Fuel prices
156 USD
+14.7% (136 USD)
Really! Come on! AirwaySim is entertainment. Are we trying to drive players away with constant bankruptcy?
Realistic? Maybe, but this is a simulation -a game, for which players pay to participate.
Not to mention that in the 40+ year time span of a game, most countries never (OK, some maybe once) experience weather delays. In this simulation, however, the USA has nationwide the worst weather in the world with a weather delay happening almost every season and then some.
Fuel prices in the game follow historical trends, closely mirroring real-world oil price fluctuations during the 1980s. This design allows players to use real-life data to forecast in-game price changes. For instance, 1983 saw a notable drop in oil prices, making it an opportune moment to review fuel hedging strategies.
(https://cdn-icons-png.flaticon.com/512/4016/4016575.png)
To mitigate high fuel costs, fleet optimization is key. Since your HQ operates 24/7, scheduling flights before 06:00 even as early as 05:00 can maximize aircraft utilization. The penalty for early operations is outweighed by the efficiency gains, especially with a corporate image (CI) of 30 or higher. Extending flight schedules or adding rotations with the same fleet improves overall productivity.
(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQaKFu4ZodFVjOSyDFBS1TPUc98xowBV5Q77A&s)
Ticket pricing is another critical tool. In low-competition markets, fare increases can help offset fuel expenses. Resetting prices followed by a 4% to 8% increase is a solid starting point. In high-inflation periods, frequent resets—annually or so—can significantly benefit your company's revenue.
For routes with lower demand (below 50-60 passengers per flight), regional jets often prove more suitable than single-aisle aircraft. Their flexibility can better match capacity to demand.
(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQRszX8chXJuoS5KiPTsxTNqU_AddeJpKKLvA&s)
Looking forward, 1986's historically low fuel prices present an opportunity to accumulate cash reserves and prepare for fleet modernization. Investing in owned aircraft rather than leasing becomes increasingly advantageous as the game progresses, given the rising risks associated with leasing over time. Plan for long-term upgrades during this period to secure a competitive edge.
I understand your what you posted; however, my point is why do fuel prices have to be so historically accurate in AirwaySim?
There are a number of ways that the sim is not always historically accurate.
We have alliances well before they were actually started at the beginning of the 1990s.
We have only hub and spoke routing. We cannot extend flights for a spoke city. There are no connecting flights.
There are no frequent flyer programs.
There are only FCY fares. There are no discount fares.
Plus, as you pointed out, sim players can have god-like knowledge of future fuel price!
Don't get me wrong. I enjoy the simulation and I have for many years. I just do not understand why fuel prices have to be so accurate that this is probably one of the leading causes of bankruptcy.
Actually, the fuel prices have been lower than in real history for the last couple of years in this scenario....
(But yes, most of the time they are rather close to reality, but not always since it is too easy to guess by looking at the history.)