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What is a Hub or connection center? One of the most used aviation terms in the world, but that few understand its real meaning and importance. we explain it.
Many airlines daily market or carry out advertising campaigns around their "Hubs" or connection centers, as that word could be literally translated..
What is a Hub or connection center?
A hub, term that comes from English, refers to a hub or center of activity, similar to what happens in computing with Ethernet or USB port hubs, where in a single device, the connection of all the cables is concentrated and from there, the information is transmitted to another destination.
Applying it to aviation, a Hub is an airport where many destinations arrive and then their passengers or information as in the example above, leaves for another destination.
A Hub specializes in providing convenient flight schedules designed to offer users quick connections., coupled with uninterrupted service or as low as possible, between one destination and another.
Characteristics of a Hub
- Outstanding geographic location and favorable weather conditions.
- Airport that operates the 24 hours of the day.
- Quick connections between 1 hour until 6 maximum waiting hours.
- Airport infrastructure designed to facilitate connections.
- Change of plane without the need to perform immigration and customs.
- One or more airlines that offer a continuous and direct operation to many international destinations.
It should be clarified that, a Hub is mainly considered for international flights, but domestic flights are also part of the Hub, although they will require migration and customs, limiting one of the objectives that are quick and easy connections.
Hub Examples
As we could see recently in the post about the mega hubs of the world, these are found mainly in the northern hemisphere of the planet, where the following airports stand out, such as 5 more important:
- London Heathrow Airport
- Chicago O'Hare Airport
- Frankfurt Airport – FROM
- amsterdam airport
- toronto airport
In what is at the Latin American level, Hubs are known Copa Airlines with his «HUB of the Americas«, which is one of the fastest growing in the region, the collapsed Lima airport where LATAM Peru and Avianca Peru use it as a connection center, Sao Paulo Gurulhos with LATAM Airlines Brazil, Bogota with Avianca and Mexico City, the greatest of all as Hub of Aeromexico.
Hub in Ecuador
It has always been a dream for Ecuador to have a connection center, that taking advantage of our geographical position in the center of the world and the American continent, allow travelers from north and south, fly to the whole world.
This dream of the years has not materialized yet, but if, at the time of Ecuadorian Aviation we had a kind of undeclared HUB with all the destinations that this airline mainly operated, from Guayaquil to almost all of America.
The most recent attempt to create a HUB in Ecuador was carried out by Tame EP, when it started flights to New York, Fort Lauderdale, Bogota, Cali, Caracas, Lima, Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo from the Quito International Airport within its framework of international expansion, but it was slowed down by poor performance of several of the routes.
It is expected that many airports in the region, including ours, seek to be a HUB, but a lot will depend on the ability, routes created and market to achieve success.
Have you ever flown to or from a HUB? What called your attention?
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What legal regulations are based on so that a cargo hub can be created? It is known that the airport is restricted until 2041 by Quiport any criteria or comments according to the legal regulations in Ecuador on the CHARGING HUB
I understand that it is a statement only, but there is no legal regulation that allows or prevents it necessarily.
Of course it is only in the report but there is some legal regulation for it to be classified as a hub or what is needed to classify the airport as a hub
as i commented, it is only necessary to declare it by the authorities from the DGAC, MTOP and Municipality as far as I know.
Very good explanation from Hub. The development of this type of infrastructure goes hand in hand, as mentioned, of the geographical situation of the country.. For example, the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris is also a hub.. Nevertheless, economic policy decisions of the countries can also contribute by providing important support to their execution, via concession of your design, construction and service management. This type of infrastructure requires optimal synchronization of operations, It usually happens that large ships arrive and then transfer to smaller ships with closer destinations..
There are two important terms: arrives "From" and goes "Towards".
Greetings
The little importance in the business of aeronautics is noted, I think Guayaquil has an excellent climate for there to be a HUB, I see neighboring countries in which their cities have HUB's, starting from Panama City, Bogota, giving a leap (thinking of Ecuador) to Lima. We must develop this HUB where it attracts tourists worldwide, make a strategic alliance with an airline. Mariscal Sucre's problem is its climate, in Tababela there is a lot of fog, On the other hand, Guayaquil, the climate is ideal for this phenomenal idea..
Living in London I have been able to make connections at Heathrow to various international destinations via British Airways, other airlines with alliances and codeshares.
In addition to the characteristics that you mention, Nicolás, I see, taking the example of London Heathrow, it is the high traffic. (first in Europe), its efficient infrastructure with trains, metro, taxis y buses. Also close to the city. London Heathrow does not operate 24 hours like other big HUBs. They usually close after 00:00 and reopen both tracks from 4:30 O 5:00am since in those hours they do maintenance and sometimes, as can happen in other places, they cancel, flights are delayed due to bad weather until weather conditions improve, as has already happened to me more than twice.
In Latin America we need to improve infrastructures, implement train service 24/7 and I know it is very expensive but it will have to be done at some point, earlier than later.
Strongly agree, infrastructure slows down our region a lot.