What people tend to forget is that airlines are in this business to make money, not to provide convenient travel to all and sundry. In a perfest world everyone would have cheap fares from an easily accessed airport. However, the reality is that bigger aircraft with more pax equals less seat/mile costs and more money for the beancounters to hoard. Operating from smaller regional airports would mean spreading the fleet, using smaller aircraft and perhaps using different makes of aircraft needing a different spares holding and trained engineers, not to mention all the extra staff (whether directly employed or as a handling agent)and aircrew to operate and handle these extra aircraft. This would doubtless be less economical for these money stackers and a lot less attractive an idea. The hub and spoke system works well with smaller airlines and smaller aircraft feeding the major hubs. If one does not fly from a local convenient airport it is probably for a good reason, ie they may have already looked at it and decided that the projected loads are not good for the company profits.
Remember, the bottom line is to make as much loot as possible and if it aint gonna pay, you aint gonna get a service.
Doc C.
[This message has been edited by Doctor Cruces (edited 20 May 2001).]