Seeing an almost empty plane might make you wonder how an airline can possibly afford to operate the flight.
That was exactly what one Malaysian questioned after noticing what appeared to be a relatively empty flight to Penang, despite flights to the destination operating frequently throughout the day.
However, an airline crew member later stepped in to explain that the number of passengers sitting above is only part of the story.
‘Flights aren’t only for passengers’
In a Threads post, the passenger shared a photo showing rows of seemingly empty seats and questioned why flights to Penang were still operating so frequently.
Responding to the post, a man who identified himself as an airline crew member explained that passenger numbers are not the only factor determining whether a flight operates.
According to him, the cargo compartment underneath the passenger cabin can sometimes be carrying three to four tonnes of goods.
He claimed that even if there were no passengers onboard, a flight could still operate because transporting cargo generates revenue for airlines.
You need to understand that flights are not only for passengers. Even if there are zero passengers above, there could be more than three or four tonnes underneath,” he wrote.
Other aviation workers say passenger planes carry plenty of cargo too
His explanation quickly gained traction, with several others who claimed to work in aviation and logistics agreeing with him.
One person who identified herself as a MASkargo staff member said the lower deck may carry more than ordinary commercial cargo.
She listed items such as animals, mail, perishable goods and human remains as examples of shipments that may be transported by air.
Another MASkargo staff member explained that passenger aircraft regularly transport both baggage and commercial cargo in their belly compartments.
According to him, certain industries also depend on air freight because some components, electronics, textiles, seafood and frozen food need to reach their destinations quickly.
He added that dedicated freighter aircraft exist too, but passenger aircraft can still play an important role in moving goods.
Another commenter working in supply chain said large amounts of air freight are processed daily, particularly when companies have urgent orders requiring faster transportation.
Scheduled flights may have other considerations too
The original commenter also claimed that airlines may have operational and contractual reasons for maintaining flight frequencies on certain routes.
Another netizen echoed this, saying airlines cannot simply cancel scheduled flights repeatedly as maintaining a route involves broader operational considerations.
The crew member also pointed out that operating a flight itself comes with various costs, including airport parking, ground handling and other aviation related charges.
Meanwhile, several netizens admitted they had previously assumed an aircraft with few passengers meant the flight was simply wasting fuel.
After reading the explanations from aviation workers, however, many said they finally understood that what passengers see inside the cabin does not necessarily reflect what the aircraft is carrying underneath.
So the next time your flight looks surprisingly empty, there may be a lot more happening below your seat than you realise.
View on Threads
