WASHINGTON - United States scheduled passenger airlines employed 390,841 workers in March 2015, 1.9 percent more than in March 2014, the U.S. Department of Transportation's (Dot) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported. March was the 16th consecutive month that full-time equivalent (FTE) employment for U.S. scheduled passenger airlines exceeded the same month of the previous year and was the highest monthly total since July 2012.

Month-to-month, the number of FTEs rose 0.5 percent from February to March, the third consecutive monthly increase (Table 1A). Scheduled passenger airline categories include network, low-cost, regional and other airlines.

The five network airlines that collectively employ two-thirds of the scheduled passenger airline FTEs reported 1.7 percent more FTEs in March 2015 than in March 2014. Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and US Airways increased FTEs from March 2014 while United Airlines reduced FTEs. Month-to-month, the number of network airline FTEs rose 0.8 percent from February to March, rising for the sixth consecutive month. 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 4.0 percent more FTEs in March 2015 than in March 2014. Spirit Airlines, Allegiant Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways and Virgin America reported increases while Frontier Airlines reduced FTEs. Month-to-month, the number of low-cost airline FTEs declined 0.2 percent from February to March, falling after rising for two months. 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 0.5 percent fewer FTEs in March 2015 than in March 2014. Seven regional airlines - PSA Airlines, Mesa Airlines, Compass Airlines, Republic Airlines, Horizon Air, GoJet Airlines and Envoy Air - reported increased employment levels. The others reported decreases. Month-to-month, the number of regional airline FTEs rose 0.1 percent from February to March, rising for the second consecutive month. Regional carriers typically provide service from small cities, using primarily regional jets to support the network carriers' hub and spoke systems.

Source: U.S. DoT/BTS
Associated URL: http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/press_releases/bts025_15
Author: U.S. DoT/BTS