According to U.S. Department of Labor statistics, U.S. passenger and cargo airlines currently employ 720,000 men and women, a 2.9 percent increase over last year. U.S. airlines currently employ the highest number of people since 2000. Additionally, the average U.S. airline employee wage exceeded $89,000 in 2017, 46 percent higher than the U.S. private sector average.

U.S. passenger airlines spent $37 billion on wages and benefits through the first nine months of 2018. This is a $2.1 billion, or 5.9 percent, increase over the same period in 2017.

“Airlines connect the world like no other industry can, and they are putting America to work,” said Rebecca Spicer, senior vice president, communications, Airlines for America. “Airlines recently reported the 58th consecutive month of employment gains — and these are well-paying jobs with good benefits.”

“The workforce is the airline industry’s greatest asset. That’s why both passenger and cargo carriers are making significant investments in their employees,” she added.