Well i'm into my second week of my start up airline where i'm going to try and progress without using finance or leasing of any kind, lets see if it's viable and how far i get.
I started with a single otter (may have been better with a fregate but it wasn't around when i was in the market to buy) and started with 3 routes which i have since increased to 4 in the second week.
The first week created a small loss which i think is to be expected and with an additioal route and better image lets see what happens after week 2.
Well finally making a weekly profit only took just under 3 months. With only $370,000 left in the bank i think it's still touch and go weither i can continue without going bankrupt or leaseing a 2nd a/c to increase my profit margin.
3 weeks of making a small profit :)
unfortunatly my base airport closes between 9-5 and all my destinations are closed between 9-5 and 9-6 so no chance of flying through the night yet.
i think in the future finding airports that open through the night would be an advantage.
I decided to lease a 2nd plane, i made this decision becuase with 1 or 2 flights cancelled in a week puts my airline into the red. With a loan i would have not been able to keep fleet commonality. So lets see how it goes with 3 otters in my fleet 2 leased and 1 owned.
1 plane:- 2 planes:- 3 planes:- TBC
Number of aircraft in fleet 1 2
Administrative costs / month 7 506 USD 9 556 USD 12 471 USD
Fixed maintenance costs / month 20 694 USD 30 775 USD 46 527 USD
Crew training / month 5 739 USD 8 032 USD 11 469 USD
Total 33 939 USD 48 363 USD 70 467
PT6A series engines
PT6A-27
Number of aircraft in fleet 1 2 3
Number of engines in fleet 2 4 6
Models using engines de Havilland Canada DHC-6
Fixed maintenance costs / month / PT6A 82 230 USD 84 431 USD 87 991
ok now i've added a second otter you can see the importance of keeping a small fleet to the same type. costs have increaased by a relativly small amount which is crucial when trying to make a profit with such small airplanes.
hopefully this saving will pay the leasing costs and add an additional profit.
Is this like some kind of ongoing diary?
And if so, did I just mess it up by posting in it? :P :-\
lol no, i'm just making notes public so as to help anyone with tips and ideas on setting up a small airline with small planes.
and to learn from any mistakes i may make along the way.
Bankrupt! meh!
lessons learnt for next time
1/ 20 seater too small. (maybe possible with 24hr airports)
2/ 24hr airports.
3/ no leases
any tips on small operations welcome :)
Quote from: ban2 on February 20, 2009, 05:56:12 PM
Bankrupt! meh!
lessons learnt for next time
1/ 20 seater too small. (maybe possible with 24hr airports)
2/ 24hr airports.
3/ no leases
any tips on small operations welcome :)
What5 was the airline called and in wot game
ban2air game 3