# airline

/ˈɛɹˌɫaɪn/ (US) · /ˈeəlaɪn/ (UK) · CEFR A2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/airline
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Definition

a company that provides regular flights for people or goods. You use this word when talking about businesses like Delta, Ryanair, or Emirates.

For teachers: a commercial enterprise providing scheduled air transport services for passengers or freight.

## Examples

- The airline offers cheap flights to Europe.
- Most passengers choose their airline based on a combination of ticket price and baggage allowance.
- The national airline faced significant financial pressure after a series of strikes led to the cancellation of hundreds of international flights during the peak holiday season.

## Usage notes

- Often used as a noun adjunct to modify other nouns, such as in 'airline industry' or 'airline pilot'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.