may soon make the current hub-and-spoke system obsolete.
Background
Most studies that have been conducted about the airline industry are very broad,
examining current profit margins, industry trends, and forecasting future trends for the next few
financial quarters. Many times these studies will offer insight about why growth may be
sluggish or what particular airline is performing poorly and what the future may hold for the
struggling airline. Standard and Poor’s Airline Industry Survey, May 2004, offers this type of
information about the airlines. This series, published periodically dating back to 1973, offers
insight on the operations of airlines and how the industry is performing in the midst of change. It