So i’ve been playing this game since September 2011.
Every time i try to create an airline, it’s never successful, i can get short haul planes such as ATR’s, but with my last airline that used them each time they oeprated a flight it made $174AS profit. And another made me $1,000 AS loss. So now i’m moving on to larger planes such as the A319, but the leasing costs are so large, so now i’ve chosen to purchase it on credit which was probably a bad idea, the interest is over 4 million airlinesim dollars per week, plus 200,000 airline sim dollars principal interest per week. Now it might be me but this seems nowhere near realistic, 4,000,000 dollars interest a week??? Plus the prinicipal weekly repayment of 200,000 AS$?
I’ve seen other airlines that were started up 2-3 weeks ago and are looking successful, with a mixutre of planes ranging from small props to A320s. I just wonder if there is a general tactic to remain sufficiently profitable, ($174 dollars profit per flight from one flight is not exactly going to make a difference).
First of all your Airline Name and Server would help to have a look.
Buying an aircraft is at least in my Opinion only possible when you have the money and can afford it. But to be successful it is not needed.
I would recon you start with small airplaines like you did in the beginning. If the Profit is not as good as you like try to increase the Prices, If you have a good Service and good Seats you can ask for a higher Price more easily. Then look how the flight is doing after 3-5 days you have a good indication. if the flight is Fully booked try once you can a slightly bigger airplane. From ATR or Dash you can move to CRJ or Suchoi Superjet or E-Jets for example. then try again. If you still have 100% load Factor you can try A-318 or 319 and so on. Or Boeing if you want. You have to know that you need to connect your hub with as many different flights to generate connecting Passengers. Try to fly 7 days a week because you have then reliability in your network. Try to expand carefully and only if you can afford it. Starting with 737 or A320 usually works on a Brand new server but depends also where you startet. I startet on Meigs on the first day with 737 in the US and that worked very well for me. But I startet my first Airline in Idlewild in Montego bay. The Airline still exists but Since I can not fly much more without loosing heavily I am not expanding there any more … Just try and find out what works for you, and what not.
You have to create a hub and look for regional airport that are not covered by other airlines. Then, IL with other airlines that are not competing with you (you don’t need a lot of airlines to pay salaries for the network planners if they are competing with you). I have started airlines with regional jets and still have success (it is not necessary to look for turboprop). It is generally better to lease then to buy planes. And by the way: I have the best seats for every class and best services. Of course, prices are normally higher! That will bring you forward in the ORS and you will have 100% load factor and profit.
To sum it up: use small planes to feed the bigger one, look for not covered airports and IL only if necessarily.