What term describes the total number of paying passengers on a flight?

The term that describes the total number of paying passengers on a flight is "enplanements." This term specifically refers to the passengers who board a flight, making it a key metric in the aviation industry. Enplanements are important for airlines and airports as they indicate the volume of ticketed customers utilizing the service, which impacts revenue generation and operational capacity.

Understanding this term is essential for analyzing airline performance, as it helps in assessing demand and planning future schedules. Passenger load factors, for instance, are often calculated based on enplanements compared to available seats, providing insight into how efficiently an airline is operating.

In contrast, boardings generally refer to the action of passengers getting on the aircraft, while deplanements denote passengers exiting the aircraft. "Cargo Load Factor," on the other hand, measures cargo capacity utilized, unrelated to passenger counts. Thus, enplanements specifically highlight the aspect of paying passengers aboard a flight, making it the correct choice in this context.