What Is Hub and Spoke? Definition & Meaning in Aviation
Hub and spoke is a route network in which flights from many smaller airports (spokes) connect through one central airport (the hub).
In plain language
It lets an airline serve many city pairs with fewer flights, because passengers change planes at the hub. The hub airport becomes busy with arrival and departure waves.
Example
The Gulf airlines use Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi as hubs, connecting Pakistani cities with destinations around the world.
Why it matters
Hub-and-spoke networks explain why many routes go through a few big airports, and why a delay at a hub can ripple across the network. They are also why connecting itineraries are often cheaper than nonstop ones.