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U.S. Airlines Record Largest Workforce in Over Two Decades

The industry now employs over 1 million people, marking a new record.

Wednesday, August 21, 2024 at 04:26 PM ET

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Edited By: tccjeremy

Jet airliner taking off [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

U.S. airlines have set a new employment record, collectively employing over 1 million people across their passenger and cargo operations.
This total represents the largest airline workforce in over two decades, with passenger carriers accounting for 55% (546,446 staff) and cargo operators 45% (452,155 workers) in June.
The industry continues to invest significantly in its workforce, with major airlines adding employees and the sector aiming to accommodate increasing demand for air travel and shipping.

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U.S. airlines have set a new record, employing over 1 million people across both passenger and cargo sectors.

In June, U.S. scheduled carriers added just over 200,000 jobs.

Ryan is Group President of Firecrown Media’s Aviation Group, overseeing a portfolio that includes FLYING, AirlineGeeks, AVweb, Plane + Pilot, KITPLANES, and AircraftForSale.com. He founded AirlineGeeks.com in February 2013 and has more than a decade of experience across aviation media, airport operations, airline workforce planning, and Part 135 regulatory compliance. His experience ranges from time behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing aviation industry executives. Ryan holds a B.S. in Air Transportation Management and an MBA from Arizona State University and is an adjunct instructor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.