Crazy Business Idea 4: Family Airlines
During times of caffeine-induced jitters, I sometimes come up with business ideas that seem great at the time, but probably aren’t. In the spirit of sharing, I thought I’d let some of these concepts loose on this blog for public scrutiny (or ridicule). Please let me know your thoughts, especially if you’d like to open up a franchise.
The Business: Family Airlines.
Description: We all know how annoying it is to fly with children, both for parents and those without kids to listen to screaming babies in closed quarters. “Family Airlines” caters to kids under seven. The plane is divided in half, with the front being normal seating for the grown-ups and the entire back half of the cabin outfitted as a standard day-care, plus games, play areas, a library, a bouncy ball cage, and trained staff.
Tickets of course will be more expensive than a normal flight, but perhaps many parents will go for it knowing they will have a more peaceful flight knowing their kids are being entertained.
Target Market: Parents of children under 7.
Problems: Extremely expensive to start a fleet of airlines targeting a niche market.
Really great concept. But did anybody tell them that it costs over $25,000 per hour to operate a 747; not to mention airport gate rent @ $200 sq/ft, insurance, salaries, office space, computer reservation system, etc., etc.
At $249 per person round trip coast to coast, they will lose over $5,000 per hour just operating the aircraft.
Ratsa Ruck Chalie!