Point to Point

Term from Airlines industry explained for recruiters

Point to Point is a flight service model where airlines operate direct flights between two cities without connecting flights or layovers. This is different from the traditional hub-and-spoke model where passengers often need to change planes at a central hub airport. Think of it like a direct bus route between two cities, instead of having to change buses at a central station. Airlines like Southwest and Ryanair are known for using this approach. It's also sometimes called "direct service" or "non-stop service" in the industry.

Examples in Resumes

Managed Point to Point route planning for 15 domestic destinations

Increased revenue by 30% through implementation of Point-to-Point flight operations

Developed scheduling strategies for Point to Point and Direct Flight services across Europe

Typical job title: "Route Planners"

Also try searching for:

Network Planner Route Development Manager Flight Operations Manager Air Service Development Manager Network Planning Analyst Route Strategy Manager

Where to Find Route Planners

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you evaluate the potential success of a new point-to-point route?

Expected Answer: A strong answer should mention analyzing market demand, competition, operational costs, aircraft availability, and seasonal patterns. They should also discuss examining demographic data and business travel needs in both cities.

Q: What factors would you consider when choosing between point-to-point versus hub-and-spoke operations?

Expected Answer: Should discuss passenger demand, operational costs, aircraft fleet considerations, airport constraints, and competition. Should also mention market characteristics and target customer segments.

Mid Level Questions

Q: How do you measure the success of a point-to-point route?

Expected Answer: Should mention load factors (how full flights are), revenue per flight, on-time performance, and customer satisfaction metrics. Should also discuss competitive response monitoring.

Q: What are the main challenges in managing point-to-point operations?

Expected Answer: Should discuss aircraft utilization, crew scheduling, seasonal demand variations, and maintaining profitability on routes with varying passenger loads.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What is the difference between point-to-point and hub-and-spoke models?

Expected Answer: Should explain that point-to-point offers direct flights between cities while hub-and-spoke requires connections through central airports. Should mention basic advantages and disadvantages of each.

Q: What data would you need to analyze a potential point-to-point route?

Expected Answer: Should mention passenger numbers between cities, local population data, business activity levels, tourist attractions, and competing services.

Experience Level Indicators

Junior (0-2 years)

  • Basic understanding of airline operations
  • Route analysis fundamentals
  • Data collection and reporting
  • Understanding of aviation terminology

Mid (2-5 years)

  • Route performance analysis
  • Scheduling optimization
  • Market demand assessment
  • Competition analysis

Senior (5+ years)

  • Strategic network planning
  • New route development
  • Revenue optimization
  • Team leadership and stakeholder management

Red Flags to Watch For

  • No understanding of basic airline operations
  • Lack of analytical skills
  • No experience with route planning tools
  • Unable to explain basic aviation terminology
  • No knowledge of airline business models