What action might an airline take if an aircraft's load factor is deemed too low?

When an airline assesses that an aircraft's load factor is too low, which indicates that the seats are not being filled to an optimal level, one common action is to use a smaller aircraft. By switching to a smaller plane, the airline can better match capacity with demand, potentially increasing efficiency and profitability. Smaller aircraft can help ensure that flights are not operating with excessive empty seats, which can be costly for airlines.

In contrast, other actions may not effectively address the issue of low load factors. Increasing ticket prices may drive away customers, potentially lowering demand and exacerbating the problem. Canceling flights might reduce costs in the short term but could also alienate customers and harm the airline's reputation if flights that passengers rely on are no longer available. Adding additional services does not inherently address the capacity issue; it might attract a few more passengers but does not effectively resolve the underlying problem of insufficient demand for the existing capacity. Therefore, utilizing a smaller aircraft aligns with adjusting capacity to better match demand, making it a strategic response to low load factors.