Choosing Your First Aircraft
Selecting the right aircraft for your first routes is essential. Aircraft size, speed, and operating cost all affect profitability.
Smaller Aircraft Are Usually Better
Smaller aircraft often:
- Match early demand better
- Offer higher frequency
- Reduce risk of low load factor
- Improve utilisation
Large aircraft can be difficult to fill early.
Range Considerations
Ensure the aircraft has enough range for your chosen route.
Short range aircraft:
- Suitable for regional routes
- High frequency potential
Long range aircraft:
- Better for later expansion
Speed
Faster aircraft:
- Reduce flight time
- Increase frequency
- Improve competitiveness
However, speed is less important than demand matching.
Turnaround Time
Short turnaround time allows:
- More flights per cycle
- Better utilisation
- Higher potential revenue
Operating Cost
Lower operating cost improves profitability, especially on early routes.
Balance cost with performance.
Strategy Tips
- Choose aircraft that match demand
- Avoid oversized aircraft
- Focus on efficiency
- Expand fleet gradually