9 replies to this topic

[ezkeilprincetyrus]

I'd like to max out my aircraft in planning my routes between airports.

So far, the only kinds of routes I've made are round trip routes between two cities.

Is it OK, and is it wise, (not the same thing), to plan a route say from City A to City B to City C back to City A?

The reason I'd like to do this is some of the shorter routes I'd like to fly face stiff competiton. If I ran only enough flights to not over supply the demand, I'd be underusing my aircraft by a huge percentage.

So, to me, as a newbie, it seems the smart thing to do would be to run routes in those heavy competition routes, but then continue on to other airports. This way, I use as much as possible of 168 hours per week for each aircraft.

Any thoughts, criticisms, suggestions?

Thanks.

p.s. -- I hope I typed this post better than the previous one; that one read as if I'd been drinking (which I had not.)

[2ndAcr]

You can do this, I will sometimes do it to maximize my gate usage and to pick up the extra cash.......can be a pain in the rear when upgrading planes though

[Will101]

yes they are all round trip but you can do it as a sort of A-B-C-B-A just as long the aircraft has at least 1 weekly flight into that airport. oh and you only get 140 hours a week utilization.

[ezkeilprincetyrus]

Thanks to each of you for the replies. An especially big thanks to will101 -- I thought I got 164 hours a week utilization. I assume your figure of 140 hours a week includes flying time as well as ground crew time. Again, thanks -- that's helpful in trying to select routes.

[pseudoswede]

So, to me, as a newbie, it seems the smart thing to do would be to run routes in those heavy competition routes

Please reason with me why you would even choose to fly routes with heavy competition? Fares are already low, and they will only get lower, which means your profits will continue to disappear. And you need to constantly monitor that route to ensure you have positive profits or else you will lose money.

There are probably about 45 airports within 500 miles of TXL that (with almost certainty) no one else serves, no one else will ever serve, and have at least 1F demand.

[Nexus8]

The reason for 140 is is two compensate for for maintenance and all.

[Ioh]

If you aim to be realistic, leave 40-60+ hours left like in the real world.

[Nexus8]

If you aim to be realistic, leave 40-60+ hours left like in the real world.

On top of the 140?
300th Post

[ezkeilprincetyrus]

Please reason with me why you would even choose to fly routes with heavy competition? Fares are already low, and they will only get lower, which means your profits will continue to disappear. And you need to constantly monitor that route to ensure you have positive profits or else you will lose money.

There are probably about 45 airports within 500 miles of TXL that (with almost certainty) no one else serves, no one else will ever serve, and have at least 1F demand.

Excellent points. Actually, I'm trying to find routes where no one has yet opened a route. But I know that, just as in real life, eventually competition will enter, so I wanted to know if I could try to reduce the lower profit margins you point out by stringing along 3 or more airports.

Thanks for the good point though: always try to find potential routes that are not being served, or that face very low competition.

[ar157]

On top of the 140?
300th Post

yes, so essentially, your aircraft is in the air for like 80-100 hours of the week. This will give you a decent on time performance rating...