What is a key feature of the hub-and-spoke system in air travel?

The hub-and-spoke system is designed to streamline air travel by creating a centralized hub where flights converge. This arrangement allows airlines to maximize their efficiency and connectivity.

When passengers travel using this model, they often must first fly to a major hub before reaching their final destination. This system is particularly advantageous for airlines, as it enables them to consolidate passenger traffic. Instead of having direct flights between every small city and every major city, smaller routes funnel into the hub, where passengers then transfer to other flights that take them to their desired locations. This approach also allows airlines to operate flights with fewer passengers on routes that may not be as frequently traveled, as they can connect multiple smaller routes to one larger hub.

Thus, the necessity for travelers to reach a major hub to connect to their final destination is a defining characteristic of the hub-and-spoke system in air travel.