Aviation
ASK (available seat kilometre)
One seat flown one kilometre: the standard measure of airline capacity.
Last reviewedWhat does ASK (available seat kilometre) mean?
An available seat kilometre is one seat, sold or empty, flown one kilometre. Total ASKs = seats x kilometres flown, added up across all flights. It measures how much an airline has to sell. Example: a 180-seat aircraft flying 1,000 kilometres produces 180,000 ASKs. In the United States the same measure uses miles and is called available seat miles (ASM). Airline costs and revenues are divided by ASKs so that airlines of different sizes and route lengths can be compared.
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Related terms
- RPK (revenue passenger kilometre)One paying passenger flown one kilometre: the standard measure of airline traffic.
- Load factorThe share of seats filled with paying passengers: RPK divided by ASK.
- CASK (cost per available seat kilometre)Total airline operating cost divided by ASKs.
- RASK (revenue per available seat kilometre)Total airline revenue divided by ASKs.
- Yield (airlines)Passenger revenue per revenue passenger kilometre: the average fare per kilometre.
- Break-even load factorThe load factor at which revenue exactly covers costs at current fares.
- Fuel hedgingLocking in the price of part of future fuel to reduce the risk of price swings.
- Airport slotPermission to use a busy airport at a set time to land or take off.