The hub system is the cornerstone  of Air France’s strategy, as it reduces the impact of operations on the environment by improving load factors and limiting the number of flights.

It takes 4,950 direct flights to connect a network of 100 cities, whereas this figure drops to 100 routes when you go through a hub.

By channelling medium-haul traffic flows onto a long-haul flight, the hub system can be compared to car pooling. For example, the passenger from Marseille and another from  Stockholm travel together between Paris and New York. This means that fewer flights are necessary to carry the same number of passengers, with positive consequences on the environment.