5 US Airports With The Potential To Become Legacy Airline Hubs

In the United States, legacy airlines operate hub-and-spoke networks, funneling passengers through centralized hubs to connect them between any two cities in their network with relative ease. In Europe, most legacy carriers will have a single major hub, through which almost every single one of their flights will pass. Examples of such hub facilities include British Airways’ principal hub at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and Air France’s primary gateway at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG).
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In the United States, airlines at one time did operate with this kind of single hub network, during an era in which dozens of legacy airlines existed across the country, most of which focused on traffic in pretty much just one market. Today, however, airline route networks are far more extensive, with the three major US carriers operating a handful of hubs each across the country.
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United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and, to a slightly lesser extent, American Airlines, are locked in a battle to be the largest and most financially successful airline in the country, and careful selection of route networks and hubs is essential for achieving this objective. All three carriers are constantly evaluating their existing list of facilities, and they are exploring what new airports could be fit for a new hub. Here are five U.S. airports with impressive potential to become a new legacy airline hub.
Tampa International Airport (TPA)
Airline most likely to create a new hub: Delta Air Lines
Current airlines with operating bases at TPA:
Silver Airways
Breeze Airways
Frontier Airlines
Southwest Airlines
The fastest-growing travel market in the United States is undeniably that of Florida. Amid the rise of remote work, an economic boom in the state, and an increasing focus on leisure travel, more passengers than ever are flying to Florida for vacation, and more and more people (especially those from the Northeast) are beginning to spend a major portion of their time in the state.
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Budget airlines have been onto this for quite a while now, with airlines like Avelo Airlines, Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, and Spirit Airlines drastically expanding their Florida offerings for years now, opening operating bases across the state. Legacy airlines have also been operating more and more services from the state.
They do, however, move a bit slower when it comes to opening up new hubs. Delta has sent some signals that it is interested in gaining a stronger position in the Tampa market. Currently, the airline operates a unique intercontinental connection between Tampa and Amsterdam (AMS), and it flies multiple times per day from its hub in Atlanta to the facility using widebody jets.
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
Airline most likely to create a new hub: Delta Air Lines
Current airlines with operating bases at CVG:
Allegiant Air
Frontier Airlines
Despite not having an operating base at the airport (unlike two different budget airlines) and serving way fewer destinations than multiple other carriers, Delta Air Lines still has the largest market share at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport of any carrier, controlling around 23% of traffic, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. It is not unreasonable to assume that this facility could be the next to become a major Delta hub.
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The airline currently serves multiple non-hub destinations from Cincinnati, including popular leisure services to Cancun (CUN), Las Vegas (LAS), and Tampa (TPA). Delta also operates a transatlantic route from the airport, offering nonstop service to Paris Charles de Gaulle.
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Airline most likely to create a new hub: Unclear
Current airlines with hubs at SAN:
Alaska Airlines
Much like Florida has rapidly become one of the most popular destinations in the country, passenger demand for sunny destinations in Southern California has skyrocketed. Passenger numbers have continued to rise over time, and could likely hit record levels in 2024, according to the airline’s website.
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Trying to figure out which legacy airline might be the first to try and build a hub at SAN can be somewhat difficult. United currently has the largest market share of the three legacy airlines at the airport, but Delta is the only one to operate routes to non-hub destinations from the airport. American Airlines, however, would likely see a SAN hub as fitting in nicely with its sun-belt-heavy network strategy.
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
Airline most likely to create a new hub: United Airlines
Current airlines with operating bases at CLE:
Frontier Airlines
United Airlines
For many, saying United could soon open a hub in Cleveland is a no-brainer. The airline operated a hub at the airport for decades, remains the most important carrier at the facility today, and operates maintenance bases at the facility.
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Furthermore, the airline operates multiple non-hub routes from Cleveland to leisure destinations in the Caribbean and Florida. With budget airlines continuing to expand their offerings from the airport, United may be forced to open a hub soon to compete with airlines like Frontier.
Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
Airline most likely to create a new hub: Delta Air Lines
Current airlines with operating bases at AUS:
Delta Air Lines
Allegiant Air
One of the fastest-growing airports in the United States, Austin Airport, recently shattered one-day passenger records when SEC football and the United States Grand Prix were in town for the same weekend. The airport is already a focus city for Delta, which has its sights on more expansion at the facility soon.
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The airline already operates services to 16 different domestic destinations from Austin, and it is also set to launch flights to six more destinations in the spring of next year alone. Delta is the only major legacy carrier to not currently operate a hub in Texas, and it could certainly have its sights on Austin Bergstrom to become its first.