WASHINGTON - United States scheduled passenger airlines employed 384,478 workers in August 2014, 1.0 percent more than in August 2013, the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DoT) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported. August was the ninth 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 August 2014 FTE total for scheduled passenger airlines was 3,992 more than in August 2013. 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 0.1 percent more FTEs in August 2014 than in August 2013. Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, US Airways and American Airlines increased FTEs from August 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 - Allegiant Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Virgin America, JetBlue Airways and Southwest Airlines - all reported increases in FTEs from August 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 August 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.
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.
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