An airline network model that routes passengers from smaller cities through a central airport to reach their destinations via connecting flights, trading longer travel times for access to a broader range of city pairs.
Hub and spoke is an airline network model that routes passengers from smaller origin cities (spokes) through a central airport (hub) to reach their final destinations. Rather than operating direct flights between every city pair, carriers consolidate demand at the hub, creating connections that would be economically unviable as nonstop routes.
Connecting 20 cities directly requires 190 routes; routing through a single hub requires only 20, letting airlines serve more destinations with fewer flights [1].
IATA data shows approximately 16% of global air passengers are transfer passengers, with 67 million of 417 million connecting passengers transiting through the Middle East alone in 2025 [2].
European hub connectivity remains 12% below pre-pandemic (2019) levels, reflecting the expansion of ultra-low-cost carriers that operate point-to-point services bypassing traditional hubs [1].
Navan searches across 600+ airlines and surfaces connection options that meet each airport's minimum connection time, helping corporate travelers avoid tight transfers that carry high misconnection risk.
What is Hub and Spoke?
Hub and spoke is an airline network architecture that concentrates flight operations around one or more central airports (hubs) while connecting them to smaller destination airports (spokes). Passengers traveling between two spoke cities transfer at the hub rather than flying direct, trading a longer journey for access to destinations that lack sufficient demand for nonstop service.
The name borrows from the geometry of a wheel: the hub sits at the center, and routes radiate outward like spokes. This model became the dominant airline network structure after U.S. airline deregulation in 1978, when carriers gained the freedom to design their own route networks. Before deregulation, most airlines operated point-to-point networks with routes assigned by government regulators.
Hub-and-spoke operations depend on carefully timed flight waves called banks. An airline schedules arrivals from multiple spoke cities to land within a 30–60 minute window, then dispatches departures to outbound destinations shortly after. This coordination creates the maximum number of possible connections within each bank. A large hub airport may operate six to eight daily banks, each generating hundreds of origin-destination pairings from a manageable number of individual flights.
The hub-and-spoke model contrasts with point-to-point networks, where airlines fly passengers directly between origin and destination without a transfer. Each approach serves different market needs.
Factor
Hub and Spoke
Point to Point
Network reach
Broad: serves city pairs with thin demand via connections
Limited: only viable where demand justifies a direct flight
Total travel time
Longer: includes layover at the hub
Shorter: nonstop from origin to destination
Connection risk
Higher: delayed inbound flights cause missed connections
None: no transfer involved
Fare economics
Consolidates demand for lower per-seat costs on thin routes
Often lower fares on high-demand routes with strong competition
Disruption impact
Cascading: hub weather or congestion ripples across the network
Isolated: delays affect individual routes, not the system
For business travelers, the right model depends on the city pair. High-demand routes between major cities often have viable nonstop service. Thinner routes between regional cities and international destinations almost always require a hub connection. Corporate travel managers building programs for distributed teams typically rely on hub carriers for global reach while prioritizing nonstop flights on the busiest corridors [1].
Why Hub Routing Matters for Corporate Travel
The choice of which hub an itinerary routes through directly affects a business traveler's experience and the company's travel program costs.
Connection reliability. Airports with lower congestion and fewer weather disruptions produce more reliable transfers. A finance director flying through a compact, temperate hub faces lower misconnection risk than one routed through a congested, weather-prone facility during peak banking hours.
Minimum connection time. Each hub airport sets its own minimum connection time based on terminal layout, gate distances, and customs requirements. Tight connections at sprawling airports carry higher miss rates. Navan surfaces itineraries that meet each airport's current minimum connection time, filtering out bookings with technically possible but risky transfer windows.
Cost implications. Hub carriers negotiate volume-based corporate rates that only deliver savings when bookings are channeled through the managed travel program. When an employee books a hub connection outside the corporate tool, the company misses the negotiated fare and loses visibility into the trip. A Skift and Navan 2026 survey found that 80% of business travelers book off-platform at least sometimes [3].
Rebooking during disruptions. When a connection fails at a hub, single-ticket itineraries give the carrier the obligation to rebook. Separate tickets shift that cost to the traveler. Booking all segments under one reservation through the corporate travel booking platform protects the company from absorbing emergency hotel and rebooking expenses.
Best Practices for Hub Itineraries
Travel managers can reduce disruption and improve the traveler experience by applying four routing principles.
Build buffer beyond the minimum. The published minimum connection time is the floor, not a recommendation. For business-critical trips, adding 30–60 minutes beyond the minimum protects against minor delays. International connections requiring customs clearance need even more padding.
Prefer single-carrier connections. When both legs are on the same airline, the carrier has stronger incentive and ability to hold an outbound flight or automatically rebook if a transfer is missed. Interline connections across different airlines add coordination complexity and weaken rebooking obligations.
Monitor hub performance. Track which hubs produce the most misconnections and delays for your traveler population. If a hub consistently underperforms, explore alternative routings through competing hubs or nonstop options on newly launched routes.
Account for terminal changes. Some hub airports require travelers to change terminals via shuttle or train for connecting flights, adding transit time and a second security screening. Itineraries that keep the connection within a single terminal are preferable when available. Corporate booking tools flag terminal changes during itinerary search so travelers and coordinators can assess the risk before confirming.
The Shifting Hub Landscape
The global hub landscape is evolving. The ACI Europe Airport Industry Connectivity Report 2025 found that Istanbul replaced Frankfurt as the top global airport for hub connectivity, reflecting a 59% increase in hub connectivity since 2019 [1]. Meanwhile, smaller European hubs like Athens (+92%) and Dublin (+30%) have gained connectivity as carriers expand into underserved transatlantic and leisure markets.
Two structural forces are reshaping hub networks. First, ultra-low-cost carriers continue expanding point-to-point service, bypassing traditional hubs. Second, fuel-efficient narrowbody aircraft now have the range to serve routes previously requiring widebody hub connections, enabling airlines to launch direct service between mid-size cities.
For corporate travel programs, these shifts mean more nonstop options (reducing travel time and connection risk) but also more carriers to manage. Travel managers who compare hub and point-to-point options for each city pair can find the best balance of time, cost, and reliability.
Related Terms
Airline reservation system: The digital platform airlines use to manage flight inventory, process bookings, and issue tickets across distribution channels.
Distribution platform: The technology systems and standards (GDS, NDC) that move flight and hotel content from suppliers to booking tools and travel management platforms.
[3] Skift & Navan, "2026 State of Corporate Travel & Expense" (co-produced with Navan), August 2025. https://navan.com/resources/reports/state-of-corporate-travel-and-expense-2026
Frequently Asked Questions About Hub and Spoke
Hub and spoke is an airline network design that routes passengers through a central airport (the hub) to connect flights from smaller cities (spokes). Instead of operating direct service between every city pair, airlines consolidate demand at the hub, creating hundreds of connection options from a manageable number of individual routes.
Hub-and-spoke networks route travelers through a central transfer airport, adding a layover but providing access to many more destinations. Point-to-point networks fly passengers directly between origin and destination with no transfer, offering shorter travel times but only on routes with sufficient demand. Most business travel programs use both depending on the city pair.
Airlines use hub-and-spoke networks because consolidating passengers at a central airport allows them to serve far more city pairs than direct service would support. Connecting 20 cities directly requires 190 routes. Routing through a single hub requires only 20. This efficiency drives higher load factors and makes thin routes economically viable.
Hub routing adds a layover and connection risk to every trip. Delayed inbound flights can cause missed connections, leading to emergency hotel stays and rebooking costs. However, hub networks also provide more departure options and access to destinations without nonstop service. Navan helps travel managers reduce these risks by filtering itineraries that fall below each airport's minimum connection time.
Travel managers should evaluate connection reliability, minimum connection times, terminal layout, and single-carrier vs. interline connection options. Hubs with lower congestion and more compact terminals produce fewer misconnections. Booking all segments under one reservation protects the company from absorbing rebooking costs when connections fail.
Hub connectivity in Europe remains 12% below pre-pandemic levels as ultra-low-cost carriers expand point-to-point service. Meanwhile, fuel-efficient narrowbody aircraft now have the range to serve routes that previously required widebody hub connections. Navan surfaces both hub and nonstop options during search so corporate programs can optimize each trip for time, cost, and reliability.
Yes. Travel policies can require minimum layover times above the airport's standard floor, prioritize single-carrier connections, and mandate booking through the corporate platform to preserve rebooking protections. These rules reduce misconnection costs without restricting destination access.
