Hi all,
The definition of load factor isn't necessarily tied to seats alone. We must also consider the distance flown in order to measure the production of the airline.
ASK = No. of seats/aircraft * No. of aircraft * agregrate distance flown
RSK = Total Number of Passengers * Distance Flown
Load Factor = Revenue Seat Kilometers / Available Seat Kilometers
Available seat kilometers is a measure of the production of an airline and the Revenue Seat Kilometers is a measure of how much of that production was consumption.
Simple example: -
Route: - ABC -> XYZ
Distance = 200km
Aircraft = 2
Seats / Aircraft = 50
Total Services per day = 8
Available seat kilometers = 200 * 2 * 50 * 8 = 160000 km
Assume on day 1 there were a total of 560 passengers travelling.
Revenue Seat Kilometers = 560 * 200 = 112000 km
Load Factor = 112000/160000 = 0.7 or 70%
In reality an airline will then do this equation for each route to determine the route load factor to help in route planning. The figures quoted in public are generally relating to the aggregate sums so it would represent total revenue seat kilometers / total available seat kilometers.
All the best,
P2C