Bored now!!!

[DJRobbieD]

Okay so ive started an airline... no matter what i do or where i fly i never make any proft... i can only declare myself bankrupt once more before i have to pay again..... a rule wich i think is very unfair!

Anyone else feel the same way? 

[Kontio]

Find a decent sized airport at a central location where no airlines are based. I suggest Cologne. Find short routes with decent deman and no service. I suggest:

Hamburg
Berlin Tegel
Dresden
London Stansted
London Luton
Milano Malpensa
Birmingham

Lease nice airplanes suitable for short haul operations: turboprops, regional jets - just look at what's available and what would suit your operation. Don't lease planes that are older than 10 years or have C checks coming soon. Stick to one plane type to keep the costs down. Schedule daily flights, at least 4 flights per plane. Remember to advertise your company and/or routes. Lower the suggested prices slightly to attract customers at first. Wait patiently if you are making a profit.

There's one strategy you could try (game #3). Do some research before you start the game.

[DJRobbieD]

Okay at the moment im based at Luton, so i will declare myself bankrupt and start again at cologn!!

Lets hope i have better luck, What sort of planes do you suggest <50 seaters 50-100 seaters or 100> Seaters.... should i opt for business class? or high density single class?

Thanks for your suggestions really appreciate it! 

[Echoco]

there's a lot of helpful guides already on the forums but mostly what kontio said

location really helps a lot, try to find a place thats not too famous (everyone goes for those) but big enough and open 24h (very important)

[Kontio]

50-100 seaters are OK for the routes I suggested. Don't change the seating configuration because you need to keep the cost down and there isn't a lot of C demand on those short routes.

[DJRobbieD]

Okay so i have my aircraft - a trust BAe 146-200,

AGE: 6yrs
Condition: 98%
Seating: 85Y class - Can go up to 100Y class but will take 3days so i will leave it as it is

Fingers crossed this will be the start of a great airline

I will keep you posted of how well im doing once ive finneshed rout planning

Thanks

Euro Jet - Flying Passion since 1993!

[Echoco]

try not to think about changing configuration too much I only change config on larger planes like 737-400 to include C class

[DJRobbieD]

Okay so my BAe 146-200 is flying the following:

06:00 - Hamburg
09:50 - Berlin
13:50 - Dresden
17:50 - London Stansted
22:00 - London Luton

So should i think about leasing another 146-200 yet? or wait off for a bit?

Thanks

[Echoco]

I have no idea about europe but if your single plane fills the demand keep it for awhile to see how it does. If there's enough demand for another 146 then get it.

[DJRobbieD]

Well my London STN/LTN routes are meeting demand, But my German routes are not even halfway to meeting demand.... so i could always Launch new routes.

Thanks again. 

[DJRobbieD]

Bugger it!

Still not making a profit 

I give up!

AM or Airlines 6 Here i come 

[Echoco]

you already got 5 routes

this is only a suggestion, you could try with pen and paper/spreadsheet work out how long that flight to germany is and see if you can maybe squeeze in another 2 flights since its not half full and see which other ones of your routes got spare demand to fill in the time slot.

[DJRobbieD]

My 22:00 Luton Flight Doesnt arrive back until 02:10 wich only gives me 3:50mins for another flight, the airports within range to make that time window are closed 

Im dooomed Maybe i could ask Sami if he could deposit a few Billion in my account  lol

[Echoco]

I meant you could work out on paper if you could fly another plane on the same schedule with some modification e.g. replace the stn/ltn route with the germany route or something.

it takes time making money, sure and slow is a good thing

[ban2]

i did'nt start making a profit for at least 6 months when i started. you got to give it time for the public to find you.

[DJRobbieD]

Okay thanks for your help.

My demand on one of my routes is 200> PAX

Im offering 85 PAX but my LF is 50-70% 

Im advertising it.... Yet i have another Route with almost identical supply and demand and my LF never drops below 95%

I dont get it at all! 

[Echoco]

could be a number of things
competition
flight time 06:00-"errr i don't know" is good
22:00-06:00 is usually not so good but with time it will be better
cancelation/delay
there might b more but yeah, give it time once your route image gets to around 30 it should be good, takes a few months to see a trend

[Mahon]

Okay so i have my aircraft - a trust BAe 146-200,

AGE: 6yrs
Condition: 98%
Seating: 85Y class - Can go up to 100Y class but will take 3days so i will leave it as it is

Fingers crossed this will be the start of a great airline

I will keep you posted of how well im doing once ive finneshed rout planning

Thanks

For short routes, it is worth your while to consider refitting to a high density layout, particularly on aircraft like the BAe 146/Avro RJ. It cuts your flight range, decreases comfort, and increases takeoff weight, but extra seats does equal extra $$$. IIRC, you can up your passengers to something like 94-96 Y seats and still have Fair comfort on a 146-200.

[DJRobbieD]

Thanks for your input Mahon.... But with profits of...... Wait for it...... Drum roll..... -850% LOL LOL LOL

I think i will have the administrators knocking on the door very soon.... I better pack my things and get out of here to my holiday home in sunny spain 

GEEZE!!! This world recession is not good for business 

Haha!!

[thedr2]

Profits -850%? That probably just means in the last week you bought an aircraft or paid for heavy maintenance.

Don't fly short haul night flights, try and get your aircraft back to base by 00:00 and fly them out again no earlier than 05:30. The pax don't like flying at 2AM.
Keep your turnaround times reasonably long or you'll suffer lots of delays and cancellations, which will completely undo any benefits from your expensive marketing campaigns.
Remember, rarely does a new airline get 90% loads on it's first flight. You have to wait a few weeks/months, load factors should be somewhere between 50% and 65% for a start-up, and they will steadily increase over time. Most airlines should still be able to make a reasonable profit at around 60% though.