What is the difference between payload and cargo?

• A. Payload is the weight of passengers and their baggage plus any cargo; cargo is freight carried in addition to passengers.
• B. Payload is the weight of passengers only; cargo is baggage.
• C. Payload is fuel weight.
• D. Payload and cargo are the same.

Answer: (A)

Payload is the aircraft’s total useful load that contributes to revenue, which includes the weight of passengers, their baggage, and any freight being carried. Cargo refers specifically to the freight or goods transported, and it is the freight portion that sits within the overall payload. This distinction matters in planning because you must account for every component that adds weight: passengers, bags, and freight all add to payload, while fuel and other non-passenger items are tracked separately. So the payload captures passengers plus their bags plus any freight, and cargo is the freight part carried aboard.