airline
gb/ˈɛɹlˌaɪn/ us/ˈɛɹlˌaɪn/
B1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
company that runs flights
a company you fly with
Usage pattern:
an/the airline; [airline] + flies to/from [place]
Common mistake:
Use 'an airline' (vowel sound). Don’t confuse 'airline' (company) with 'airport' (place).
Synonyms
carrier (Common in travel/business contexts; often implies a transport company.)
|
air carrier (More formal and regulatory-sounding.)
Collocations
major airline
|budget airline
|national airline
|airline company
|airline carrier
|airline staff
|airline tickets
|airline alliance
|airline passengers
|airline strike
Themes
travel
|transport
|business
Examples
- We chose an airline with a good safety record and direct flights.
- The airline apologized for the delay and offered meal vouchers.
- Several airlines have added extra fees for checked bags.
Learner examples
- I booked a flight with an airline from London.
- This airline is very cheap.
Noun
B1
relation
2
relating to an airline
used to describe things connected with an airline
Usage pattern:
airline + [noun]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes write *flight ticket* when they specifically mean an 'airline ticket' (issued by an airline).
Synonyms
aviation (Broader; not limited to commercial airlines.)
Collocations
airline ticket
|airline seat
|airline policy
|airline fees
|airline schedule
|airline crew
|airline app
|airline customer service
|airline industry
|airline safety
Themes
travel
|transport
Examples
- Call airline customer service if you need to change your booking.
- The airline policy allows one carry-on bag and one personal item.
- She complained about airline fees for seat selection.
Learner examples
- I lost my airline ticket.
- What is your airline policy on bags?
Noun
technical
C1
quantity
3
straight-line distance by air
distance in a straight line
Usage pattern:
airline distance (between [place] and [place])
Common mistake:
This sense is usually in the phrase 'airline distance' and is less common than the company sense.
Synonyms
as-the-crow-flies distance (Informal phrasing for the same idea.)
Antonyms
driving distance (Distance measured by roads rather than straight-line measurement.)
Collocations
airline distance
|airline distance between
|airline miles
|straight-line distance
Themes
travel
|math
|geography
Examples
- The airline distance between the islands is only 120 kilometers, but the ferry takes much longer.
- On the map, the airline distance looks short even though the road trip is long.
- They calculated airline distance to estimate fuel needs.
Learner examples
- The airline distance is 300 km.
- Airline distance is a straight line.
Grammar
Dictionary form
airline
IPA
GB/ˈɛɹlˌaɪn/
US/ˈɛɹlˌaɪn/
Syllables & stress
air - line (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (air)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: airline
- Plural: airlines
Word family
Expressions
airline alliance
1/ˈɛɹlˌaɪn əlˈaɪəns/
fixed phrase
business
partnership of airlines
a group of airlines that work together
Examples
- Because of the airline alliance, her miles worked on partner airlines.
- The airline joined an alliance to expand its international network.
- Airline alliances often coordinate lounge access for premium passengers.
airline industry
1/ˈɛɹlˌaɪn ˈɪndəstɹi/
fixed phrase
business
business of airlines
the business of airlines
Examples
- Fuel prices have a huge impact on the airline industry.
- The airline industry recovered slowly after travel restrictions.
- New technology is changing the airline industry.
airline miles
1/ˈɛɹlˌaɪn mˈaɪlz/
fixed phrase
reward points for flying
points you collect for flights
Examples
- She used her airline miles to book a free flight.
- You can earn airline miles with certain credit cards.
- His airline miles were about to expire.
airline pilot
1/ˈɛɹlˌaɪn pˈaɪlət/
fixed phrase
pilot of a commercial plane
a pilot who works for an airline
Examples
- Her goal is to become an airline pilot after flight school.
- The airline pilot announced that the flight would be delayed due to weather.
- Airline pilots must follow strict safety procedures.
airline ticket
1/ˈɛɹlˌaɪn tˈɪkɪt/
fixed phrase
ticket issued for a flight
a ticket for a flight
Examples
- I bought my airline ticket online and saved the confirmation email.
- She had to cancel her airline ticket because of a family emergency.
- Keep your airline ticket number in case you need support.
budget airline
1/bˈʌd͡ʒɪt ˈɛɹlˌaɪn/
fixed phrase
low-cost airline
a cheap airline with extra fees
Examples
- We flew with a budget airline, so we paid extra for checked bags.
- Budget airlines often use smaller airports to keep costs down.
- A budget airline can be a good choice for short trips.
major airline
1/mˈeɪd͡ʒɚ ˈɛɹlˌaɪn/
fixed phrase
large well-known airline
a big airline company
Examples
- Most major airlines offer online check-in and mobile boarding passes.
- A major airline added a new direct route to Tokyo.
- Weather disruptions can affect major airlines across the region.
national airline
1/nˈæʃnəl ˈɛɹlˌaɪn/
fixed phrase
main airline of a country
a country’s main airline
Examples
- The national airline launched a new long-haul route to North America.
- He preferred the national airline because it had more direct flights.
- The government announced reforms for the national airline.