Which term describes the system where many flights connect through central hubs?

Which term describes the system where many flights connect through central hubs?

• A. Hub-and-spoke system
• B. Direct routing network
• C. Point-to-point system
• D. Network hub concept

Answer: (A)

Hub-and-spoke refers to a network where many flights connect through central hubs. Airlines funnel passenger traffic from numerous origins into a few large transfer points, then route them to their final destinations. This concentrates demand into a smaller number of routes and allows efficient scheduling, better aircraft utilization, and economies of scale since a single hub can feed many markets. The trade-off is that itineraries often involve connections, which can mean longer overall travel times and greater exposure to delays if the hub is congested or disrupted. This pattern is distinct from a direct routing network, where most trips are non-stop between origin and destination, and from a point-to-point system, which minimizes or avoids transfers. The term network hub concept is vague, whereas hub-and-spoke specifically describes the transfer-driven structure through central hubs.

Hub-and-spoke refers to a network where many flights connect through central hubs. Airlines funnel passenger traffic from numerous origins into a few large transfer points, then route them to their final destinations. This concentrates demand into a smaller number of routes and allows efficient scheduling, better aircraft utilization, and economies of scale since a single hub can feed many markets. The trade-off is that itineraries often involve connections, which can mean longer overall travel times and greater exposure to delays if the hub is congested or disrupted. This pattern is distinct from a direct routing network, where most trips are non-stop between origin and destination, and from a point-to-point system, which minimizes or avoids transfers. The term network hub concept is vague, whereas hub-and-spoke specifically describes the transfer-driven structure through central hubs.