Question:
BAA is a private company that operates some of the largest airports in the United Kingdom, including Heathrow and Gatwick. Suppose that BAA recently commissioned your consulting team to prepare a report on traffic congestion at Heathrow. Your report indicates that Heathrow is more likely to experience significant congestion between July and September than any other time of the year. Based on your estimates, demand is Qd1 = 450 – 0.2P, where Qd1 is quantity demanded for runway time slots between July and September. Demand during the remaining nine months of the year is Qd2 = 218.75 – 0.125 P, where is quantity demanded for runway time slots. The additional cost BAA incurs each time one of the 90 different airlines utilizes the runway is £950 provided 70 or fewer airplanes use the runway on a given day. When more than 70 airplanes use Heathrow’s runways, the additional cost incurred by BAA is £5 billion (the cost of building an additional runway and terminal). BAA currently charges airlines a fixed fee of £1,412.50 each time the runway is utilized. As a consultant to BAA, devise a pricing plan that would enhance Heathrow’s profitability.