Our guide to hub airports

A concourse at Dubai International Airport

 

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 (pictured main), 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 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.”

 

How to sell connecting flights

Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport

 

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.

 

Hub airports are designed to offer favourable flight connections, with landing and take-off slots for key route pairings synchronised to allow passengers time to move through the airport before boarding their next flight. Plus, if the two flights are booked on the same PNR, clients are protected in the case of delays or missed connections.

 

Sleeping in hub airports

 

XpresSpa, Dubai International Airport

 

Even if clients have only a couple of hours, agents can position it as a way to break up the journey and stretch the legs – particularly valuable for those travelling with children.

 

Families can use quiet zones to chill out, while play areas encourage kids to burn off excess energy: Boston’s Logan International Airport even features Kidports, a fun-sized version of the airport environment, complete with foam play areas and slides.

 

To add extra value to your pitch, brush up on entertainment and comfort facilities in the airports you book most frequently. Abu Dhabi, Doha and Dubai entice with shopping and in-airport spas, while Singapore’s Changi excels with a rooftop pool, cinema and nature-themed Jewel complex.

 

Mohamed Rafi Mar, UK and Ireland general manager of Singapore Airlines, says: “In Changi, indoor gardens, a butterfly sanctuary and the Rain Vortex – the world’s largest indoor waterfall – await.”

 

Jewel at Singapore’s Changi airport. Image credit: Shutterstock/NataliaCatalina.com

 

Adding lounge access can also be a great upselling opportunity and a chance for clients to freshen up between long-haul legs. Matt Rushbrooke, commercial and product director at Inspiring Travel, says: “Lounges offer a peaceful escape from airport crowds, and can range from basic comfort to premium lounges that offer showers, nap rooms and daybeds.

 

Find out guest requirements, such as how long a client wants to spend in the lounge, what type of drinks and food they are looking for and if they need access to a business room.”

 

Sleepover pods at Dubai International Airport. Image credit: Chandan Sojitra

 

Airside hotels and sleep pods are also an option for longer connections. Frequently available by the hour, they provide a peaceful place to nap between flights without having to go through airport security or passport control.

 

Booking.com’s 2025 Travel Predictions research revealed that Gen Z and millennial travellers were particularly keen to spend on airport luxuries such as sleep pods, with more than a third expressing interest in the concept.

 

Stopover city stays

 

The Blue Lagoon, Iceland – just a 20-minute drive from the airport. Image credit: Shutterstock/Palmi Gudmundsson

 

Connecting flights can help you add a bonus destination to your client’s trip, with airline stopover tours and accommodation programmes enabling those with more time to get out and explore the city.

 

Here, agents are at an advantage, as booking stopovers independently can be confusing: customers need to search for eligible flights and, in some cases, apply for their hotel bookings via the airline.

 

For agents, visiting an airline’s trade portal or signing up for free training programmes – such as the array of aviation courses via Online Travel Training (OTT) – offer a way to learn how to get the most out of a stopover programme.

 

Swimming pool at Oryx Airport Hotel in Doha. Image credit: Shutterstock/Danny Iacob

 

For example, Qatar Airways, Oman Air and Etihad Airways include free or heavily discounted luxury hotels to encourage passengers to linger in Doha, Oman and Abu Dhabi, with the chance to enjoy a four or five-star hotel for a bargain price.

 

Dubai is another popular stopover location. Jabr Al-Azeeby, Emirates’ UK vice-president, says: “With Emirates’ stopover programme, agents can add value to itineraries by turning a Dubai connection into an experience.

 

Clients can choose from hundreds of attractions – from helicopter rides, desert safaris and boat tours to shopping, beaches and culture.”

 

Tour operator stopover packages

 

Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour at night. Image credit: Hong Kong Tourism Board

 

Taking advantage of tour operator packages is another effective way to earn commission on flight bookings that go via a hub airport – Wendy Wu Tours sells stopover add-ons of three to four days. Gary King, head of trade sales, says: “Even when direct flights are available, many travellers are happy to pay a little extra to turn a long-haul journey into two distinct experiences.

 

Our most popular combinations include Singapore before or after Vietnam and Cambodia tours; Hong Kong paired with China or Japan; and Dubai alongside India and southeast Asia itineraries. These short stays are a fantastic way to boost sales and commission, while giving customers one holiday that feels like two.”

 

 

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Book it

 

Travelpack sells an 11-night Doha and the Maldives itinerary from £2,469 per person, based on two sharing. Includes flights from Heathrow with Qatar Airways, luggage, transfers, four nights with breakfast at Hilton Doha The Pearl, three excursions in Qatar and seven nights’ half-board in a Sunset Villa at Canareef Resort Maldives. Based on a June 15 departure. 
travelpack.com

 

Gold Medal sells a 10-night Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi itinerary from £1,479 per person, based on two sharing. Includes Malaysia Airlines flights from Heathrow, luggage, private transfers, three nights at the AC Hotel Kuala Lumpur and seven nights in a Rainforest Chalet at Berjaya Langkawi Resort, both with breakfast. Valid for departures between January 28-31. 
goldmedal.co.uk

 

Inspiring Travel sells a 20-night holiday to Australia from £7,745 per person, based on two sharing. Includes an 18-night self-drive tour of Australia, two nights in the Shangri-La Hotel Singapore, all flights and lounge access in Heathrow, Singapore and Cairns. Valid for departures in October 2026. 
inspiringtravel.co.uk

 

 

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Ask the experts

 

 

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.”

 

 

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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5 of the best stopovers

 

Hong Kong

 

If clients have a Hong Kong stop of seven hours or more, they can avail themselves of a new free layover programme. One tour includes a trip to Wong Tai Sin Temple and markets, the other takes in West Kowloon Cultural District and Victoria Harbour.
hongkongairport.com

 

Portugal

 

National airline TAP Air Portugal offers stopovers in Lisbon and Porto. Partner hotels, attractions and restaurants in either city are discounted by up to 50%.
flytap.com

 

Amsterdam

 

KLM’s hub, Schiphol, is a 20-minute drive from the city centre. Tui Musement sells a private guided tour for five-hour stopovers from £48, based on eight sharing.
tuimusement.com

 

Iceland

 

The Land of Fire and Ice is handily positioned for transatlantic journeys, with Icelandair offering the chance to add a stopover with no extra flight fare. For little layovers, the Blue Lagoon is a 20-minute drive from the airport: transfers are available via Do Something Different from £51.
dosomethingdifferent.com

 

Singapore

 

For those with between five-and-a-half and 24 hours to spare, a complimentary Singapore tour is on offer. Clients can explore Arab Street, Marina Bay Sands and Sentosa island.
changiairport.com