Getting Frustrated

[masoniclight]

Seven times now I have started a company.. 7 times.. none have been successes except for one month where I actually made profit (Grand Masonic Airlines).. dont get me wrong, I love this game, but maybe its proving to me I couldnt actually run a real airline biz. I have tried almost every strategy (except for leasing the big planes like 737s, Md80s, airbuses etc) and none have really worked.. I dont know what I am doing wrong but I sure am contemplating leaving this last game and waiting until game 3 starts.. it is frustrating.. but it isnt anything that Sami or the team has done as far as the game code goes.. I guess its just me.. *sigh*.. Keep up the great work though all.. like I said, love this game.. hate that I cant make a profitable airline.

[Andrej]

Well, the best way for me was leasing those DC-9s, MD-80s, Fokkers and B737s you didn't use.
Other players will disagree and tell you the best strategy is to lease widebodies.

I really don't have a crystal ball, sorry.

[Sami]

Seeing that you operate 3x NAMC's isn't that bad choice and should work out just fine. BUT ...

Try these:

- use manual staffing to get rid of ~10 extra staff members, fire the extra staff (at the bottom of the page just press the disk icon next to 100% and save), this will lower your image but it's a temporary pain ... though is is not necessary, but if you wanna cut the expenses to minimum at all levels.

- lose all route marketing campaigns for now and focus on companywide campaigns only to save money.

- if you have money, reconfig the planes to higher density seating?  though should work out with 52Y too just fine.

- your planes are old. Maintenance costs are high. Avg are 19.3y is 10 years too much... Even a B check cost $40k where as ATR42 (7y) is $15k (!!). Lease price for ATR is 70k more though but it's still cheaper in the long run.

- avg load factor is good.

- the aircraft schedules are simply too loose, fleet utilization is not good. (big white caps in schedule). 101WN doesn't have a single flight on Wed for example.

- do not fly some routes only 2x week. As it's a domestic service, people do not appreciate so bad route frequency .. 7x week to domestic destinations at minimum!

- don't put too big planes to routes w/small demand, especially when you are just starting. Pick up routes with no competition and a demand of 1.5* your available seats. Or then a route with a HUGE demand that has competition (huge demand = more pax to share! .. and even a small share is enough to fill your small planes).

[Talentz]

Thats sad to hear. But actually, now is not a bad time to start up. Most airlines are looking more at bigger, international routes. Thus, theres more smaller aircraft on the used market right now. Or.. it "lasts" longer on the market.


Tell you what. I'll give you a good start up, you can then build off of it.


Now. if you still have credits, this is what you do:

First, find a city with decent demand up to 1500nm. Dont base at a big airport, you'll die. Find a "low profile city". If you were in the states. Something like HOU, MDW or Dallas love. Something with good demand and no airlines based there. Also, few routes into and out. If your basing anywhere else in the world, Think of something along those lines.  Though, id say stay away from Europe. Its about to become a drama soap opera with all the airlines based there.


Now, you have your city. First, go to Office page and then Loan section.  Take a loan out. 2.5M is the max you can take at the start.. do it. That gives you 6.5M or so of money to start with. Money for alot of aircraft!


Okies, aircraft time. Look at a good 100 seater thats somewhat new and alvb right now. As I type, theres alot of F100s. Decent range w/ 100 seats. Plus, there going for around 250k-300k a month. Thats 1m to 1.2M per lease. (4 months pre-payment required per aircraft).

Now, grab the best condition aircraft you can. This is your "starter" aircraft. Should always be 95%+. Once thats done, you should have enough money for 3-4 more aircraft. Grab them. That gives you 4-5 aircraft at the start. Thats enough to turn a profit right from the go. Make sure and leave at least 500k left over for maint. ect.  Dont grab an aircraft with less then 6mths left for a C check.

Now, you have your aircraft, time for routes. Find small 200-600nm routes to fly. Fill them with as many flights as you can. Dont leave alot of hours on the gorund. Also, this is very important. Dont fight anyone!! Find routes with no competition. That way, you can fill the aircraft right from the start.

Lasty, company Image. Go into the Company image page and select "World Wide" select Newspapers, billboards and radio. Then set it for 1 year. This will grow your image rather fast.

Company is very important. It decides who not only gets more pax on a route, but how much there willing to pay. An airline with higher company Image will fill a plane over someone with lower image and more flights


Other then that, your set. Make sure and add an aircraft at least once a day. You need to bring in enough income to cover C checks at the end of the year. Thats your goal for now. Later, you can expand beyond domestic. For now, start simple.

Remember, stick with 1 aircraft fleet for now. Get it above 10, then you can start to look at a different aircraft. Its very, very important to keep fleet commonality. This will kill you later on the game if you just order random aircraft.

So, F100s all the way at the start.


Do this, and you'll have a decent company in 6mths. At that time, then you'll be able to experiment with everything else.


So.. go now


Talentz

[masoniclight]

Seeing that you operate 3x NAMC's isn't that bad choice and should work out just fine. BUT ...

Try these:

- use manual staffing to get rid of ~10 extra staff members, fire the extra staff (at the bottom of the page just press the disk icon next to 100% and save), this will lower your image but it's a temporary pain ... though is is not necessary, but if you wanna cut the expenses to minimum at all levels.

- lose all route marketing campaigns for now and focus on companywide campaigns only to save money.

- if you have money, reconfig the planes to higher density seating?  though should work out with 52Y too just fine.

- your planes are old. Maintenance costs are high. Avg are 19.3y is 10 years too much... Even a B check cost $40k where as ATR42 (7y) is $15k (!!). Lease price for ATR is 70k more though but it's still cheaper in the long run.

- avg load factor is good.

- the aircraft schedules are simply too loose, fleet utilization is not good. (big white caps in schedule). 101WN doesn't have a single flight on Wed for example.

- do not fly some routes only 2x week. As it's a domestic service, people do not appreciate so bad route frequency .. 7x week to domestic destinations at minimum!

- don't put too big planes to routes w/small demand, especially when you are just starting. Pick up routes with no competition and a demand of 1.5* your available seats. Or then a route with a HUGE demand that has competition (huge demand = more pax to share! .. and even a small share is enough to fill your small planes).

Thanks so much Sami! I really appreciate it.. looks like I have much to learn (padawan) hehe... ok.. I'll try and see what I can do to improve what lot I have at this moment. I am not worried anymore, even if this version of WIND Airlines doesnt make it, I know game 3 is coming.. and I have learned already so much from you and Talentz. Thanks again.

[masoniclight]

Thats sad to hear. But actually, now is not a bad time to start up. Most airlines are looking more at bigger, international routes. Thus, theres more smaller aircraft on the used market right now. Or.. it "lasts" longer on the market.


Tell you what. I'll give you a good start up, you can then build off of it.


Now. if you still have credits, this is what you do:

First, find a city with decent demand up to 1500nm. Dont base at a big airport, you'll die. Find a "low profile city". If you were in the states. Something like HOU, MDW or Dallas love. Something with good demand and no airlines based there. Also, few routes into and out. If your basing anywhere else in the world, Think of something along those lines.  Though, id say stay away from Europe. Its about to become a drama soap opera with all the airlines based there.


Now, you have your city. First, go to Office page and then Loan section.  Take a loan out. 2.5M is the max you can take at the start.. do it. That gives you 6.5M or so of money to start with. Money for alot of aircraft!


Okies, aircraft time. Look at a good 100 seater thats somewhat new and alvb right now. As I type, theres alot of F100s. Decent range w/ 100 seats. Plus, there going for around 250k-300k a month. Thats 1m to 1.2M per lease. (4 months pre-payment required per aircraft).

Now, grab the best condition aircraft you can. This is your "starter" aircraft. Should always be 95%+. Once thats done, you should have enough money for 3-4 more aircraft. Grab them. That gives you 4-5 aircraft at the start. Thats enough to turn a profit right from the go. Make sure and leave at least 500k left over for maint. ect.  Dont grab an aircraft with less then 6mths left for a C check.

Now, you have your aircraft, time for routes. Find small 200-600nm routes to fly. Fill them with as many flights as you can. Dont leave alot of hours on the gorund. Also, this is very important. Dont fight anyone!! Find routes with no competition. That way, you can fill the aircraft right from the start.

Lasty, company Image. Go into the Company image page and select "World Wide" select Newspapers, billboards and radio. Then set it for 1 year. This will grow your image rather fast.

Company is very important. It decides who not only gets more pax on a route, but how much there willing to pay. An airline with higher company Image will fill a plane over someone with lower image and more flights


Other then that, your set. Make sure and add an aircraft at least once a day. You need to bring in enough income to cover C checks at the end of the year. Thats your goal for now. Later, you can expand beyond domestic. For now, start simple.

Remember, stick with 1 aircraft fleet for now. Get it above 10, then you can start to look at a different aircraft. Its very, very important to keep fleet commonality. This will kill you later on the game if you just order random aircraft.

So, F100s all the way at the start.


Do this, and you'll have a decent company in 6mths. At that time, then you'll be able to experiment with everything else.


So.. go now


Talentz

OK thanks ever so much Talentz, although I know about the C check stuff, I see some of what Ive been doing wrong.. great info for what I can get done. As I just told Sami, even if I cant save this current version of WIND Airlines from going under, I have already learned so much from both of you.. it will make me a better player in the next attempt. So F100s? Ill look into those.

Thanks again