	-4.1	0.1
April	51,858	49,387	50,526	50,326	50,374	-2.9	0.1
May	51,884	49,424	50,633	50,469	50,554	-2.6	0.2
June	51,666	49,415	50,336	50,373	50,823	-1.6	0.9
July	52,715	49,387	51,107	49,403	51,021	-3.2	3.3
August	52,082	49,434	50,671	49,320	50,957	-2.2	3.3
September	51,085	49,546	50,574	49,231	50,677	-0.8	2.9
October	50,245	49,890	49,789	50,486	50,637	0.8	0.3
November	50,102	49,851	50,605	50,522	50,625	1.0	0.2
December	50,425	50,191	50,083	50,521
12-Month Average	51,690	49,795	50,486	50,067
Jan-Nov Average	51,805	49,759	50,522	50,026	50,635	-2.3	1.2

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 15: Regional Airline Full-time Equivalent Employees*, November 2012-2016

(FTEs for November of each year. Ranked by November 2016 FTEs)

Rank	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	Percent Change
						2012-2016	2015-2016
1	Envoy	10,616	11,099	11,661	10,692	10,887	2.6	1.8
2	SkyWest	9,283	9,595	9,774	10,314	10,746	15.8	4.2
3	ExpressJet	8,824	9,085	8,800	7,483	6,399	-27.5	-14.5
4	Republic	2,115	2,633	3,066	3,097	3,959	87.2	27.8
5	Endeavor	4,750	3,987	3,550	3,293	3,765	-20.7	14.3
6	Horizon	2,703	2,724	2,855	3,231	3,291	21.8	1.9
7	Mesa	1,575	1,770	2,182	2,769	3,075	95.2	11.1
8	PSA	1,090	1,102	1,719	2,394	2,736	151.0	14.3
9	Compass	1,099	1,142	1,199	1,653	1,939	76.4	17.3
10	Air Wisconsin	2,565	2,468	1,895	1,860	1,479	-42.3	-20.5
11	GoJet	1,051	1,122	1,097	1,237	1,300	23.7	5.1
12	S5/RP Combined	3,164	3,124	2,807	2,499	1,049	-66.8	-58.0
	Shuttle America#	1,857	1,988	1,991	2,499	1,049	N/A	-58.0
	Chautauqua#	1,307	1,136	816	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
13	Executive##	1,267	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
	Total	50,102	49,851	50,605	50,522	50,625	1.0	0.2

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

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

Effective July 2012 Chautauqua Airlines began reporting employment data. Chautauqua did not qualify for monthly reporting prior to July 2012 because it did not operate aircraft with more than 60 seats. Effective the end of December 2014, Shuttle America and Chautauqua 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.