Hiya. Ill see what I can offer:
Quote1. Is it better (more profitable) in the long run to do routes like (A --- B --- A) or (A --- B --- C --- B --- A)
or set two separate routes up of (A --- B --- C --- A) and (A --- C --- B --- A)? My thought was that doing it the third way I mentioned enabled you to have flights both ways from airports other than your base, therefore creating more route possibilities and more profit. However I saw mentioned somewhere else that this is not the case and that simple (A - B - A) routes are the best in the long run. How is this so or is it even true?
A-B-A routes offer the best "yields". Because depending on the distance, you can fly that route a number of times.
However, if you want to expand beyond your airport's limits, A-B-C-B-A "continuation" routes are the best way. They offer lower yields, but, you can have more aircraft in the company.
A-B-C-A routes are not great. Bad for times.. only use for long haul, honestly.
QuoteThis is more of an opinion related question. Is it better to fly highly trafficked routes (example --> ATL to ORD) or fly from one's base to little small town airports with just enough traffic to validate a flight?
At the start, go for less populated routes. Everyone and there mother wants to fly ATL-ORD. So.. after a few days, that route will be crowded, thus, killing your profits.
For routes, Keep this in mind: Longer routes pay more! Short haul International routes pay
more then medium domestic routes. International routes are money makers.
Hm, my tips would be: Dont fly with a 3 class configuration for "domestic" routes. Only for International LH.
Russian aircraft are tough to make money with in the modern day. However, in the T-Prop days, there not bad aircraft ;)
Fleet commonality!!!!! Always have good fleet commonality. If you fly 737s... dont get that A320.. it will
kill you eventually.
Alot of players will find out the hard way. They have a nice start with 3-4 different types of aircraft only to find 9 planes later there losing money. Thats because Fleet Commonality costs increase
exponentially when you have more then 4 types.
After 7 types, fleet common costs will kill you outright... no joke..
Hope everyone finds this useful
-Talentz
Hey there Obeewan. I have some general thoughts from lessons I have already learned in game posted at the Welcome to Airwaysim Game Talk Forum.
As to your specific question: Look hard at the routes you want to do.. see what kind of traffic you are dealing with.. if there are lot of people at Airport B, more so than say airport C, then why not have your plane stop their again before heading home? If not, then take the direct route back to your base from airport C.. take a good hard look at the numbers that will help.
As to your small airport question.. limited numbers of passengers will be there, just remember that.. you can either fly to that airport FIRST and bring them back to your base airport (and hope they will jump onto another flight to somewhere else that your planes fly) OR make that stop a short stop to just pick up a few more passengers wanting to go to a bigger city. Generally Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays have the most passengers at the smaller airports.. but again.. check the numbers and plan accordingly.