Why launching 24 aircraft was not enough

Why was Graf Zeppelin's ability to catapult 24 aircraft not equivalent to an effective carrier strike?

Because slow sequential launching burned fuel, reduced range, complicated formation, and left little capacity for rapid follow-on sorties.

The defense of the system emphasizes launching without turning into the wind and sending a 24-aircraft package. The reply shifts the test to operational tempo: the first aircraft circle and burn scarce fuel while the rest leave two catapults, and the finite compressed-air supply limits follow-on launches. Other contemporary carriers could use catapults or rolling takeoffs to launch larger portions of their air groups without making the entire cycle depend on two machines. The Illustrious class, Ark Royal, and American carriers could launch their full air groups rather than stopping at 24 aircraft. A slow sequence either shortens the whole formation's radius or sends aircraft toward the target in an easily defeated stream.