Originally Posted by
DaveReidUK
Heathrow used to have a good video on their website (may still be there) about the synergy that hubs generate. The growth of ULH hub bypass routes, where economic, doesn't seem to be making much of a dent in the hub model.
A video designed to promote the R3 concept and the Howard Davies report some years ago.
And as to the second point you are reflecting the here and now . Thats potentially not the future.
External threats include ever more political and environmental pressures that may impact or at the very least restrict the continued levels of growth potential from that very business model .
Particularly across Europe, Amsterdam, Frankfurt and even Dublin see severe restrictions on new infrastructure usage . This pattern is will only increase .
As to hub and spoke economics works within the framework of the awards “ bribes” for some up front and indeed some down the back ( many get virtually nothing in reality especially the irregular traveler)
Do I think the concept will disappear no not at all .
Where it began in the US primarily for the domestic market , it functions on a different level , akin to rail in Europe . Outside of the US it’s primarily about long haul sure enough.
Within Europe the legacies lost the battle over a decade ago to point to point flexible fares operators - Indeed this remains the Growth market by a country mile .
Within the UK MORE people fly short haul on those flexible fares operators from far more departure points than do from or via Heathrow .