Over the last few months, I have found myself grappling with the frustrations of flight delays. This week, a thought struck me, the airline industry’s predominant issue, in my observation, lies in its extensive consolidation and centralization around colossal hubs. This consolidation has resulted in a scenario where reaching most cities now requires connecting flights unless one is traveling between major urban centers. It appears that everything has been centralized, and these central hubs are a consequence of the federal government’s inclination to centralize every aspect of our lives. Centralization, despite its perceived efficiency, is far from ideal. Its vulnerability to disasters and catastrophes, coupled with the constant pressure on airlines, begs for a more decentralized approach.

Centralization is ill-suited to be resilient. Centralized systems, as many of us have experienced, are susceptible to calamities and crises. 

Now contrast these centralized systems with nature. When a hurricane devastates a region or wildfires wreaks havoc, these environments have the ability to bounce back precisely because they are decentralized. Nature thrives on distributed architectures, and achieves a remarkable level of resilience.

Airlines, driven by the need to transport passengers from one place to another, are compelled to reassess their approach. Instead of relying solely on concentrated hubs, an alternative could involve a more distributed network of airports throughout the country. By doubling the number of airports and strategically spreading them across the nation, the potential for more connecting or direct flights between smaller cities and major hubs would increase significantly.

The drawbacks of centralization extend beyond the airline industry; they permeate other spheres of our lives, including politics and media. Over-centralization within politics, whether within the two major parties or the encroachment of the federal government on state and local jurisdictions, has diminished resilience. Our political system, as a result, lacks the ability to adapt and cater to the diverse range of opinions held by the majority of individuals. Furthermore, centralized media and other aspects of society contribute to the dominance of polarizing views, controlled by a minority, while the majority’s nuanced perspectives are overshadowed. Centralization proves detrimental to the robustness of our political, social, and informational landscapes.

Centralization poses significant challenges and disadvantages across various domains, including the airline industry. By acknowledging the inherent vulnerability of centralization and embracing a more distributed approach, we can foster resilience and efficiency. We need to embrace humility and learn from the wisdom found in the decentralized nature of the world around us, by designing systems that can withstand challenges — scaling and contracting as needed.