airline

American  

[air-lahyn] / ˈɛərˌlaɪn /

noun

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.

---

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

---

Etymology

Origin of airline

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

Example Sentences

While the jet-fuel and fertilizer narrative is a nice contrast to sputtering airline stocks, regulatory changes at home, rather than supply disruptions in the Middle East, are what have analysts on Wall Street most excited.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

TD Cowen analyst Tom Fitzgerald on Thursday reduced price targets on a few airline stocks.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

Jet-fuel prices hit $4.62 a gallon, up from $2.50 before the conflict, increasing airline costs by hundreds of millions of dollars.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

India's largest airline IndiGo has named aviation industry veteran William Walsh as its new chief executive, weeks after the resignation of its former CEO.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

“On a very simple level, one of the things we insist upon at my airline is that the first officer and the captain call each other by their first names,” Ratwatte said.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell