The operational efficiency of passenger aircraft

Purpose - To provide for the use of airlines and other civil aviation organizations a practical definition of operational efficiency and to show how it can be determined. Design/methodology/approach - A brief account of air transport economics is used to demonstrate how bom load factors and aircraft utilization need to be considered in assessing operational efficiency. Then other efficiencies are treated briefly before an example is given of how the better of two fictitious aircraft can be chosen for a particular route. A second example involving the calculation of the operational efficiency achieved by an imaginary airline is also given to show that the typical value is lower than might be expected, particularly in view of the relatively high load factors involved. Findings - Provides performance values and economic figures which are typical of current airline operations. Practical implications - Use of the proposed definition will allow the consistent assessment of the economic performance of airlines. Originality/value - At present there is no definition of operational efficiency in general use although it is greatly needed by airlines. The definition proposed in this paper is practical and easy to use.