Connectivity and Network Robustness of European Integrators

Although redundancy is often associated with lower efficiency, redundant networks can provide integrators with the flexibility and capacity to respond to issues in the delivery network. This study analyzes the air transportation network strategies and robustness of the four largest European integrators, estimating the loss in connectivity when a node becomes unavailable. Accordingly, we develop a robustness index that accounts for the importance of airports in the network to each of the four main integrators, in terms of connections and freight capacity. The outcomes reveal that integrators operating within a hub-and-spoke type network are less resistant to network disruptions, while robustness is higher in less concentrated networks. The results highlight that integrators develop different network strategies to manage the trade-off between network efficiency and robustness, which may vary depending on the standardized or customized services expected by clients.