U.S. cargo and passenger airlines lost 2,761 jobs in August 2024

U.S. airline industry (passenger and cargo airlines combined) employment decreased to 1,001,452 workers in August 2024, 2,761 (0.27%) less workers than in July 2024 (1,004,213).

U.S. scheduled-service passenger airlines employed 542,983 workers in August 2024, or 54% of the industry-wide total. Passenger airlines lost 3,100 employees in August 2024. SkyWest Airlines led scheduled passenger carriers, adding 150 employees; Spirit Air Lines added 121, and Republic Airlines added 75.

U.S. cargo airlines employed 454,259 workers in August 2024, or 46% of the industry-wide total. Cargo carriers lost 310 employees in August. FedEx, the leading air cargo employer, increased employment by 726 jobs.

Scheduled passenger airlines lost 2,441 full-time equivalents in August 2024

U.S. Airline Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs)

BTS calculates FTEs by dividing the number of part-time employees by 2 and adding that figure to the number of full-time employees. The August 2024 industry-wide numbers include 747,604 full-time and 253,848 part-time workers for a total of 874,528 FTEs, a decrease from July of 2,135 FTEs (0.24%).

The 26 U.S. scheduled passenger airlines reporting data for August 2024 employed 514,648 FTEs, 2,441 FTEs (0.47%) less than in July 2024. Data by passenger carrier category can be found in the accompanying tables.

U.S. cargo airlines employed 355,781 FTEs in August 2024, down 290 FTEs (0.08%) from July 2024.

Reporting Notes

Data is compiled from monthly reports filed with BTS by commercial air carriers as of October 11, 2024. Additional airline employment data and previous releases can be found on the BTS website. The month-to-month numbers are not seasonally adjusted.

Passenger, cargo, and charter 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. Regulations require U.S. airlines to report employment numbers for employees who worked or received pay for any part of the pay period(s) ending nearest the 15th day of the month.