Hi
Just trying to figure out what is best and I can't find any reliable info on the maintenance penalty on old aircraft. I am currently looking 5 years down the line and am unsure if i am best holding out for a single fleet type replacement (no guarantee the type will appear as per real life) or to plan on getting 3/4 of the aging fleet replaced as it turns 20 and crossing fingers for the rest.
Any idea on relative cost penalty would be good. I suspect i am better running an old fleet and sticking to 3 fleets only except during transition rather than ending up with 4.
Current aim is commuter turbo prop, rj, and a normal mid/long range narrowbody.
Ta
the 4th fleet penalty only kicks in (very badly) when you have a total fleet size of 450+. Below this it doesn't really matter.
The maint penalty has killed many an airline. Also fuel economy goes down with age, at about 18yo it's +3.4% fuel.
Soviet aircraft and props especially will get very very very expensive as they get old.
Simon
Thank you