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Starting an airline (Read 1268 times)
Sep 18th, 2006 at 12:11pm

PlutonianEmpire   Offline
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I'm interested in starting my own airline in real life, and i've already downloaded some pdf's from the boeing site to help me get started. However, i'm definitely gonna need help from people along the way, starting with the business plan. Just looking at all that terminology on the pdf's is intimidating, i admit. I've already got the Airline name and plane livery (exterior) finished up. Cheesy

Will anyone here be of any help?
 

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Reply #1 - Sep 18th, 2006 at 12:48pm

Woodlouse2002   Offline
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I hope you've got money. Lots and lots of money. Smiley
 

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Reply #2 - Sep 18th, 2006 at 12:53pm

PlutonianEmpire   Offline
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I don't. Sad
 

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Reply #3 - Sep 18th, 2006 at 12:59pm

Craig.   Offline
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First bit of advice.
Learn to kiss backside as best as possible.
Even Branson didn't set up his airline on his own. Backing is the most important thing, you'll need to set up a business plan, and make sure its clear, to the point, but very long. These suits like long, boring and pointless presentations. Wink
 
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Reply #4 - Sep 18th, 2006 at 1:23pm

beaky   Offline
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Quote:
I don't. Sad



Good. That means you won't be disappointed when you practically starve to death owning an airline.  Grin

If you're really serious about this, I'd advise you to not think big just yet (I assume you're shopping for Boeing airliners?)... think small first; think charter operation or something like that, with smaller aircraft.
Any bargain jet airliner you find will wind up costing you much, much more in the long run than if you paid more initially for a better one.

Also, bear in mind that even the big boys are scrambling for revenue- it's a very, very, very, very competitive market right now, and probably will remain that way for some time.

On the upside of that, there are many furloughed pilots out there- easy pickings for your roster, as long as they're willing to wait a few years to get paid. Grin

If I were contemplating the joys and agonies of running an aviation-related business, I'd sooner set up a timeshare or fractional-ownership thing with one or two turboprops or light jet or something... that's an expanding corner of the market where there's still room for little guys to gain a foothold.

And no, I can't lend you any money- but I'll keep an eye out for your IPO and buy a coupla shares. Wink Grin

 

...
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Reply #5 - Sep 18th, 2006 at 1:34pm

PlutonianEmpire   Offline
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ok, here's where I am right now: only 1k in a savings account, unemployed, living with parents, and a few paint jobs on some fs9 jets. But I do live a few miles away from our town's airport, KPNM.

Admittedly, I have been thinking too big for a person in my position, like a non-stop 777-200LR service from KMSP to YBCS. Obviously, that's way into the future, and probably impossible. But I did try my best to start small, by downloading some pdf's on the boeing site about the 737. Of course, according to the site, 1 737-600 costs about 50 mil USD. How I go from 1k to 50mil, i have no clue. My main interest is passenger service, but I'm willing to start with charter services and go from there.

Oh, and what's an IPO? Grin

Also, any good sites where I can find a list of terminologies so I can understand the StartupBoeing pdf's better?

Thanks guys Smiley
 

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Reply #6 - Sep 18th, 2006 at 2:00pm

Nexus   Offline
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You have 1k in savings and want to start your own airline?

For this to work you're gonna have the best business plan in the entire universe and the ability to convince the bank people that it's actually a lucrative deal to sell sand in Sahara.

Running a good airline with only 1 aircraft is impossible, you need atleast two-three airframes to begin with. What if your only 737 is not servicable?

That's one of 1000s different dilemmas you're facing matey.  Tongue
 
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Reply #7 - Sep 18th, 2006 at 2:02pm

dcunning30   Offline
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Best thread ever!


...
 

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Reply #8 - Sep 18th, 2006 at 2:19pm

Brett_Henderson   Offline
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This is an interesting topic for me. Last summer, when I was flying around upper Michigan.. I got real friendly with the guy who runs  www.greatlakesair.net

Check out that site. He's got a neat little fleet..

Anyway.. from talking to him.. the only reason he can operate at all is through subsidation from the state of Michigan (it's in the state's best interest that custom passenger/freight service be kept available there)and because he has a contract to do aerial forest surveys.

Trying to operate part 135 (scheduled airline service) requires an incredible pocket book and the ability to survive lean times. Getting good, insurance-worthy pilots is hard too.. when the work is spotty at best...even in the heat of the tourist season.

The best way to start a small airline now (according to him).. is to find two medium-sized cities on opposite sides of one of the Great lakes.. where it's a several hour drive, as opposed to a short flight, between them... Talk to both cities and chambers of commerce and get the state government(s)involved.. He said.. If he had it all to do over again.. it would be with a Cessna Caravan flying between Green Bay and Traverse City


...




 
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Reply #9 - Sep 18th, 2006 at 2:30pm

Brett_Henderson   Offline
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Let's take this as our model and start out with the sobering reality of what it would cost per hour to operate a Caravan...

Let's say it's configured to hold 10 passengers (and pretend it can be certified to carry passengers over water for that distance).. And pretend we were lucky enought average 6 passengers per flight...

How much would we have to charge per seat ?

(and that doesn't cover paying rent and fixed costs at our FBO.. and landing fees at both airports)
 
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Reply #10 - Sep 18th, 2006 at 2:42pm

Fozzer   Offline
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You will wake up tomorrow morning and the pain will have gone.... Wink...!

LOL.... Grin...!

....Tell us it's not for real... Wink...!

Paul...pretending to own an Airline... 8)...!
 

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Reply #11 - Sep 18th, 2006 at 2:45pm

PlutonianEmpire   Offline
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Quote:
You have 1k in savings and want to start your own airline?

For this to work you're gonna have the best business plan in the entire universe and the ability to convince the bank people that it's actually a lucrative deal to sell sand in Sahara.

Running a good airline with only 1 aircraft is impossible, you need atleast two-three airframes to begin with. What if your only 737 is not servicable?

That's one of 1000s different dilemmas you're facing matey.  Tongue

So i'm better off doing something else with my life?
 

...&&There is no escaping the Plutonian Empire!!!!
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Reply #12 - Sep 18th, 2006 at 3:10pm

dcunning30   Offline
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Quote:
So i'm better off doing something else with my life?


LOL!!!!  Absolutely best thread ever on this site!  LOL!!!!


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Reply #13 - Sep 18th, 2006 at 4:11pm
Jakemaster   Ex Member

 
Quote:
So i'm better off doing something else with my life?


Um, yes?  Youd be better off trying to just be a pilot.  I mean at least in order to have your own airline you need to go to college and get a business degree and/or aviation management.
 
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Reply #14 - Sep 18th, 2006 at 4:19pm

Chris_F   Offline
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Step 1)  Get a business degree, preferably a Masters.

Step 2)  Start a business that has a low cost of entry.  Think Taxi service or package delivery.  Something transportation related, but cheap enough to open your doors with $50k or so (truck, office, insurance, computers, gasoline, advertising, etc...)

Step 3)  Become amazingly, delieriously successful at said business.

Step 4)  Get a feature article in a major Business publication.

Step 5)  Consider opening an airline.

You're on step 5.  You may want to start at step 1.

An alternative path is to go to step 3, then open a small charter airline.

But going from living with your parents and having 1k to your name to opening any airline is not possible.
 
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