Point-to-point and hub-and-spoke are the two methods of transportation networks. They are completely different. While many airlines choose to operate the hub-and-spoke model, few have point-to-point networks.
The most traditional hub-and-spoke model relies on hubs to make everything flow. As Transport Geography puts it, it connects every location through a single intermediary. This mode facilitates connections and schedule coordination.
On the opposite end is the point-to-point network, which is how Southwest Airlines operates. This is most like a pick-up and drop-off system. Point-to-point offers more nonstop options and can reduce overall travel time.
In the United States (US), Southwest Airlines is the most famous for operating a point-to-point (P2P). Though the airline has many focus airports where it bases its crews and aircraft, does not have traditional hubs.
As mentioned above, that allows the airline to offer nonstop flights on routes that would otherwise require a connection. An example of Southwest's network from a few American airports is below.
For example, if one wants to fly from Sacramento to Phoenix on January 8, 2025, only two airlines offer a nonstop flight. One is Southwest, and the other is American Airlines, which has a hub in Phoenix. So, for comparison’s sake, let’s compare United Airlines (UA) and Southwest.
Southwest has five nonstop flights on the 8th, most lasting 1h50m and a couple lasting 1h55m. On United, one would have to connect at another United hub.
This particular route would require a stop in Denver or San Francisco. With a connection, the fastest total travel time on United would be 4h36m, more than twice as long as the Southwest options.
Another example is from Kansas City to Orlando. Southwest and Spirit Airlines both offer nonstop flights on the route. Flying on the ‘Big Three’ carriers, American Airlines (AA), Delta Air Lines (DL), and United, requires a stop at their hubs.
The shortest itinerary on one of the Big Three is 4h28m on Delta, which requires a 52-minute stop in Atlanta. The fastest route on American is 4h48m, with a 58-minute stop in Charlotte, while the best route on United is 5h30m, with a 54-minute stop in Chicago.
Though the point-to-point system can shorten some travel times, it typically does not enhance connectivity for airlines. From the airline’s side, hub-and-spoke promotes efficiency for connections and allows for optimized resources like maintenance and crew scheduling. In the hub-and-spoke model, airlines have fewer routes but are able to increase the frequency of flights on certain routes.
The two photos below show United's network from its Los Angeles and Newark hubs, while the one on the right shows American's network from New York JFK and Los Angeles.
A post on Arachne, says,
“Often, this means that a hub and spoke system uses transportation resources in the most efficient way. Facilities for complicated operations need only to exist at the hub, rather than at each node, because all routes must pass through the hub before moving to another node.”
When a new route (node) needs to be added from a hub, it can easily be done by adding one spoke. By operating on a hub-and-spoke model, airlines can focus more on filling planes than by flying an aircraft between two cities with a low load factor. Before airline deregulation in the US, airlines were forced to fly point to point which often resulted in low factors.
American Airlines
American Airlines has eight hubs throughout the country. Four are located on the East Coast, one in the Midwest, one in the South, one on the West Coast, and another in the Southwest. The airline is headquartered in Forth Worth, Texas, and from DFW, it operates a major domestic network and flights to Latin America, the Caribbean, South America, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific.
Miami is American’s primary hub for Latin America and Caribbean operations. The airline has over 80 routes on which it faces no competition out of Miami.
- Los Angeles International Airport
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
- Miami International Airport
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport
- Philadelphia International Airport
- John F. Kennedy International Airport/LaGuardia Airport
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport
United Airlines
United Airlines has one fewer hub than American. Its primary hub is at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, as the airline is headquartered in Chicago. From there, the airline operates flights all over the world, but United’s primary European gateway is elsewhere.
Newark Liberty International Airport is the most crucial airport for United’s European operations. Located to the west of New York City, Newark is considered a New York area airport.
- Los Angeles International Airport
- San Francisco International Airport
- Denver International Airport
- George Bush Intercontinental Airport
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport
- Newark Liberty International Airport
- Dulles International Airport
Delta Air Lines
Delta is headquartered in Atlanta, home to the world’s busiest airport, Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport. From Atlanta, Delta flies to Europe, Africa, South America, and Asia, as well as a major domestic network. Delta dominates ATL, with more than 76% of all operations in December.
From Seattle, the airline operates many flights to Alaska and all along the West Coast. Delta also flies nonstop from Washington, D.C., to Hawaii.
- Los Angeles International Airport
- Seattle Tacoma International Airport
- Salt Lake City International Airport
- Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
- Boston Logan International Airport
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
- John F. Kennedy International Airport/LaGuardia Airport
