Starting an airline

[PlutonianEmpire]

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.

Will anyone here be of any help?

[Woodlouse2002]

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

[PlutonianEmpire]

I don't.

[Craig.]

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.

[beaky]

I don't.

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

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.

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.

[PlutonianEmpire]

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?

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

Thanks guys

[Nexus]

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.  :P

[dcunning30]

Best thread ever!

[Brett_Henderson]

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

[Brett_Henderson]

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)

[Fozzer]

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

LOL.... ...!

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

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

[PlutonianEmpire]

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.  :P

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

[dcunning30]

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

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

[Jakemaster]

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.  

[Chris_F]

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.