# The Model of the Virtual Air Carrier as a Concept for the
## 4 Results
### The Network Effect  
The flight network of the proposed carrier should be based on the demand for destinations and the number of necessary connections, which will be attractive on the market and economically advantageous, respectively, sustainable. In this case, the flight network is dependent on cooperation with partner airlines [51]. If our proposed carrier cooperates with low-cost companies, it is possible to expect a focus on secondary airports, no extra services offered, seasonality of flights and point-to-point connections. In the case of cooperation with traditional airlines, it will be a focus on primary airports, a better offer of services, a better frequency of flights and a hub-and-spoke connections.  
The advantage is that the virtual airline can design its own network of routes and destinations, when it will lease an aircraft with a crew, when another partner will pro-vide the entire operation of the flight. This means that if the virtual airline finds a route that is attractive and reaches enough customers, it can make a profit, but it bears the costs of operating the flight and paying for the charter of the aircraft with the crew. If there are more such lines, it will be able to compete quite well with other air carriers. The proposed concept of a virtual carrier operating in the Slovak Republic does not own aircraft, which in the case of its own flight offer means that it must lease the aircraft from its partner, considering the length and character of the flights. It can be an aircraft of any type, so the virtual carrier is not tied to one type of aircraft. If it sells fewer tickets on its flights, it will logically choose a smaller type of aircraft. As for the operation of international flights, they could be operated from Bratislava airport, but also from Kosice airport, Poprad airport or Zilina airport.  
The proposal for the number of frequencies is based on the basic requirements of the passenger segments that are the object of interest of the proposed carrier. As we have already mentioned, the frequency of flights also depends on the conditions established in the partnership. In the case of its own network, the virtual carrier sets its flight frequencies based on the segment of passengers it addresses. However, the existence of an air connection with the destination is not enough. If the carrier intended to operate flights with one frequency per week, it would thus capture only the segment of passengers who are comfortable with this frequency. Passengers who use air transport for the purposes of a shorter or longer stay in a destination would use competing air connections. Therefore, it is important to set the frequencies so that the air carrier can target a wide range of passengers.  
Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Italy, and Spain were selected as markets of interest in the field of tourism. Slovakia has positive diplomatic relations with these countries. For this reason, it is possible to assume a possible interest in flight connections not only of leisure travelers, but also of business clients. To begin with, we suggest connections such as Bratislava-Prague, Bratislava-Brussels, Bratislava-Frankfurt, Bratislava-Rome, Bratislava-Milan, Bratislava-Barcelona, Bratislava-London.  
The carrier's network is mainly influenced by commercial and operational factors that need to be considered. On the one hand, the air carrier should try to meet the needs of passengers, especially in terms of destinations, times, and frequencies. On the other hand, it is necessary to adapt to the conditions based on concluded contractual collaborations, which partially limit our proposed model. Nevertheless, there is a possibility of free choice when the air carrier proposed by us can only purely lease aircraft with crew and will have its own network of routes [52; 53].