Airline Operations
There are many 3 main types of Airline Operation. They are :-
Scheduled
Charter
Cargo
Scheduled Operations
These are for the Main Airline Operators most National Carriers. There are many smaller low cost airlines operating scheduled services. Flights are known as Long Haul Flights or Short Haul Flights. Long Haul flights are normally over 6 hours. and short haul flights are less than 6 hours. The flight timetable stays more or less the same every day. Aircraft may operate between 3 or 6 round trips per day depending on the flight time. On average the turn around time between a flight arriving and departing again is normally about 45 minutes. Aircraft lose money when parked on the ground. Some days some flights may fly to different destinations. IE Monday, Wednesday and Friday to New York but Tuesday and Thursday to Washington. Flights to America normally operate from Europe to America between 10:00 and 18:00 and return from America during the night hours.
Charter Operations
Charter Airlines tend to operate outside of the busy peak times. This way Air Traffic Control Fees and airport charges are cheaper. The operation can consist of a client just chartering an aircraft for a one off event .Or as for example in Europe many of the world holiday travel companies, charter aircraft in bulk to take their clients off to the holiday resorts for breaks. These aircraft fly to different destinations on different days. Aircraft will aim to arrive at the holiday resort airport all at the same time from perhaps 4 or 5 regional airports in the home country. This way the travel companies can then transfer clients from the airport by coach to the holiday resorts in bulk. The aircraft has about 45 minutes on the ground. The return passengers will board very quickly having checked in some 2 hours before the flight. The aircraft will be quickly fuelled and cleaned and baggage unloaded and reloaded. These aircraft will fly 2 or three flights per day. Aircraft maybe out based from the main base to regional airports. The aircraft will be met by handling agents and engineers who deal with the aircraft on turnaround.
Sometimes the aircraft may fly to another airfield on return and operate a service from there. This way positioning flights are cut down. The pilots may return by road to the main base. For example a flight might go from Gatwick to Palma but return to Exeter. A flight crew may position out by road or stay in a hotel for the night in Exeter and relieve the next incoming flight crew. The aircraft may then fly back to Palma and then back into Gatwick. This has saved the aircraft having to fly empty from Gatwick to Exeter and back at the end of the flight.
Aircraft movements are therefore planned, so that after so many hours flying, the aircraft gets back to their maintenance base at the right time for servicing. Strict schedules on how many hours an aircraft can fly before a service is made has to be adhered to. There are various types of service at different times. Some just a few items going up to major service.
Cargo Operations
This type of operation can be carried out using scheduled or charter airlines carrying perhaps the odd container or by special cargo specialist airlines. These can be scheduled cargo airlines or perhaps cargo companies may charter as and when required. Aircraft may then stop off on route to collect cargo that is available.
Air Taxi Operations
These are normally classed as General Aviation Traffic and we will not discuss this here