Who is in these aircraft?
 

Parts of France are about to go into lockdown again; Europe in general is entering a third wave of COVID; the UK has effectively banned overseas travel and the US has restricted entry - so in this snapshot taken a few minutes ago the NAT Tracks are chock-a-block (perhaps 5-10% freighters) plus a steady Tui and Easyjet flow to/from the Canaries.

I, and many millions, have been under quasi house-arrest for a year unable to travel abroad - so who is on these aircraft? Or are they flying almost empty?


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....38dbb9d18e.png

The answer has been given with previous similar questions. There are a lot more than you think flying cargo, not just the dedicated cargo versions.

Most of the flights are freighters. The aircraft still flying passenger services are empty or nearly empty. A few people are still flying, with good reasons and/or good documentation, including bi-nationals, diplomats, rare essential workers etc. On AC59 landing in Toronto they will have to quarantine for 3 days in a hotel (ca. 3000$C) and then 11 days at home. Very few exceptions, diplomats and unncaompaned children.

Across the north atlantic we currently have about 100 passengers each flight, plus as much cargo as we can carry. That means that we are still not breaking even, but it is cheaper this way than simply parking the whole fleet.
And we maintain goodwill and our network for better times.
Plus we are all current.
Plus we can upscale immediately.

I looked up two passenger flights inbound to the U.S. One is 25% capacity and the other about 30%.

Thanks ccapt , how did ...
 

Thanks ccapt , how did / do you find out the % of pax on these aircraft ? , just curious , love statistics / demographics etc . maths regards

Spanish flights I’ve done this past month have been quiet outbound and busy with pensioners inbound to the U.K. I am guessing that some of these have been called for their vaccines.

judge11

Not necessarily either.

"Please return your cardboard box to its upright and locked position."

https://www.aircargonews.net/freight...t-on-its-head/

Flew with another colleague, into Heathrow on March the 12 from Toronto, on an air Canada 787.....about 40-50 pax max on board.....and that’s a stretch. Plenty of documents to present at departure and arrival. We’re essential services ( Aerospace Engineers). I Was here few months ago before the lockdown. And compared to September 2020, I was horrified by how empty this time, Heathrow was at 9am. During boarding in Toronto, I was trying to look at people’s passports by curiosity. they were mainly British citizens, if that’s what you’re wondering.

TheFrenchConnection

I work in the business with access to check the loads.

Those sort of details - specific loads on specific flights - are usually regarded as being commercially sensitive and generally aren't made available to the general public, in fact they may only be made available to selected groups of employees/sub-contractors within an organisation.