U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 3.3 percent fewer workers in November 2009 than in November 2008, the 17th consecutive decrease in full-time equivalent employee (FTE) levels for the scheduled passenger carriers from the same month of the previous year, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). FTE calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.

BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the November FTE total of 379,400 for the scheduled passenger carriers was 12,800 below November 2008 and the lowest total for any month since 1993. Historic employment data can be found on the BTS web site.

Six of the seven network airlines decreased employment from November 2008 to November 2009. Delta Air Lines, which is completing its merger with Northwest Airlines, was the lone network carrier to increase employment. Low-cost carriers Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines also reported decreases from November 2008. Regional carriers American Eagle Airlines, SkyWest Airlines, ExpressJet Airlines, Comair, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Pinnacle Airlines, Horizon Air, Mesa Airlines, Air Wisconsin Airlines, Mesaba Airlines, PSA Airlines and Colgan Airlines also reported reduced employment levels compared to last year.

Scheduled passenger airline categories include network, low-cost, regional and other airlines.

The seven network airlines employed 258,100 FTEs in November, 68.0 percent of the passenger airline total, while low-cost carriers employed 16.5 percent and regional carriers employed 14.0 percent