Airlines
Air cargo metrics: tonnes, CTK, ACTK and load factor
A practical calculation shows why cargo weight, transport work and capacity measure different things.
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Airlines
Strategy, operations, economics and partnerships shaping airlines across international markets.
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- Airline metrics: calculate ASK, RPK and load factor
A worked example for comparing capacity, traffic and occupancy without confusing passengers with profit.
- How airline hub waves connect the world
Banks of arrivals and departures create thousands of city pairs—but also concentrate pressure into short windows.
- On-time performance: what an airline punctuality figure really measures
Departure and arrival punctuality use different moments; thresholds, cancellations and schedule buffers can change the comparison.
Airlines
Aircraft orders, backlog and deliveries: read the industrial pipeline
An order, a completed aircraft and a plane carrying passengers are different milestones.
Airlines
Airline metrics: calculate ASK, RPK and load factor
A worked example for comparing capacity, traffic and occupancy without confusing passengers with profit.
Airlines
On-time performance: what an airline punctuality figure really measures
Departure and arrival punctuality use different moments; thresholds, cancellations and schedule buffers can change the comparison.
Airlines
Why passenger flights carry freight below the cabin
Passenger aircraft carry cargo in their lower holds, making flight schedules and fleet choices part of the freight network.
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Interline, codeshare and joint venture: three airline partnerships explained
A single itinerary can involve several airlines, but the agreement behind it changes who sells, operates and supports each flight.
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Wet leasing in aviation: what ACMI changes behind the schedule
An aircraft can carry one airline’s flight number while another company supplies the aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance.
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Aviation news radar: verified September 2026 briefing
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Airlines
How airline hub waves connect the world
Banks of arrivals and departures create thousands of city pairs—but also concentrate pressure into short windows.
Airlines
How to read an airline decision
Fleet and network
An aircraft order matters only in the context of delivery dates, retirement plans, airport constraints and the routes the carrier can profitably serve. An announced route is a plan until schedules and operating permissions are confirmed.
Partnerships and the operating carrier
A codeshare changes the flight number on a ticket; a wet lease can change the company operating the aircraft. Check the operating carrier, baggage conditions and connection protection before comparing offers.
Questions about this topic
Does higher load factor mean a more profitable airline?
No. Occupancy, yield and cost measure different things. Compare reporting periods, route distance and financial scope; separate passenger RPK/ASK from cargo CTK/ACTK. A full flight can still lose money.
How should I compare punctuality reports?
Use the same event, threshold, period and treatment of cancellations. Gate arrival and runway landing are different timestamps. An on-time percentage without its denominator and exclusions is insufficient for a fair comparison.