Air line

Airline is a company that provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines utilize aircraft to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for codeshare agreements, generally, they are recognized with an air operating certificate or license issued by a governmental aviation body.

Airlines vary from those with a single airplane carrying mail or cargo, through full-service international airlines operating hundreds of airplanes. Airline services can be categorized as being intercontinental, domestic, regional, or international, and may be operated as scheduled services or charters.

History

The first airlines started in the USA in the 1920s. Initially, they were subsidized by the U.S. Post Office to carry mail. The Boeing company, by then an aircraft manufacturer, launched its first airline, Boeing Air Transport, in 1927. This was followed by other airlines like TWA, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and others.

Business model

The airline industry operates the service of transporting passengers and goods by air. Greatly simplified, the main business models are:

• Full service airlines
• Low-cost carriers
• Charter airlines

Full service airlines

Full service airlines offer a high level of passenger comfort in the form of in-flight entertainment systems, meal services, and other amenities. These airlines serve a wide range of international and domestic destinations.

Low-cost carriers

Low-cost carriers aim to provide the lowest ticket price. They usually operate on a point-to-point network rather than the more complex hub-and-spoke network typically used by full service airlines.

Charter airlines

Charter airlines typically operate on a seasonal basis to holiday destinations. They might operate only a few flights per week or even less, and often only in the high season.

Safety

Air travel is one of the safest modes of transport. Airlines are subject to many regulations to ensure the safety of passengers and crew members.

Environmental impact

Airlines contribute to the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, a factor in global warming. Many airlines are taking measures to reduce their environmental impact by modernizing their fleets, recycling, and taking other measures.

See also

• List of airlines
• List of airline holding companies
• List of low-cost airlines
• List of charter airlines
• List of regional airlines