Source: US DOT
U.S. airlines employed 709,678 workers in June 2021, 48 more than in May 2021 (709,630) and 39,349 fewer than in March 2020 (749,027).
The June industry numbers consist of 599,050 full-time and 110,628 part-time workers.
From the onset of the pandemic in March 2020 through June 2021, the largest passenger airlines dropped 55,920 employees: United Airlines, -22,467; Delta Air Lines, -21,647; and American Airlines, -10,368. During that time, major cargo airlines added 22,594 employees with Federal Express adding 23,337.
Regulations require airlines to report employment numbers to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics for employees who worked or received pay for any part of the pay period(s) ending nearest the 15th day of the month. Numbers include all paid employees but do not include employees not being paid.
Total employment (full-time + part-time) by U.S. airlines (passenger + cargo carriers):
| Mar-20 | Jun-21 | Change in Employees | Percent Change | |
| Alaska | 17,912 | 16,770 | -1,142 | -6.4% |
| Allegiant | 4,487 | 4,349 | -138 | -3.1% |
| American | 109,108 | 98,740 | -10,368 | -9.5% |
| Atlas | 3,121 | 3,579 | 458 | 14.7% |
| Delta | 89,980 | 68,333 | -21,647 | -24.1% |
| Envoy | 16,781 | 15,447 | -1,334 | -7.9% |
| Federal Express | 245,010 | 268,347 | 23,337 | 9.5% |
| Frontier | 5,181 | 5,178 | -3 | -0.1% |
| Hawaiian | 7,492 | 6,033 | -1,459 | -19.5% |
| JetBlue | 21,546 | 18,993 | -2,553 | -11.8% |
| Kalitta | 2,013 | 2,268 | 255 | 12.7% |
| Polar Air Cargo | 226 | 250 | 24 | 10.6% |
| Republic | 6,519 | 5,745 | -774 | -11.9% |
| SkyWest | 20,544 | 14,604 | -5,940 | -28.9% |
| Southwest | 62,081 | 55,293 | -6,788 | -10.9% |
| Spirit | 9,213 | 9,260 | 47 | 0.5% |
| United | 91,563 | 69,096 | -22,467 | -24.5% |
| United Parcel Service | 6,279 | 6,591 | 312 | 5.0% |
| Major Airline Total | 719,056 | 668,876 | -50,180 | -7.0% |