Flight delays or a bigger turn around time

[airplane_mech2]

I haven't figured out how to do the math, but has anyone figured out which way is better, money wise, whether it's better to pack your flights turn around times to the minimum and take the slight delay hits, or allow a larger turnaround time and keep the delays down?

[Jps]

It depends on your routes. The most important thing is to keep your airplane in the air as much as possible. So, if I have to choose whether to fly 3 times a day with 1% probability or 4 times a day with 8% probability of cancellation, I'll opt for the 4 routes/day. But, if there's no way to cramp in more flights, then you should make the turn arounds equal long to minimize the delays.

[JumboShrimp]

I haven't figured out how to do the math, but has anyone figured out which way is better, money wise, whether it's better to pack your flights turn around times to the minimum and take the slight delay hits, or allow a larger turnaround time and keep the delays down?

It is hard to test these things, and I have not seen any place where this is be quantified, but apparently, the hit comes in form of damage to CI.  So you need to spend more money to maintain CI on certain level - with more delays than it would take with fewer delays.

Then, of course, you have the money left on the table when the flight is cancelled....

[airplane_mech2]

Could you explain this a little simpler please?  I don't know what CI is, and I'm a little unsure of what exactly your saying.  Sorry and thanks for the input.

[Riger]

CI = Company Image.

CI is a big factor in many calculations in the background that ultimately drive passengers to one supplier (Airline) or another. There are many factors that will hinder your CI growth and quite a few you can use to improve it.  Assuming that you keep your a/c serviced and your flying reasonably often, what you can do to improve the growth rate of your CI is in marketing.  The more money you pump into marketing the better your CI growth rate will be.

In summary, pile on the marketing, keep your fleet serviced and (reasonably) young and prevent delays where you can.

I am sure some of the more experienced and knowledgable players will jump in to either correct me or to add to what I have said....  go for it.

Very Best Regards
Richard