Final answer:
The 'hub-and-spoke' system in airlines allows passengers to connect through a major hub city when traveling between smaller cities. This system became more prevalent after the deregulation of the industry, resulting in lower fares, more jobs, and safer travel.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept described in the question pertains to the hub-and-spoke system, which is a model of airline operation whereby a central city, or 'hub', facilitates travel to and from peripheral cities, or 'spokes'. This system allows passengers to travel between smaller, less busy airports via connections at a major hub airport.
The prevalence of this system increased following the deregulation of the airline industry, which led to more competitive airfares, more efficient flights with higher occupancy, and expanded service networks.
By reducing fares and increasing the number of destinations, not only did the number of air passengers see a significant increase, but the number of jobs within the airline industry also doubled, showcasing a booming transportation sector. Additionally, with stringent oversight by government safety inspectors, air travel safety has been on a steady rise.
For example, if a passenger wants to travel from City A to City B, they might take a flight from City A to the hub city, and then transfer to a flight from the hub city to City B. This system offers more convenient travel options for passengers and allows airlines to efficiently manage their flight schedules.