WASHINGTON - United States scheduled passenger airlines employed 386,243 workers in July 2014, 1.3 percent more than in July 2013, the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DoT) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported. July was the eighth consecutive month that full-time equivalent (FTE) employment for U.S. scheduled passenger airlines was higher than the same month of the previous year.

The July 2014 FTE total for scheduled passenger airlines was 4,944 more than in July 2013ioe4. 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 0.4 percent more FTEs in July 2014 than in July 2013. Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, US Airways and American Airlines increased FTEs from July 2013 while United Airlines reduced FTEs. 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 - Spirit Airlines, Allegiant Airlines, Virgin America, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways. and Southwest Airlines - all reported increases in FTEs from July 2013. Low-cost airlines operate under a low-cost business model, with infrastructure and aircraft operating costs below the overall industry average.

Among the 13 regional carriers, four - Chautauqua Airlines, Endeavor Airlines, Envoy Air and Shuttle America - reported reduced employment levels from July 2013. The others reported increases. 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/bts043_14
Author: U.S. DoT/BTS