Airline workforce has first growth in six years

By Kelly Yamanouchi Denver Post Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 07/17/2007 03:25:21 PM MDT

As United Airlines takes pilots' applications this week for the first time since 2001, federal data shows that total employment by large network airlines grew for the first time in nearly six years.

The data released by the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics today showed that the seven network airlines - American, United, Delta, Continental, Northwest, US Airways and Alaska - had 0.3 percent more workers in May 2007 than a year earlier.

Though it's a small increase, it marks the first increase since August 2001, the month before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The federal data on employment counts is based on the number of full-time equivalent employees.

For May, Continental, Alaska, Delta and US Airways grew their full-time equivalent employee count year-over-year, while Northwest, United and American reduced their count.

United's full-time equivalent employee count declined to about 51,800 in May, down from about 53,600 a year earlier. United has not yet brought new pilots on board, and while it adds employees in some areas, it has continued to seek ways to reduce costs.

Frontier Airlines' full-time equivalent employee count grew to about 4,900 from about 4,400 a year earlier.

Overall, U.S. airline employment - including network carriers as well as low-cost carriers and regional carriers - was up 2 percent in May than a year earlier.