Based on the problem you posted, it looks like that statement was just "informational" in telling you why the ASK's and RPK's both increased by 700,000 from 2011-2012. As you said, this is not an accounting or forecasting class so the "why"(which I would be looking for as a stats and probability guy) is not as important as the "how", which you appear to know based on the answers you gave in the above post. IMHO, you can just chalk it up to poor problem writing!