In AirwaySim you cannot market a route until it is scheduled and added to an aircraft. Once scheduled, it usually takes several game weeks or months for a route to become profitable.
Can the program be changed to allow advertising for a planned, but not yet scheduled airport?
For instance, United has been advertising once weekly ORD to MRY flights for several months before the actual start date. UA obviously wants to fill up the plane as much as possible on day one.
Why can't we do something similar in AirwaySim?
Yes you can. I do it sometimes. You have to actually create a route, but not add it to a schedule. You don't have to even buy the slots. Once you create the route, it will appear in the list. I think you can even close it afterwards but I've never tried that.
I'm fairly sure if the route isn't being flown, but is being advertised, RI will sit there and blink at you without moving.
I recently ran ads on routes that would begin as soon as used AC arrived in two weeks. I didn't mean to do that initially but since I'd already paid for them I let it run rather than correct my mistake. The advertised routes are ultimately doing better than the others I opened on the same day but only by a little. As it stands in the game, running ads on a route you aren't yet flying does nothing for you.
As it stands in the game, running ads on a route you aren't yet flying does nothing for you.
Ultimately, this my question: Why can't AirwaySim be programmed to help increase first day flights by advertising in advance of operation? Why does every new flight have to take the AirwaySim "flying public" by surprise?
What should AirwaySim be programmed to do to allow for less financial loss on the first day of flight?
Good point well made. Maybe advertising your new routes a week ahead of them starting maybe the way to earn a bit more money until you can decide if the route is worth keeping open, or maybe it just needs a different aircraft to optimise earnings? ie, smaller seat numbers, or some cargo space.
Quote from: Karl on May 10, 2026, 02:30:24 PMAs it stands in the game, running ads on a route you aren't yet flying does nothing for you.
Ultimately, this my question: Why can't AirwaySim be programmed to help increase first day flights by advertising in advance of operation? Why does every new flight have to take the AirwaySim "flying public" by surprise?
What should AirwaySim be programmed to do to allow for less financial loss on the first day of flight?
To be honest, the fact that I've been pre-advertising routes for years (my comment above) shows how illogical this is. I guess I just assumed that it would increase the RI. Another poster kinda says something contradictory saying that pre-advertised routes perform "a little better" but then says that it has no effect. Maybe people just aren't doing it for long enough. It takes a long time for the RI to rise significantly.
I think I'm gonna try this out and report back...