Networks
Hub-and-spoke networks concentrate connections in banks of arrivals and departures, maximising city pairs served per aircraft. Point-to-point carriers trade connectivity for higher aircraft utilisation and simpler operations.
Utilisation
An aircraft only earns money in the air. Low-cost carriers achieve 25-minute turnarounds by using a single fleet type, no assigned seating and no cargo handling, generating over 11 block hours per day.
Disruption
Delay propagates along a rotation. Operations control centres recover the schedule by swapping aircraft, cancelling low-value legs, ferrying crews and repositioning spare airframes at hubs.
Key points
- Hubs maximise route coverage; point-to-point maximises utilisation.
- Turnaround time is the single biggest lever on daily utilisation.
- Delays propagate through rotations, so early recovery decisions matter most.
Knowledge check