Airline hub

An Airline hub is an airport that an airline uses as a transfer point to get passengers to their intended destination. It is part of a hub and spoke model, where travelers moving between airports not served by direct flights change planes en route to their destination.

Related Topics:
Airport - Hub and spoke model

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Some airlines may use only a single hub, while other airlines use multiple hubs. Hubs are used for both passenger flights as well as cargo flights.

Related Topics:
Passenger - Cargo

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Many airlines also utilize focus cities, which function much the same as hubs, but with fewer flights. Airlines may also use secondary hubs, a non-technical term for large focus cities. Examples include British Airways at Manchester International Airport and US Airways at Pittsburgh International Airport.

Related Topics:
Focus cities - British Airways - Manchester International Airport - US Airways - Pittsburgh International Airport

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Some of the major airlines' most significant hubs are known as fortress hubs; such airports are typically dominated by a single airline, which can fly upwards of 70% of a fortress hub airport's traffic. Examples include Delta Air Lines' (DL) hub in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Northwest Airlines' (NW) hub in Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. Some observers argue that the existence of such hubs can stifle competition; ProAir's battle with Northwest when it briefly flew out of Detroit City Airport is often cited as an example. Northwest was able to outcompete the short-lived discount carrier by matching its fares and offering more frequent flights.

Related Topics:
Delta Air Lines - Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport - Northwest Airlines - Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport - Detroit City Airport

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