28-06-2012, 12:19 PM
Drawbacks of Coco Cola hub & spoke model
Drawbacks of Coco Cola hub.docx (Size: 14.97 KB / Downloads: 29)
Because the model is centralized, day-to-day operations may be relatively inflexible. Changes at the hub, or even in a single route, could have unexpected consequences throughout the network. It may be difficult or impossible to handle occasional periods of high demand between two spokes.
Route scheduling is complicated for the network operator. Scarce resources must be used carefully to avoid starving the hub. Careful traffic analysis and precise timing are required to keep the hub operating efficiently.
The hub constitutes a bottleneck or single point of failure in the network. Total cargo capacity of the network is limited by the hub's capacity. Delays at the hub (caused, for example, by bad weather conditions) can result in delays throughout the network. Delays at a spoke (from mechanical problems with an airplane, for example) can also affect the network.
Cargo must pass through the hub before reaching its destination, requiring longer journeys than direct point-to-point trips. This trade-off may be desirable for freight, which can benefit from sorting and consolidating operations at the hub, but not for time-critical cargo and passengers.
Two flights are required to reach the most of the destinations. Landing on the hub and spending some time there increases the duration of the journey (safety screening may be necessary again before boarding the second plane). Miss of the connecting flight is possible and may be more troublesome than just a flight delay.