Economics Airlines currently spends $20,000 per month in airport fees and $10,000 per flight for fuel, crew, and airplane maintenance. Economics Airlines currently offers 5 flights from State College to Detroit and is considering offering a 6th. If each seat ticket costs $500, how many customers must fly on the 6th flight in order for Economics Airlines to be willing to run it?

a. 60

b. 20

c. 10

d. 40

b. 20

Explanation:

For 5 flights per month

Total Cost = Variable cost + Fixed cost

Total Cost = Fuel, crew, and airplane maintenance cost + Airport fee

Total Cost = (5 X 10000) + 20,000 = $70,000

For 6 flights per month

Total Cost = Variable cost + Fixed cost

Total Cost = Fuel, crew, and airplane maintenance cost + Airport fee

Total Cost = (6 X 10000) + 20,000 = $80,000

Additional Cost for 6th flight = $80000-70,000 = $10,000

Minimum No. of Passenger to cover the cost = Additional cost / Ticket price per seat

Minimum No. of Passenger to cover the cost = $10,000 / $500 = 20 seats passengers.