Slots System

[lolliftw]

The issue with adding slot limitations to the game goes back to gate limitations and why I didn't add those to the game, I feel it limits the growth potential especially since everybody plays in the same game world. If we had different games with limited number of players then it would work okay but what happens when we have 500 active players? 1000? 2000? I don't see limiting gates or slots as an option then.

I think that is exactly what is happening in the US airport system, where major airlines like Delta, American "monopolise" the majority of the airport gates. What could be done instead is to limit the number of gates a user can have at an airport. That way it balances the game, in which older planes don't dominate the system and suffocate the entire airline industry.
Then again, if the game play could be modified such that infinite expansion does not exist, than there is definitely no way in which an airline has infinite number of gates at an airport, except for possibly one fortress hub at most. Then again for Asian countries, they highly consider expanding their airports so that the number of gates/slots for the airline increases over time. For instance China is building a new airport in Beijing; Singapore is moving turboprop operations to Seletar and building a Terminal 5 and Changi. So... well we don't have to pick everything anyways, this doesn't have to be the same as in reality, so ultimately it should be your choice of how this should work out.

[squaregatescrub]

I actually like that idea. So you are saying that there still be unlimited slots and gates per airport but each player only gets a limited amount? Sounds good to me.

I would like to add the option of building a new terminal for a fee. Want more slots and gates bu you already are at your limit? Have the dough? You got it. Make the costs substantial as to not make this feature an abuse.

[airlinemanage]

An airline will monopolize an airport if no restrictions are made to an airline. If that happens, its very hard for players to start an airline business at its hub, because every route from the hub has this airline's flights. Therefore, huge airlines should compete for slots, which will slow down their expansion. So what can you do if you can't win a slot?

First, change your aircraft if it is old. In the real world, an airline flying an old aircraft has a less chance to win a slot. In the same way, Airline Enterprise can make this to happen, so that old airlines do not only need to expand, but also need to change its old aircraft.

Second, change your aircraft from A320 to A380 to carry more passengers.

Third, wait until an airline cancel its flights or cease its operation, or simply you buy the airline. An airport will expand and build new runways and terminals when they know the airport's capacity is saturated, when new slots comes, you can compete again with others.

Fourth, make sharecode agreements with other alliance members that fly flights to your hub.

For the new born airlines, slots are essential to them, so I don't think they should involve in the competitions for slots. Instead, Airline Enterprise should always approve their slot application. Also, if you don't want to compete, choose a nearby smaller airport, like choosing Fort Lauderdale, but not Miami.

[Unknown98]

I like limiting the number of gates an airline can lease at any given airport. Should all airports have the same limit or should we tie it to the size of the airport? For example say at JFK you could lease 10 gates but at a smaller airport like Burbank maybe the limit would be 4 or 5? So smaller airports may have less competition and would have cheaper gates but would be more limited in terms of number of gates.

And if that was implemented obviously we would need to add an option to build your own terminal at an airport. For a cost.

[squaregatescrub]

Sounds good. I would like to add something:

If a player chooses a small airport as his/her HQ, then the airline still gets 10 gates regardless.

If we're implementing political restrictions, I guess there should be an option to setup a foreign hub, for a cost.

[airlinemanage]

limiting the number of gates have the same result like limiting slots, why dont we go more realistic than other simulations, coz there are already so many airline managing simulation websites or apps, to make yours different from those simple ones for attracting people, why dont you make a realistic one? It seems like many people in aviation like realistic things rather than simulations for kids.