Final answer:
After the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, the aviation industry saw a reduction in airfares, higher flight occupancy, and an expanded hub-and-spoke system, facilitating the growth in regularly scheduled flights to Europe and Asia by the early 2000s.
Step-by-step explanation:
The history of aviation marks 1978 as a significant year with the passage of the Airline Deregulation Act, which removed governmental control over airfares and schedules. This deregulation led to increased competition, more efficient operations with higher average seat occupancy, and the development of the hub-and-spoke model.
The consequence of these changes was markedly lower airfares, which, in combination with expanded service through the hub-and-spoke system, resulted in the doubling of air passenger numbers from the late 1970s to the early 2000s. While the initial services to Europe and Asia did not start precisely at the time of deregulation, the new environment facilitated the expansion of international flight networks including regularly scheduled flights to these continents.