Load Factor

Load Factor is an economic strategy game in which the player builds an airline, starting with one turboprop aircraft and expanding towards a worldwide network. There is no infrastructure construction; the game is centred on five decisions: which aircraft to operate, which routes to fly, what time of day to fly them, how many frequencies to schedule, and what fare to charge. The map covers more than 3,100 real airports on a rendered globe, each with its own geography, runway length and weather. Passenger numbers come from a demand model that accounts for distance, city size, connections and price, and hub-and-spoke networks arise from that model rather than from a fixed bonus.

The fleet includes close to 40 aircraft types, ranging from regional turboprops to the A380, each modelled on payload-range physics so that runway length and mission profile affect which aircraft can serve a route. Aircraft can be bought outright or taken on operating lease, and cabins can be configured. Costs are broken down into fuel (using live-market prices), crew, maintenance, airport fees and distribution, and a weekly route profit and loss report ranks every leg by contribution. Weather can cancel flights and disrupt schedules.

Route demand is hidden until the player purchases market research. Cabin demand on a route changes over time, beginning leisure-heavy and developing premium demand as the route establishes itself. The player can set a company posture across service, staffing, maintenance and distribution, which affects cost, reliability and reputation. Aircraft are scheduled across a full week, with turnarounds, curfews and schedule continuity all modelled.