Introduced in 2019 by air cargo data company CLIVE, the dynamic load factor methodology measures how full an aircraft is by considering both freight volume and weight. CLIVE and TIACA consider this as an improvement on the traditional weight-based load factors, which are misleading and paint an unnecessarily negative image of the airfreight industry. This is because, typically, the space in an aircraft runs out before reaching its maximum weight capacity, owing to the aircraft’s higher capacity density (calculated as available kilogrammes per cubic metre) than the average density of the goods moved by air.
Using the industry’s traditional way of measuring load factors solely by weight, the average load factor for September 2020 was 47%, according to CLIVE. However, the same data from airlines taking into account both weight and volume reveals a more realistic dynamic load factor of 70%.
Steven Polmans, Chair of TIACA’s Board of Directors, is leading the call for change. “So many business decisions in air cargo industry are influenced by the perceptions of cargo load factors which do not show the true figures. Adopting the dynamic load factor will enable cargo professionals and stakeholders to make informed decisions based on timely and more accurate data.”
There is growing industry support for this new cargo capacity measurement. A recent TIACA survey which gathered feedback from over 80 members attending association’s Economics4Cargo webinar revealed a 98% support for the dynamic load factor methodology.
“We welcome TIACA’s support and our growing collaboration with the association’s members to deliver the most insightful air cargo market analysis. Our dynamic load factor reflects the reality of air cargo capacity utilisation,” commented CLIVE’s Managing Director, Niall van de Wouw. “Looking only at weight-based load factors is not enough anymore and can lead stakeholders to wrong conclusions. We must establish a common benchmark on the utilisation of air cargo capacity, particularly if airlines want forwarders and shippers to understand why rates behave as they do. It is otherwise difficult to explain why rates are spiking when the traditional load factor measurement suggests aircraft are operating only half-empty.”