What is an "airline hub" in flight scheduling?

An "airline hub" refers to a central airport that serves as a focal point for the routing of a significant number of flights. This means that airlines use hubs to facilitate the connection of different flight routes, allowing travelers to transfer from one flight to another more easily. Hubs are strategically chosen based on their geographical location, the volume of passenger traffic, and the potential for connecting flights to various destinations.

By centralizing their operations at these hubs, airlines can increase efficiency and maximize the use of their aircraft and resources. This hub-and-spoke model enables airlines to offer more destinations to their customers, streamline operations, and manage schedules more effectively, all while reducing costs associated with servicing numerous individual routes from many different airports.

In contrast, airports primarily serving cargo flights, exclusive airports for private jets, and seasonal airports for tourist destinations do not fit the definition of an airline hub, as they do not focus on the broad connectivity and flight routing that characterizes a hub. Thus, the choice that defines an airline hub accurately reflects its role in flight scheduling and air travel logistics.