GLOSSARY

Abbreviations

Conversion factors

I - From the foot/pound system to metric system

II – Default mass / densities values
Main terms used in civil aviation statistics
I - Commercial air carriers
II – Airports
ICAO Statistical Regions

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 Abbreviations

BELF Breakeven load factor

GA General Aviation

ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization

LCC Low cost carrier

MCTOM Maximum certificated take-off mass

OFOD On-flight origin and destination

PKP Passenger-kilometre performed

SKA Seat-kilometre available

TFS Traffic by flight stage

TKA Tonne-kilometre available

TKP Tonne-kilometre performed

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 Conversion factors

I - From the foot/pound system to metric system

1 short ton (2 000 lb) = 0.9072 tonnes

1 long ton (2 240 lb) = 1.0160 tonnes

1 statute mile (5 280 feet) = 1.6093 kilometres

1 nautical mile (6 080 feet) = 1.8531 kilometres

1 ton-mile (short tons and statute miles) = 1.4600 tonne-kilometres

1 ton-mile (long tons and statute miles) = 1.6352 tonne-kilometres.

Note.— “Tonne” denotes metric and “ton” the pound system of measurement

II – Default mass / densities values

Air carriers are encouraged to use the values which best correspond to their operations,
however if no other values are available, it is recommended the following factors be used
instead:

Passenger mass including checked baggage: 100 kg

Freight density: 161 kg/cubic meter

Baggage density: 161 kg/cubic meter

Jet fuel density: 0.8 kg/litre

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 Main terms used in civil aviation statistics

I - Commercial air carriers

Air taxi revenue flights. On-demand, non-scheduled flights on short notice for the carriage by
air of passengers, freight or mail, or any combination thereof for remuneration usually
performed with smaller aircraft including helicopters (typically no more than 30 seats). Also
includes any positioning flights required for the provision of the service.

Aircraft departures. The number of take-offs of aircraft. For statistical purposes, departures
are equal to the number of landings made or flight stages flown.

Aircraft hours. Aircraft hours are based on “block-to-block” time (i.e. from the moment the
aircraft is pushed back from the gate or starts taxiing from its parking stand for take-off to the
moment it comes to a final stop at a gate or parking stand after landing); also known as block
time.

Aircraft kilometres performed. The sum of the products obtained by multiplying the number
of revenue flight stages flown by the corresponding stage distance.

Breakeven load factor. The weight load factor at which point operating revenues equal
operating expenses. It is obtained by multiplying the weight load factor by the ratio of the
operating expenses to the operating revenues.

City-pair (OFOD). Two cities between which travel is authorized by a passenger ticket or
part of a ticket (a flight coupon) or between which shipments are made in accordance with a
shipment document or a part of it (freight bill or mail delivery bill).

Code sharing. The use of the flight designator code of one air carrier on a service performed
by a second air carrier, which service is usually also identified (and may be required to be
identified) as a service of, and being performed by, the second air carrier.

Commercial air transport operator. An operator that, for remuneration, provides scheduled
or non-scheduled air transport services to the public for the carriage of passengers, freight or
mail. This category also includes small-scale operators, such as air taxis and commercial
business operators, that provide commercial air transport services.

Distances. Aerodrome-to-aerodrome great circle distances should be used at least for

international services, in all items involving distance computations. Distances can be
calculated using the Great Circle Distance, defined as the shortest distance between any two
points on the surface of the Earth, using the Vincenty distance formula associated with the
World Geodesic System – 1984 (WGS 84) adopted by ICAO and referred to in Article 3.7.1.1
of Annex 15 to the Chicago Convention (WGS 84). The latitude and longitude of aerodromes
can be taken either form aerodrome data published in the national Aeronautical Information
Publication (AIP) or from a source using such data (for example, the Location Indicators –
Doc 7910 website of ICAO).

Distance flown per passenger. The average distance flown per passenger is computed by
dividing the passenger-kilometres by the related number of passengers carried.

Domestic flight. A flight having exclusively domestic stages. (See flight stage, domestic).

Flight (air carrier operations). The operation of an aircraft on a flight stage or number of
flight stages with the same flight number.

Flight coupon. Each component part of a ticket containing separate travel authority for
subdivisions of the total travel covered by the passenger ticket.

Flight stage. A flight stage is the operation of an aircraft from take-off to its next landing. A
flight stage is classified as either international or domestic based on the following definitions:

International. A flight stage with one or both terminals in the territory of a State,
other than the State in which the air carrier has its principal place of business.

Domestic. A flight stage not classifiable as international. Domestic flight stages

include all flight stages flown between points within the domestic boundaries of a
State by an air carrier whose principal place of business is in that State. Flight stages
between a State and territories belonging to it, as well as any flight stages between
two such territories, should be classified as domestic. This applies even though a
stage may cross international waters or over the territory of another State.

Notes:

1. In the case of multinational air carriers owned by partner States, traffic within each partner State is
shown separately as domestic and all other traffic as international.

2. “Foreign” cabotage traffic (i.e. traffic carried between city-pairs in a State other than the one where
the reporting carrier has its principal place of business) is shown as international traffic.

3. A technical stop does not result in any flight stage being classified differently than would have been
the case had the technical stop not been made.

Freedoms of the Air. A set of commercial aviation rights granting a country's airlines to
overfly another country’s airspace and to land for a technical stop as well as the privilege
pick-up and discharge traffic in another country's territory. Figure 1 shows in graphical forms
the current Nine Freedoms of the Air.

Freight mass. The factor to convert freight loads from volume into mass (or vice versa) is left
to the discretion of the carrier. However, if no conversion factor is available, it is
recommended that 161 kilograms per cubic meter be used. The same conversion factor can
be used for passenger baggage.

Freight (or mail) tonnes carried. The number of tonnes of freight carried is obtained by
counting each tonne of freight on a particular flight (with one flight number) once only and
not repeatedly on each individual stage of that flight. The only exception to this is for freight
flown on both the international and domestic stages of the same flight, which is considered in
computation both as a domestic and an international shipment or dispatch. The same
principle should be used in calculating mail tonnes carried.

Fig 1 – Freedoms of the Air

Freight (or mail) tonne-kilometres performed. A metric tonne of freight or mail carried one
kilometre. Freight tonne-kilometres equal the sum of the products obtained by multiplying the
number of tonnes of freight, express, diplomatic bags carried on each flight stage by the stage
distance. For ICAO statistical purposes freight includes express and diplomatic bags but not
passenger baggage. Mail tonne-kilometres are computed in the same way as freight tonne-
kilometres.

International flight. A flight that contains one or more international flight stages. (See flight
stage, international).

Joint service flight. A flight identified by the designator codes of two air carriers that, with
the concurrence of their respective States, typically have agreed with each other to share
revenues and/or costs.

Leased aircraft. An aircraft used under a contractual leasing arrangement to increase an air
carrier fleet capacity.

Low cost carrier. An air carrier that has a relatively low-cost structure in comparison with
other comparable carriers and offers low fares and rates. Such an airline may be independent,
the division or subsidiary of a major network airline or, in some instances, the ex-charter arm
of an airline group.

Mail. All correspondence and other objects tendered by and intended for delivery to postal
administrations.

Maximum certificated take-off mass (MCTOM). The maximum permissible take-off mass of
the aircraft according to the certificate of airworthiness, the flight manual or other official
documents.

Non-revenue flights. Aircraft hours flown on non-commercial business aviation, test flights,
training and all other flights for which no revenue is received.

Non-scheduled revenue flights (excluding on-demand flights). Charter flights and special
flights performed for remuneration other than those reported under scheduled flights. They
include any items related to blocked-off charters and exclude air taxi, commercial business
aviation or other on demand revenue flights.

Operating carrier. That carrier whose flight number is being used for air traffic control
purposes. For the purpose of reporting air carrier statistics to ICAO, all operational and traffic
items should be reported by the operating carrier, including code-shared, franchised, pooled,
blocked-off charter, blocked-space arrangements, joint services and leased aircraft services.

Operating expenses per traffic-unit (unit cost).This is a type of financial measurement which
relates the traffic or capacity applicable to the operating expenses. It is computed by dividing
the operating expenses by the tonne-kilometres performed or by the tonne-kilometres
available.

Operating revenue per traffic-unit (operating yield). This is a type of financial measurement
which relates the traffic or capacity applicable to the operating revenues. It is computed by
dividing the operating revenues by the tonne-kilometres performed or by the tonne-kilometres
available.
Passengers carried. The number of passengers carried is obtained by counting each passenger
on a particular flight (with one flight number) once only and not repeatedly on each individual
stage of that flight 1, with a single exception that a passenger flying on both the international
and domestic stages of the same flight should be counted as both a domestic and an
international passenger.

Passenger-kilometres performed. A passenger-kilometre is performed when a passenger is

carried one kilometre. Calculation of passenger-kilometres equals the sum of the products
obtained by multiplying the number of revenue passengers carried on each flight stage by the
stage distance. The resultant figure is equal to the number of kilometres travelled by all
passengers.

Passenger load factor. Passenger-kilometres performed expressed as a percentage of seat-

kilometres available.

Passenger tonne-kilometres performed. Passenger tonne-kilometres performed are obtained

by applying a standard mass per passenger to the passenger-kilometres performed. (See also
passenger mass.)

Passenger mass. To convert into a mass the number of passengers carried, the latter is
multiplied by a factor representing the average mass of the passenger plus both normal
baggage allowance and excess baggage. This conversion factor is left to the discretion of the
operator. However, if no conversion factor is available, it is recommended that 100
kilograms 2 be used. (See also passenger-tonne-kilometres performed.)

Payload capacity. Total payload capacity available (in metric tonnes), above and below deck,
for the carriage of revenue load (passengers, baggage, freight and mail) taking into account
any payload and operational restrictions on the supply of capacity. (See also tonne-kilometres
available.)

Revenue passenger. A passenger for whose transportation an air carrier receives commercial
remuneration. See also passengers carried. For additional background information see the
sidebar.

1. This definition includes, for example, a) passengers travelling under publicly

available promotional offers (for example, “two-for-one”) or loyalty
programmes(for example, redemption of frequent-flyer points); b) passengers
travelling as compensation for denied boarding; c) passengers travelling on
corporate discounts; d) passengers travelling on preferential fares (government,
seamen, military, youth, student, etc.).

2. This definition excludes, for example, a) persons travelling free; b) persons

travelling at a fare or discount available only to employees of air carriers or their

1
In pre e-ticket (electronic ticket) days one could equate a passenger as being equivalent to a flight coupon. Paper
based tickets had one or more flight coupons identifying the number of flights a passenger had to take in order to
complete his or her journey. Each new coupon identified a transfer of the passenger from one flight to another
with a different flight number, whether performed by the same carrier or not.
2
The mass of 100 kg was adopted for application in 2012. Prior to that the recommended passenger mass plus
checked baggage stood at 90 kg.
 agents or only for travel on business for the carriers; c) infants who do not occupy
a seat.

Revenue traffic. Traffic (passenger, freight or mail) flown by an air carrier for which it
receives commercial remuneration. Unless otherwise stated, traffic data shown for air carriers
generally correspond to revenue traffic, which can then be readily compared with the
revenues reported for that traffic.

Seat-kilometres available. A seat-kilometre is available when a seat is flown one kilometre.

Seat-kilometres available are equal to the sum of the products obtained by multiplying the
number of passenger seats available for sale on each flight stage by the stage distance. It
excludes seats not available for the carriage of passengers because of the extra mass of fuel
required or other payload restrictions (see also payload capacity).

Scheduled revenue flights. Flights scheduled and performed for remuneration according to a
published timetable, or so regular or frequent as to constitute a recognizably systematic series,
which are open to direct booking by members of the public; and extra section flights
occasioned by overflow traffic from scheduled flights.

Speed flown. The average aircraft speed flown is obtained by dividing the aircraft kilometres
flown by the related aircraft hours. Where the latter are block-hours flown, the result is known
as the average block speed.

Stage distance flown per aircraft. The average stage distance flown per aircraft is obtained
by dividing the aircraft kilometres flown by the related number of aircraft departures.

Technical stop. A stop most commonly used to refuel the aircraft, to make unexpected
essential repairs or to respond to some emergency need to land the aircraft. No traffic is
unloaded or loaded during a technical stop.

Territory. A territory is a land mass which is part of or is administered by a country. In ICAO

when data are shown by Country they include data for any entity in a territory administered
by that country. When data are shown by Region data for territories are assigned to their
regions which are usually different from that of the administering country. For example,
Guadalupe and Martinique are overseas territories of France. When data are shown by
Country, France will include any data for entities based in Martinique and Guadalupe.
However, when data are presented by Region the data of any entity based in Guadalupe
and/or Martinique will be shown under Latin America/Caribbean, whereas those based in the
mainland will appear under Europe.

Tonne-kilometres available. A tonne-kilometre is available when one tonne of payload

capacity is flown one kilometre. Tonne-kilometres available equals the sum of the products
obtained by multiplying the number of tonnes available for the carriage of revenue load
(passengers, freight and mail) on each flight stage by the stage distance. (See also payload
capacity.)

Tonne-kilometres performed. A metric tonne of revenue load carried one kilometre. Tonne-
kilometres performed equals the sum of the product obtained by multiplying the number of
total tonnes of revenue load (passengers, freight and mail) carried on each flight stage by the
stage distance.

Traffic. For air transport purposes, traffic means the carriage of passengers, freight and mail.

Weight load factor. Tonne-kilometres performed expressed as a percentage of tonne-

kilometres available.

II - Airports

Air taxi operations. On-demand, non-scheduled flights on short notice for the carriage by air
of passengers, freight or mail, or any combination thereof for remuneration usually performed
with smaller aircraft including helicopters (typically no more than 30 seats). Also includes
any positioning flights required for the provision of the service.

Aircraft movement. An aircraft take-off or landing at an airport. For airport traffic purposes
one arrival and one departure is counted as two movements.

International. All flights of national or foreign aircraft whose origin or destination is

located in the territory of a State other than that in which the airport being reported on
is located.

Domestic. All flights of national or foreign aircraft in which all the airports are
located in the territory of the same State.

In both cases a flight shall be considered as the operation of an aircraft on a stage or number
of stages with an unchanging flight number. Technical stops are not considered.

Commercial air transport. Air transport services available to the general public for the
transportation of passengers, mail and/or freight for remuneration. Includes air taxis and
commercial business flights.

Commercial business flights. The commercial operation or use of aircraft by companies for
the carriage of passenger or goods as an aid to the conduct of their business and the
availability of the aircraft for whole aircraft charter, flown by a professional pilot(s) employed
to fly the aircraft.

Direct transit traffic. Traffic which both arrives and departs the point (transits the point) as
part of a continuous movement under a single air ticket or waybill, without a stopover, on the
same or different aircraft identified by the same airline designator and flight number. Direct
transit traffic is counted only once.

Freight. Includes express and diplomatic bags but not passenger baggage.
Freight (or mail) loaded/unloaded. These terms as applied to freight and mail have meanings
similar to embarked and disembarked for passengers.

General aviation (GA) activities. All civil aviation operations other than scheduled air
services and non-scheduled air transport operations for remuneration or hire (Annex 6, Part
II). For ICAO statistical purposes the general aviation activities are classified into non-
commercial business flights, aerial work, instructional and pleasure flying, and other flying.

International airport. Any airport designated by an ICAO Contracting State in whose

territory it is situated as an airport of entry and departure for international air traffic, where
the formalities such as customs, immigration, public health, agricultural quarantine and
similar procedures are carried out.

Mail. All correspondence and other objects tendered by and intended for delivery to postal
administrations.

Non-commercial business flights. These operations cover corporate and owner operated
business flights.

a) Corporate business flights. The non-commercial operation or use of aircraft by a

company for the carriage of passengers or goods as an aid to the conduct of company
business, flown by a professional pilot(s) employed to fly the aircraft.

b) Owner operated business flights. The non-commercial operation or use of aircraft by

an individual for the carriage of passengers or goods as an aid to the conduct of
his/her business.

Non-scheduled services (revenue). These are charter flights and, special and inclusive tour
flights, other than those reported under scheduled flights, performed for remuneration on an
irregular basis including empty flights related thereto, air taxi operations, commercial
business flights, and blocked-off charters.

Passengers, embarked/disembarked.

Embarked passengers. Number of air carrier revenue and non-revenue passengers

whose air journey begins at the reporting airport, including the number of
disembarked passengers, other than direct transit passengers, who are continuing their
air journey.

Disembarked passengers. Number of air carrier revenue and non-revenue passengers

whose air journey terminates at the reporting airport, including the number of
passengers, other than direct transit passengers, who will continue their air journey.

Passenger, freight and mail.

International. Applies to passengers, freight and mail disembarked at an airport

located in a State other than that of the airport of embarkation, or vice versa.
 Domestic. Applies to passengers, freight and mail disembarked at an airport located
in the State of the airport of embarkation or vice versa.

Scheduled services (revenue). Flights scheduled and performed for remuneration according
to a published timetable, or so regular or frequent as to constitute a recognizably systematic
series, which are open to direct booking by members of the public; and extra section flights
occasioned by overflow traffic from scheduled flights.

Stopover traffic: Traffic which has taken a stopover, an intentional interruption of movement
through a point under a single air ticket or waybill for a period of time beyond that required
for direct transit through or, when changing flights, for a period normally extending to the
departure time of the next connecting flight and (exceptionally) including an overnight stay.

Traffic units. A traffic unit is equivalent to 1 000 passengers or 100 tonnes of freight or mail;
direct traffic shall not be taken into account.

Transfer traffic. Traffic connecting between aircraft identified by different airline designators
and flight numbers. Transfer traffic is counted twice: once upon arrival and once on
departure.

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 ICAO Statistical Regions

List of countries and territories classified by region of geographical location

Africa
Algeria Gabon Nigeria
Angola Gambia Rwanda
Benin Ghana Sao Tome and Principe
Botswana Guinea Senegal
Burkina Faso Guinea-Bissau Seychelles
Burundi Kenya Sierra Leone
Cameroon Lesotho Somalia
Cape Verde Liberia South Africa
Central African
Libya South Sudan
Republic
Chad Madagascar Sudan
Comoros Malawi Swaziland
Congo Mali Togo
Côte d'Ivoire Mauritania Tunisia
Democratic Republic
Mauritius Uganda
of the Congo
Djibouti Morocco United Republic of Tanzania
Egypt Mozambique Western Sahara
Equatorial Guinea Namibia Zambia
Eritrea Niger Zimbabwe
Ethiopia

Territories
France Mayotte, Reunion Island

Asia / Pacific
Afghanistan Kiribati Philippines
Australia Kyrgyzstan Republic of Korea
Lao People's Democratic
Bangladesh Samoa
Republic
Bhutan Malaysia Singapore
Brunei Darussalam Maldives Solomon Islands
Cambodia Marshall Islands Sri Lanka
Micronesia ( Federated States
China Tajikistan
of)
Cook Islands Mongolia Thailand
Democratic People's Republic
Myanmar Timor-Leste
of Korea
Fiji Nauru Tonga
India Nepal Turkmenistan
Indonesia New Zealand Tuvalu
Japan Pakistan Uzbekistan
Kazakhstan Palau Vanuatu
Japan Papua New Guinea

Territories
Australia Coco Islands, Norfolk Island
France French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna Islands
New Zealand Niue Islands
American Samoa, Guam, Johnston Island , Kingman's Reef, Midway,
United States Palmyra,
Saipan (Mariana Islands), Wake Island

Europe
Albania Georgia Norway
Andorra Germany Poland
Armenia Greece Portugal
Austria Holy See (The) Republic of Moldova
Azerbaijan Hungary Romania
Belarus Iceland Russian Federation
Belgium Ireland San Marino
Bosnia and Herzegovina Italy Serbia
Bulgaria Latvia Slovakia
Croatia Liechtenstein Slovenia
Cyprus Lithuania Spain
Czech Republic Luxembourg Sweden
Denmark Malta Switzerland
The former Yugoslav Republic of
Estonia Monaco
Macedonia
Finland Montenegro Turkey
France Netherlands Ukraine

Territories
Denmark Faroe Islands, Greenland
United Kingdom Gibraltar, Isle of Man

Latin America and Caribbean

Antigua and Barbuda Dominica Nicaragua
Argentina Dominican Republic Panama
Bahamas Ecuador Paraguay
Barbados El Salvador Peru
Belize Grenada St. Kitts and Nevis
Bolivia (Plurinational State of) Guatemala St. Lucia
Brazil Guyana St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Chile Haiti Suriname
Colombia Honduras Trinidad and Tobago
Costa Rica Jamaica Uruguay
Cuba Mexico Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)

Territories
Chile Easter Island
France French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique
 Netherlands Aruba, Netherlands Antilles
Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands
United Kingdom (Malvinas), Montserrat, St. Helena and Ascension, Turks and Caicos
Islands
United States Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands

Middle East
Bahrain Kuwait Syrian Arab Republic
Iran (Islamic Republic of) Lebanon Under Palestinian Authority
Iraq Oman United Arab Emirates
Israel Qatar Yemen
Jordan Saudi Arabia

North America
Canada United States (all 50 States)

Territories
France St. Pierre and Miquelon
United Kingdom Bermuda

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