DESTINATIONS AVIATION |HUB AIRPORTS
experts ASK THE Vishal Patel, director, Travelpack
“Agents can boost commission by selling flights that utilise major hub airports. Hub routeing allows for
easy twin-centre holidays and cost- effective stopover packages, and departing from a regional airport usually means smoother passenger flows. Leverage premium airlines’ free stopover programmes when packaging bespoke holidays.”
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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Children’s play area at iGA Istanbul, Turkey; Dubai International Airport; Sleepover pods at Dubai; swimming pool at Hamad International Airport, Doha PICTURES: Chandan Sojitra; Shutterstock/Danny Iacob
MAP IT OUT There are two ways to plot airline routes. Point-to-point networks, transporting passengers between two cities, are common in Europe – if you’ve ever looked at the route maps of easyJet, Ryanair and other short-haul airlines, the cat’s cradle of lines shows how you can easily fly from one regional airport to another. When travelling farther, the
picture changes. While it might be possible to fly direct, especially for those within easy reach of London airports, it can work out more cost-effective for clients to take a one-stop journey via an airline hub. Clients can depart from a regional airport to the likes of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore or Istanbul, where they can spend anything from a couple of hours to a stopover of several days before flying on. Hub airports can also be useful when taking an onward domestic
42 20 NOVEMBER 2025
33How much time a client will spend at a hub depends on whether they want a speedy connection or want to explore
leg, such as flying into Atlanta then catching a flight to a smaller US city. Flying via a hub can mean cheaper fares, because an airline’s operational costs are reduced. Firat Ocak, aviation development director at iGA Istanbul Airport, says: “Unlike the point-to-point system, the hub-and-spoke [model] centralises operations, allowing us to serve more than 330 destinations efficiently using fewer resources. This means more route options, often at competitive fares, and seamless one-stop connectivity.”
CONNECT THE DOTS How much time your client will spend at a hub depends on whether they want a speedy connection – usually with bags checked through to their final destination – or want to get out and explore with a stopover. That might mean exiting the airport to see the city or simply getting a good night’s sleep in a hotel.
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travelweekly.co.uk
Deborah Wadhams, head of
long-haul product, Gold Medal “As well as providing value for money, stopovers offer a chance to integrate contrasting and complementary
experiences. Dubai and Abu Dhabi have always performed very well for Gold Medal, but stopovers in
Asia are also seeing growth. Those travelling to Langkawi, Penang or Borneo, for example, often include a few nights in Kuala Lumpur.”
Loraine Mehta, call
centre manager, Jetset “Flying direct on long-haul flights has its advantages, but so does flying via global hubs. Clients can break their journey to experience fantastic cuisines and attractions that perhaps they wouldn’t otherwise get to.
Advantages for agents are clear, as a stopover stay will probably require accommodation, transfers and potentially attraction passes.”
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