A method for computing flight emissions and identifying potential Point-to-Point aviation markets

This research incorporates the prediction of carbon emissions of the current (2007) Hub-and-Spoke based air traffic system with the development of potential Point-to-Point air traffic routes. To accomplish this a Hub-and-Spoke carbon emission calculator is developed and a Spoke-To-Hub-To-Destination Passenger Demand Estimator is incorporated into the Hub-and-Spoke carbon emission calculator. This estimator predicts passenger demand from all Spoke Origins within 240 km of each of the 35 major hubs in the United States to all of the other 35 major hubs. These Spoke-To-Hub-To-Destination route demands were sorted from highest to lowest. Routes with annual demands of 4500 passengers were isolated. Three of the largest domestic (excluding Hawaii) demands were further analyzed as case studies to determine carbon emission savings by initiating alternate Point-to-Point routes. Hypothetical extrapolation of these three case studies to the greater air traffic system suggests substantial dioxide of carbon (CO₂) emission reductions as well as hub congestion reduction along with many other environmental and service oriented advantages.