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

While some air traffic that would have passed through the Middle East has gone to airlines outside the region, this is "a temporary issue", Walsh said.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

User-friendly design can save lives by allowing for legibility and shared understanding, making it safer to run nuclear power plants, air traffic control towers, and robotic surgical systems.

From Slate • Apr. 4, 2026

The war has severed key logistics routes, scared away tourists from cities like Dubai and dramatically reduced air traffic throughout the region.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

“We’re going to be addressing that, because that was not good,” the air traffic controller responded.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

Several pilots from the 586th also became air traffic controllers.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein