BTS Statistics Release: December 2017 Passenger Airline Employment Data

U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 3.4 percent more workers in December 2017 than in December 2016, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today. December was the highest monthly full-time equivalent (FTE) employment total (430,607 FTEs) since January 2005 (430,780 FTEs) and was the 50th consecutive month that U.S. scheduled passenger airlines' FTEs exceeded the same month of the previous year (Tables 1, 2, 3).

Fig1

Month-to-month, the number of FTEs rose 0.2 percent from November to December (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 64.6 percent of the scheduled passenger airline FTEs reported 2.0 percent more FTEs in December 2017 than in December 2016, an increase of 5,562 FTEs (Tables 7, 8, 9). Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and United Airlines increased FTEs from December 2016. Month-to-month, the number of network airline FTEs rose 0.1 percent from November to December (Table 1A).

The network airlines employed 9.0 percent more FTEs in December 2017 than in December 2013, an increase of 23,021 FTEs (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 6.5 percent more FTEs in December 2017 than in December 2016, an increase of 5,570 FTEs (Tables 10, 11, 12). Spirit Airlines, Allegiant Airlines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Virgin America and Southwest Airlines increased FTEs from December 2016 (Tables 12). Month-to-month, the number of low-cost airline FTEs was virtually unchanged from November to December (Table 1A). The six low-cost airlines employed 31.2 percent more FTEs in December 2017 than in December 2013, an increase of 21,639 FTEs (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 11 regional carriers reported 6.0 percent more FTEs in December 2017 than in December 2016, an increase of 3,023 FTEs (Tables 13, 14, 15). Eight regional airlines – PSA Airlines, SkyWest Airlines, Envoy Air, Republic Airlines, Endeavor Air, Horizon Air, Mesa Airlines and GoJet Airlines increased FTEs from December 2016. ExpressJet Airlines, Compass Airlines and Air Wisconsin reported a decrease (Table 15). Month-to-month, the number of regional airline FTEs rose 0.5 percent from November to December (Table 1A). The 11 regional carriers reporting in December 2017 employed 6.9 percent more FTEs in December 2017 than the 15 carriers reporting in December 2013, an increase of 3,448 FTEs (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 64.6 percent of the 430,607 FTEs employed by all scheduled passenger airlines in December, the six low-cost carriers employed 21.1 percent and the 11 regional carriers employed 12.5 percent (Table 4). In comparison, in December 2006, network airlines employed 65.0 percent, six low-cost carriers employed 17.9 percent and regional carriers employed 15.0 (Table5).

Top Employers by Group: American employed the most FTEs (100,645) in December among the network airlines, Southwest employed the most FTEs (56,110) among low-cost airlines, and Envoy employed the most FTEs (12,394) among regional airlines. The three airlines with the most FTEs in December – American, United and Delta – employed 61.8 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.

Data are compiled from monthly reports filed with BTS by commercial air carriers as of Feb. 7, Additional airline employment data and previous press releases can be found on the BTS website. BTS has scheduled release of January passenger airline employment data for March 19.

*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	Other Airlines	All Passenger Airlines **
Dec 2015 - Dec 2016	2.4	9.5	0.2	13.7	3.7
Jan 2016 - Jan 2017	2.3	9.7	1.8	12.7	3.9
Feb 2016 - Feb 2017	2.4	9.4	2.4	11.8	3.9
Mar 2016 - Mar 2017	2.7	9.1	2.0	11.7	4.0
Apr 2016 - Apr 2017	2.6	8.8	2.1	10.7	3.9
May 2016 - May 2017	2.4	8.3	2.5	9.8	3.7
Jun 2016 - Jun 2017	2.5	8.0	2.6	9.4	3.8
Jul 2016 - Jul 2017	2.3	7.3	2.7	8.5	3.5
Aug 2016 - Aug 2017	2.2	7.0	3.3	8.4	3.4
Sep 2016 - Sep 2017	2.1	6.8	4.3	6.7	3.4
Oct 2016 - Oct 2017	2.1	6.7	5.2	1.8	3.4
Nov 2016 - Nov 2017	2.0	6.5	5.4	0.9	3.3
Dec 2016 - Dec 2017	2.0	6.5	6.0	1.5	3.4
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 and Sun Country Airlines.
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	Other Airlines	All Passenger Airlines **
Dec 2016 - Jan 2017	-0.1	1.0	1.6	0.5	0.4
Jan 2017 - Feb 2017	0.4	0.9	0.4	0.6	0.5
Feb 2017 - Mar 2017	0.8	0.6	-0.3	0.6	0.6
Mar 2017 - Apr 2017	0.3	0.9	0.0	-0.1	0.3
Apr 2017 - May 2017	0.3	0.6	0.7	0.8	0.5
May 2017 - Jun 2017	0.5	0.6	0.7	0.4	0.5
Jun 2017 - Jul 2017	0.0	0.2	0.5	0.1	0.1
Jul 2017 - Aug 2017	-0.1	0.2	0.4	0.8	0.1
Aug 2017 - Sep 2017	-0.1	0.4	0.5	-0.1	0.1
Sep 2017 - Oct 2017	0.3	0.8	0.7	-3.8	0.4
Oct 2017 - Nov 2017	-0.2	0.3	0.2	0.5	-0.1
Nov 2017 - Dec 2017	0.1	0.0	0.5	1.1	0.2
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 and Sun Country Airlines.
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	2014	2015	2016	2017
January	0.5	1.2	4.1	3.9
February	0.4	1.8	3.8	3.9
March	0.8	1.9	3.9	4.0
April	1.0	2.4	3.6	3.9
May	1.1	2.6	3.7	3.7
June	0.9	3.0	3.9	3.8
July	1.3	2.7	4.3	3.5
August	1.0	3.3	4.3	3.4
September	1.1	3.3	4.3	3.4
October	0.9	4.0	4.0	3.4
November	1.5	3.7	3.7	3.3
December	1.4	3.9	3.7	3.4
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.

*Table 3: Scheduled Passenger Airline Full-time Equivalent Employees by Month 2013 – 2017** (FTEs in thousands)
						Percent Change
	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2013 - 2017	2016 - 2017
January	380.0	381.8	386.5	402.3	417.8	9.9	3.9
February	380.4	382.0	389.0	403.9	419.8	10.3	3.9
March	380.5	383.6	390.8	406.0	422.3	11.0	4.0
April	380.5	384.3	393.4	407.8	423.7	11.4	3.9
May	381.4	385.6	395.6	410.3	425.7	11.6	3.7
June	381.7	385.2	397.0	412.3	427.8	12.1	3.8
July	381.3	386.2	396.5	413.7	428.2	12.3	3.5
August	380.5	384.5	397.0	414.2	428.5	12.6	3.4
September	380.2	384.5	397.3	414.6	428.7	12.8	3.4
October	381.2	384.7	399.9	416.0	430.2	12.9	3.4
November	381.2	386.9	401.3	416.0	429.9	12.8	3.3
December	380.8	386.2	401.4	416.3	430.6	13.1	3.4
12-Month Average	380.8	384.6	395.5	411.1	426.1	11.9	3.6
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 and averages based on numbers prior to rounding.

*Table 4: Airline Group Full-time Equivalent Employees, December 2013 – 2017** (FTEs in thousands)
	Network Airlines	Low-Cost Airlines	Regional Airlines	Other Airlines	All Passenger Airlines**
2013	255.2	69.4	50.2	6.1	380.8
2014	257.3	72.4	50.1	6.5	386.2
2015	266.1	78.0	50.5	6.7	401.4
2016	272.6	85.4	50.6	7.7	416.3
2017	278.2	91.0	53.6	7.8	430.6
Percent of Total Passenger Airline Employees in 2017	64.6	21.1	12.5	1.8	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. Note: Percent changes and averages based on numbers prior to rounding.

Table 5: Carrier Group Percent of Total Scheduled Passenger Airline FTEs
(December of each year)
Year	Network Airlines	Low-Cost Airlines	Regional Airlines	Other Airlines
2006	65.0	17.9	15.0	2.1
2012	66.9	18.4	13.3	1.4
2016	65.5	20.5	12.2	1.8
2017	64.6	21.1	12.5	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. Note: Percent changes and averages based on numbers prior to rounding.

Table 6: Top 10 Airlines, December 2017
Ranked by Number of Full-Time Equivalent Employees*
Rank	Airline	Total FTE Employees	Carrier Group**	Top 10 Airlines December 2016
1	American	100,645	Network	American
2	United	82,624	Network	United
3	Delta	81,765	Network	Delta
4	Southwest	56,110	Low-cost	Southwest
5	JetBlue	17,728	Low-cost	JetBlue
6	Alaska	13,142	Network	Alaska
7	Envoy	12,394	Regional	Envoy
8	SkyWest	12,333	Regional	Skywest
9	Spirit	6,600	Low-cost	ExpressJet
10	Hawaiian	6,019	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
	2014	2015	2016	2017
January	0.4	0.8	3.3	2.3
February	0.1	1.4	3.2	2.4
March	0.6	1.7	2.9	2.7
April	0.4	2.4	2.4	2.6
May	0.5	2.7	2.3	2.4
June	0.3	3.1	2.3	2.5
July	0.4	3.1	2.4	2.3
August	0.1	3.7	2.5	2.2
September	0.4	3.6	2.6	2.1
October	0.3	3.6	2.7	2.1
November	0.4	3.7	2.3	2.0
December	0.8	3.5	2.4	2.0
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
* Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.

*Table 8: Network Airline Full-time Equivalent Employees by Month 2013 – 2017** (FTEs in thousands)
	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	Percent Change
	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2013 - 2017	2016 - 2017
January	254.4	255.5	257.6	266.2	272.4	7.1	2.3
February	255.0	255.2	258.8	267.0	273.4	7.2	2.4
March	254.9	256.3	260.8	268.4	275.5	8.1	2.7
April	255.7	256.7	262.9	269.2	276.2	8.0	2.6
May	256.3	257.6	264.4	270.6	277.1	8.1	2.4
June	256.8	257.5	265.5	271.5	278.4	8.4	2.5
July	256.5	257.5	265.6	272.0	278.3	8.5	2.3
August	255.8	256.1	265.6	272.1	278.2	8.7	2.2
September	255.2	256.1	265.3	272.1	277.8	8.9	2.1
October	255.7	256.4	265.7	272.8	278.6	8.9	2.1
November	255.9	256.8	266.3	272.3	277.9	8.6	2.0
December	255.2	257.3	266.1	272.6	278.2	9.0	2.0
12-Month Average	255.6	256.6	263.7	270.6	276.8	8.3	2.3
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
* Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee. Note: Percent changes and averages based on numbers prior to rounding.

*Table 9: Network Airline Full-time Equivalent Employees, December 2013 - 2017**
(FTEs for December of each year. Ranked by December 2017 FTEs) (FTEs in thousands)
Rank	Airline	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	Percent Change
Rank	Airline	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2013 - 2017	2016 - 2017
1	American (+ US)	90.9	92.5	97.3	99.5	100.6	10.7	1.1
	American	59.5	60.7	97.3	99.5	100.6	N/A	1.1
	US Airways	31.5	31.8	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
2	United	81.4	78.8	78.9	82.1	82.6	1.5	0.6
3	Delta	73.4	75.7	79.1	79.4	81.8	11.5	2.9
4	Alaska	9.5	10.2	10.9	11.5	13.1	38.2	14.0
	Total	255.2	257.3	266.1	272.6	278.2	9.0	2.0
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
	2014	2015	2016	2017
January	0.3	4.6	7.9	9.7
February	0.7	4.6	8.5	9.4
March	0.8	3.9	9.6	9.1
April	1.5	4.2	10.2	8.8
May	1.8	4.3	10.7	8.3
June	2.2	4.9	11.0	8.0
July	2.5	5.2	11.3	7.3
August	3.0	5.8	11.0	7.0
September	2.9	6.6	10.6	6.8
October	3.8	6.9	10.3	6.7
November	5.2	6.5	9.8	6.5
December	4.4	7.8	9.5	6.5
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
* Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee. Note: Percent changes and averages based on numbers prior to rounding.

*Table 11: Low-Cost Airline Full-time Equivalent Employees by Month 2013 – 2017** (FTEs in thousands)
	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	Percent Change
	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2013 - 2017	2016 - 2017
January	69.5	69.7	72.9	78.6	86.3	24.2	9.7
February	69.6	70.1	73.4	79.6	87.0	25.0	9.4
March	69.9	70.4	73.2	80.2	87.5	25.3	9.1
April	69.7	70.8	73.7	81.2	88.3	26.7	8.8
May	69.8	71.1	74.2	82.1	88.9	27.3	8.3
June	69.6	71.1	74.6	82.8	89.4	28.5	8.0
July	69.5	71.3	75.0	83.5	89.6	28.9	7.3
August	69.3	71.4	75.5	83.8	89.7	29.5	7.0
September	69.4	71.4	76.2	84.3	90.0	29.7	6.8
October	69.5	72.1	77.1	85.0	90.8	30.6	6.7
November	69.4	73.0	77.8	85.4	91.0	31.1	6.5
December	69.4	72.4	78.0	85.4	91.0	31.2	6.5
12-Month Average	69.5	71.2	75.1	82.7	89.1	28.2	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 and averages based on numbers prior to rounding.

*Table 12: Low-Cost Airline Full-time Equivalent Employees, December 2013 - 2017**
(FTEs for December of each year. Ranked by December 2017 FTEs)
Rank	Airline	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	Percent Change
Rank	Airline	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2013 - 2017	2016 - 2017
1	Southwest	44,831	46,278	49,583	53,536	56,110	25.2	4.8
2	JetBlue	12,952	13,665	15,219	16,531	17,728	36.9	7.2
3	Spirit	3,543	3,925	4,702	5,597	6,600	86.3	17.9
4	Allegiant	2,065	2,405	2,843	3,412	3,748	81.5	9.8
5	Frontier	3,494	3,625	2,953	3,392	3,702	6.0	9.1
6	Virgin America	2,480	2,501	2,735	2,966	3,116	25.6	5.1
	Total	69,365	72,399	78,035	85,434	91,004	31.2	6.5
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
* Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.

*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	2014	2015	2016	2017
January	-0.4	-1.9	2.2	1.8
February	0.5	-0.3	0.2	2.4
March	0.9	-0.5	0.1	2.0
April	2.3	-0.4	0.1	2.1
May	2.4	-0.3	0.2	2.5
June	1.9	0.1	0.9	2.6
July	3.5	-3.3	3.3	2.7
August	2.5	-2.7	3.3	3.3
September	2.1	-2.7	2.9	4.3
October	-0.2	1.4	0.3	5.2
November	1.5	-0.2	0.2	5.4
December	-0.2	0.9	0.2	6.0
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
* Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee. Note: Percent changes and averages based on numbers prior to rounding.

*Table 14: Regional Airline Full-time Equivalent Employees by Month 2013 – 2017** (FTEs in thousands)
	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	Percent Change
	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2013 - 2017	2016 - 2017
January	50.6	50.4	49.5	50.5	51.4	1.6	1.8
February	50.2	50.5	50.3	50.4	51.6	2.8	2.4
March	50.2	50.6	50.4	50.4	51.4	2.5	2.0
April	49.4	50.5	50.3	50.4	51.4	4.2	2.1
May	49.4	50.6	50.5	50.6	51.8	4.8	2.5
June	49.4	50.3	50.4	50.8	52.1	5.5	2.6
July	49.4	51.1	49.4	51.0	52.4	6.1	2.7
August	49.4	50.7	49.3	51.0	52.6	6.4	3.3
September	49.5	50.6	49.2	50.7	52.9	6.7	4.3
October	49.9	49.8	50.5	50.6	53.3	6.7	5.2
November	49.9	50.6	50.5	50.6	53.3	7.0	5.4
December	50.2	50.1	50.5	50.6	53.6	6.9	6.0
12-Month Average	49.8	50.5	50.1	50.6	52.3	5.1	3.3
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
* Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee. Note: Percent changes and averages based on numbers prior to rounding.

*Table 15: Regional Airline Full-time Equivalent Employees, December 2013 - 2017**
(FTEs for December of each year. Ranked by December 2017 FTEs)
Rank	Airline	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	Percent Change
Rank	Airline	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2013 - 2017	2016 - 2017
1	Envoy	11,030	10,841	10,700	10,930	12,394	12.4	13.4
2	SkyWest	9,696	9,642	10,411	10,866	12,333	27.2	13.5
3	YX/S5/RP Combined#	5,758	5,883	5,542	4,984	5,637	-2.1	13.1
	Republic	2,647	3,122	3,124	3,960	5,637	N/A	N/A
	Shuttle America	1,982	2,715	2,418	1,024	N/A	N/A	N/A
	Chautauqua	1,129	46	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
4	ExpressJet	9,054	8,671	7,394	6,278	4,393	-51.5	-30.0
5	Endeavor	3,920	3,447	3,292	3,768	4,177	6.6	10.9
6	Horizon	2,731	2,895	3,214	3,295	3,578	31.0	8.6
7	PSA	1,120	1,799	2,454	2,772	3,395	203.1	22.5
8	Mesa	1,804	2,204	2,790	3,090	3,231	79.1	4.6
9	Compass	1,279	1,466	1,653	1,899	1,772	38.5	-6.7
10	Air Wisconsin	2,467	1,893	1,834	1,437	1,420	-42.4	-1.2
11	GoJet	1,332	1,342	1,237	1,297	1,309	-1.7	0.9
	Total	50,191	50,083	50,521	50,616	53,639	6.9	6.0
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
* Full-time Equivalent Employee (FTE) calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.
# Effective the end of December 2016, Republic and Shuttle America combined operations and Shuttle America ceased operating. Effective the end of December 2014, Shuttle America and Chautauqua Airlines combined operations and Chautauqua ceased operating.
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.