airline

Definitions

air + line = a 'line' (route) through the air. It first named the air route itself, then shifted to mean the company that operates such routes.

Why It Means This

A small meaning-shift worth noticing: an 'air line' was the invisible path a plane flew. Because each company was defined by the routes it ran, the word slid from the route to the business itself — much like 'railway line' could mean both the track and the operator.

Common Collocations

• 1.airline company航空公司
• 2.budget airline廉价航空
• 3.airline industry航空业
• 4.airline ticket机票

Example Sentences

• 1.

  The airline canceled all flights because of the storm.

• 2.

  Which airline are you flying with tomorrow?

• 3.

  Budget airlines keep fares low by charging for extras.