Routes under 400 nm

[Yarnam]

On Routes under 400 nm how much are you giving up by running twin props when your competition is running jets?

[Amelie090904]

Given that the turnaround time is shorter for prop aircraft and that the cruise speed is only a short part of the overall flight, you can even be faster than jets. Depends of the exact combination. If you have competition, you can easily check departure/arrival times and compare that with yours.

[gazzz0x2z]

I've been able to fly 6 daily routes with SW3, in several setups. Try this with any jet!

[freshmore]

Yep, jets on that range don't hold an advantage. SW3's are great because of their top speed, which is always for me the most important factor. 250kts upwards is my aim. Even up to 1000nm and beyond, a well utilized fleet of Fast Props can be very good compared to the jets they fly against and they are the best bet when you have a large number of routes of 70 or less. Jets that fly 50pax or less, are generally considered to be more risky option and can basically (and probably more often than not) be an airline suicide come the high fuel prices.

[Yarnam]

SW3?

[freshmore]

Fairchild Metro - SW3 is the code you see in the timetables. A very very good 19 seater

[Yarnam]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the advice

[gazzz0x2z]

Fairchild Metro - SW3 is the code you see in the timetables. A very very good 19 seater

Had a lot of fun with them, and they really work wonders. That being said, avoid using them on big airports : they typically make 4/5k$ per route per day(not counting general costs), which is very few, and if you begin to use them between Heathrow & Charles De Gaulle, you will need years to pay back those slots. From Edinburgh or Visby, they just kicked ass, especially in domestic lines. All those impossible lines suddenly become possible. With proper seating, the Metro23 version can even make red eyes flights, and not lose money(though the real money is made on short flights) on routes with demand between 20 & 30.

Just avoid to make tech stops. I had a route between Nice and Bobo Dioulasso with a tech stop in the Algerian desert. Always was in the red. And don't hope to rival with the big companies. But if you play them properly, you are unkillable.

[freshmore]

Yeah, I had 300 in Romania a year or so back. I tried a really stupid experiment and converted too many of the larger routes to ATR's, slowly went towards bankruptcy coupled with real life time issues. One of the most fun airlines I've ever had, 10 bases (I thinK) all around Romania.

The early one's are even good for more than than the advertised range because payload ranges and 16 pax, (conveniently the number for Standard Eco seats you can fit), so you can utilise them even further and go mad. Speed means you can get plenty enough flights in each day with them.