this question test the use of "the same ... as".

"the same ... as" is different from other comparisons. the pattern with " the same ...as" alway give us the feeling that the sentence is wrong.
we do not say,
I have the same pen as your pen.
but we say
I have the same pen as you. (this dose not mean "pen" is compared with "you". in this correct pattern, there is no preposition after "as" and we get the feel that the sentence is wrong. this point is the reason for which I say this pattern is different from other comparisons.

I am stronger in summer than in winter. I am better at gmat than he is
Here, we have "in" before "winter" and "is" in second clause and so, we realize quickly that the sentence is correct because comparison elements have prepositions or helping verbs which make those elements clear.

so, definitely "the same as last year", " the same as you" are all correct. and remember, in "the same ...as" pattern, we normally do not have preposition and helping verb, and, so, the absence is the reason for which you feel the sentence is wrong.

in short, the absence of preposition or helping verb is specialty of the pattern "the same ...as".

give me kudos, if you like it.

Serega
I find a slight confusion in your query. Your query is about choice D and there is nothing as an equal amount as last year in D. It only says the same number as last year. Are you referring to C? If you say that choice D stands on ellipsis, can you please state what are the appropriate words that are elided. This may help us to understand your query more clearly.
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Many airline carriers are attempting to increase profitability while keeping overhead low by offering, in terms of flights, an equal amount as last year, doing so by using larger planes that fly more efficiently.

A. an equal amount as last year,doing so by -- usage of amount is incorrect
B. the same number offered last year -- changes meaning -- the same number offered last year using larger planes changes the meaning
C. an equal amount offered last year and -- usage of amount is incorrect
D. the same number as last year but
E. an equal number as were offered last year, - number is singular and were is plural

In OA - D , aren't we comparing the same number as last year ?
Also, for ellipsis , isn't it necessary that the elided part is present in verbatim form earlier in the sentence ?

AjiteshArun , GMATNinja , egmat , sayantanc2k , DmitryFarber , MagooshExpert , RonPurewal , mikemcgarry , daagh -- please enlighten
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Hello Skywalker18,

Thank you for the PM on this one.


Let's take a look at the sentence with the correct answer choice: Many airline carriers are attempting to increase profitability while keeping overhead low by offering, in terms of flights, the same number as last year but using larger planes that fly more efficiently.

Pay attention to the phrase in terms of flights in the non-underlined portion of the sentence. This phrase already implies that the same number pertains to the same number of flights. The phrase of flights is already present in the sentence.

The same usage is applicable to the phrase last year that actually implies the number of flights lat year.

So you see all the words elided in Choice D is already present in the sentence.


Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Shraddha
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Since ‘flights’ is quantifiable, we will use ‘number’ not ‘amount’. So B D and E are our options.

E is badly constructed and very awkward, so its not a great choice.

In B ‘using’ ends up modifying ‘year’, which is wrong.



D is error free and very clear.

D it is.

GMATNinja VeritasKarishma generis
Since the sentence at its outset makes it clear that the profitability has increased from last year and also mentions using larger planes that fly more efficiently...is the BUT as the comparison marker really necessary here? I picked B as it seemed to be clear enough..

Plz shed ur thoughts
Thanks!

Mike,

After all, it is the same number of flights, which itself means some comparison. The meaning is also clear. Therefore, the need for a comparator may not be necessary in this case.
But you might see that B is wrong mainly for not using the transition marker 'but'.
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Option B doesn't have a comma before using.

Many airline carriers are attempting to increase profitability while keeping overhead low by offering, in terms of flights, the same number offered last year using larger planes that fly more efficiently.

Option D is:

Many airline carriers are attempting to increase profitability while keeping overhead low by offering, in terms of flights, the same number as last year but using larger planes that fly more efficiently.
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VeritasKarishma GMATNinja chetan2u

Can you please explain as to why option B is incorrect ?

Yep - excellent explanation, sayan640!

The other thing to note is that the word "but" gives us a parallel construction in (D): "Many airline carriers are attempting to increase profitability while keeping overhead low by offering, in terms of flights the same number as last year but using larger planes that fly more efficiently."

Nice work!
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