In aviation, what does the term 'pax load' refer to?

The term 'pax load' specifically refers to the total number of passengers aboard the aircraft. This metric is crucial for airlines as it directly impacts both operational efficiency and profitability. Understanding the current load of passengers helps in planning for future flights, managing costs, and determining overall capacity utilization.

While the total number of passenger tickets sold may give an indication of interest in a flight, it does not account for cancellations or no-shows, making it an unreliable measure of actual passengers on board. Similarly, the weight of passengers combined with cargo is important for weight and balance calculations but is distinct from the term 'pax load,' which focuses solely on the number of individuals traveling. The capacity of the passenger compartment highlights structural limits but again does not define the actual number of passengers on a particular flight.

Thus, identifying the 'pax load' as the total number of passengers aboard effectively captures the key aspect of passenger presence on flights.