Interline Agreements
What is an interline agreement?
In the real world, an interline agreement is a form of mutual acceptance of travel documentation and baggage for transportation. It gives the right to one carrier to issue tickets on the flights of another carrier. Interline agreements make the journey easier for passengers who need to travel on more than one airline to reach their destination as airlines take the responsibility for delivering the passenger to their final destination. Boarding passes are issued at the place of origin, and baggage is checked through for the whole journey.
How interline agreements can be implemented in-game?
There would be 5 levels of interline agreements that an airline can upgrade to.
An airline will be able to have a maximum of 50 interline agreements.
- Level 1: allows up to 2 interline agreements with different airlines
- Level 2: allows up to 5 interline agreements with different airlines
- Level 3: allows up to 10 interline agreements with different airlines
- Level 4: allows up to 20 interline agreements with different airlines
- Level 5: allows up to 50 interline agreements with different airlines
The advantage of having interline agreements
Airline A and B have an interline agreement with each other. They both fly out of Rome (FCO). Both airlines would receive a 1% passenger boost for each flight flying out of Rome (FCO).
1% passenger boost would be available only for destinations common to both airlines. And only for departing flights. Not for arriving flights.
If Airline A has interline agreements with Airline B and C, but Airline B and C don't have an interline agreement. All three airlines fly out of London (LCY). Then,
Airline A would receive 2% passenger boost. Airline B would receive 1% passenger boost. Airline C would receive 1% passenger boost.
Cost of each level
An airline would have to buy the "Level 1" to unlock interline agreements.
I would suggest the cost of unlocking/upgrading the levels as follows:
- Level 1: $10,000,000 (for upto 2 agreements, $5,000,000 each)
- Level 2: $22,500,000 (for upto 5 agreements, $4,500,000 each)
- Level 3: $40,000,000 (for upto 10 agreements, $4,000,000 each)
- Level 4: $70,000,000 (for upto 20 agreements, $3,500,000 each)
- Level 5: $150,000,000 (for upto 50 agreements, $3,000,000 each)
Also, a flat weekly fee of $25,000 per agreement would have to be paid. (Example: If airline A has 20 agreements, then it would have to pay 20 x $25,000 = $500,000 as weekly fees.)
This is just a suggestion. The cost of Levels and weekly fees can be discussed and decided by the Admins. Also, the percentage of passenger boost can be discussed and decided by the Admins.