Analyzing the Hub Performance, Efficiency and Network Connectivity at Hub Airports

What are (is) the main application areas (area) the author/s covered? (or What are the main research questions the author/s addressed?)

This paper mainly focuses on analyzing the hub performance, efficiency and network connectivity at hub airports that are utilized by Single Hub Airlines.

The study takes as example Turkish Airlines (TK) and Emirates (EK) and their network strategy, in terms of network connectivity at each hub airport and introduces a new model for evaluating connectivity at Istanbul Ataturk and Dubai airports.

Ultimately, the case is trying to define and make a comparison of the connection quantity and quality (network performance) of each airline and the impact of the single hub on their competitiveness.

According to the paper, what is the essence of the topic covered? (or What are the main contributions of the paper?)

The essence of the paper is to introduce a new model to literature in the field of connectivity and the proposed methodology is used to derive conclusions about hub performance and efficiency of the newly emerging hub and spoke model airlines: Turkish Airlines and Emirates.

The quantity and quality of connectivity at Istanbul Atatürk and Dubai International airports is therefore evaluated for these two airlines and their alliance codeshare partners.

Please give the name/s of the used Business Analytics (BA) method/s. Why did the author/s specifically choose this/these method/s?

The paper uses as Business Analytics (BA) method of the Hub Connectivity Performance Analyzer (HCPA) in order to perform the evaluation of hub connectivity. The HCPA examines the published schedules of Turkish Airlines and Emirates obtained from the Official Airline Guide (OAG) and evaluates the quantity and quality of all feasible connections through Istanbul Ataturk and Dubai airports, respectively.

The HCPA also evaluates schedule- and comfort-related attributes of indirect flights and the results are demonstrated in two, the Hub connectivity Performance Index (HCPI) and the Hub Efficiency Index. This model comprises two separate modules: the quantity module and the quality module.

Although a number of different models have already been proposed in previous studies for the assessment of hub connectivity, the authors prefer to use their model, which they developed in their previous studies. They claim that the HCPA is more comprehensive and detailed in a way to incorporate the quantity module (Minimum Connecting Time, Maximum Connecting Time and Maximum Geographical Detour) as well as the quality module (Individual Quality Index: Routing Factor, Time Factor, Seat Factor, Service Quality Factor, Frequency Factor).

Please indicate an alternative BA method that may be used for the same purpose. If there is no alternative method, please note