load factor

noun

: the percentage of available seats paid for and occupied in an aircraft

Examples of load factor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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According to a February report from the International Air Transport Association, the airline load factor—the percentage of available seats that are filled—hit a record 82.1 percent in January, the highest ever recorded for that month. Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Apr. 2025 Airlines are flying with record load factors, which means there are more passengers on each flight. Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025 The load factor—the percentage of available seats an airline sells on its flights—reached a record level of 82.1 percent in January, marking an all-time high for the month, the International Air Transport Association reported in February. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025 The load factor—the percentage of available seats an airline sells on its flights—hit a record level of 82.6 percent in January, marking an all-time high for the month, the International Air Transport Association noted in a February report. Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for load factor

Word History

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of load factor was in 1943

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Cite this Entry

“Load factor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/load%20factor. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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