Hi, I recently started some routes and all of them are failing to reach over 14% capacity each flight, so I’m loosing huge sums of money! I’ve had to cancel many flights. Is there anything I can do?
It depends mostly on what you are going for. What kind of planes are you flying? What are the routes that aren't doing well?
Hi, I recently started some routes and all of them are failing to reach over 14% capacity each flight, so I'm loosing huge sums of money! I've had to cancel many flights. Is there anything I can do?
There are much higher chances for readers to get a view towards your problem as long as you are kind enough to supply us with additional information:
Server, airline, region, country, type of aircraft, seating-configuration, routes, fares, service etc..
Thank you.
There are much higher chances for readers to get a view towards your problem as long as you are kind enough to supply us with additional information:
Server, airline, region, country, type of aircraft, seating-configuration, routes, fares, service etc…
Thank you.
Quimy, UK, I operate trislanders and an ATR, I have full economy seating of course because they only have 16 seats, the routes are from Guernsey in the Channel Islands, and I operate some from Alderney also Island hopping routes. Service is standard, and fares are $75 on average.
When operating a passenger airline, the smaller planes are all usually more expensive to operate than larger jets. They have so few passengers that the revenue they pull in is very low. Trislanders are really only useful in AS for being cheap planes you can transfer between companies you own so you an swap money around.
Your ATR (I am guessing it's a 42?) might possibly make some money if you are charging enough money for the flight, but most small planes (under 50 standard seats) are used as "feeder" aircraft to bring passengers to your hub to then be flown out on larger (737, A320, etc) aircraft. The airlines that run these kind of flights are happy if the feeder flights simply break even or are within 5-10% margin, because the majority of profits are made on the larger aircraft and those feeder flights keep the bigger flights full.
Here is the best advice I can give you: put business seating into your planes. If you can get business passengers to fly in your plane, you can charge them usually at least three times as much for nearly the same kind of seat. I have an airline that has five tiny planes (4 LETs, 1 Islander, and 1 PC-12) and I've gotten most flights profitable. The reason is business seating. On small planes, business seats really don't take up a lot more space than regular economy seating. My LETs run 15/3 and my Islander is business class only. That's the only way I could make it profitable. Not all routes will have business passengers to fill your planes though, and don't ever expect to make a lot of money. My profits for my tiny airline are in the neighborhood of about $15,000 a week.
I operate trislanders and an ATR, I have full economy seating of course because they only have 16 seats, the routes are from Guernsey in the Channel Islands, and I operate some from Alderney also Island hopping routes.
Your concept reminds me of Aurigny Air Services ;) . Sadly it is very difficult to simulate such a network in AS due to different dynamics within the game.
The ATR is a fine aircraft, the Trislander is not a highly recommended aircraft for beginners. I have my own experience with them (and the only aircraft are owned and will be used very soon again). The Trislander makes money but this is not the aircraft for a beginner to earn the feeling of huge success.
I can also recommend the installation of a Business Class. Nearly all my turboprops and smaller jets are offering a Business Class. That´s the only way for me to offer two different fares on a route and to generate higher yields. Its like having more seats aboard a Jetstream 41 than the offered ones etc. due to much higher fares for a number of seats. You should also adjust fares to generate traffic.
For example, here are my capacities of smaller turboprop aircraft:
Let 410: C6Y11 (17 seats)
Dash 8-100: C8Y29 (37 seats)
Dash 8-300/Fokker 50: C8Y42 (50 seats)
Q400: C16Y56 (72 seats)
Jetstream 32: C7Y12 (19 seats)
Jetstream 41 C12Y17 (29 seats)
BAe ATP: C12Y52 (64 seats)
ATR42: C8Y38 (46 seats)
ATR72: C20Y46 (66 seats)
BN Islander: C3Y6 (9 seats)
P-12: C2Y6 (8 seats)
Saab 340: C9Y24 (33 seats)
I also calculate with very little profits in several tiny markets served by very small aircraft. It´s a totally different business than scheduling an Airbus A321 and looking at the earnings of a fully-booked A321.
My ATR72 is still flying under 50% capacity! even though the route is to Gatwick, I’m really unsure what to do now, I’ve put all my trislanders in storage.
From Guernsey to Gatwick? I have to admit I know nothing of popular UK travel routes. Are there many flying that route? Check your ORS ratings and post them here, as well if you could.
From Guernsey to Gatwick? I have to admit I know nothing of popular UK travel routes. Are there many flying that route? Check your ORS ratings and post them here, as well if you could.
Yes, there is traditionally a rather high demand between Jersey and Guernsey to London and other destinations of UK and Europe.
My ATR72 is still flying under 50% capacity! even though the route is to Gatwick, I'm really unsure what to do now, I've put all my trislanders in storage.
Please keep in mind that it takes a few days until the demand is clearly visible. After that you should adjust your fares and you need to develop some kind of a hub (I fear that Guernsey and Jersey are not able to make connections/transit of passengers?). What`s the capacity of your AT7? Are the losses of a 50%-filled ATR very high?