1. Watch your first round trip
Campaign starts with $100,000, a Swift 40 and an open route from Meridian to Cove Bay. Press 1× to dispatch automatically. The map shows aircraft in flight.
Flight costs are paid at departure; ticket revenue arrives on return. A round trip includes both directions, so the 40-seat aircraft can carry up to 80 passengers. There is no separate staff hiring step: daily aircraft costs include crew.
2. Give every aircraft a suitable route
Select an airport to open its route, then assign an aircraft within range. Swift 40 serves Cove Bay and Pinefield. Horizon 90 reaches Sunport and Red Mesa too. Atlas 160 reaches all six destinations.
Aircraft are bought outright, up to six fleet slots. Change assignments while at base. If a plane is airborne, pause its dispatch and wait for it to return. Existing flights finish normally.
3. Balance fares with demand
Each route has a reference fare. Set tickets between half and twice that fare; raising prices reduces demand. Better cabin service increases demand and reputation but costs more per passenger.
All aircraft on a route share one daily passenger market. Demand resets at midnight. When demand is exhausted, the fleet waits. Departures with a projected loss are held automatically. Check the next-flight estimate before changing the fare.
4. Keep flights reliable
Fuel prices change daily. Headwinds add two hours to round trips. Ground stops hold departures until 06:00 while flights already airborne finish. These are fictional game systems.
A completed flight uses six condition points. Automatic maintenance is enabled by default below 35%, takes three game hours and spends cash. Aircraft below 25% condition cannot depart.
5. Build a cash reserve
Midnight overhead includes the base, $250 per open route, every aircraft’s crew and ownership costs, and interest on loans. Aircraft purchases and route fees are separate investments. Daily reports track operating cash, so an overnight flight may put costs and revenue into different days.
Optional credit is capped at $200,000 with 0.5% daily interest. Loans and milestone rewards are not revenue. Claim six milestones and clear your debt for the final goal. Campaign closes after three consecutive nights below $0. Sandbox starts with $800,000 and optional extra funding. Export backups in Save & settings.
Check the foundations.
- Every aircraft has an open route within range.
- Demand supports another departure.
- Cash covers flight costs and tonight’s overhead.
- Maintenance is funded before condition drops too low.
- Loans are repaid before the final milestone.
Your next move is in the game.
Put the guide to work in Airline Tycoon.