Air mouse not working if attached directly to USB, but it works if attached using a hub

I have similar experiences also with other USB devices. The devices are not quite compatible with the system in the computer (hardware and/or software), but the hub can provide an interface, that works with both the USB device and the USB system in the computer.

My solution (maybe you would call it a workaround) is to use the hub and be happy.

If it is a very new device, and it is a software issue, maybe a newer or future version of Ubuntu will make it work without the hub.

You can try live, 'Try Ubuntu', booted from a USB pendrive or DVD disk with Ubuntu 17.10.1 and Ubuntu Bionic to be released soon (in April 2018) as Ubuntu 18.04 LTS.

The USB pendrive may or may not need the hub for the computer to boot from it ;-)