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    Airline Hub and Route Geography



    Overview of airline hubs and routes used by the largest airlines in the world. I examine the largest international airlines and busiest airports and discuss a few odd routes. I also analyze trends in airline travel post-pandemic.

    Data sources: Airport Improvement Program, Airline Quarterly Reports, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

    If you would like to purchase a pin for the viewer wall map that I update quarterly, or just to support the channel, please visit patreon.com/geographyking

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    Primus – “Sailing the Seas of Cheese” (1991)

    41 Comments

    2. jevinday on

      There is a country band who made a song called "United Breaks Guitars" after the singer's expensive guitar was broken by baggage handlers

    3. Doug Bowers on

      LAX used to be the busiest origin/destination airport in the world. What this means is that a higher percentage of travelers are either beginning their travel or ending their travel in Los Angeles as opposed to connecting to another destination. I don’t know if it still is because I can’t find any statistics. Because so many passengers need to enter and exit the airport property, the fact that access is so bad at the moment makes it critical. However, in the next two years a new system will be in place to where you can go from the far end of the horseshoe to the Consolidated rental car facility or CONRAC in 10 minutes on the people mover which runs every 2 to 4 minutes. It will also connect to metro trains.

    4. RoseSolane on

      Frankfurt was in the heart of (West-)Germany until 1989 and the major hub for that reason. Until very recently Berlin didn't have a big airport so couldn't take over the role of Frankfurt as the main hub in Germany. And as you mentioned Berlin is still very east for most Germans.

    7. Warren Day on

      Fascinating video, interesting to see how things are evolving.
      There is less SIN in the world? I'm surprised that the best airport in the world Singapore is now less used, not even on the list. I've been flying LHR-MEL annually for almost 20 years and have tried doing so via Thailand, HK and the Middle East but have found LHR-SIN-MEL to be the best route (go for a swim in the roof top pool of Terminal 1 and I feel the most refreshed). It was becoming harder prepandemic as BA stopped flying SIN-MEL and only QANTAS would service route. Also I've never seen that being on a plane for 18 hours as a sensible option, LHR-PER-MEL would mean a very long flight followed by an (inferior) domestic flight.

    12. Tim Wolfers on

      I've flown into some European cities and those airports are massive, handling continental flights, as well as international from all directions. Amsterdam is gigantic, where it took 20 minutes to taxi in after landing.
      Heathrow terminal 5 is neat with the runway being right next to the terminal. Plus it has several designer stores for the upper cru$t. It also has a great self serve eatery that is reasonably priced.
      Fly safe!

    15. DvdBluRayDude on

      Atlanta is the busiest hub in the world because of its location. It can reach 2/3 of the US population within a two hour flight. That’s something NY, LA, Chicago and Dallas can’t do.

    17. Steven Roshni on

      Frankfurt was/is the "economic capital" of Germany, being in the heart of the EU economy and air travel was able to fluish while West Berlin was an surrounded by Eastern Europe, having a tiny airport, which was quite nice for not having to walk much. Construction of a modern airport for Berlin was plagued with problems and only opened in 2020.

    20. Jon Constant on

      this is one of my favorite geography topics. love to look at those route maps. whenever I’m on a plane, that’s the first thing I go to in the back of the magazines (mot sure if they still have them though post-covid, haven’t flown yet).

    21. James Alias on

      Frankfurt versus Berlin has to do with Germany being divided after WW2, more population was in the West, and Frankfurt developed early on as the main hub, including for military transport flights. Also Berlin's airport's have been problem plagued.

    22. Richard Green on

      Lufthansa's focus in Frankfurt is likely a legacy of the Cold War. Before the Wall came down, West Berlin was in the middle of East Germeny, so was isolated (by ground) from the rest of Western Europe. The airport in Frankfurt developed to have three long parallel runways (unusual in Europe) whereas Tegel had two, and a much smaller terminal. Berlin has a modern airport now (which , belying Germany's reputation for efficiency, opened nine years behind schedule), but Lufthansa has so much infrastructure at Franfurt, it is unlikely to move hubs. Other airlines, however, have led to a flight boom in Berlin.

    23. Dr T on

      Reference key peer reviewed papers on airborne covid by "gods in the field" or I'm out….. Afraid I'm out…. By the 2nd minute. Rationing my channels that expect me to pay on Nebula…. Sorry, I'm paying you to do proper work. If you don't, I unsubscribe. Pretty simple really.

    26. Miro Lehky on

      Regarding why Lufthansa main international hub is Frankfurt and not Berlin, just look at the size and scope of the airports. Berlin historically was an outdated airport with limited terminal capacity. It only in the last few years they replaced the old terminal and replaced an old runway. They are now in progress of adding additional terminal capacity. Look at service to Berlin to expand over the next few years.

    27. Chad Alcares on

      Following airlines, hubs, routes has always been a hobby of mine since I've been a kid. This video is very interesting. I'm not sure if it's a geography thing, but it is also interesting how each of these airlines acquired the hubs and focus cities they did. As well as some of the cities that used to be hubs but are not any longer. St. Louis for TWA/American. Memphis for Northwest/Delta. Cincinatti for Delta.

    29. 700 700 on

      I was reluctant to click on this link, but I should rely on your judgement… these maps are fabulous! Very nice. Thank you.

    31. Lon Fowler on

      American is NOT in Dallas. Headquarters are in Fort Worth, and DFW is NOT in Dallas, and not even in Dallas County. Come on man- be better.

    34. Ralph Swindler on

      Frankfurt is the Lufthansa hub due to politics rather than Geography. Before re-unification, Lufthansa was the national carrier of the FRG (West Germany). While there was a West Berlin, it was an island inside the DDR (East Germany). There was very little business travel to Berlin, so the major airport was Frankfurt.

    35. Eric Siegmund on

      In my experience,
      Turkish Airlines is my fave Airline in the world-wonderful service
      Frankfurt is the worst major airport
      Tampa is the most convenient major airport

    36. Hardtack & Beans on

      Frankfurt has been upgraded & infrastructure built over the years. Berlin just started this in the early 90's. Your premise about geography playing a part may be true also.

    37. Daniel Smith on

      To give you an answer about Singapore operating to both EWR and JFK –

      Singapore launched EWR-SIN in early 2019, but of couse, the pandemic caused that to be halted. When air travel demand began to tick back up and Singapore Airlines saw the justification to resume the route, the decided that it would be best to re-allocate it to JFK. This was becasue JFK has a more diverse array of international airlines flying into there, allowing for more connection opportunities as international travel demand was still rebounding.

      EWR is a United hub, and as a member of the Star Alliance, it would be mostly Star Alliance passengers who would be flying Singapore Airlines to SIN. Therefore JFK has offered Singapore the chance to do more business and sell more tickets at JFK for more than just Star Alliance customers. Now that international travel has been mostly restored to normal levels, Singapore has also resumed their EWR-SIN route, but have decided that keeping the JFK-SIN route would also be smart for business.

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