Final answer:
The mean price for round-trip flights to Atlanta and Salt Lake City would vary based on demand, competition, and other factors. Atlanta may be cheaper due to higher competition and more flight options. Pricing strategies by dominant airlines could also affect average prices.
Step-by-step explanation:
To compute the mean price for a round-trip flight into Atlanta and Salt Lake City, you would need to collect data on recent flight prices for both destinations. While specific prices are not provided, some factors influencing flight costs could be the level of demand, the cost of inputs like jet fuel, competition among airlines, and whether or not there is a special event or holiday period. If Atlanta is less expensive to fly into than Salt Lake City, some potential explanations could include higher competition among airlines flying into Atlanta, which is a major transport hub, or possibly more flight options that can decrease prices. Conversely, Salt Lake City, although a popular destination, may have fewer flights and thus less competition, which can keep prices higher.
Additionally, airline pricing strategies can play a significant role. For example, if a large airline dominates the flights to a particular city but faces competition from a start-up airline, it might initially lower prices significantly to outcompete the newcomer. After the start-up folds, the incumbent airline can then increase prices again. Such pricing tactics can influence the mean price of flights over time.