Which operational aspect is primarily the responsibility of the captain?

The primary responsibility of the captain during a flight is overall flight safety and decision-making. This includes ensuring that all facets of flight operations are conducted safely and efficiently. The captain holds the final authority on all decisions made during the flight, including weather considerations, crew management, and handling in-flight emergencies.

While the captain may be involved in or oversee other aspects such as passenger service quality, aircraft maintenance schedules, and flight path planning, these areas often have other designated personnel responsible for them. For instance, the first officer or a flight operations team may assist in flight path planning, and cabin crew manage passenger service quality. However, the captain’s supreme responsibility to make critical decisions regarding safety makes this choice the most appropriate. The captain's role is pivotal in ensuring that every decision adheres to regulations and maintains passenger and crew safety above all else.