U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 2.9 percent fewer workers in January 2010 than in January 2009, the 19th 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) reports.  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 January FTE total of 379,500 for the scheduled passenger carriers was 11,200 below that of January 2009 and the lowest total for any January since 1990. Historic employment data can be found on the BTS web site.

Five network airlines decreased employment from January 2009 to January 2010. Delta Air Lines, after completing its merger with Northwest Airlines, reported combined numbers for the first time in January. Network airlines operate a significant portion of their flights using at least one hub where connections are made for flights to down-line destinations or spoke cities.

Southwest Airlines was the only low-cost carrier to report a decrease from January 2009. Regional carriers American Eagle Airlines, SkyWest Airlines, Comair, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Pinnacle Airlines, Horizon Air, Mesa Airlines, Air Wisconsin Airlines, Mesaba Airlines, PSA Airlines, GoJet 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 257,800 FTEs in January, 67.9 percent of the passenger airline total, while low-cost carriers employed 16.8 percent and regional carriers employed 13.8 percent.