Optimal flight distance to maximise profit.

[HB-100]

Tthe optimal flight distance is 1328 nm.

This value I calculated out of my FSP-Flightlogs.
How it seems the income of pax and cargo is hard limited (flat cut) at 1328nm (uncertaines +/- 5nm).
(measured with an A380, econmy class only)

Where as the income is cut the costs (feuel, etc) are not cut at that distance limit.
This means for flights of distances longer than 1328nm you are starting to lose money.

Between 0nm and 1328nm, the income from pax and cargo is increasing linear.

If you take the feuel into account you have to consider that you burn the most feuel at start and landing. Therefore as longer your flight is
as less feuel for a flight mile you use and as more economic it is.

Together with the linear increasing income from 0nm up to 1328nm. It is clear that the optimal distance has to be the maximum distance
before the flat cut and this is: 1328nm.

So how should you fly say a distance of 2200nm for best profit?
Best, in two 1100nm leg's. or what will be equal in value 1 leg 1328nm and the other 872nm.

But what when you want to fly 1500nm?
This is difficult because now you need to weighting the cost for two starts and landing against the loss in money when you fly it in one leg.
Probabily you go better when you do that in one leg.
But this I let it to you to figure out.

(More fun for sure is doing it in two steps. if you consider that one 1328nm flight will take about over 3h!!)

One additional, because it is not clear in ahead. I also checked if the hard limit is on distance or if there is a limit in the price the pax
pays. Result the limti is on distance and not price.

[Mac]

I'm supprised it's so low
Thanks for posting a clear answer to a difficult question

[HB-100]

Yes it's not so much.
My normal flights are usually about 2h30 so for me that's fine.

Ok. Calculated a little more. (warning the following might confuse you so if it does just keep that 1328nm in mind and forget the rest)

The following is a money/time (max profit per time) optimazion for flights witha distance longer than 1328nm. **)

So for my A380 full loaded with passangers and cargo. (this additional calculation now variates for different aircrafts and different pax
and cargo load, but you may see this as a good estimation that will probabily works well (most profitable) for you also)
the next importand distance mark is +242nm
means 1328nm +242nm = 1570nm

Whereas you/I lose money in the +242nm (byway the loss is almost exactly factor 10 smaller than the 'pure' win (means win minus the
losses) for each nm.) the additional cost and time loss for a second start and landing are larger than the loss within that additional +242nm *)

Ok this means:

Between:
0nm and 242nm 1 Leg, non profitable zone
+242nm and 1328nm 1 Leg, profitable zone, maximum profit at +1328nm
+1328nm and 1570nm 1Leg, loss zone
+1570nm and 2656nm, 2 Leg, profitable zone, maximum profit at +2656nm (2*1328nm)
+2656nm and 2898nm, 2 Leg, loss zone
+2898nm and 3984nm, 3 Leg,profitable zone, maximum profit at +3984nm, (3*1328nm)

and so on.

so best is to aim at 1328nm and whenever your distance x you want to fly is larger than n*1328nm + 242nm you should increase the
legs count (n) that you want to fly to fly most profitable..

*) only valid if you have two well/equal splittet leg, If you fly one 1328 and the other 242nm it is not quite correct because you will not climb
as high and safe some feul in the smale leg. Also you fly not that fast that 'hurts' the money/time optimation. I shouldt plan the legs the way that you get to the same crusing altitude in both legs.l

**) cost optimated regardless of time the addition is not +242nm but +20nm only! But thats a more theroetical value.

EDIT: the +218nm was not quite correct. It's +242nm. sorry about that.



Post Edited ( 12-26-06 12:29 )

[AST416]

Very good spock!

Now can you tell me why the Enterprise takes 2.8 seconds to goto warp?

[olseric]

2.8 seconds

Spock, I though it was more like 2.8023481237589132748913274981732461327651893275.....