airline

American  

[air-lahyn] / ˈɛərˌlaɪn /

noun

• airlines
  plural

1. Aeronautics.

   1. a system furnishing air transport, usually scheduled, between specified points.

   2. the airplanes, airports, etc., of such a system.

   3. Often airlines a company that owns or operates such a system.

2. a direct line; beeline.

3. an airhose used to pipe air to a deep-sea diver, pneumatic drill, etc.

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adjective

1. of or on an airline.

airline British  

/ ˈɛəˌlaɪn /

noun

1. 1. a system or organization that provides scheduled flights for passengers or cargo

   2. ( as modifier )

      an airline pilot

2. a hose or tube carrying air under pressure

3. a beeline

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• airlines
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of airline

First recorded in 1910–15; air ¹ + line ¹

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Explanation

An airline is a company that owns and operates a fleet of planes. You might pick an airline for your trip to Hawaii based on who sells the least expensive tickets. The airline is the business that maintains airplanes for commercial and business travel. Some people have a strong preference for one airline over another — you may enjoy flying with the airline that provides homemade cookies to its passengers, for example. Baggage handlers, flight attendants, and pilots all work for an airline. The original, 1813 meaning of airline was quite different: "a straight line between two points on the earth's surface."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

airline airlines

The airline unveiled the name of the new airport lounges it is developing with Chase.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

Delta Air Lines has led the U.S. airline industry’s premium-travel push and this week we got a look at what’s coming to its pricey Delta One business-class cabin.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

“Notable increases in this category include car and truck rental, airline fare and intracity transportation,” said Helen Lao of CIBC.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 14, 2026

German airline Lufthansa has won the contest to buy a major stake in TAP Air Portugal, the Portuguese prime minister said Wednesday, after months of efforts to privatise the state-rescued airline.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026

They hugged, and she told Joseph about the flu that had kept his father from flying in for the funeral, and she complained about the luggage the airline had almost lost at Heathrow.

From "The Marvels" by Brian Selznick

She usually finds nothing in her seat pocket beyond the safety card, and doesn’t understand why airlines aren’t paying closer attention.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

Like other airlines, TAP has been buffeted by soaring jet fuel costs from the war in the Middle East.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026

Find insight on Chinese hybrid cars, Porsche, European airlines and more in the latest Market Talks covering the auto and transport sector.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026

Its standard fare—which, unlike many airlines, is also available in premium economy—includes cosmetic products from celebrity facialist Joanna Vargas.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026

In commercial airlines, captains and first officers split the flying duties equally.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

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