Over the past three decades, the commercial aviation industry has been dominated by two primary airline business models: legacy airlines and low-cost carriers. Legacy airlines have historically catered to business travelers, operating large-scale global networks through major hubs. They have a long-standing history in the market and extensive presence.
Low-cost carriers, on the other hand, focus on reducing operational costs to offer cheaper tickets. These airlines often charge additional fees for services like checked baggage and seat assignments.
Despite the prominence of these two models, other unique airline business models exist today. One such model is the hybrid carrier, which combines elements of both legacy and low-cost carriers. Hybrid carriers offer slightly discounted fares while providing comfortable inflight experiences. They tend to operate leisure-oriented networks serving high-volume vacation destinations and typically have a few hubs rather than point-to-point models.