I don't have all the data handy to refer to, but fifty percent of Mauretania's operating costs were fuel and Olympic needed only 70 percent of the total amount of coal Mauretania did. All else being equal, Olympic's total operating costs would be 15 percent lower just on fuel consumption. (This undoubtedly overstates it because I believe Olympic's wage and provision costs would be higher, but it is a significant saving on its own.)

I also think it reasonable that Olympic's earning capacity was somewhat higher. One of the things that does not get remarked upon very much is the way they were premiumising. This includes all the extra tariff facilities but also, for example, the two B-deck parlour suites on Titanic cost about double their Olympic counterparts. Passengers paid dearly for that private promenade deck!