passengercargo

Passengercargo refers to transportation operations that carry both passengers and freight within a single vehicle or service. The term is used across transport modes, most commonly in aviation and maritime contexts, to describe arrangements that monetize spare capacity by combining passenger travel with cargo or vehicular cargo on the same journey.

In aviation, passengercargo typically means passenger aircraft that also transport freight. Freight is usually accommodated in the aircraft’s belly holds, known as underfloor cargo compartments, and may include palletized goods and mail. Some aircraft configurations, historically called combi aircraft, reserve part of the main deck for freight while still carrying passengers. In modern practice, most passenger fleets primarily use belly cargo, with dedicated freighters serving routes where higher cargo volumes justify separate aircraft. Cargo operations must respect weight and balance, security, and regulatory controls for both passengers and goods, including restrictions on hazardous materials.

In maritime transport, passengercargo often describes ferries and ro-pax vessels that carry both people and vehicles or general cargo. Vehicle decks, passenger lounges, and freight handling facilities must be integrated in a way that preserves safety, vehicle throughput, and passenger comfort. Ro-ro and cruise-ferry services illustrate how cargo and passenger objectives can be aligned to improve utilization and service coverage.

Advantages of passengercargo include higher revenue per voyage and improved asset utilization. Challenges involve safety, regulatory compliance, complex load planning, and balancing competing priorities for passenger service and cargo handling.