Finding cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages has become increasingly difficult for travelers trying to fly out of small to mid size cities as a result of a reduction in airline hub cities.
One of the results of airline mergers over the past 20 years is that airlines have significantly reduced their number of hubs which has had a much larger impact on smaller cities.
Some of the hub reductions are simply actions to save money. Delta recently decided to reduce 25 percent of its flights in Memphis, Tennessee.
Travelers living in big cities usually have the option to fly nonstop if desired. Things have dramatically changed over time in mid size cities such as Pittsburg. Its airport used to be one of the most important hubs in the US Airways system, offering nonstop service to Europe and hundreds of flights daily to destinations across the country. Now it handles only 165 flights daily to 37 domestic airports.
Baltimore, Columbus, Ohio; Las Vegas; Nashville; Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina; San Jose, California; and St. Louis all had hubs that have closed over the last 20 years.
Cincinnati has also experienced severe Delta flight reductions in the last few years. Many experts expect Cleveland will suffer a similar fate as United and Continental integrate their fleets.
Travelers flying out of those cities have fewer schedule options, as do fliers who used to connect via these cities.
Travelers living in smaller cities must decide whether to select flights from the reduced offerings, adjusting their schedules and budgets accordingly, or drive to close-by airports to access more frequent flights for less money. www.cheapfares.com