air traffic

American  

noun

1. aircraft moving in flight or on airport runways.

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air traffic British  

noun

1. the organized movement of aircraft within a given space

2. the passengers, cargo, or mail carried by aircraft

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Etymology

Origin of air traffic

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

The salvo caused disruptions in air traffic, with flights canceled and long lines for check-in and luggage retrieval at Moscow’s airports.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026

It’s also competing to provide the Federal Aviation Administration with a new AI tool for air traffic management, according to reports.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 30, 2026

The air traffic controller asks him for more details: “Do you have like approximate size or how many engines or style or anything like that?”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026

The preliminary investigation found that one of the most egregious errors occurred when air traffic controllers gave clearance to the fire truck crew to cross the runway while the jet was approaching.

From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026

That research, and other investigations like it, led to changes in air traffic regulations, mandating minimum distances between flight paths so as to prevent that kind of wake turbulence accident.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly