Competitive Advantage (Disadvantage) in Pilot Productivity
2006
Sensitivity in Headcount Based on Pilot Productivity
AA CO DL NW UA US HP WN B6 FL F9 TZ AS HA YX
AA (855) (376) 215 (245) 826 (341) (2,208) (1,294) (1,477) (1,421) 5,987 (954) 391 (1,204)
CO 488 274 611 349 960 293 (773) (251) (355) (323) 3,908 (57) 712 (199)
DL 262 (334) 411 91 837 24 (1,276) (639) (766) (727) 4,430 (403) 534 (576)
NW (111) (552) (305) (237) 315 (287) (1,249) (778) (872) (844) 2,976 (603) 91 (731)
UA 184 (460) (99) 346 807 (73) (1,480) (791) (929) (887) 4,697 (535) 479 (723)
US (275) (560) (400) (204) (357) (389) (1,011) (707) (767) (749) 1,720 (593) (145) (676)
HP 75 (112) (8) 122 21 256 (409) (209) (249) (236) 1,386 (134) 160 (189)
WN 1,681 1,030 1,395 1,845 1,495 2,310 1,421 696 557 599 6,239 954 1,979 765
B6 258 88 183 301 209 423 190 (182) (36) (25) 1,452 68 336 18
FL 276 116 206 316 230 430 212 (137) 34 10 1,394 98 349 51
F9 130 52 96 150 108 206 99 (72) 12 (5) 678 43 166 20
TZ (243) (278) (259) (235) (253) (210) (257) (333) (296) (303) (301) (282) (228) (292)
AS 171 18 104 210 127 319 110 (225) (61) (94) (84) 1,246 241 (45)
HA (14) (43) (27) (6) (22) 15 (25) (90) (59) (65) (63) 195 (47) (55)
YX 62 18 42 73 49 104 44 (52) (5) (14) (11) 369 13 82
How to read:  If American were to fly its network at Continental's average pilot block hours per month, then it would need to reduce total pilot headcount by 855.
How to read:  If Continental were to fly its network at American's average pilot block hours per month, then it would need to increase total headcount by 488.
Source:  US DOT Form 41 via BTS, Schedules P52 & T2.  
Note:  Nuances within each carrier's respective network would affect headcount adjustments suggested by the analysis.
Note:  Northwest and Delta restructuring effects are not fully realized in the 2006 data.  Once realized, productivity may increase which would change the comparisons.
Note:  US Airways and America West 2006 filings may not be fully accurate given the merger effects on accounting.