Originally Posted by
Supersonic Swinger
For most flyers based in Asia, Australia or Africa getting to points in central Europe, BUD involves a double connection which makes it useless as hub - and LHR, MAD and HEL involve much more travel time than connecting FRA/MUC/ZRH/VIE or FCO/CDG/AMS. I really wish BA hadn't let LX slip into the clutches of LH back in 2004.
Actually AY routings between East Asia and Europe are pretty straight without any backtracking (ICN, NRT, NGO, KIX, PEK, PVG, HKG). Of course there are dozens of other important cities in Asia and AY's European destinations do not cover every city in Central Europe. However, the most wanted connections are rather easy and fast.