Abstract In this paper we propose, to the best of our knowledge, the first analysis of the global networks of integrators FedEx, UPS, and DHL using network science. While noticing that all three networks rely on a “hub-and-spoke” structure, the network configuration of DHL leans towards a multi-“hub-and-spoke” structure that reflects the different business strategy of the integrator. We also analyzed the robustness of the networks, identified the most critical airports per integrator, and assessed that the network of DHL is the most robust according to our definition of robustness. Finally, given the unprecedented historical time that the airline industry is facing at the moment of writing, we provided some insights into how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the global capacity of integrators and other cargo airlines. Our results suggest that full-cargo airlines and, much more dramatically, combination airlines were impacted by the pandemic. On the other hand, apart from fluctuations in offered capacity due to travel bans that were quickly recovered thanks to the resilience of their networks, integrators seem to have escaped the early months of the pandemic unscathed.

中文翻译：

---

集成商的全球网络：拓扑分析，深入了解 COVID-19 大流行的影响


摘要：据我们所知，在本文中，我们首次使用网络科学对联邦快递、UPS 和 DHL 集成商的全球网络进行了分析。尽管注意到这三个网络都依赖于“中心辐射”结构，但DHL的网络配置倾向于多“中心辐射”结构，这反映了集成商不同的业务策略。我们还分析了网络的稳健性，确定了每个集成商最关键的机场，并根据我们对稳健性的定义评估 DHL 的网络是最稳健的。最后，考虑到在撰写本文时航空业面临着前所未有的历史时期，我们提供了一些关于 COVID-19 大流行如何影响集成商和其他货运航空公司的全球运力的见解。我们的结果表明，全货运航空公司，以及更严重的是，联合航空公司受到了这一流行病的影响。另一方面，除了由于旅行禁令导致的供应能力波动（由于其网络的弹性而迅速恢复）之外，集成商似乎毫发无伤地躲过了大流行的最初几个月。