Best aircraft for international flights?

[GoldDragonFly]

What is the best aircraft to start off with for doing international flights? I've been doing well with my domestic routes and considering to expand but have no idea what aircraft will be best to start off with doing international flights...

[Severnaya]

This all depends on what do you mean by international flights? Do you just mean the cross border flights, or do you perhaps mean the long haul flights? And there is no such aircraft as the "best aircraft for xx flight". That all depends on your aim, your base and the destination you want to serve, including the distance of the flight.

[iranair777]

and what era your in

[GoldDragonFly]

I see what you mean. Thanks. My plan is to expand into cross-border international flights (for now), so it will still be on the same continent. I understand that there is no particular aircraft to mention but do you have any suggestions?

[GoldDragonFly]

I've got a HUB in South Africa, planning to possibly do routes to african countries at first.

[Cheung Airlines]

Planes suitable for LH [except BJs]
1957 - 1961: Lockheed L-1649A Starliner
1961 - 1981: Tupolev Tu-114D
1981 - 1986: Not really recommended, but the DC-8-62/72 is the only small pax LH jet
1986 - 2006: Boeing B 767-200ER
2006 - onwards: Boeing 777 VIPs

[GoldDragonFly]

Thanks for the help! Appreciate it! I am in the year 2003...I think.

[convair0990]

It is good that you have, for Long Haul Flights, aircrafts that have, a max of, 250-260 passengers.
My world has only more 5 months(5 days) but, in the 21 years that had passed, i would really recommend, for the 1960-70, the DC-8 62. This aircraft is Really realiable, had a good cost-bennefit and a good range.
I had buyed 5 747-200 and 10 Dc-10-40 but none of them could compare with the Dc-8-62, because their turn time are too much big and they have to much passengers capacity.
While the Dc-8-62 didn't arrive, i would recommend the Tu-114 and Tu-114D, they are really good, only the speed of the Tu-114D is a little bit low, if you consider long haul flights.

[GCA333]

A330-200's work great for me, as well as A319LR's for smaller routes.

[GoldDragonFly]

Ok, thanks. I have been offered 2 x Beech 1900D aircrafts on lease....because these are smaller aircrafts, I can use them for domestic routes, I'm sure, however, the remaining airports in the country all have passenger numbers of 700 000 and below. Would it be viable for me to take on these aircraft, have the expense of them each month and take the risk of not possibly covering the expenses on them with the income generated or will there be the chance of covering the expenses? Remember, I am in 2004 and these aircrafts only seat 9 passengers, if I'm not mistaken. I really need help on this one as I do not want things to go haywire after its been going well so far.

[DarkPet]

Search for aircrafts that have more seats....you can easily put a plane of lets say 50 pax on a short route (<800nm) to the smaller airport. In fact it is good to cover all short destinations with a frequency 1 route with the plane designed for that distance with more seats. For example, if you can afford to put an ATR 72-200 (Pax: 74, Range: 1657, Price: ~12mil) by all means do that.

My choice would be:

Airplane value around 1.2mil
Distance < 800nm - VardaxServ-Aero Hotter
Airplane value around 9mil
Distance < 800nm - Ilyushin Il-114 or BAe Jetstream J61
Airplane value 12-22mil
Distance < 1200nm - ATR 72-210
Distance < 1500nm - ATR 72-210 or DASH-8-400
Distance 2000-7000nm - Airbus A319ACJ
Airplane value 26-30mil
Distance < 1600nm - Bombardier CRJ-701 or Embraer ERJ-170STD
Airplane value around 45mil
Distance < 1600nm - Airbus A318
Distance < 2000nm - Airbus A319
Distance 2000-5000nm - Airbus A319LR

[Trans Global Airlines]

In the 80s. the best to start longhauls is Convair 990 or Vickers VC10-relatively cheap.  DC8-62 works great, though it is more expensive.
In the 90s. my most efficient aircraft is Airbus A310-300HGW.
For 2000s. - B757 and A319LR for thinner routes, and A330-200 or B767-200 for higher capacity.
The problem is that it is difficult to have 100% load factor and high profit on aircraft with seating>260 - you need to wait for 96 days until it is constructed, it is very expensive and has long turnaround time. That is why they earn for you less, then some medium-hauls.

anyway, due to sentimental reasons- I always buy the Lockheed L1011