The tables below give the number of passengers carried (in thousands) and the number of seats offered (in thousands) by five domestic airlines in the four quarters of a year.
Passengers carried ('000)
| Airline | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IndiJet | 420 | 450 | 480 | 540 |
| SkyWay | 300 | 330 | 310 | 360 |
| AirLoop | 250 | 240 | 275 | 300 |
| BlueFin | 180 | 210 | 240 | 270 |
| Coastal | 150 | 150 | 165 | 180 |
Seats offered ('000)
| Airline | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IndiJet | 500 | 540 | 600 | 600 |
| SkyWay | 400 | 400 | 400 | 450 |
| AirLoop | 320 | 300 | 330 | 375 |
| BlueFin | 240 | 250 | 300 | 300 |
| Coastal | 200 | 200 | 220 | 200 |
The load factor of an airline in a quarter = (passengers carried ÷ seats offered) × 100%. Empty seats = seats offered − passengers carried. Assume these five airlines make up the entire market.
Passengers carried ('000)
| Airline | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IndiJet | 420 | 450 | 480 | 540 |
| SkyWay | 300 | 330 | 310 | 360 |
| AirLoop | 250 | 240 | 275 | 300 |
| BlueFin | 180 | 210 | 240 | 270 |
| Coastal | 150 | 150 | 165 | 180 |
Seats offered ('000)
| Airline | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IndiJet | 500 | 540 | 600 | 600 |
| SkyWay | 400 | 400 | 400 | 450 |
| AirLoop | 320 | 300 | 330 | 375 |
| BlueFin | 240 | 250 | 300 | 300 |
| Coastal | 200 | 200 | 220 | 200 |
The load factor of an airline in a quarter = (passengers carried ÷ seats offered) × 100%. Empty seats = seats offered − passengers carried. Assume these five airlines make up the entire market.
Question 1
Single correct option
Which airline recorded the highest percentage increase in passengers carried from Q1 to Q4?
- A. SkyWay
- B. BlueFin
- C. Coastal
- D. IndiJet
Show answer and solution
Answer: (B) BlueFin
Growth factor Q4/Q1 for each airline:
- IndiJet: 540/420 ≈ 1.286 (28.6%)
- SkyWay: 360/300 = 1.2 (20%)
- AirLoop: 300/250 = 1.2 (20%)
- BlueFin: 270/180 = 1.5 (50%)
- Coastal: 180/150 = 1.2 (20%)
BlueFin grew the most. IndiJet added the most passengers in absolute terms (120 thousand vs BlueFin's 90 thousand), which is the trap — the question asks for percentage growth, and BlueFin's smaller base makes its 90 thousand a 50% rise.
- IndiJet: 540/420 ≈ 1.286 (28.6%)
- SkyWay: 360/300 = 1.2 (20%)
- AirLoop: 300/250 = 1.2 (20%)
- BlueFin: 270/180 = 1.5 (50%)
- Coastal: 180/150 = 1.2 (20%)
BlueFin grew the most. IndiJet added the most passengers in absolute terms (120 thousand vs BlueFin's 90 thousand), which is the trap — the question asks for percentage growth, and BlueFin's smaller base makes its 90 thousand a 50% rise.
Question 2
Numerical answer
In how many of the 20 airline-quarter combinations was the load factor 80% or more?
Show answer and solution
Answer: 13
Load factors (passengers/seats):
| Airline | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IndiJet | 84% | 83.3% | 80% | 90% |
| SkyWay | 75% | 82.5% | 77.5% | 80% |
| AirLoop | 78.1% | 80% | 83.3% | 80% |
| BlueFin | 75% | 84% | 80% | 90% |
| Coastal | 75% | 75% | 75% | 90% |
Count of values ≥ 80%: IndiJet 4, SkyWay 2, AirLoop 3, BlueFin 3, Coastal 1 → 13.
Tip: 80% means passengers ≥ 0.8 × seats, i.e., seats ≤ 1.25 × passengers — a quick check without division. Watch the cells that equal exactly 80% (they count).
| Airline | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IndiJet | 84% | 83.3% | 80% | 90% |
| SkyWay | 75% | 82.5% | 77.5% | 80% |
| AirLoop | 78.1% | 80% | 83.3% | 80% |
| BlueFin | 75% | 84% | 80% | 90% |
| Coastal | 75% | 75% | 75% | 90% |
Count of values ≥ 80%: IndiJet 4, SkyWay 2, AirLoop 3, BlueFin 3, Coastal 1 → 13.
Tip: 80% means passengers ≥ 0.8 × seats, i.e., seats ≤ 1.25 × passengers — a quick check without division. Watch the cells that equal exactly 80% (they count).
Question 3
Single correct option
Approximately what was IndiJet's market share (by passengers carried) in Q4?
- A. 32.7%
- B. 34.2%
- C. 36.0%
- D. 30.5%
Show answer and solution
Answer: (A) 32.7%
Total passengers in Q4 = 540 + 360 + 300 + 270 + 180 = 1,650 thousand.
IndiJet's share = 540/1,650 = 0.3273 ≈ 32.7%.
A common slip is to use the Q4 *seat* total (1,925) as the denominator, giving 28%, or to use IndiJet's seats (600/1,925 ≈ 31.2%). Only passengers carried define market share here.
IndiJet's share = 540/1,650 = 0.3273 ≈ 32.7%.
A common slip is to use the Q4 *seat* total (1,925) as the denominator, giving 28%, or to use IndiJet's seats (600/1,925 ≈ 31.2%). Only passengers carried define market share here.
Question 4
Single correct option
Over the whole year, which of the following airlines had the fewest empty seats in total?
- A. SkyWay
- B. AirLoop
- C. BlueFin
- D. Coastal
Show answer and solution
Answer: (D) Coastal
Annual empty seats = total seats − total passengers:
- IndiJet: 2,240 − 1,890 = 350
- SkyWay: 1,650 − 1,300 = 350
- AirLoop: 1,325 − 1,065 = 260
- BlueFin: 1,090 − 900 = 190
- Coastal: 820 − 645 = 175
Coastal has the fewest (175 thousand), just ahead of BlueFin (190 thousand).
Note Coastal has the lowest load factor in three quarters, yet it has the fewest empty seats because it is the smallest airline — absolute and relative measures can point in different directions.
- IndiJet: 2,240 − 1,890 = 350
- SkyWay: 1,650 − 1,300 = 350
- AirLoop: 1,325 − 1,065 = 260
- BlueFin: 1,090 − 900 = 190
- Coastal: 820 − 645 = 175
Coastal has the fewest (175 thousand), just ahead of BlueFin (190 thousand).
Note Coastal has the lowest load factor in three quarters, yet it has the fewest empty seats because it is the smallest airline — absolute and relative measures can point in different directions.
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