A Glossary of Aviation Terms
Do you know the meaning of codeshare, and that there is actually a difference between non-stop and direct flights? Here you can learn the most common aviation terms and their meaning.
An airline is a company that offers regular air transport services, either for passengers or for goods. Some of the biggest airlines in the world are American Airlines, China Southern Air Holding and Delta Air Lines. Many airlines have formed alliances that enable them to cooperate – the three biggest alliances in the world are Star Alliance, SkyTeam and Oneworld.
An air carrier can either be an airline or an aircraft assigned by, for example, a government agency to carry people or cargo.
A codeshare agreement means that two or more airlines work together and offer seats on each other’s flights. Each flight is operated by one carrier, and the cooperating airlines can sell seats on that flight and assign it their own flight number.
Choosing a connecting flight means that you will reach your destination through two or more flights. This means that you will land and change aircraft at least once during your flight. Sometimes you might need to move between terminals or re-check luggage.
A direct flight means you reach your destination without having to change planes, though it may include technical stops. For truly non-stop travel, look for a flight labeled ‘non-stop’.
A flight leg is a single non-stop flight between two airports. Your full journey may include multiple legs before reaching your final destination.
Flight length refers to the distance of a route, usually in miles or kilometers, and often categorized as short-, medium-, or long-haul.
Some airlines define hauls by distance (e.g., long-haul = 3000+ miles), others by duration (short-haul up to 3h, medium 3-6h, long 6-12h).
Each flight has its own flight number, usually consisting of the airline’s two-letter IATA code and up to four digits. East/northbound flights are often even-numbered; west/southbound, odd.
Flight time is the duration of a flight, measured in hours and minutes — for example, New York (JFK) to Paris (CDG) takes about 7 hours.
IATA (International Air Transport Association) is a global trade association representing nearly 300 airlines, accounting for over 80% of worldwide air traffic.
A non-stop flight takes you directly to your destination without any intermediate landings — the most convenient option for air travel.
Transit means connecting — a flight with one or more stops before reaching your final destination.