Cargo and passenger airlines gained 1,974 Jobs in May 2026

U.S. cargo and passenger airlines added employment in May 2026, with total airline staffing rising to 1,038,257 workers, up 1,974 jobs (0.19%) versus April 2026. Scheduled passenger airlines accounted for 562,966 employees, representing 54% of the industry total, and gained 3,411 workers. American Airlines led among scheduled carriers, adding 1,151 employees, followed by United Air Lines with 975 and Delta Air Lines with 963. Cargo airlines employed 470,865 workers (46%) but lost 1,457 jobs, including a 1,843-job decrease at FedEx, the leading air cargo employer. The release also notes that FedEx Ground and FedEx Services merged into FedEx Express in June 2024, affecting FX counts. Data were compiled from BTS monthly reports filed as of July 10, 2026, with totals not seasonally adjusted.