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Homework Assignment 1: American Airlines leases a 300-seat carrier to fly its da

ID: 1168209 • Letter: H

Question

Homework Assignment 1:

American Airlines leases a 300-seat carrier to fly its daily Dallas-Denver route. It recently lowered its ticket price from $240 to $200, and observed the following demand for seats by business and tourist-class passengers:

Price

Q (business)

Q (tourists)

Q(total)

Revenue (business)

Revenue (tourists)

Revenue (total)

240

90

10

200

130

50

The daily fixed costs of leasing aircrafts are as follows:

300 seats

$32,000

260 seats

$28,000

180 seats

$20,000

American’s service cost is $20 per passenger, regardless of the aircraft used.

1. How many passengers should American seek to carry on each flight to maximize

(i) its revenues?

(ii) its profits?

2. What prices should American charge if it is restricted to leasing 180-seat aircraft only?

3. What is the maximum profit will it make under the conditions in (2) above?

Price

Q (business)

Q (tourists)

Q(total)

Revenue (business)

Revenue (tourists)

Revenue (total)

240

90

10

200

130

50

Explanation / Answer

Note:

Revenue = P x Q

Total cost = fixed cost + variable cost, where variable cost = Q x $20

Profit = revenue - total cost

Price

Q (business)

Q (tourists)

Q(total)

Revenue (business)

Revenue (tourists)

Revenue (total)

240

90

10

100

21,600

2,400

24,000

200

130

50

180

26,000

10,000

36,000

(1)

(a) To maximize revenue, Airlines should carry 180 passengers (Since revenue is higher at $36,000) at price

(b) To maximzine profits also, Airline should carry 180 passengers (Since profit = $400).

[Note: This is calculated assuming the aircraft is a 300-seater for which demand information is available]

(2) For 180-seater aircraft, fixed costs = $20,000 & variable costs = $20 x 180 = $3,600

Total cost = $23,600

The demand data shows that for a price of $200, demand is 180. That is, at a price of $200, the aircraft will run full capacity.

(3) Profit = Revenue - cost

Revenue (From above table) = $36,000

Costs (Calculated in part (2)) = $23,600

So, Profit = $(36,000 - 23,600) = $12,400

Price

Q (business)

Q (tourists)

Q(total)

Revenue (business)

Revenue (tourists)

Revenue (total)

Fixed Costs Variable Costs Total Cost Profit

240

90

10

100

21,600

2,400

24,000

32,000 2,000 34,000 - 10,000

200

130

50

180

26,000

10,000

36,000

32,000 3,600 35,600 400