The regenerative capabilities of hillock basal stem cells set them apart from other known airway epithelial stem cell populations. Unlike the largely quiescent classic pseudostratified airway epithelium, hillock basal stem cells exhibit significantly higher turnover rates, allowing for rapid cell replenishment and regeneration of the airway epithelium. Moreover, hillock basal stem cells have the unique ability to undergo massive clonal expansion, which is essential for resurfacing denuded areas of the airway and regenerating all six component cell types of the normal airway epithelium. This regenerative capacity surpasses that of other airway epithelial stem cell populations, making hillock basal stem cells a crucial player in airway epithelial regeneration.