I started with airport capacity which in hindsight was the wrong entry point.
Break the problem down by estimating the number of flights from London airports to Dubai airports using a top-down approach: start with total daily flights from London, estimate the proportion that go to Dubai based on airline routes and frequencies, and then refine with assumptions about aircraft size and demand. Clearly state your assumptions and show your calculations step by step, focusing on logical reasoning rather than getting the exact number.
Pro tip: Demonstrate product thinking by relating the estimate to Meta's business: e.g., how many users might be interested in travel ads or how this data could inform a product feature. Also, acknowledge that the exact number isn't critical; what matters is your structured approach and ability to make reasonable assumptions.
Define what 'London' and 'Dubai' mean in terms of airports (e.g., Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted for London; Dubai International and Al Maktoum for Dubai) and what 'typical day' implies (e.g., average over a year, excluding holidays).
Estimate the total number of daily departures from all London airports by considering airport capacity, number of runways, and average flights per hour.
Estimate the share of London departures that go to Dubai by considering major airlines (Emirates, British Airways, etc.), their frequencies, and Dubai's popularity as a destination.
Multiply the total flights by the proportion to get an estimate, then sanity-check by considering aircraft capacity and passenger demand (e.g., daily passengers between London and Dubai).
Present your final estimate with a clear range, reiterate key assumptions, and note potential sources of error or additional factors that could refine the estimate.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.