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

Etymology

Origin of airline

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

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

“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

He’s considering reaching out to an airline captain who says Avi can join a morning flight from Newark to Washington, D.C., and be home by the afternoon.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

He’s shadowed a dog groomer, a radio show host and a ramen shop owner, and is reviewing requests from an airline captain and a tattoo artist.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

A spokesperson for Delta said the airline "has zero tolerance for unruly or unlawful behavior, as the safety of our customers and crew always comes first."

From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026

Self-taught civil engineers are probably as trustworthy as self-taught brain surgeons and self-taught airline pilots.

From "100 Sideways Miles" by Andrew Smith

The aircraft damage is set to weigh on war risk insurance policies that airlines are required to have to fly their planes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 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

To Miedl, the kits are a way for airlines to treat their high-spending passengers like valued guests, not just customers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026

France, Canada and Germany are warning airlines that flying over all or large parts of Saudi Arabia is no longer safe.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026

For example, many airlines teach a standardized procedure for copilots to challenge the pilot if he or she thinks something has gone terribly awry.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell