Kremarik, F., Zhang, Xingman, Gao, X., Wang, Kailai, Shang, W., Zhao, X and Cao, M. 2026. From transport hubs to sustainable hubs: a long-term network framework for resilience in U.S. aviation. Transportmetrica B: Transport Dynamics. 14 (1) 2713579. https://doi.org/10.1080/21680566.2026.2713579
| Title | From transport hubs to sustainable hubs: a long-term network framework for resilience in U.S. aviation |
|---|---|
| Type | Journal article |
| Authors | Kremarik, F., Zhang, Xingman, Gao, X., Wang, Kailai, Shang, W., Zhao, X and Cao, M. |
| Abstract | This study assesses whether and, if so, how transport hubs in the U.S. aviation network have evolved into sustainable hubs. By constructing a flow-weighted network and carbon-weighted network for the period from 1971 to 2024, we evaluate the evolution of the U.S. aviation system across three interconnected dimensions: carbon efficiency; network efficiency; and structural resilience. We find: (1) the U.S. aviation network has not evolved in a linear fashion towards sustainability, but rather, it is governed by persistent trade-offs between efficiency, carbon emissions and structural resilience. (2) Hub-and-spoke structures have significantly improved network efficiency, but they have also intensified the spatial concentration of carbon emissions at a small number of key nodes, through traffic polarisation, thus weakening the structural resilience of the system. (3) Spatial heterogeneity implies that effective network restructuring requires coordinated structural decentralisation and redundancy enhancement to improve efficiency and resilience. These results provide evidence-based insights for low-carbon spatial planning and resilience-oriented governance in aviation systems. |
| Keywords | Sustainable hubs; aviation networks; carbon efficiency; network efficiency; structural resilience; long-term spatiotemporal analysis |
| Article number | 2713579 |
| Journal | Transportmetrica B: Transport Dynamics |
| Journal citation | 14 (1) |
| ISSN | 2168-0566 |
| 2168-0582 | |
| Year | 2026 |
| Publisher | Taylor & Francis |
| Accepted author manuscript | File Access Level Open (open metadata and files) |
| Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1080/21680566.2026.2713579 |
| Publication dates | |
| Published | 05 Aug 2026 |