GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 16, 2026
Airlines
Unlike shipping lines or rail operators, airlines are licensed air carriers regulated by national aviation authorities, operating under frameworks that cover safety certification, emissions standards, and bilateral air service agreements for international routes.
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Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airline
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Definition & Explanation
Unlike shipping lines or rail operators, airlines are licensed air carriers regulated by national aviation authorities, operating under frameworks that cover safety certification, emissions standards, and bilateral air service agreements for international routes. In the freight context, an airline issues the Air Waybill (AWB), acts as the contracting carrier, and provides capacity either in passenger aircraft bellies or on dedicated freighters. Freight forwarders book space directly with airlines or through consolidation arrangements, negotiating rates bilaterally or under interline agreements. The market spans pure passenger carriers that treat belly cargo as a secondary revenue stream, combination carriers, and full-freighter operators—each with distinct cost structures and network logic.
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