US Airlines Work Force Grows 2.1% In May - DOT

U.S. airlines' work force on a full-time equivalent basis rose 2.1% in May from a year earlier, extending what is now a six-month streak of year-over-year employment gains, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Airline employment has steadily grown in 2011 as carriers cautiously increase their payrolls to meet growing demand for air travel. The sector is still recovering from 2009, when the economic downturn prompted layoffs across the industry.

Total full-time equivalent employees reached 384,974 in May, up from April's 383,698, according to the department's Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Full-time equivalent calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.

Network carriers' work force grew 2.1%, in line with the overall industry. Delta Air Lines Inc. (DAL) led with 4.9% more equivalent workers compared with a year ago, while Alaska Air Group's (ALK) namesake airline was the only network carrier that shrank its payrolls, reporting a 2.3% decline.

Virgin America led the discount airlines with a 28% jump in employment, followed by Spirit Airlines Inc. (SAVE), which had 12% more employees. Only Allegiant Travel Co.'s (ALGT) namesake airline posted a decline, with 6% fewer equivalent workers. Discount carriers' overall work force was up 4.1% on the year.

Taken together, regional airlines employed 1.6% more workers in May.

 
   -By Drew FitzGerald, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2909; [e-mail]