does any one know how much it actually costs the airlines? excluding meals and drinks, how much is the average cost per person? either cost per mile or flight hour or something like that.
Judging by the rate at which they are going bankrupt, the actual cost is somewhat more than the ticket price.
That’s really the best answer you can get. There are too many variables. Large jets vary in hourly cost, the number of seats on board, etc. Even jets of the same type can vary a lot. Some are configured like ‘cattle cars’ with lots of closely spaces coach seats. Others have fewer seats and more legroom, etc.
Then there’s utilization rate. The cost per person flown goes way up if the airline can only fill half the seats. That’s why flights between large hubs can be so much cheaper than flights to out of the way destinations.
The jet itself costs a bundle to operate. Well over $10,000 per hour, for even a small jet like a DC-9. Then add in the ground crew, baggage handlers, ticket desk, management, financing costs, etc., and it’s a bundle.
Easyjet in the Uk have a website which features a diagram showing how much of each "full’ plane is profit, how much is fuel etc. Interesting reading - I don’t know the website address but it’ll turn up on Google
Here’s the page on EasyJet’s site that explains their fare breakdowns, as compared to big airlines.
It varies somewhat based on services provided and type of aircraft operated, but right around 12-14 cents (US) per seat per mile. Low fare airlines (like Southwest especially) are down around 7 cents/seat/mile, that’s why Southwest is making money while lots of other airlines are having problems…
Airlines base their fares on their expected “load factor”, their break-even point. This might be 60% or so of the seats filled. Once you get above this, it costs the airline only about $5 additional per passenger, meaning that $200 ticket you bought is 97.5% gravy for the airline if you’re the next person past the break-even point. Of course it also means that they’re losing tons of money on that 757 with only 30 seats filled.
No cites. I just finished a master’s class in this.
It’s not always as simple as the cost per seat - sometimes the airlines have to get their planes to the right location.
My wife recently flew as the only passenger from London City airport to Edinburgh. She thought it was crazy, and offered to take a later flight, but the crew pointed out that the plane was need in Edinburgh for it’s next flight.
One interesting touch was the in-flight announcements from the Captain, which were all addressed personally to Mrs RussellM
Russell