Airlines' hiring jumped in September

U.S. airlines employed 388,641 workers in September, a jump of 10,965 workers, or a 2.9 percent increase, compared with September 2010, a federal agency said Friday. The U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported the September airline employment level was the highest since April 2009 and the 10th consecutive monthly increase in employment levels from the same month of the previous year. Of the major network carriers, only Alaska Airlines and United Airlines decreased employment from September 2010 to September 2011, BTS said. Allegiant Air and Frontier Airlines were the only carriers to reduce employment among the low-cost airlines. Delta Air Lines ranks first among U.S. carriers in employment, with 82,726 workers in September, a 1.6 percent increase over September 2010. American Airlines, with 70,747 employees, a 1 percent increase, ranks second, followed by United Airlines, 45,858 workers, down less than 1 percent; Continental Airlines, 40,282 employees, a 13.6 percent increase, and Southwest Airlines, 37,544, a 6.7 percent increase. D.R. Stewart 918-581-8451 [email protected] SUBHEAD: Nearly 11,000 were employed, a rise of 2.9 percent over '10.