What do pilots cost?
Some mental arithmetic (doesn't even need a whiz wheel or FMC) can quickly get us some idea of what pilots cost as a percentage of revenue. These numbers are rounded so VERY approximate and don't really relate to any particular airline or aeroplane, but the answers may surprise some.
Consider a 10 hour long-haul sector carrying 400 pax.
Assume the sector seats cost an average $1000; Then total revenue is $400,000.
Assume 3 pilots with salaries and on costs are costing $480,000 p.a. and the crew flies 1000 hours p.a.. Then the cost of the 3-pilot crew is $480 per hour or $4,800 for that sector.
The pilot cost as a percentage of total income is then 4,800/400,000 * 100 = 1.2%.
Thought of in another way, each pax is paying ($4,800/400) = $12 towards the pilot costs out of their total fare of $1,000.
What are the numbers for your favourite type of aeroplane?
happy landings
Seabreeze