U.S. Airlines Reduce Employee Numbers In October

    U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed a total of 381,178 workers in October, 0.8 percent fewer than in October 2012, DOT reported.

October was the 14th consecutive month that full-time equivalent employment for U.S. scheduled passenger carriers was below that of the same month of the previous year, but is the smallest decline since September 2012.

The five network airlines that collectively employ two-thirds of the scheduled passenger airline full-time workforce reported 1.4 percent fewer workers in October 2013 than in October 2012, the 15th consecutive decline from the same month of the previous year.

Four of the six low-cost carriers — Allegiant, Spirit, JetBlue and Virgin America — reported an increase in full-time workers from October 2012. Southwest, and Frontier posted declines.