The global network of links between the world’s airports looks robust but contains a hidden weakness that could lead to entire regions of the planet being cut off.
The core of the world airline network consist of 73 airports that are all connected by almost 400 triangles. These are airports like Frankfurt, Heathrow, Dubai, Chicago, Los Angeles, and so on.
What’s curious about this core is that if all 73 of its airports are removed from the network, 90% of the other airports are still interconnected. That appears to show a remarkable degree of robustness.
But the world airline network also consists of another network of peripheral airports that are hugely vulnerable. Close the hubs that connect to these airports and entire regions of the planet could become inaccessible.
World's Airline Network - MIT Technology Review