FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - How many people are in the air right now?
Old Dec 2, 2003, 12:33 pm
  #3  
WHBM
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: London, England.
Programs: BA
Posts: 8,476
Would probably take a day or so to work through this (and I am not going to right now!) but probably something along these lines.

Start with a World Airliner Census (there are several available).

Take 800 Boeing 747 (worldwide fleet), times (390 (average number of seats times) times 75% (average load factor)), times 13/24 (because they average 13 hours a day in the air.

Gives number of people up in a 747 at any one time. Result = 126,750.

Repeat for all other types. Actually not that many. Then throw something in for General Aviation and Military (these latter two spend over 95% of their time on the ground).

Challenge for somebody with nothing to do !
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