table of contents configuration , amenities provided to passengers , loyalty programs , the automation of travel agent reservation systems , onboard products , markets served and other services .
we compete with both major network airlines and low-cost carriers throughout our network .
international in addition to our extensive domestic service , we provide international service to canada , central and south america , asia , europe , australia and new zealand .
in providing international air transportation , we compete with u.s .
airlines , foreign investor-owned airlines and foreign state- owned or state-affiliated airlines , including carriers based in the middle east , the three largest of which we believe benefit from significant government subsidies .
in order to increase our ability to compete for international air transportation service , which is subject to extensive government regulation , u.s .
and foreign carriers have entered into marketing relationships , alliances , cooperation agreements and jbas to exchange traffic between each other 2019s flights and route networks .
see 201cticket distribution and marketing agreements 201d above for further discussion .
employees and labor relations the airline business is labor intensive .
in 2016 , mainline and regional salaries , wages and benefits were our largest expense and represented approximately 35% ( 35 % ) of our total operating expenses .
labor relations in the air transportation industry are regulated under the railway labor act ( rla ) , which vests in the national mediation board ( nmb ) certain functions with respect to disputes between airlines and labor unions relating to union representation and collective bargaining agreements ( cbas ) .
when an rla cba becomes amendable , if either party to the agreement wishes to modify its terms , it must notify the other party in the manner prescribed under the rla and as agreed by the parties .
under the rla , the parties must meet for direct negotiations , and , if no agreement is reached , either party may request the nmb to appoint a federal mediator .
the rla prescribes no set timetable for the direct negotiation and mediation process .
it is not unusual for those processes to last for many months and even for several years .
if no agreement is reached in mediation , the nmb in its discretion may declare under the rla at some time that an impasse exists , and if an impasse is declared , the nmb proffers binding arbitration to the parties .
either party may decline to submit to binding arbitration .
if arbitration is rejected by either party , an initial 30-day 201ccooling off 201d period commences .
following the conclusion of that 30-day 201ccooling off 201d period , if no agreement has been reached , 201cself-help 201d ( as described below ) can begin unless a presidential emergency board ( peb ) is established .
a peb examines the parties 2019 positions and recommends a solution .
the peb process lasts for 30 days and ( if no resolution is reached ) is followed by another 201ccooling off 201d period of 30 days .
at the end of a 201ccooling off 201d period ( unless an agreement is reached , a peb is established or action is taken by congress ) , the labor organization may exercise 201cself-help , 201d such as a strike , and the airline may resort to its own 201cself-help , 201d including the imposition of any or all of its proposed amendments to the cba and the hiring of new employees to replace any striking workers .
the table below presents our approximate number of active full-time equivalent employees as of december 31 , 2016 .
mainline operations wholly-owned regional carriers total .

mainline operations
wholly-owned regional carriers
total
pilots and flight crew training instructors
13400
3400
16800
flight attendants
24700
2200
26900
maintenance personnel
14900
2000
16900
fleet service personnel
16600
3500
20100
passenger service personnel
15900
7100
23000
administrative and other
16000
2600
18600
total
101500
20800
122300

.

Question: what portion of the total full-time employees of mainline operations are flight attendants?
Answer: 24.3%
Calculation: divide(24700, 101500)