The entire aviation industry was severely hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving airplanes stranded and airports empty of the usual hustle. While the full consequences of this crisis are yet unknown, it only adds fuel to the ongoing debates about the future of the aviation sector, including airport capacity and environmental challenges facing many hub airports around Europe. While conventional aviation research describes the development of hub airports as a function of varying geo-economic variables, this research sheds light on the societal underpinnings of the makings of hub airports. From an airport governance perspective, a case study of four European hub airports, representing both expanding and struggling hubs, was conducted. Based on interviews with 31 airport stakeholders from four different countries (i.e. Belgium, Finland, the Netherlands and Switzerland) as well as a review of strategic and policy documents, the authors argue that the development of hub airports and their corresponding governance models is a non-linear process, informed to a great degree by societal and discursive factors. The authors conclude that developing and sustaining a well-functioning hub airport that supports regional development necessitates an active stance from local, regional and national authorities. A clear and strategic governance model is needed, one that is not limited to ownership and regulation questions, but one that guarantees a wide-ranging consensus among airport stakeholders. Finally, the paper provides a perspective on future potentials and challenges facing European hub airports.

COVID-19大流行严重打击了整个航空业，使飞机滞留在飞机场中，而机场却没有通常的喧嚣。尽管这场危机的全部后果尚不得而知，但这只会加剧有关航空业未来的持续辩论，包括欧洲各地许多枢纽机场面临的机场容量和环境挑战。尽管常规航空研究将枢纽机场的发展描述为变化的地缘经济变量的函数，但这项研究为枢纽机场构架的社会基础提供了启示。从机场治理的角度，对四个欧洲枢纽机场进行了案例研究，这两个机场既代表着不断扩大的枢纽，也​​处于困境中。根据对来自四个不同国家（即比利时，芬兰，（荷兰和瑞士）以及对战略和政策文件的审查，作者认为，枢纽机场及其相应治理模型的发展是一个非线性过程，很大程度上受到社会和话语因素的影响。作者得出的结论是，要发展和维持一个运转良好的枢纽机场以支持区域发展，就需要地方，区域和国家当局的积极立场。需要一种清晰且具有战略意义的治理模型，该模型不仅限于所有权和法规问题，还应确保在机场利益相关者之间达成广泛共识。最后，本文提供了欧洲枢纽机场未来潜力和挑战的观点。作者认为，枢纽机场及其相应治理模式的发展是一个非线性过程，很大程度上受到社会和话语因素的影响。作者得出的结论是，要发展和维持一个运转良好的枢纽机场以支持区域发展，就需要地方，区域和国家当局的积极立场。需要一种清晰且具有战略意义的治理模型，该模型不仅限于所有权和法规问题，还应确保在机场利益相关者之间达成广泛共识。最后，本文提供了欧洲枢纽机场未来潜力和挑战的观点。作者认为，枢纽机场及其相应治理模式的发展是一个非线性过程，很大程度上受到社会和话语因素的影响。作者得出的结论是，要发展和维持一个运转良好的枢纽机场以支持区域发展，就需要地方，区域和国家当局的积极立场。需要一种清晰且具有战略意义的治理模型，该模型不仅限于所有权和法规问题，还应确保在机场利益相关者之间达成广泛共识。最后，本文提供了欧洲枢纽机场未来潜力和挑战的观点。作者得出的结论是，要发展和维持一个运转良好的枢纽机场以支持区域发展，就需要地方，区域和国家当局的积极立场。需要一种清晰且具有战略意义的治理模型，该模型不仅限于所有权和法规问题，还应确保在机场利益相关者之间达成广泛共识。最后，本文提供了欧洲枢纽机场未来潜力和挑战的观点。作者得出的结论是，要发展和维持一个运转良好的枢纽机场以支持区域发展，就需要地方，区域和国家当局的积极立场。需要一种清晰且具有战略意义的治理模型，该模型不仅限于所有权和法规问题，还应确保在机场利益相关者之间达成广泛共识。最后，本文提供了欧洲枢纽机场未来潜力和挑战的观点。