Choosing aircraft for domestic routes

Porter Airlines is a Toronto-based airline offering short-haul flights to 18 destinations within Canada and the USA. Within a short time, it has become the 3rd largest regional passenger airline in Canada. It operates from downtown Toronto (on an island) and is a favourite of business travellers who can easily head to meetings in Toronto's downtown and the country's financial hub.
Porter Airlines is a good example of operating flights with short-haul fleet and making profit by providing courteous, comfortable and luxurious air travel.
The domestic routes of Bangladesh can be made attractive to air travellers by choosing the right type of aircraft. Since Dhaka is the main hub, an average sector length from Dhaka to other domestic airports is around 140 Nm. It will not be wise to operate such small sectors by aircraft with jet engine.
A number of airlines had operated in the domestic routes by different aircraft (small and big), but all landed in heavy  losses (examples can be cited for GMG, Air Parabat,  Aero Bengal and Best Air, etc.). The main reason was that it was not properly evaluated and the Civil Aviation Ministry had obviously failed to make a proper study and undertake the necessary home work for the domestic route analysis. The Ministry must work as the mentor for the new and existing airlines, not just providing rules and regulations.
Regarding the choosing the right aircraft for the domestic routes of Bangladesh, I asked the Google. The Google gave me the outright answer: select the modern and advanced Turboprop aircraft for the short-haul operations. My next question to Google: 'Hey, where do I find the most modern and advanced Turboprop aircraft?' Google answered: 'Bombardier Dash 8 - Q400 and ATR 72 - 600.' These aircraft are large, fast, quiet and fuel-efficient turboprop that provide the perfect balance of passenger comfort, performance, safety and reliability with the lowest seat-mile cost in the short-haul regional market. Then I wanted to know which one is the best. The Google answered: 'You are the expert to decide'.
After my graduation in Germany, I worked with Lufthansa for two years and then with Biman Bangladesh Airlines for 31 years and retired as Flight deck crew (Flight Engineer). Google came to know about me from Facebook and Linkedin.
Since Google has called me an aviation expert, I write this article for the consumption of all domestic airlines in Bangladesh, including Biman.
Let's start with the passenger. What do they want on the short-haul routes? A passenger wants to fly on a reliable aircraft, a comfortable seat, smiling airhostess and take the baggage with himself/herself. Both the aircraft (Bombardier Dash 8 - Q400 and ATR 72 - 600) have the same comfort level and new glass cockpit. But what else will attract the passenger to decide? Yes, it is the fare.
Here is the specification, costing (DOC) and Breakeven (BE) of both the aircraft in short:
A concerned airline can make a better analysis. The Civil Aviation Ministry has a big role to play here. The Ministry can do the market analysis of each domestic route. On the basis of load factor, the Ministry should allow how many airlines will fly to the designated route and how many flights can operate daily or weekly. The domestic route should not be an open sky. Just to recall our old memory. Aero Bengal, the first domestic airline, operated the flight to Dhaka-Barisal  route. This airline was making money as it was the lone airline to operate in this route. Average passenger load was 35 per flight. Then other airlines like Biman and Air Parabat started operating and every airline was making loss.
So the Aviation Ministry should act as the mentor and all domestic airlines, including Biman, should sit together and make a decision to buy one type of aircraft for the domestic routes. The biggest advantage of this will be that they would save on aircraft maintenance. The introduction of technical pool will save each domestic airline a huge amount. A small airline can get the help from Biman in maintaining the aircraft without having a hanger of its own. If every one survives, then the country will benefit and banks will be happy to finance their aircraft.
So, choose one type of aircraft. Which one? I would recommend cost-effective ATR72-600 aircraft. This aircraft has the state-of-the-art technology which ensures flight safety and efficiency. Advanced technology brings benefit to pilots and maintenance engineers.
The writer is a retired DC10 Flt Engr. & former President of Flt Engrs. & Navigators Association of   Biman Bangladesh Airlines. He now resides in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and is the President of Joint Investment Group (Canada) Inc.
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