The way airlines arrange their flights at major airports has a huge impact on how we travel. There are two strategies: rolling and banking hubs which have shaped and modified the flying experience over the years. These strategies developed as airlines tried to meet the growing demand for air travel while making connections as seamless as possible.

Rolling Hubs

Rolling hubs refer to an operational strategy where flights at a hub airport are scheduled to arrive and depart continuously. The rolling hub system in aviation emerged as a response to the operational challenges of the banked hub system, which had been widely adopted after the rise of the hub-and-spoke model following airline deregulation in the late 1970s, specifically in the U.S. strategy spread out flight traffic more evenly, avoiding peaks of activity.

By the 1990s, as airlines and airports faced these growing inefficiencies, the rolling hub system began to take hold as a solution. Airlines that choose a rolling hub strategy seek a smooth, steady flow of aircraft, passengers, and resources in the hub. It also helps to reduce airport congestion and increase operational flexibility.

Unlike the traditional banked hub model, where flights are timed to arrive and depart in clusters to optimize connections, rolling hubs operate on a more optimal schedule while banked hubs focus on having many flights arrive simultaneously to facilitate quick connections for passengers, rolling hubs. It focuses on a constant, more manageable flow of flights.

 

Therefore, passengers may have fewer flight options at a given moment but will likely experience less waiting time, reduced delays, shorter gate turnaround times, etc. 

Some airlines that use rolling hubs

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines uses a rolling hub strategy across its network, especially at major domestic airports.

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines operates rolling hubs at SEA and other major hubs on the West Coast.

Spirit Airlines

 Spirit Airlines follows a rolling hub model, especially at FLL and MCO.

 

Benefits of Rolling Hubs

Some benefits of rolling hubs are described below:

Reduced Airport Congestion

One of the best things about rolling hubs is that they help keep airports less crowded. In traditional systems, many flights come and go simultaneously, which can cause long lines and slowdowns at security, check-in, and baggage claims. With rolling hubs, flights are spaced out more evenly throughout the day. This means fewer people rushing through the airport all at once, so lines are shorter, services are faster, and the overall experience is much smoother, even during busy times.

Reduced Delays and Improved Punctuality

 

Rolling hubs reduce delays by spreading out flights so that too many planes aren’t landing or taking off at once. In the old system, one small issue could cause a lot of delays. But with rolling hubs, flights are more spaced out, making it easier to keep everything on time. It also means runways and gates are usually ready when needed, so flights can depart and arrive more smoothly.

Enhanced Passenger Experience

For travelers, rolling hubs make the airport experience more relaxed and predictable. With fewer people rushing through at the same time, it’s easier to get through check-in, security, and boarding. Plus, with flights spaced out, there’s less chance of long waits or missed connections, so travelers spend less time hanging around the airport.

Adaptability to Operational Challenges

Rolling hubs give airlines more flexibility to handle unexpected problems like bad weather or air traffic delays. Since flights are spread out throughout the day instead of all coming or going at the same time, airlines can adjust their schedules more easily without causing big disruptions. This way, any changes will have less of an effect on the overall flight schedule.

Environmental Benefits

Rolling hubs are better for the environment because they help airlines save fuel and cut down on pollution. With less waiting time on the runway and more direct flight paths, planes use less fuel. Overall, rolling hubs make travel smoother and more efficient, helping everyone—airlines, airports, and travelers—by reducing delays and using resources better.

Challenges of Rolling Hubs 

Some challenges of rolling hubs are described below:

Fewer Quick Connections

Since flights are spread out throughout the day, it might be harder to find flights that connect quickly, leading to wait times between flights longer.

Complex Operations

Keeping a steady flow of flights running smoothly means constantly adjusting schedules and managing resources, which can be complicated.

Demand Handling

Airports need to handle varying numbers of passengers throughout the day, which can be tricky if there are fewer travelers at certain times.

Longer Wait Times

Passengers might experience longer waits between connecting flights if the schedules aren’t perfectly arranged.

Banked Hubs

a banked hub is a scheduling system where flights are organized into concentrated waves or “banks” during specific time windows throughout the day. This model contrasts with the rolling hub system, where flights are spread out more evenly. This strategy became popular with the development of the hub-and-spoke model in the 1970s and 1980s, after the airline industry’s deregulation in the U.S. in 1978.

 

At a banked hub, flights arrive and depart in clusters, typically during peak periods. For example, many flights might land within a short time frame, followed by a period when many flights take off. This system is designed to maximize the number of connections passengers can make within a given timeframe, creating a high volume of activity in bursts.

 

Some airlines that use banked hub

 

Delta Airlines

Delta operates a robust banked hub system at ATL, the busiest airport in the world. Delta schedules multiple banks of flights throughout the day, allowing for efficient domestic and international connections.

American Airlines

American Airlines uses the banked hub system extensively, particularly at DFW and CLT.

United Airlines

United Airlines employs the banked hub system at its major hubs, particularly at O’Hare and Newark.

Benefits of Banked hub

Some benefits of a Banked hub are described below:

Maximized Connectivity

A banked hub allows passengers to connect to a wide range of destinations quickly and efficiently. With many flights arriving and departing in close succession, passengers have more options for seamless connections between domestic and international flights.

Shorter Layovers 

Passengers benefit from shorter layovers, as flights are scheduled to arrive and depart within the same bank, reducing waiting time between connections. This makes travel faster and more convenient, particularly for international travelers.

Increased Airline Revenue

Airlines can maximize aircraft utilization by filling connecting flights through a hub. With more connection options, airlines can funnel more passengers through their hub, leading to higher load factors and increased revenue per flight.

Operational Efficiency

Banked hubs streamline flight schedules and resource allocation. Ground crews, gates, and airport facilities are optimized around peak banks of arrivals and departures, allowing airlines to operate more efficiently.

Improves Passenger Experience

Passengers benefit from a smoother, more organized travel experience. The concentrated arrival and departure waves make connections more predictable, allowing passengers to rely on shorter connection times and fewer disruptions during their journey.

Challenges of Banked Hub

The challenges of a Banked hub are described below:

Congestion and Delays

A large number of flights arriving and departing in a short window can overwhelm airport resources. This leads to congestion at gates, runways, and in the air, causing delays that affect multiple flights across the system.

Higher Operational Costs

Airlines need to increase staffing, equipment, and ground services during peak times. The concentrated nature of banked hubs demands more resources for a shorter period, which drives up costs compared to a more spread-out schedule.

Long Wait Times

Between banks of flights, airports often experience quieter periods. Passengers who miss a connection or have flights outside these peaks may face longer layovers as fewer flights are available, which can reduce customer satisfaction.

Risk of Missed Connections

The tight schedule in a banked hub system means even small delays can result in passengers missing their connecting flights. This creates a ripple effect, causing frustration for travelers and logistical issues for airlines when rebooking.

Environmental Impact

Flights during peak times increase noise pollution and emissions. Airports near residential areas are particularly affected, leading to environmental concerns and sometimes stricter regulations that can limit the flexibility of operations.

Conclusion

In aviation, both banked hubs and rolling hubs have different benefits, depending on what airlines need. Banked hubs are great for airlines that need to connect passengers quickly between flights. By scheduling many flights to arrive and leave around the same time, passengers can easily catch their next flight, making banked hubs good for long-distance and international travel. Rolling hubs, on the other hand, spread flights more evenly throughout the day. This reduces crowding and delays, giving passengers more flexible flight options and making things run more smoothly for airlines.

 

Rolling hubs are also easier to manage because there’s less stress on airport resources since flights are spaced out. This means passengers have less pressure and more time to connect between flights. Banked hubs came first, developed by large international airlines to help passengers move between flights more easily. Later, rolling hubs became popular, especially with low-cost airlines that focus more on simple, efficient operations.

At present, banked hubs are still used more often, especially by big airlines like American, Delta, and Lufthansa, which depend on connecting flights to move passengers. Rolling hubs, on the other hand, are more common with budget airlines like Southwest and easyJet, which prefer direct flights and fewer complications. In short, banked hubs help with fast connections, while rolling hubs make operations smoother and less crowded. Each type of hub serves its purpose based on the airline’s needs.