Available Seat Miles

Available Seat Miles (ASMs) -- one seat flown one mile, whether or not anyone sat in it. A 150-seat plane flying 1,000 miles produces 150,000 ASMs. It is the airline industry's standard measure of capacity (how much flying a carrier did) and the denominator under the key unit metrics, revenue per ASM (RASM) and cost per ASM (CASM). Growing ASMs adds capacity, which only helps profits if the new seats fill at fares above their cost. Carriers report ASMs in millions per quarter, and comparing their growth rates shows which airlines are expanding and which are pulling back.

Related terms

Accounts Payable · Adjusted EBITDA · Adjusted EBITDA Ex-SBC · Administered-Only Members · ADR · ARPU

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