Aviation
RPK (revenue passenger kilometre)
One paying passenger flown one kilometre: the standard measure of airline traffic.
Facts checked against sources onWhat does RPK (revenue passenger kilometre) mean?
A revenue passenger kilometre is one paying passenger carried one kilometre. Total RPKs = paying passengers x kilometres flown. Example: a 1,000-kilometre flight with 153 paying passengers produces 153,000 RPKs. RPK measures what an airline actually sold, while ASK measures what it could have sold, so RPK divided by ASK gives the load factor. In the United States it is called revenue passenger miles (RPM).
Where does it come up in case interview prep?
- Airline unit economics: RASK, CASK, load factor, fuel, and leasingLesson in Airlines, airports, and aircraft leasing
Related terms
- ASK (available seat kilometre)One seat flown one kilometre: the standard measure of airline capacity.
- Load factorThe share of seats filled with paying passengers: RPK divided by ASK.
- Yield (airlines)Passenger revenue per revenue passenger kilometre: the average fare per kilometre.
- RASK (revenue per available seat kilometre)Total airline revenue divided by ASKs.
- CASK (cost per available seat kilometre)Total airline operating cost divided by ASKs.
- 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.
Learn it in context
See RPK (revenue passenger kilometre) at work in a lesson from Airlines, airports, and aircraft leasing, with checks as you go.
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