176 replies to this topic

[Amadeus Inc.]

I'm fighting with amadeus airlines on many routes, winning most of them!! only have a fleet of 46 aircraft!

Congrats! 

 

Anyway, to keep the post on topic, my tip to start AE:

 

When you first started, before doing anything, take 2x5,000,000 bonds, it will help you get started.

 

If the used market is empty, take several type of aircraft, the maintenance cost may be huge in the beginning, but it will pays off.

If there are a lot of used aircrafts in the market, lease the oldest one, one type only, build your fleet in this type, my favorite: A320, A330, B777, B747,

 

If the world just started, deploy one aircraft to several routes, not only one, usually 1x on empty route, maxed on the price, monopoly make money, shouldn't it.

If the world already crowded, get the biggest oldest cheapest VLA from the market, and concentrate on trunk routes.

 

Last, be flexible to reroute your aircraft if current route doesn't earn you a decent profit.

[dasa123]

Is this a good fleet?:

10 A300-600's

15 A300-B4's

2 A330-200's

5 737-300's

2 737-400's

7 747-200B's

6 747-300's

1 747-8I

2 767-200ER's

4 DC-10-40

[Amadeus Inc.]

Is this a good fleet?:

10 A300-600's

15 A300-B4's

2 A330-200's

5 737-300's

2 737-400's

7 747-200B's

6 747-300's

1 747-8I

2 767-200ER's

4 DC-10-40

 

Not quite. Given some much better aircraft available in the used market in quite a number, you should build the fleet around those better type.

The DC10 should be phased out, you're burning profits by using the three-holer, grab some more A330 for this case.

Having only two 767 doesn't make any sense, unless you're flying to CGH, and then you should have more if you want to.

737 was okay. A300s, I don't know if you're making decent profit with that. 747 should be the cash cow, get more of this.

[Stevphfeniey]

Trijets are mastarrace 

[dasa123]

I'm looking at leasing all 747-200B's, Lockheed tristars and dc-10's. my 737-300's were all seized. so now I have to lease some other aircraft

[digifreak]

Right now my fleet is:

1 x MD-83 (initial)

2 x A320-200 + 3 on order

2 x F100 on order

 

I am planning to use the F100 for the shorter flights... do you think it's a good airplane? Or is it better to just phase out both MD-83 and F100 and keep buying only A320?

[Pineair]

You are paying too much in maintenance.for a small fleet you should stuck to one aircraft type.

[MrInverted]

my biggest tip is no matter how late into the game the world is, don't rule out any route. I almost ruled out MSP to PHX in Rdelta, but when I actually checked it, it was completely empty! A route with almost 2000 Y demand was untouched, and it's now a $1+ million DOP route for me

haha i had one like that!

mel to nrt gave me $1mil + and i was only one doing it

[MrInverted]

Even then it's a problem, as the fuel flow of those small aircraft is really high compared to the pax count. Smallest aircraft I've made a profit on was the gulfstream 1-C, with then doing 3 weekly instead of daily .
I guess part of the problem is that irl prices on such small routes are pretty high. If the choice is between 3-4 h ship/car trip or .5 h flight, the airline could demand a very high price.

on that note, stay away from the Piaggio Avanti and Beech Starship. they ended up giving me losses.........................

[Shanghai]

Operating long-haul route can be clever

For example, At Sandbox (S4). Asia Company can fly to London Gatwick (LGW) instead of LHR. The gates fee is much lower

I recommend to set up IFE, but with trouble advertisements, like 3 minutes once. Especially domestics routes which carry a huge amount of passengers.

Something that you should lease at S4: A320 (instead of B737), A330 (Strongly Recommend), B763ER (1995-1997)

You should avoid leasing the following aircraft: B762ER (not profitable), B744D (Too huge, when competition is going to be vigorous, it is difficult to survive, the flexibility is not good)

[mxax-ai]

Operating long-haul route can be clever

For example, At Sandbox (S4). Asia Company can fly to London Gatwick (LGW) instead of LHR. The gates fee is much lower

I recommend to set up IFE, but with trouble advertisements, like 3 minutes once. Especially domestics routes which carry a huge amount of passengers.

Something that you should lease at S4: A320 (instead of B737), A330 (Strongly Recommend), B763ER (1995-1997)

You should avoid leasing the following aircraft: B762ER (not profitable), B744D (Too huge, when competition is going to be vigorous, it is difficult to survive, the flexibility is not good)

A320 and 737 are pretty similar in terms of profitability. The A330 is indeed quite good, although the 773 (nonER) has a better CASM if you can fill it. All of the 767 family are profitable, if you match them with the demand.

[Aero222]

Operating long-haul route can be clever

For example, At Sandbox (S4). Asia Company can fly to London Gatwick (LGW) instead of LHR. The gates fee is much lower

I recommend to set up IFE, but with trouble advertisements, like 3 minutes once. Especially domestics routes which carry a huge amount of passengers.

Something that you should lease at S4: A320 (instead of B737), A330 (Strongly Recommend), B763ER (1995-1997)

You should avoid leasing the following aircraft: B762ER (not profitable), B744D (Too huge, when competition is going to be vigorous, it is difficult to survive, the flexibility is not good)

but lower gates fee airport has less passanger than higher gates fee airport

[Mobeer]

You should avoid leasing the following aircraft: B762ER (not profitable), B744D (Too huge, when competition is going to be vigorous, it is difficult to survive, the flexibility is not good)

Really?
767-200er does good service for me, can reach the places other twins can't and turns a good profit in the process

747-400d is excellent in Europe when gates are scarce and terminals cannot be built in foreign airports

[chuckmorris]

I was wondering, couldn't some corrupt AE veteran "recommend" to us newbies to follow an american legacy carrier model and buy aircraft ASAP?

 

Also, how do we know you are telling the truth? (even though I believe you) 

[Mobeer]

For Me=
...
NEW AIRLINE IN OLD WORLD(as example starting a new airline in R0 at 2000)
-Take the biggest aircraft available in Starting Aircraft list(in R0,i take DC-7)

...
-Lease oldest used aircraft available. Set the length contract to 10 years(to reduce the down payment). Same aircraft type is not a mandatory(DC-7 is rare on 2000 and higher). Remember. Quantity is the first. Lease it as many as you can(with 14.000.000 balance i could lease oldest 7 737-200adv and 13 oldest 737-300)

 

I used to follow this approach, but I now think it's wrong for old worlds with a decent pool of used planes.

 

Instead:

1 - take the smallest cheapest starting plane available

2 - cancel the lease

3 - lease several old planes from the used pool

 

In fact, I'd rather start without the first DC-7 (or whatever) to avoid the lease cancellation cost.

 

(note this does not apply to old special worlds where planes cannot be leased - there take the most expensive plane and sell it)

[jrbaytown]

I disagree with the advice to stay off other people's routes.  Just saying that a route belongs to someone is silly.  In my game play, it's a free for all and competition makes it fun.  No need to tip-toe around other players.

 

At the same time, I'll also accept the consequences if the competitor turns around and shows me who's who for doing so.  I'm just careful who I think I can compete against and if it's worth it.

[CBinns]

im losing money (currently on -$11,000,000) but none of my routes are making a loss, they are all making a profit, what do I do?

[Uruk]

im losing money (currently on -$11,000,000) but none of my routes are making a loss, they are all making a profit, what do I do?

Check your aircraft income

[Clutch Airball]

 

After cash reaches $5 million,
1. Lease used aircraft until $15-20 million
2. Lease new aircraft until $25-30 million
3. Buy used aircraft until $150-200 million
4. Buy new aircraft

 

I belive i have readed this in the AE tutorial in the wiki?

 

I do believe I was the one who wrote that, years ago (back when I was AeroKid, or possibly Aeroplaneboy. I am bad at usernames). Haha. Well, now that I have started playing again, it's proved useful (although temporary inactivity lead to two airlines going bust even when they seemed to be doing so well financially).

 

Tip: Never leave your airline too long without checking on it; first task should normally be to check to see if the competition has lowered their prices, decreasing your loadfactor. This can get longer and more tedious the more your airline grows, but also slightly less relevant. Never operate a route at a loss (although I know that that has been said a lot)

[Avelo]

LCCs are spamlines! Beware!