I think I'm getting the hang of it...

[6Pack]

Well, I have bought a couple 737s thanks to the profits of my existing fleet.  I'd say that's a significant sign of successful expansion.  One thing though, is it in the nature of existing, established airlines to target new airlines' routes?  I mean, they could have been just doing what I was doing, perusing different airports looking for ones with unfilled demand.  All the routes I started were to airports with no flights at all.  I filled up a quarter or a third of that demand with one or two flights from my only two planes.  I planned on putting a couple more flights in when I got a new plane in a few weeks, but when I did get that plane and looked again, all remaining demand was completely filled, plus some. 

This is good in the, I-learned-something-from-this-experience type of way.  Next time, instead of targeting 3 airports in order to get some company image, I'll just put all my planes on 1 airport at a time.  Too bad, I had a lot of hope in those routes' potential.

[Sigma]

Well, I have bought a couple 737s thanks to the profits of my existing fleet.  I'd say that's a significant sign of successful expansion.  One thing though, is it in the nature of existing, established airlines to target new airlines' routes?  I mean, they could have been just doing what I was doing, perusing different airports looking for ones with unfilled demand.  All the routes I started were to airports with no flights at all.  I filled up a quarter or a third of that demand with one or two flights from my only two planes.  I planned on putting a couple more flights in when I got a new plane in a few weeks, but when I did get that plane and looked again, all remaining demand was completely filled, plus some. 

This is good in the, I-learned-something-from-this-experience type of way.  Next time, instead of targeting 3 airports in order to get some company image, I'll just put all my planes on 1 airport at a time.  Too bad, I had a lot of hope in those routes' potential.

You get no CI by flying to more locations.  In fact, you COST yourself a lot more money doing that.

But, yes, people do flood your routes (though it's technically against the rules to run new airlines out of business).  And you really should focus on one airport at a time.  Fill it up and then move on.

[ucfknightryan]

One route at a time is generally better, as general marketing costs scale directly with the number of routes operated, and staff requirements are also affected by the number of airports you are operating at.

Also, when you say bought, do you mean you actually purchased them, or did you lease them?  It's almost always better to lease aircraft while your airline is still expanding.

-Ryan

[6Pack]

Slip of the tongue, yes, I leased them.  God, I barely was able to afford a lease much less purchase one of those

*Edit
Wow, it gets better.  It's not only my routes, but my base has been been moved in by another airline with an impressive fleet.  No mercy for the newcomers, eh?

[swiftus27]

It happens, SixPack.  Just keep at it.  This game is really cheap to play and it has its bumps.  I am still struggling to survive in the alliance challenge with decent LFs. 

Every challenge is different.