Jump to content

Photo

Ways to make decent profit with small aircraft?


  • Please log in to reply
15 replies to this topic

#1
P_E_Ts

P_E_Ts

    AE Player

  • Member
  • 33 posts

Hello. Another new guy question here: Is there any way to make a somewhat decent profit with small planes, as in 15 seats and less? I'm asking because I run a Greek regional airline here:

http://ae31.airline-...e3r6&player=283

 

and my problem is that there are many airports that I can use my ATR-72s on fine when I need them to go to and from a bigger city, but I can't seem to make any money when I connect airports that have 3 demand per day. I tried ordering a Bretton Norman Islander, set it up but anything past 1 flight per week would make me lose money and when I would only set up one flight I would only make about $60 per day per route. Is there any way to set up a good system of small planes so I can connect these smaller airports together while actually making a little bit of money in the process?



#2
LockheedTristar

LockheedTristar

    Trijets

  • Member
  • 285 posts

User's Awards

3      

No, small planes are useless, mainly because of the way fuel is calculated. Never buy anything with less then 30-40 seats.



#3
TNT88

TNT88

    Hates Pedo

  • Member
  • 3,458 posts

User's Awards

2    14       71      

A very small plane is hard to make profitable. Unless it have 20+ seat, it would be hard. Look at the fuel consumption, the lower is the better.



#4
Tesla

Tesla

    Inactive

  • Member
  • 2,392 posts
Sell food onboard and try to set up a premium on flights by providing less seats than demand.

#5
Jezza.

Jezza.

    AE's resident Yooper.

  • Member
  • 438 posts

Look at airlines in Alaska. With the exception with ASA they use B1900's etc. and they've been going for years. It's just how AE calculates fuel.


DWA_Sig_3_15.png


#6
NWAviator

NWAviator

    AE Player

  • Member
  • 33 posts

This may be terrible advice, but I've been able to make a profit with Cessna 208s. For example, in R5, I fly 10 times weekly between Walla Walla and Boise, a route with a passenger demand of 8Y. I make around $1,100 a day on that route.


 

 


#7
TheGreatOP

TheGreatOP

    TheGreatOP

  • Member
  • 193 posts
  • Skype Name:TheGreatOP

This may be terrible advice, but I've been able to make a profit with Cessna 208s. For example, in R5, I fly 10 times weekly between Walla Walla and Boise, a route with a passenger demand of 8Y. I make around $1,100 a day on that route.

Check your aircraft details page, not just the daily profit; the capital cost of the aircraft, maintenance costs, depreciation/lease payments etc. will most likely render the aircraft unprofitable. (Incidentally, the same goes for Concorde.)



#8
TheGreatOP

TheGreatOP

    TheGreatOP

  • Member
  • 193 posts
  • Skype Name:TheGreatOP

This may be terrible advice, but I've been able to make a profit with Cessna 208s. For example, in R5, I fly 10 times weekly between Walla Walla and Boise, a route with a passenger demand of 8Y. I make around $1,100 a day on that route.

Check your aircraft details page, not just the daily profit; the capital cost of the aircraft, maintenance costs, depreciation/lease payments etc. will most likely render the aircraft unprofitable. (Incidentally, the same goes for Concorde.)



#9
TheGreatOP

TheGreatOP

    TheGreatOP

  • Member
  • 193 posts
  • Skype Name:TheGreatOP

This may be terrible advice, but I've been able to make a profit with Cessna 208s. For example, in R5, I fly 10 times weekly between Walla Walla and Boise, a route with a passenger demand of 8Y. I make around $1,100 a day on that route.

Check your aircraft details page, not just the daily profit; the capital cost of the aircraft, maintenance costs, depreciation/lease payments etc. will most likely render the aircraft unprofitable. (Incidentally, the same goes for Concorde.)



#10
TheGreatOP

TheGreatOP

    TheGreatOP

  • Member
  • 193 posts
  • Skype Name:TheGreatOP

Oops, multiple posts. Stupid internet connection... 



#11
Hake.

Hake.

    Too Old For All This Jazz

  • Member
  • 4,295 posts
  • Skype Name:billfoster123
  • Website:http://willsweg.com

User's Awards

   8      
Profit with small aircraft is easy if you understand your market. Even the SN.601 is simple enough. Concorde is a challenge, but still doable.

#12
P_E_Ts

P_E_Ts

    AE Player

  • Member
  • 33 posts

Thanks for the help everyone. I've actually tried using DHC-6 on some of my lower demand cities and it seems to be working pretty well. I might have to order a couple more so the base cost of $100k per month doesn't cancel so much of their profits, but I think its working. 



#13
NWAviator

NWAviator

    AE Player

  • Member
  • 33 posts

Check your aircraft details page, not just the daily profit; the capital cost of the aircraft, maintenance costs, depreciation/lease payments etc. will most likely render the aircraft unprofitable. (Incidentally, the same goes for Concorde.)

I make a net profit of $235,674 monthly, according to the aircraft details page.


 

 


#14
TheGreatOP

TheGreatOP

    TheGreatOP

  • Member
  • 193 posts
  • Skype Name:TheGreatOP

Thanks for the help everyone. I've actually tried using DHC-6 on some of my lower demand cities and it seems to be working pretty well. I might have to order a couple more so the base cost of $100k per month doesn't cancel so much of their profits, but I think its working. 

DHC-6 are probably the smallest aircraft that you can make a decent profit on.

 

I make a net profit of $235,674 monthly, according to the aircraft details page.

Oh nice, I didn't think you could do that.

 

Profit with small aircraft is easy if you understand your market. Even the SN.601 is simple enough. Concorde is a challenge, but still doable.

Small aircraft work when you have the right market, just like Concorde. The Tu-144, however, is impossible.



#15
Tesla

Tesla

    Inactive

  • Member
  • 2,392 posts

DHC-6 are probably the smallest aircraft that you can make a decent profit on.

 

Oh nice, I didn't think you could do that.

 

Small aircraft work when you have the right market, just like Concorde. The Tu-144, however, is impossible.

Cessna F406 is easier, it is 8 TIMES more fuel-efficient.



#16
TheGreatOP

TheGreatOP

    TheGreatOP

  • Member
  • 193 posts
  • Skype Name:TheGreatOP

Cessna F406 is easier, it is 8 TIMES more fuel-efficient.

 

Fuel efficiency is not all... the price and the capacity matter as well.






0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users