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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 destinations. Many hubs of the airlines are also situated at the cities of the respective head offices.
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.
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.
For most non-US airlines, it is more technically correct to use the term 'home base' rather than hub as a majority of their flights are international and the so-called hubs are simply their home countries' largest airports, such as Auckland International Airport for Air New Zealand, Narita International Airport for Japan Airlines, or Changi International Airport for Singapore Airlines. Indeed, the application of the term hub in such contexts is only recently popularized by American airline industry analysts and often contested by local commentators.

Contents

Fortress hub

Major passenger airlines and their hubs

North America

Caribbean

Central America

South America

Europe

Africa and Middle East

Asia

Oceania

Trivia

See also

References

External links

Fortress hub

A fortress hub is a hub dominated by a single airline that controls a share of flights at or above the monopoly standard of 70 percent of flights in and out of the hub.^[1] A fortress hub is difficult for new entrant carriers to penetrate.^[2] New entrants, such as Spirit Airlines at DTW, AirTran at ATL, and Vanguard at DFW, allege to have been the target of exclusionary practices by the dominant carrier. 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 out compete the short-lived discount carrier by matching its fares and offering more frequent flights.
Examples of fortress hubs include:

★ Charlotte/Douglas International Airport - US Airways

★ Chicago Midway Airport - Southwest Airlines

★ Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport - Delta Air Lines

★ Dallas Love Field Airport - Southwest Airlines

★ Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport - American Airlines

★ Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport - Northwest Airlines

★ Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport - Delta Air Lines/Airtran Airways

★ Long Beach Airport - JetBlue Airways

★ Memphis International Airport - Northwest Airlines

★ Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport - Northwest Airlines

★ Salt Lake City International Airport - Delta Air Lines

★ George Bush Intercontinental Airport - Continental Airlines

Major passenger airlines and their hubs

North America

★ Aeroméxico (AM) uses Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX).

★ Air Canada (AC) uses Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), Vancouver International Airport (YVR), and Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) as major hubs, and Calgary International Airport (YYC)) as a minor hub.

★ Air Transat (TS) uses Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL), Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), and Vancouver International Airport (YVR).

★ AirTran Airways (FL), a low-fare airline, uses Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) as its main hub, and Orlando International Airport (MCO) & Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) as secondary hubs.

★ Alaska Airlines (AS) uses Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Portland International Airport (PDX).

★ American Airlines (AA) uses Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Lambert-Saint Louis International Airport (STL), Miami International Airport (MIA) and San Juan's Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU).

★ ATA Airlines (TZ), a low-fare airline, uses Chicago Midway Airport (MDW), Honolulu International Airport (HNL), and Oakland International Airport (OAK) as an "unofficial" focus city.

★ Continental Airlines (CO) uses Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE).
★ Continental Micronesia, a subsidiary, uses Guam's Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport (GUM).

★ Delta Air Lines (DL) uses Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) (the world's largest hub), Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), and to a lesser extent Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

★ Frontier Airlines (F9), a low-fare airline, uses Denver International Airport (DEN).

★ JetBlue Airways (B6), a low-fare airline uses John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and, to a lesser extent, Logan International Airport (BOS).

★ Mexicana (MX) uses Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX), Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport (GDL) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

★ Midwest Airlines (YX) uses Milwaukee's General Mitchell International Airport (MKE) and Kansas City International Airport (MCI).

★ Northwest Airlines (NW) uses Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), Memphis International Airport (MEM), Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS), and Tokyo's Narita International Airport (NRT).

★ Skybus Airlines (SX), an ultra-low fare airline, uses Port Columbus International Airport (CMH) in Columbus, OH

★ Spirit Airlines (NK), a low-fare airline, uses Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).

★ Southwest Airlines (WN), a low-cost airline, mostly runs point-to-point service, but has hub-like operations in Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), Chicago Midway Airport (MDW), Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL), Las Vegas's McCarran International Airport (LAS) and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).

★ Sun Country Airlines (SY), a low-cost airline, uses Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport

★ United Airlines (UA) uses Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD), San Francisco International Airport (SFO) (as its Pacific gateway), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Denver International Airport (DEN), and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

★ US Airways (US) uses Charlotte/Douglas International Airport (CLT), Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), and Las Vegas's McCarran International Airport (LAS). Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) also used to serve as a hub, but has since been downgraded to a secondary hub.

★ WestJet (WS), a low-fare airline uses Calgary International Airport (YYC) and Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ).

Caribbean

★ Air ALM (LM) used Hato International Airport (CUR) as a hub

★ Air Aruba (FQ) used Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA) as a hub

★ Air Jamaica (JM) uses Montego Bay's Sir Donald Sangster International Airport (MBJ), Kingston's Norman Manley International Airport (KIN), and St. Lucia's Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) as its hubs

★ Bahamasair (UP) uses Nassau's Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) as its hub

★ Caribbean Airlines (BW) uses Piarco International Airport (POS) as a hub

★ Caribbean Star (8B) uses VC Bird International Airport (ANU), and Sir Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) as a hub

★ Cayman Airways (KX) uses Grand Cayman's Owen Roberts International Airport (GCM) and Cayman Brac's Gerrard Smith International Airport (CYB) as hubs.

★ Cubana de Aviación (CU) uses Havana's José Martí International Airport (HAV).

★ Dutch Antilles Express (9H) uses Hato International Airport (CUR) as a hub

★ Dutch Caribbean Airlines (K8) used Hato International Airport (CUR) as a hub

★ Insel Air (7I) uses Hato International Airport (CUR) as a hub

★ Leeward Islands Air Transport (LI) uses VC Bird International Airport (ANU), and Sir Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) as a hub

★ Tiara Air (3P) uses Reina Beatrix International Airport (AUA) as a hub

Central America

★ Copa Airlines (CM) uses Tocumen International Airport (PTY).

★ Grupo Taca uses Comalapa International Airport (SAL), and Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)

South America

★ Aero Continente used Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) as a hub.

★ Aerolíneas Argentinas (AR) uses Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) and Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP) as a hub.

★ Aeropostal Alas de Venezuela (VH) uses Simón Bolívar International Airport (CCS) as its hub.

★ Austral Líneas Aéreas (AU) uses Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP) as a hub.

★ Avianca (AV) uses El Dorado International Airport (BOG).

★ Gol (G3) uses Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) and Galeão - Antônio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG), and to a lesser extent, Manaus International Airport (MAO).

★ Grupo Taca (TA) uses Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) as a hub.

★ LAN (LA) uses Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL). LAN Peru, a subsidiary, uses Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM).

★ Santa Barbara Airlines (S3) uses Simón Bolívar International Airport (CCS) as its hub.

★ TAM Brazilian Airlines (JJ) uses Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) and Congonhas Domestic Airport (CGH).

★ Varig (RG) uses Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) and Galeão - Antônio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG).

Europe

★ Adria Airways (SI) uses Ljubljana International Airport (LJU).

★ Aer Lingus (EI) uses Dublin International Airport (DUB) ,Cork International Airport (ORK)and Belfast International Airport (BFS).

★ Aeroflot (SU) uses Moscow-Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO).

★ Aerosvit (UA) uses Kiev-Boryspil International Airport (KBP).

★ Air Berlin (AB) uses Berlin-Tegel International Airport (TXL), Nuremberg Airport (NUE), Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) and London Stansted Airport (STN).

★ Air France (AF) uses Paris Charles De Gaulle International Airport (CDG).

★ Alitalia (AZ) uses Milan-Malpensa International Airport (MXP) and Rome Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport (FCO).

★ Austrian Airlines (OS) uses Vienna International Airport (VIE).

★ British Airways (BA) uses London Heathrow Airport (LHR), London Gatwick Airport (LGW), and Manchester Airport (MAN).

★ Blue1 (KF) uses Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL)

★ bmi(BD) uses Manchester Airport (MAN) and London Heathrow Airport (LHR).

★ BmiBaby (WW) uses Birmingham Airport

★ Brussels Airlines (SN) uses Brussels Airport (BRU).

★ Condor Airlines (DE) uses Frankfurt International Airport (FRA).

★ Croatia Airlines (OU) uses Zagreb Airport (ZAG).

★ Cyprus Airways (OU) uses Larnaca Airport (LCA).

★ Czech Airlines (OK) uses Prague Ruzyne International Airport (PRG).

★ dba (DI) uses Munich International Airport (MUC). Is now Air Berlin

★ Euromanx uses Ronaldsway Airport (IOM)

★ Finnair (AY) uses Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL).

★ Iberia Airlines (IB) uses Madrid Barajas International Airport (MAD).

★ Icelandair (FI), a low-fare airline, uses Keflavík International Airport (KEF).

★ Jat Airways (JU) uses Belgrade Airport (BEG).

★ KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines) (KL) uses Amsterdam-Schiphol International Airport (AMS).

★ LOT Polish Airlines (LO) uses Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport (WAW).

★ LTU International Airways uses Duesseldorf International Airport (DUS).

★ Lufthansa (LH) uses Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) and Munich Franz Josef Strauß International Airport (MUC).

★ Luxair (LG) uses Luxembourg-Findel International Airport (LUX).

★ Malév Hungarian Airlines (MA) uses Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD).

★ Martinair (MP) uses Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS).

★ Olympic Airlines (OA) uses Athens Eleftherios Venizelos Airport (ATH).

★ Portugalia (NI) uses Lisboa Portela Airport (LIS).

★ Scandinavian Airlines System (SK) uses Stockholm-Arlanda Airport (ARN) and Copenhagen Airport (CPH) (and to a lesser extent Oslo Airport, Gardermoen (OSL)).

★ Spanair (JK) uses Madrid Barajas International Airport (MAD) and Barcelona El Prat International Airport (BCN).

★ Swiss International Airlines (LX) uses Zürich Airport (ZRH) (and to a lesser extent Geneva Cointrin International Airport (GVA)).

★ TAP Portugal (TP) uses Lisboa Portela Airport (LIS) and Oporto Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO) .

★ TAROM Romanian Air Transport (RO) uses Henri Coandă International Airport as a principal hub and Cluj-Napoca International Airport as a second hub.

★ Turkish Airlines (TK) uses Istanbul Ataturk International Airport

★ Virgin Atlantic (VS) uses London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW).

Africa and Middle East

★ Afriqiyah Airways (8U) uses Tripoli International Airport (TIP).

★ Air Algérie (AH) uses Algiers' Houari Boumedienne Airport (ALG) and Oran Es Senia Airport (ORN).

★ Egyptair (MS) uses Cairo International Airport (CAI).

★ El-Al (LY) uses Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV).

★ Emirates (EK) uses Dubai International Airport (DXB).

★ Ethiopian Airlines (ET) uses Addis Ababas' Bole International Airport (ADD).

★ Etihad Airways (EY) uses Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH).

★ Gulf Air (GF) uses Bahrain International Airport (BAH) and Muscat Seeb International Airport (MCT).

★ Jazeera Airways (J9), a low fare airline uses Kuwait International Airport (KWI) and Dubai International Airport (DXB).

★ Kenya Airways (KQ) uses Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO).

★ Kuwait Airways (KU) uses Kuwait International Airport (KWI).

★ Middle East Airlines (ME) uses Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY).

★ Oman Air (WY) uses Muscat's Seeb International Airport (MCT).

★ Pakistan International Airlines (PK) uses Karachi's Jinnah International Airport (KHI), Islamabad International Airport (ISB), and Lahore's Allama Iqbal International Airport (LHE).

★ Qatar Airways (QR) uses Doha International Airport (DOH).

★ Royal Air Maroc (AT) uses Casablanca's Mohammed V International Airport (CMN).

★ Royal Jordanian Airlines (RJ) uses Amman Queen Alia International Airport (AMM).

★ Saudi Arabian Airlines (SV) uses King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) King Khalid International Airport (RUH) and King Fahd International Airport (DMM).

★ South African Airways (SA) uses Johannesburg International Airport (JNB) and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) (and to a lesser extent Durban International Airport (DUR).

Asia

★ Air China (CA) uses Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU).

★ Air India (AI) uses Mumbai-Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM), Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), and to some extent Chennai-International Airport (MAA)

★ All Nippon Airways (NH) uses Tokyo-Narita International Airport (NRT), Tokyo-Haneda Airport (HND), Osaka-Kansai International Airport (KIX), and Osaka-Itami Airport (ITM).

★ Asiana Airlines (OZ) uses Seoul-Incheon International Airport (ICN) and Seoul-Gimpo Airport (GMP).

★ Cathay Pacific (CX) uses Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) (and to a lesser extent Taipei Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE)).

★ China Airlines (CI) uses Taipei Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) (and to a lesser extent Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH), and Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)).

★ China Eastern Airlines (MU) uses Shanghai-Pudong International Airport (PVG).

★ China Southern Airlines (CZ) uses Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) and Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK).

★ EVA Air (BR) uses Taipei Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE)(and to a lesser extent Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)).

★ Far Eastern Air Transport (EF) uses Taipei Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA) & Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE).

★ Garuda Indonesia (GA) uses Jakarta-Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK), Bali-Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS), Surabaya-Juanda International Airport, and Singapore Changi Airport (SIN).

★ Japan Airlines (JL) uses Tokyo-Narita International Airport (NRT), Tokyo-Haneda Airport (HND), Osaka-Kansai International Airport (KIX), and Osaka-Itami Airport (ITM).

★ Jet Airways (9W) uses Mumbai-Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM), Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL)

★ Korean Air (KE) uses Seoul-Incheon International Airport (ICN) and Seoul-Gimpo Airport (GMP).

★ Malaysia Airlines (MH) uses Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL).

★ Philippine Airlines (PR) uses Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL).

★ Royal Brunei Airlines (BI) uses Brunei International Airport (BWN).

★ Singapore Airlines (SQ) uses Singapore Changi Airport (SIN).

★ SriLankan Airlines (UL) uses Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB).

★ Thai Airways International (TG) uses Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)
and Phuket International Airport (HKT).

★ Vietnam Airlines (VN) uses Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) and Noi Bai International Airport

Oceania

★ Air New Zealand (NZ) uses Auckland International Airport (AKL) (and to a lesser extent Christchurch International Airport (CHC) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)).

★ Qantas (QF) uses Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) and Melbourne Airport (MEL) in Australia and Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)(and to a lesser extent Perth Airport (PER)).

★ JetStar (JQ) uses Melbourne International Airport (MEL).

★ Virgin Blue (DJ) uses Brisbane International Airport (BNE), Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport and Melbourne International Airport.

★ National carriers from other countries use their own major (inter)national airport(s).

Trivia

★ All 30 of the busiest airports in the world serve as hubs for one or more major airlines.

★ US Airways has the highest percentage of traffic for any single airline at any international airport , occupying 72 (plus 1 shared with Lufthansa) out of 85 total gates and accounting for approximately 90% of traffic at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport^[3].

See also

★ List of hub airports

★ Focus city

★ Former airline hubs

References

1.
2. Appendix A: Statement of Enforcement Policy Regarding Unfair Exclusionary Conduct
3. Source: City of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County, May 2005; USAirways.com, June 2005

External links

★ How Airline Hubs Work