Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) • Crew Planning • Alliance Partnership

ASK (Available Seat Kilometers)

Term from Airlines industry explained for recruiters

ASK (Available Seat Kilometers) is a key measurement used in the airline industry to understand how well an airline is using its capacity. Think of it as calculating how many empty and filled seats an airline has available to sell across all its flights, multiplied by the distance those flights travel. It's like measuring the total "space for sale" on all planes. Airlines use this number to make important business decisions about routes, pricing, and fleet management. When you see this term in resumes, it usually indicates that the person has experience working with airline performance metrics and capacity planning.

Examples in Resumes

Improved ASK utilization by 15% through strategic route planning

Analyzed Available Seat Kilometers trends to optimize flight schedules

Managed fleet deployment to maximize ASK efficiency across international routes

Typical job title: "Airline Planning Analysts"

Also try searching for:

Network Planning Analyst Route Planning Manager Capacity Planning Specialist Revenue Management Analyst Fleet Planning Manager Commercial Planning Analyst

Where to Find Airline Planning Analysts

Professional Aviation Groups

Industry Resources

Job Boards

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you use ASK data to make strategic decisions about adding new routes?

Expected Answer: A senior candidate should explain how they would analyze current ASK utilization, market demand, competition, and seasonal patterns to determine if new routes would be profitable. They should mention considering factors like aircraft availability and hub connectivity.

Q: Describe a time when you used ASK analysis to improve airline profitability.

Expected Answer: Look for examples of using ASK data to optimize route networks, adjust aircraft deployment, or improve scheduling. The candidate should demonstrate how their decisions led to measurable improvements in revenue or efficiency.

Mid Level Questions

Q: How do you calculate ASK and why is it important?

Expected Answer: Candidate should explain that ASK is calculated by multiplying available seats by flight distance in kilometers, and explain how this helps measure an airline's capacity and potential revenue opportunities.

Q: What factors can affect ASK efficiency?

Expected Answer: Should mention factors like route selection, aircraft type, seasonal demand, competition, and scheduling. They should understand how these elements impact capacity utilization.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What is ASK and how is it different from actual passengers carried?

Expected Answer: Should be able to explain that ASK measures potential capacity (available seats × distance) while actual passengers carried represents real utilization of that capacity.

Q: Why do airlines track ASK?

Expected Answer: Should understand that ASK helps airlines measure their capacity, plan routes, and compare performance with other airlines.