Operating Empty Weight

Operating Empty Weight (OEW) is the weight of an aircraft including the structure, engines, systems, unusable fuel, oil, crew, crew baggage, catering equipment, potable water, lavatory fluid, emergency equipment, and any other items required for flight — but excluding usable fuel and payload (passengers and cargo).

• OEW = Manufacturer's Empty Weight + operator items + crew
• Varies between airlines for the same aircraft type (different cabin configurations, galleys, IFE systems)
• Key input for weight and balance calculations
• Payload capacity = MZFW - OEW
• Example: B737-800 OEW ≈ 41,413 kg, MZFW ≈ 61,689 kg → max payload ≈ 20,276 kg