June Airline Industry Employment Up Less than 1% from May

 

U.S. airlines employed 709,678 workers in June 2021, 48 more than in May 2021 (709,630) and 39,349 fewer than in March 2020 (749,027).

 The June industry numbers consist of 599,050 full-time and 110,628 part-time workers.

 

From the onset of the pandemic in March 2020 through June 2021, the largest passenger airlines dropped 55,920 employees: United Airlines, -22,467; Delta Air Lines, -21,647; and American Airlines, -10,368. During that time, major cargo airlines added 22,594 employees with Federal Express adding 23,337.

 

 

Regulations require airlines to report employment numbers to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics for employees who worked or received pay for any part of the pay period(s) ending nearest the 15th day of the month. Numbers include all paid employees but do not include employees not being paid.

 

Total employment (full-time + part-time) by U.S. airlines (passenger + cargo carriers):

June 2020                                695,373 (revised)       

May 2021                                709,630 (revised)

June 2021                                709,678

 

Major Airlines' Total Employees, March 2020 and June 2021

Includes Full-time and Part-time Employees

	Mar-20	Jun-21	Change in Employees	Percent Change
Alaska	17,912	16,770	-1,142	-6.4%
Allegiant	4,487	4,349	-138	-3.1%
American	109,108	98,740	-10,368	-9.5%
Atlas	3,121	3,579	458	14.7%
Delta	89,980	68,333	-21,647	-24.1%
Envoy	16,781	15,447	-1,334	-7.9%
Federal Express	245,010	268,347	23,337	9.5%
Frontier	5,181	5,178	-3	-0.1%
Hawaiian	7,492	6,033	-1,459	-19.5%
JetBlue	21,546	18,993	-2,553	-11.8%
Kalitta	2,013	2,268	255	12.7%
Polar Air Cargo	226	250	24	10.6%
Republic	6,519	5,745	-774	-11.9%
SkyWest	20,544	14,604	-5,940	-28.9%
Southwest	62,081	55,293	-6,788	-10.9%
Spirit	9,213	9,260	47	0.5%
United	91,563	69,096	-22,467	-24.5%
United Parcel Service	6,279	6,591	312	5.0%
Major Airline Total	719,056	668,876	-50,180	-7.0%

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Airline Employment Data (P1a)

Major Carrier: Over $1 billion annual operating revenue.