Feds: Pinnacle Top Regional Airline for Hiring

The nation’s airlines have cut employment to their lowest levels in 15 years, but Memphis-based Pinnacle Airlines is the top regional carrier in terms of hiring, according to the US Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

After a volatile 2008 for the entire airline industry, Delta Air Lines Inc. and Northwest Airlines Corp. have seen some of the largest cuts among network carriers. All network carriers and many low-cost airlines like AirTran Airways have cut their work forces.

Regional carriers have also been hit with employee reductions, however Pinnacle Airlines remained one of the strongest carriers in terms of employment.

From 2004 to 2008, Pinnacle increased its employee base by 41%, bringing the total number employees, including those of its subsidiary Colgan Air, up to more than 4,900.

The 392,000 total full-time workers employed by all US carriers in November 2008 was the lowest level since 1993.