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

You can check within three days of departure and it even accounts for last-minute plane swaps, the airline says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

That wide-body plane, operated by another state-backed airline, Riyadh Air, is insured for more than $130 million.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 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 nearly half of 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

A gate agent came over and switched my oxygen container out with one provided by the airline.

From "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green

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

And the airlines have gone to great lengths to outdo each other, inking deals with high-end fashion and beauty retailers: Turkish Airlines and Lanvin, Delta and Missoni, Saudia and Elie Saab.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 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

It was as if Wall Street had decided to allow everyone to gamble on the punctuality of commercial airlines.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

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