Airline Hub
An airport used by an airline as a transfer point to get passengers to their intended destination. It is part of the hub-and-spoke system.
Airport Slot
A permission given to an airline to use the full range of airport infrastructure (landing/takeoff) at a specific date and time.
Airside
The area of an airport terminal beyond passport and security control, accessible only to passengers with a boarding pass and staff.
Apron (Tarmac)
The area of an airport where aircraft are parked, unloaded or loaded, refueled, or boarded.
ATC (Air Traffic Control)
A service provided by ground-based air traffic controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and through controlled airspace.
Boarding Pass
A document provided by an airline during check-in, giving a passenger permission to enter the restricted area of an airport and to board the airplane.
Bulkhead
A physical partition or wall that divides the airplane into different classes or sections. Seats here often have more legroom but no under-seat storage.
Codeshare Agreement
an aviation business arrangement where two or more airlines publish and market the same flight under their own airline designator and flight number.
Customs
The government agency responsible for controlling the flow of goods into and out of a country (checking bags for illegal items).
Direct Flight
A flight between two points that makes no change in flight numbers, which may include one or more stops at intermediate points.
ETA / ETD
Estimated Time of Arrival / Estimated Time of Departure. The time a flight is expected to arrive or depart.
Feeder Flight
A flight that brings passengers from a smaller airport to a major hub to connect to a long-haul flight.
Galley
The compartment of an aircraft where food is cooked and prepared. It is the kitchen of the plane.
IATA Code
A three-letter code designating many airports and metropolitan areas around the world, defined by the International Air Transport Association.
ICAO Code
A four-letter code designating aerodromes around the world. These codes are used by air traffic control and airline operations.
Immigration / Border Control
The checkpoint where government officials check the travel documents (passports, visas) of people entering the country.
Jet Lag
A physiological condition which results from alterations to the body's circadian rhythms caused by rapid long-distance transmeridian (east-west) travel.
Jetway / Airbridge
A movable connector which extends from an airport terminal gate to an airplane, allowing passengers to board without going outside.
Landside
The public area of an airport before security checkpoints, accessible to anyone (check-in counters, arrival halls).
Layover
A stop at an intermediate point on the route of a journey, where the passenger does not leave the airport transit area.
Legacy Carrier
A traditional airline that established its operations before the deregulation of the airline industry (pre-1980s), typically offering full services (meals, bags) and First/Business classes.
Low-Cost Carrier (LCC)
An airline that generally has lower fares and fewer comforts. To make up for revenue lost in ticket prices, the airline may charge for extras like food, priority boarding, and baggage.
METAR
Meteorological Aerodrome Report. A format for reporting weather information predominantly used by pilots and flight dispatchers. It includes data on wind, visibility, runway visual range, and cloud cover.
Minimum Connection Time (MCT)
The shortest time interval required to successfully transfer a passenger and their luggage from one flight to another at a specific airport.
Narrow-body Aircraft
A jet airliner with a single passenger aisle (e.g., Boeing 737, Airbus A320).
Non-stop Flight
A flight from one place to another without making any stops.
Open-jaw Ticket
A return ticket where the destination and/or the origin are not the same in both directions (e.g., London to NY, returning from Boston to London).
Overbooking
The practice of selling more tickets than there are seats on the aircraft, anticipating that some passengers will not show up.
PNR (Passenger Name Record)
A unique reference number (usually 6 alphanumeric characters) in the computer reservation system that contains the itinerary for a passenger.
Pushback
The procedure where an aircraft is pushed backwards away from an airport gate by a tug vehicle.
Red-eye Flight
A flight scheduled to depart at night and arrive the next morning. The name comes from the passengers' tired, red eyes due to lack of sleep.
Schengen Area
A zone of 29 European countries that have abolished internal borders, allowing for passport-free movement, acting like domestic flights.
Seat Pitch
The distance between a point on one seat and the same point on the seat in front of it. It indicates the legroom available.
Skiplagging (Hidden City)
A travel hack where a passenger books a flight with a layover (A-B-C) but exits at the layover city (B) because it is cheaper than a direct flight (A-B).
Stopover
A stop at an intermediate point that lasts longer than 24 hours (international) or 4 hours (domestic), allowing the passenger to leave the airport and visit the city.
TAF
Terminal Aerodrome Forecast. A weather forecast for the area 5 statute miles from the center of an airport's runway complex, usually valid for 24 to 30 hours.
Taxiing
The movement of an aircraft on the ground, under its own power, in contrast to towing or pushback.
Turbulence
Irregular motion of the air resulting from eddies and vertical currents, causing the aircraft to bump or shake.
Wet Lease
A leasing arrangement where one airline (lessor) provides an aircraft, complete crew, maintenance, and insurance (ACMI) to another airline.
Wide-body Aircraft
A jet airliner with a fuselage wide enough to accommodate two passenger aisles (e.g., Boeing 777, Airbus A350).