What Running an Airline Really Looks Like Day to Day
If you’ve ever dreamed of owning an airline and thought it might actually be something you’d enjoy, you’re probably already aware that it sounds much simpler than it really is. At first it feels exciting and almost glamorous, but once you dig a little deeper you start to realise how many different things you’d have to think about every single day. It’s not just choosing planes and hoping passengers show up. You’ve got so many areas that need your attention and some of them will catch you off guard. Still, if you’re someone that enjoys a challenge and you like the idea of a fast paced business, you might not be put off. Let’s look at a few important parts.
Team
You’re going to need people that know what they’re doing, or at least people that want to learn. Even if you hire pilots and crew with plenty of experience, they still need ongoing training. A lot of airlines use Spatial because the training is done in a realistic setup and gives staff a clear idea of what they might face. When your team feels confident, passengers pick up on that straight away and your airline feels more reliable. If you enjoy building a team and getting people where they need to be, then you’ll be fine here. If you don’t, then it’s going to feel like hard work pretty quickly because an airline doesn’t run itself and you’ll be pulled into it whether you like it or not.
Scheduling
This part is a headache for most people. You’ve got flights leaving, flights landing, things running late, things suddenly running early, and then the weather comes along to ruin whatever plan you thought you had. One delay can mess up the rest of the day before you even have time to react. If you’re someone that can just go with it and sort things as they happen, then you’ll manage. If you need everything to stay neat and calm, you’re going to hate this because it never goes the way you expect.
Money
The cost of running an airline is nothing like what people imagine. You think you’ve got a number in mind and then you start adding things up properly and realise you were nowhere near. You’ve got the planes which are expensive on their own, and then fuel which never stays at the same price, and staff, and fees, and repairs, and random things that show up out of nowhere. You need to be honest with yourself about how much you can actually handle because the money goes fast and it keeps going. Build a budget and stay true to it!
Daily Issues
Even on a quiet day something will need your attention. A passenger kicks off, a member of staff needs help, something breaks when it shouldn’t. You don’t get much warning either. You just deal with it and move on. If you like being around people and sorting things out, you’ll be fine. If that drains you, this will feel like a lot because it doesn’t stop.
Conclusion
Running an airline comes with a lot more than people think. Some days will be too much and others will be great, and that’s just how it goes. If you want something big and you don’t mind figuring things out as you go along, you might actually enjoy it. If you want something calm and simple, then it’s not going to be for you. It really depends which type of person you are.