Wet Racoon wrote:

However, when your network is made up of mostly such connecting itineraries,
it is one reason why your airline cannot compete with the ilks of Southwest.
There is no way that it costs the airline less to fly you via chicago versus
putting you on a non-stop flight. Consider the additional landing/takeoff
costs, gate costs, luggage transfer costs, extra staff at gates, and the costs
when flights are delayed/cancelled and you have a bunch of stranded people at
the connecting city (hotels, meals etc).

But.. compare the costs/revenues of having a plane fly 1/2 full from
SJC-Miami or having a full plane from SJC-ORD and a full plane from
ORD-MIA. An extreme example, of course, but the principal issue is that
a hub and spoke system is cost efficient.