Configuration of an overnight package air network

The advent and growth of the overnight package industry has been one of the most dramatic changes in North American transportation over the last 10 years. This paper examines the impact of overnight restrictions and time zones on the configuration of an air freight network. The location of a hub terminal impacts the arrival pattern of airplanes at the terminal. For locations to the east of center, arrivals are spread over a longer time span than for locations to the west of center. This allows shipments to be delivered within a short time window without as large investments in sorting equipment. The impact of overnight restrictions on multiple terminal networks is also examined.