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This paper looks at the various types of hubs that have evolved in the air transportation network in the USA. Since deregulation of the industry at the end of the 1970s, the major air carriers have expanded their networks to become more competitive, and the number and types of hubs have grown accordingly. A connectivity analysis using a traditional matrix approach is used to derive indices which are the basis for the development of a connectivity classification scheme. In addition, the various service functions of hubs are explored.

An airport with quality service can contribute to a city's quality of life and be an essential component in luring new residents and industry to an area. Competitive fares and convenient, frequent schedules are important to these prospective residents and, of course, to the current local population for both business and pleasure travel. However, for the small city, maintaining quality service can be a challenge. Small-city airports are harder to promote to major airlines as financially worthwhile ventures due to their lower traffic-generating potential.

Transportation plays a crucial role in the location and development of economic activity. Early transportation network development models discussed by Taaffe, Gauthier and O'Kelly (1996) as well as Lowe and Moryadas (1975) help to illustrate the important relationship between the two. These bodies of work clearly show that the most accessible places in a region are associated with a relatively higher level of economic buildup than those places disadvantaged by either the imposed transport network (such as being bypassed by the U.S Interstate highway system), or the lack of transport infrastructure altogether. This relationship between transportation and economic development is often considered to be a chicken-and-egg problem. In other words, does the creation of transportation arteries become an important stimulus for the attraction of economic activity, or does the presence of a potentially exploitable economic resource or comparative advantage (such as mining, agriculture, or even tourism) generate demand for the buildup of a transportation network?