Dictionary for Air Travel and Tourism Activities: Over 7,100 Terms on Airlines, Tourism, Hospitality, Cruises, Car Rentals, Gds, Geography, Climate, Ecology, Business, Customs, and Organizations Subjects

By Homero E. Martinez

Travel and Tourism are wide and multifaceted systems whose complexity is reflected in the terminology employed to describe them or to operate them. Their communication language appears at times secretive; but there is no secrecy, in fact. Travel activities are bound to a vehicle distinguished by its velocity. Operating such activities demands, therefore, a communication system able to match such rapidity. It is required that all performers are fluent in travel terminology, including students, airlines staff, travel agents, and other service providers. The Dictionary for Travel and Tourism Activities has been designed to solve the need to learn, understand and succeed with the most common terms and expressions used by these so-called Industries. It is an educational tool for students and professionals, but is also an understanding means for travelers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Oct 22, 2008
• ISBN: 9780595627622

Homero E. Martinez

Homero Martinez is involved in travel business for over 30 years, while working for Air France, Lufthansa, and Japan Airlines; teaching at universities and conducting accreditation seminars for travel agents. He is an Air Law attorney and author of many papers and books.

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Copyright © 2008 by Homero E Martinez

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ISBN: 978-0-595-52709-0 (pbk)

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iUniverse rev. date: 10/14/08

Contents

Acknowledgements:

About the Author

Introduction

How to Use the Dictionary

DICTIONARY FOR AIR TRAVEL AND TOURISM ACTIVITIES

Bibliography

Web Sites

Acknowledgements:

To the Superior Intelligence and Its noticeable or veiled guides showing the path;

To the intimate, yet marvelous family of great hearts of sons, daughter, and sisters;

To the generous support of nieces, brothers and brethren;

To the publishers’ professional advice;

To the encouragement of many who prefer to remain unknown.

About the Author

Homero Martinez is engaged to the travel business for over 30 years, having gathered professional experience by education, training and practice.

He accomplished important executive duties at prestigious airlines. After a successful start with Air France, he was hired by Lufthansa to manage the Sales Department in Ecuador. Some years later Homero became General Manager of Japan Airlines GSA in his country.

While performing his tasks at the airline business he became enrolled by renowned universities such as Catholic University, Technology Equinox University, and University of the Pacific. By special invitation of IATA the author conducted seasonal accreditation courses for Travel Agencies in Venezuela.

Some of his professional qualifications were obtained at Lufthansa School of Seeheim, Germany, and at JAL School of the Americas in San Francisco, California, in addition to IATA Montreal Training Programs.

He is a lawyer specializing in Air Law and the author of many papers, articles and books in the air travel and tourism fields, including the following book titles:

Basic Glossary for Air Fares,

Procedures for Fare Calculation,

The Contract of International Air Transport,

Commercial Air Transport, Calculation Methodology,

Universal Geography for Tourism Activities,

Travel and Tourism Strategies (A series of 18 titles).

Introduction

Knowledge of words leads to knowledge of things (Plato)

As humankind evolves and progress keeps its pace forward, new processes are adopted, new occupations appear and new concepts are learned. At the same time, a new language is also developed, because emerging activities claim for the arrangement of a terminology that help to configure an effective communication system.

From the scope of manhood history, Air Travel and Tourism are young activities, although it seems tourism has its embryonic roots in travels undertaken by ancient Greek and Roman people. Tourism flourished with the advent of Grand Tour in the seventeenth century, while air travel unfolded along the twentieth century, as planes made their headway.

The two wrongly called Industries are expansive and multifaceted systems whose complexity is reflected in the terminology employed to describe them or to operate them. It seems at times that operators and agents communicate by the use of a secretive jargon. Following the idea, the design of a glossary was envisaged to give at least a general understanding of what that language means.

The author was first focused on students in the process of training to become professional actors of travel and tourism, but he later realized that such an explanatory tool could also be an educational resource to assist service suppliers in communicating with their costumers. Furthermore, many people today are minding their own travel business thanks to the Internet assistance. Therefore, why not use the technological tools in a way that resembles the job of the professionals?

The travel business, as it is performed today, is not a simple and restricted activity. It is a system without boundaries, comprising numerous subsystems that are closely concerned with a wide range of human experiences and a variety of fields of knowledge. Geography is connatural to the movement of persons and things. Everything in travel and tourism is related to distances, territories and space. Special emphasis is made on the sustainability feature of tourism nowadays, meaning Ecology can not be excluded from the travel scope. Similar relationships associate travel to Communication, Climate, Business, and many other branches of knowledge. This justifies the need to include concepts which cover a comprehensive array of topics. Transport, hospitality, car rentals, cruising constitute a big group of providers interesting to know through their own jargon. A basic summary is given on technical terminology on air navigation to help understanding how Aircraft fly. Although summary description is included about the continents, the author avoided to include subjects that appertain to the Geography of Tourism.

As to the title, there is a reason why it is not a Dictionary for Air Travel and Tourism Industries instead of being a Dictionary for Air Travel and Tourism Activities. There are strong arguments sustaining that neither Tourism nor Travel is an industry. The simplest reason is that neither one of those activities processes a final manufactured product. This is precisely the interpretation of the World Tourism Organization that prefers to qualify them as activities, systems or business.

Since some of the objectives of travel and tourism are the communication, the approximation and the understanding of people, the author aspires to give his modest contribution by means of this book. If only a part of this intention is achieved, the work would have deserved the effort.

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

August 2008

How to Use the Dictionary

As explained before, the dictionary is not limited to a list of terms strictly related to travel and tourism, since each of both activities is associated to a wide range of sciences influencing them. The words in cursive letter enclosed in brackets after each term or expression is aimed to classify the terms in the corresponding subject category.

Speaking of air transport, categories such as Aviation, Airlines, Air Traffic and Aeronautics have been used. Aviation comprises general terms and terms mainly related to its history. Words referring to commercial activities and regulatory themes are grouped under Airlines. Air Traffic encircles all of the vocabulary alluding circulation of aircraft in the air, while Aeronautics include those terms allied to the design and construction of aircraft.

Hospitality groups terms pertaining to Hotels, Restaurants and Beverages. When the category is GDS, it means the term or expression is used in communication through a Global Distribution System. Tourism is a category of differentiated terminology, as well as Cruises and Car Rental.

Geography, Climate, Ecology, Business, Customs and Organizations are categories comprising specific expressions that are clearly understandable.

DICTIONARY FOR AIR TRAVEL AND TOURISM ACTIVITIES

A

A (Airlines): Code for Alfa, name used to designate the letter A in the International Phonetic Alphabet

A (GDS): A code meaning: 1. Aisle (with seat request code); 2. Automatic (with Car Rental Code); 3. Availability (as an entry, it displays flights with seats availability); 4. A surface segment of a trip; 4. Class of service, usually superior, like First Class Discounted.

A/D (Air Traffic): Arrival/Departure

A/FD (Air Traffic): See Airport Facility Directory.

A/G (Air Traffic): See Mandatory Frequency.

A la Carte (Hospitality): French term that literally means from the menu. In restaurants, it is a menu that has individual dishes and beverages listed at separate prices. By extension, the term refers to travel items that can be purchased separately from a menu list, as opposed to a package product.

A la Carte Bar (Hospitality): Also known as Cash Bar or a No Host Bar (sometimes spelled No-host Bar or Nohost Bar), the term refers to bar beverages at a social event, which have to be paid by guests. It is opposed to a hosted bar where drinks are paid by the host.

A la Carte Menu (Hospitality): See A la Carte.

AA (Airlines): Two-letter IATA code for American Airlines.

AAA (GDS): An acronym for American Automobile Association.

AAAE (GDS): An acronym for American Association of Airport Executives.

AAD (GDS): An acronym for Agent Automated Deduction.

AAPA (Organizations): An acronym for American Association of Port Authorities.

AAR (Air Traffic): See Airport Acceptance Rate.

AAR (Organizations): An acronym for Association of American Railroads.

AB (GDS): Fare type code meaning Super Apex.

ABA (Organizations): An acronym for American Bus Association, a trade association representing inter-city and charter bus companies.

Abacus (GDS): One of the computer reservation systems (GDS) that serves the Asia Pacific Region.

Abaft (Airlines): A term meaning at or near or toward the tail of an airplane.

Abaft (Cruise): A nautical term meaning at or near or toward the stern of a ship.

Abbreviated Briefing (Air Traffic): An updated weather synopsis for pilots with an accurate weather information for their final flight planning.

ABC (GDS): Code meaning Advanced Booking Charter. A charter requiring that bookings are made in advance to the departure date.

ABC Islands (Geography): Collective name for the Netherland Antilles Islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. They are located just off the northern coast of South America (in front of Venezuela). As tourism destinations, they are perfect for diving, snorkeling, and all types of water sports.

ABCPU Subarea (IATA Geography): The territory comprising Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay. See South Atlantic Subarea.

ABD (GDS): Code meaning Aboard.

Abeam (Airlines): At right angles to the length of a plane.

Abeam (Cruise): At right angles to the keel of a ship.

ABF (Hospitality): American Breakfast.

ABI (Customs): See Automated Brokerage Interface.

Abiotic (Ecology): The non living elements or an environment not containing life.

Abiotic Factors (Ecology): Environmental conditions that affect living elements and their interactions, such as temperature, winds, humidity, and other physical or chemical influences.

ABJ (GDS): Three-letter IATA code for Abidjan, capital city of Ivory Coast.

Abonnement (Tourism): Rail ticket available in Europe. It allows unlimited travel within a specified area for a specific period of time.

Abort (Aeronautics): Procedure that fails or terminates prematurely an aircraft operation.

Above Board (Cruise): Cabins above the water level.

Above Ground Level (AGL) (Air Traffic): A measurement of altitude above a specific land mass.

Above Sea Level (ASL) (Air Traffic): Distance of the aircraft above mean sea level.

ABP (GDS): Code meaning Able Bodied Passenger. A passenger without physical impediment who is eligible to sit near the emergency exit on an aircraft.

Absolute Altitude (Air Traffic): The height of an aircraft flying above the actual terrain.

Absolute Ceiling (Air Traffic): The maximum altitude above sea level at which an aircraft can maintain horizontal flight under standard atmospheric conditions.

Absolute Humidity (Climate): A weather element determining the amount of water vapor present in a unit of air volume, usually expressed in kilograms per cubic meter.

Absolute Poverty (Ecology): The lack of minimum income to meet the basic needs of food, clothing, and dwelling. Absolute poverty is measured by comparing a person’s total income against the total cost of a specific ‘basket’ of goods and services including the essentials of daily life.

ABT (GDS) Code meaning About.

ABV (GDS): Three-letter IATA code for Abuja, capital city of Nigeria.

AC (Airlines): Two-letter IATA code for Air Canada.

AC (GDS): A code meaning: 1. According, In Accordance; 3. Access Card; 4. Additional Collection; 5. Alternating Current; 6. Air Conditioned (sometimes written a/c).

AC, A/C or ACFT (Airlines): Codes for Aircraft.

ACA (GDS): Three-letter IATA code for Acapulco, Mexico.

ACAP (Aeronautics): An acronym for Aviation Consumer Action Project.

ACC (GDS): Three-letter IATA code for Accra, capital city of Ghana.

Acceleration (Aeronautics): Rate of change of velocity.

Accelerometer (Aeronautics): An inertial device for measuring acceleration, usually in three orthogonal axes (lateral X, longitudinal Y, and vertical Z).

Access Aisle (Tourism): An aisle at public places necessary for accessing parking spaces.

Access Code (GDS): Password to entry into a computer or a computer file.

Accessibility (Tourism): The possibility to reach a point in the space starting from a given origin. The accessibility measures the facility to access a tourist destination and is one of its main elements.

Accessible Pedestrian Signal (Tourism): A device for transmitting traffic signals in a non-visual manner, such as by sound or vibration.

Accessible Route (Hospitality): A route connecting the accessible parking area to an accessible entrance of the hotel building served by a parking lot.

ACCL (Cruise): An acronym for American Canadian Caribbean Line.

Accommodation (Hospitality): A facility designed to provide lodging. Accommodations may include room and food, and other related services.

Accommodation (Tourism): Any seat, berth, room, or service sold to a passenger.

Accompanied (Airlines): The term denotes a person (infant, child, and deportee) or a thing (baggage) is not traveling alone, but in the company of another person to comply with the rules established for the case. Infants always travel accompanied; children can travel sometimes unaccompanied; many of deportee persons require the company of a guardian.

Accompanied Baggage (Airlines): Baggage that is carried in the same vehicle as the passenger and may be checked or unchecked. Checked is the baggage that travels under the carrier’s custody. It is unchecked when it travels under the passenger’s custody.

Accountable Document (Tourism): Any piece of paper that, when validated by an authorized body, has a monetary value.

Accountable Manual Documents (Airlines): Blank ARC ticket stock which was used in the past to issue hand-written tickets.

Accounting (Tourism): 1. The process of recording financial transactions and reporting on the financial status of the travel business. 2. The department in the agency that manages the accounting duties.

Accreditation (Tourism): The approval given by authorized organizations to travel agencies allowing the sale of tickets and other travel documents.

Accreditation and Database Management (ADM) (Organizations): A division of the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) that manages the database and accreditation information.

Accrual Method (Tourism): An accounting system that records business income when the sale occurs, order is made, the item is delivered, or the services is rendered, regardless of when the money for them (receivables) is actually received or paid. Expenses are also recorded the moment goods or services are received, even though you may not pay for them until later. The agency doesn’t have to wait to see the money, or actually pay money out of its checking account, to record a transaction.

ACCT (GDS): A code meaning: 1. Account, 2. Accounting.

Acculturation (Tourism): Cultural modifications experienced by individuals or social groups who borrow and adopt habits from other cultures. It is a phenomenon resulting from the contact and interrelation between different culture societies. The acculturation generated by tourism can be expressed in terms of adaptation or integration, or in a hostile way (such as aggression or rejection).

ACFT (Airlines): Aircraft Type.

ACI (Organizations): An acronym for Airports Council International.

ACI-NA (Organizations): An acronym for Airports Council International, North America.

ACID (Air Traffic): Aircraft Identification

ACK (GDS): A code that means: 1. Acknowledge, 2. Acknowledged, 3. Acknowledging.

ACKD (GDS): Code meaning Acknowledged.

ACLT (Air Traffic): Actual Calculated Landing Time.

ACM (Airlines): See Agency Credit Memo.

ACON (GDS): Code meaning Air conditioning.

Acoustics (Hospitality): Sound absorption or sound reflection quality of certain materials, usually in ceilings, walls, and floors. 

ACPT (GDS): A code meaning Accept, Accepting.

ACPTD (GDS): Code meaning Accepted.

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) (Tourism): Incurable disease caused by a virus that is transmitted through blood or sex practices. 

ACRA (Organizations): An acronym for American Car Rental Association.

Acrophobia (Tourism): An irrational fear of heights. Acrophobic people feel in danger and sometimes suffer a panic attack.

Acrylic (Hospitality): Synthetic material used in manufacturing fabric and other fixtures or surfaces. 

Act of God (Tourism): An event which is caused by the effect of nature or natural causes, without any interference by humans. It is a natural event over which a travel provider has no control and, hence, no legal responsibility emerges. See also, Force Majeure.

ACTA (Organizations): An acronym for Alliance of Canadian Travel Associations.

ACTE (Organizations): An acronym for Association of Corporate Travel Executives.

Activated Carbon (Hospitality): A type of carbon able to absorb odors and vapors. It is used in several filter systems at hotels. 

Active IATA Member (Airlines): A carrier affiliated to IATA which operates international regular services.

Active Layer (Geography): A soil top layer that, located above permafrost, increases warm each summer and refreezes each autumn.

Active Tag (Airlines): An RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag that has a transmitter to send back information by means of a battery that sends a signal to a reader. Active tags can be read from a distance of 100 meters (300 feet) or more. 

Active Tourism (Tourism): A type of tourism that combines elements of adventure and cultural tourism in a natural environment, making emphasis on low-impact and sustainable elements.

Actor (Tourism): A person who plays a role. In Tourism, the actors are persons or organized groups who take decisive actions and are leaders in a local territory.

Actual Beverage Cost Percentage (Hospitality): Net beverage cost divided by the total bar sales amount. 

Actual Flying Time (Airlines): Total time spent in the air since the plane departs to the moment it lands.

Actual Flown Mileage (Airlines): The total amount of miles counted from point of departure to point of arrival, via intermediate points. It is the sum of TPMs (Ticketed Point Mileages).

ACV (Tourism): See Air Cushioned Vehicle or Hovercraft.

AD (GDS): A code meaning: 1. Agent’s Discount. When followed by a number, it shows the discount percentage off unrestricted fares. For example: AD75 indicates a discount of 75 percent. 2. Administration.

Ad Hoc (Tourism): A Latin term that means dealing something concerned with one specific purpose. In tourism language it denotes the organization of a tour on a customized basis, usually from existing options.

Ad Hoc Charter (Airlines): A charter operated according to the necessity of an operator or charterer.

Ad Hoc Group (Tourism): A group gathered according to a specific subject or around a specific purpose.

Ad Hoc Schedule (Airlines): A flight or set of flights that are modified for specific dates from the basic schedule.

Ad Valorem (Customs): A term meaning according to the value that represents a fixed percentage of the value of goods used to calculate customs duties and taxes.

Ad Valorem Tax (Hospitality): A tax based on the assessed value of the asset itself, usually a fixed percentage of the value. 

ADAC (GDS): Code meaning Advise Acceptance.

ADAR (GDS): Code meaning Advise Arrival.

ADB (GDS): Code meaning Advise if Duplicate Booking.

ADC (Air Traffic): Air Data Computer.

ADC (GDS): Code meaning Additional Collection.

ADCOL (GDS): Code meaning Additional Collection.

ADCTC (GDS): Code meaning Advise Contact.

Add/Coll (Airlines): A code used to mean Additional Collection.

Add-on (Airlines): An amount used to construct an unspecified throughfare or an unspecified maximum permitted mileage by adding such an add-on amount to a terminal point of a fare or mileage.

Add-on (Tourism): An option added to travel arrangements, usually at extra cost.

Add-on (Cruise): A supplementary charge added to the cruise fare. Typical add-ons are travel insurance, airline flights to and from the cruise port, pre- and/or post-cruise hotel packages, and pre-or post-cruise land tours.

Add-on(s) (Tourism): Anything optional purchased by a passenger, as in tour arrangements.

Add-on Fare (Airlines): An amount added to a terminal point fare to arrive at a through fare. It is sometimes called Proportional Fare.

Additional Collection (Airlines): Amount collected in addition to the original payment, in case of rerouting, for instance.

Additional Equipment (Car Rental): Based on location availability, the passenger can select certain options for a nominal fee, such as infant and child safety seats or ski racks. Additional equipment or accessories require a reservation of at least 24 hours prior to pick-up date.

Additive (Hospitality): Anything added to a product that is not strictly necessary for its manufacture, but which facilitates the production or enhances certain qualities considered desirable by the producer. For example, brewers use additives to produce more stable and softer foam, greater clarity, and other qualities. 

ADDR (Air Traffic): Air Data Dead Reckoning.

Addressability (Airlines): The ability to write data to different fields in the microchip in an RFID transponder. 

ADF (Air Traffic): See Automatic Direction Finding.

Adhesion Contract (Airlines/Tourism): A contract that is prepared by one party, whose conditions are accepted by the other party by an act of adhesion. It is a type of contract that heavily restricts one party while beneficiates the other party by the terms pre-stipulated. It implies inequality in bargaining power. Typical examples of this type of contracts are The Conditions of Carriage that are part of every airline ticket and the Terms and Conditions of cruise and tours that clients must adhere to, at the time of making the payment.

Adiabatic Changes (Climate): A general term referred to changes in temperature with no loss or addition of heat. Adiabatic changes occur in gasses or in the air.

Adiabatic Rate (Climate): A principle stating that temperature decreases as altitude increases.

ADIZ (Air Traffic): See Air Defense Identification Zone.

Adjoining Rooms (Hospitality): Guestrooms located side by side but, although they are next to each other, they have no connecting doors.

Adjuncts (Hospitality): Natural products (such as rice, corn, and wheat flakes), added to malted barley before fermentation. 

ADM (Airlines): See Agency Debit Memo.

ADM (Organizations): An acronym for Accreditation and Database Management.

Administrating Carrier (Airlines): The airline that controls the operation of a flight.

ADNO (GDS): Code meaning Advise If Not Ok.

ADOA (GDS): Code meaning Advise On Arrival.

ADPE (Air Traffic): Automated Data Processing Equipment.

ADR (GDS): See Average Daily Rate.

ADS (GDS): A code meaning: 1. Address, Addressing, Addressed. 2. Distribution System. 3. Authorized Destination Status.

ADS (Air Traffic): Code for Automatic Dependent Surveillance.

ADSAP (GDS): Code meaning Advise As Soon As Possible.

ADT (GDS): Code meaning: 1. Adult; 2. Atlantic Daylight Time.

ADTK (GDS): Code meaning Advise If Ticketed.

ADTNL (GDS): Code meaning Additional.

Adult (Airlines): A person who has reached his/her 12th birthday as of the date of commencement of international travel and has to pay full air fare. Some airlines require an accompanying adult for passengers who are not 14 or 16 years old.

ADV (GDS): Code meaning Advise, Advising, Advised.

Advance Purchase Excursion (Apex) (Airlines): The APEX fare is a highly discounted excursion fare available on many international routes. This type of fares demands the accomplishment of strict reservations and payment requirements well in advance of departure with varying penalties for cancellation and changes.

Advance Purchase Period (Airlines): The period of time established for payment and ticketing, computed from the date and time of booking confirmation.

Advance Purchase Rate (Airlines): The price for an air transportation paid at specified number of days prior to use.

Advance Purchase Requirement (Airlines): A condition placed on an airfare to oblige travelers to complete the payment at certain number of days ahead of departure, such as 7, 14, or 21 days.

Advance Timetable (Airlines): A timetable issued by a carrier in advance of its period of operation. They are useful for planning purposes but need to advise they are still subject to change.

Advection Fog (Geography): A type of fog formed when warm, moist air moves horizontally over a cold surface and the air is cooled to below its dew point.

Adventure Tour (Tourism): A type of tourism arranged with the specific purpose of activity participation to explore a new experience, often involving perceived risk or controlled danger associated with personal challenges, such as raft riding, ballooning or travel to remote areas, where the traveler should expect the unexpected. This is a combination of physical and mental efforts in a natural environment or exotic outdoor setting. Two types of adventure tours are distinguished: hard and soft, depending on the level of the effort demanded from participants. Adventure tourism is rapidly growing in popularity as tourists seek unusual holidays, different from conventional vacations.

Adventure Travel (Tourism) According to the definition of Adventure Travel Trade Association, Adventure Travel may be any tourist activity including two of the following three components: a physical activity, a cultural exchange or interaction, and engagement with nature. See Adventure Tour.

Advertised Tour (Tourism): A tour package that is advertised after meeting the airline requirements needed to assign an IT (Inclusive Tour) number.

Advisory (Air Traffic): A signal used to give advice on safe or normal configuration, condition of performance, or operation of essential equipment. An advisory also attracts attention and gives information for routine action purposes.

Advisory Capacity (Airlines): A term indicating that a shipper’s agent or representative is not empowered to make decisions or introduce changes without the approval of the firm or individual he/she represents.

ADVN (GDS): A code meaning Advise names, Advise as to names.

ADVR (GDS): Code meaning Advise Rate.

ADZY or ADVZY (Air Traffic): Advisory

AED (GDS): Code for Dirham, the national currency of the United Arab Emirates.

AEP (GDS): Three-letter IATA code for Jorge Newbery Airport (formerly Aeroparque), serving the city of Buenos Aires.

Aerobe (Ecology): An organism that uses oxygen in its organic processes that are necessary for living. An "obligate aerobe", for instance, is an organism that needs oxygen to survive.

Aerobatics (Aviation): Flights that typically involve high-performance maneuvers, such as barrel rolls, and spins.

Aerobic (Ecology): 1. An organism that lives or an event that happens only in the presence of oxygen, such as an aerobic bacteria. 2. As an adjective it refers to oxygen consumption by the body, as in aerobic gymnastics.

Aerobic Organism (Ecology): A microorganism that requires free oxygen for its metabolic process. 

Aerodrome (Aeronautics): It is an almost obsolete term denoting any location from where aircraft operate. In most cases it has been replaced by terms as Airport or Airfield. In the United States, the word Aerodrome has been modified into Airdrome. In Canada and Australia the term defines any area of land or water used for aircraft operation, regardless of the facilities. Canadian laws state that ...for the most part, all of Canada can be an aerodrome, but they make a difference between registered aerodromes and certified airports. A registered aerodrome must maintain some standards and keep the Minister of Transport (Canada) informed. To become a certified airport the aerodrome must meet certain safety standards to support commercial operations.

Aerodrome of Democracy (Aviation): One of the contributions of Canada to the allied forces during the World War II was through the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), also known as the Empire Air Training Scheme, or Empire Air Training Plan. Although the plan was accorded by Canada, Great Britain, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, Canada took the responsibility for its costs. For six years, starting 1940, 120 aerodromes were built and operated in Canada and over 120,000 officers were graduated to serve in the air forces of the four Commonwealth nations participating in the plan. As a way to recognize the important contribution of the BCATP to winning the war, United States President Franklin Roosevelt called Canada The Aerodrome of Democracy.

Aerodynamics (Aeronautics): A field of fluid dynamics that studies how gases, including air, flow and how forces act upon objects moving through air.

Aeronautical Chart (Air Traffic): A map used in air navigation that contains topographical features, hazards and obstructions, navigation aids, navigation routes, designated airspace, and airports.

Aeronautics (Aeronautics): The science, art, theory and practice of designing, building, and operating aircraft through the air or space.

Aerophobia (Airlines): An abnormal and persistent fear of drafts of air and. By extension, it is a fear of flying. Sufferers experience severe anxiety even though they usually realize that the flying does not present a threat compatible with their fear.

Aerosol (Ecology): A suspension of colloidal particles of a solid or droplets of a liquid in a gaseous medium. People identify aerosols as products that use compressed gas to spray from a container. Besides manufactured aerosols, there are natural aerosols such as fog, smoke, and volcanic dust.

Aerospace (Aviation): The earth’s atmosphere, its immediate environments, and outer space considered as a whole.

Aerospace Industry (Aeronautics): A set of activities comprising the research, design, manufacture, operation, and maintenance of vehicles moving through air and space. It covers a very diverse field, with a great number of commercial, industrial and military applications.

Aesthetic Balance (Hospitality): The combination of colors, textures, and flavors of foods in meal planning, to make them more pleasant.

AF (GDS): Code meaning: 1. Added Phone; 2. Applicable Fare; 3. Air France.

AFA (Organizations): Acronym for Association of Flight Attendants.

AFCS (Air Traffic): Automatic Flight Control System. See explanation.

Affiliate (Airlines): A company that is controlled by another company.

Affiliate Hosting (GDS): See GDS Hosting.

Affiliate Reservation System (Hospitality): A hotel chain’s reservation system in which all participating properties are contractually linked. Each property is present in the computer system database and provides room availability data to the reservation center. 

Affiliated Hotel (Hospitality): A hotel that is a member of a chain, franchise, or referral system. An affiliated hotel enjoys special advantages, such as a universal reservation system. 

Affinity (Tourism): A condition that links persons on the basis of their common professional or hobby interests.

Affinity Card (Tourism): A credit card marketed by a company or other commercial or social group in association with the credit card company.

Affinity Charter (Tourism): An airplane or ship charter arranged by or for an affinity group.

Affinity Group (Tourism): A group of people linked by a common bond, such as a professional or sport interest.

Affinity Group Airfare (Airlines): A fare set specifically for affinity groups.

Affirmative Philosophy (Tourism): The principle that assumes a business has a responsibility to serve society. 

Aflatoxin (Hospitality): A poisonous mycotoxin, which is found worldwide and grows on nuts, corn, wheat, and other grains. Aflatoxin may be found in finished products like bread and peanut butter. Ingestion of aflatoxin usually only causes low-grade fever in humans, but it can produce cancer in trout, rats, and ducks and has been linked to some cases of liver cancer in humans. 

AFM or AM (Airlines): A code meaning Actual Flown Mileage. It is the total sum of the TPMs (Ticketed Point Mileages), that is, the distance flown by the passenger from the point of origin to the point of destination through all the intermediate points.

Afrasia (Geography): See Africa-Eurasia.

Africa, Geographical (Geography): Africa is the second largest continent and second most populous, after Asia. It covers around the 22 percent of the total land surface of the Earth, reaching an area of 30,350,000 square kilometers (11,699,000 square miles), including adjacent islands. With over 800 million inhabitants in 53 countries and eight territories, its population means about one tenth of the world human population. Africa is three times bigger than Europe and 50 percent more of the North American territory. The name Africa was first used by the Romans who identified the land of the Afri as Africa Terra, extended over the northern part of the continent, where Carthage (Now Tunisia) was located. Most scientists consider that Africa is the home to the oldest inhabited territory on earth, and the origin of humankind, according to the earliest Homo Sapiens remains found in Ethiopia.

Africa is separated from Europe by the Mediterranean Sea, and is joined to Asia by the Isthmus of Suez. An axe drawn from Ras ben Sakka in Tunisia to Cape Agulhas in South Africa, measures approximately of 8,050 kilometers (5,000 miles). Another axe from Cape Verde in Senegal to Ras Xaafuun in Somalia measures 7,560 kilometers (4,600 miles). The highest African mountain is the Kilimanjaro, with a height of 5.916 meters. The length of its coast-line is 30.490 kilometers, with few deep indentations of the shore. The continent is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the North, the Atlantic Ocean to the West, the Red Sea to the East, and Indic Ocean to the Southeast. The largest desert in the world, the Sahara, lies to the north. Grasslands cover much of the land, and rainforests are in western Africa near the equator. The Nile River, the longest in the world, (6.695 kilometers long) is in Africa. Lake Victoria is the largest lake of the continent, the world’s second-largest freshwater lake, covering an area of 69,490 square kilometers (26,830 square miles). It lies 1,130 meters above sea level and reaches a known depth of 82 meters.

Much of the traditional African cultures have become diminished as a result of years of neglect colonial and neo-colonial regimes, and are considered as synonymous for rural poverty and subsistence farming. Modern Africans are arguably the most diverse people in the world, having more than 3,000 unique ethnic groups been recognized. More than 1,000 different languages are spoken in Africa, some of which have been spoken for hundreds of years. Although most countries in Eastern and Southern Africa have adopted colonial European languages for official government business, most people speak indigenous or local languages.

Africa is the home to many species of exotic animals and live species. Unfortunately, decades of logging, sport hunting, civil wars, pollution, and other human interference have produced a great impact on the wildlife. Although Africans and people from all over the world have depleted animals and habitats, while looking for oil, diamonds, and other resources, National Parks still exist. They preserve wildlife and an incredible natural beauty that attract an ever-increasing number of tourists from around the globe. Most tourist activities develop around Safari Tours (Photo Safari Tours), Mountain Climbing, visits to Lake Victoria and Victoria Falls, or visits to Egypt and other northern African countries to know about ancient cultures.

Africa-Eurasia (Geography): A term that identifies a supercontinent with the world’s biggest landmass and around the 85% (approximately 5.6 billion) of the world population living there. It is subdivided into the continents of Africa and Eurasia; the latter subdivided at its turn into Europe and Asia. Speaking of this territory, some geographers and historians refer to as Eurafrasia or Afrasia, but these terms have never been generally accepted. In geopolitical terms, the mainland of Africa-Eurasia (excluding the British Isles, Japan and Madagascar) is known as the World Island, while Africa-Eurasia and its surrounding islands are called the Old World.

Africa Sub-area (IATA Geography): The territory comprising Angola, Benin Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo (Brazzaville), Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa), Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Reunion, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Afro-Eurasia (Geography): Same as Africa-Eurasia.

AFT (GDS): A code that means: 1. After. 2. Actual Flying Time.

Aft (GDS): In lower case, the term refers to the rear end of a ship or toward the rear of a ship (the stern) or an airplane.

Agency (Business): The relationship in which a person (called the agent) acts on behalf of another person, company, or government, known as the principal, in a business dealing with a third party.

Agency (Tourism): A business that attends to the arrangement of transportation, itinerary, accommodation, and collateral services for travelers.

Agency Agreement (Tourism): The contract that rules the relations between IATA or IATAN and travel agencies. It defines the specific duties and areas of responsibility of the agent.

Agency Check (Tourism): A check bearing the agency’s name that is drawn against a check account.

Agency Credit Memo (ACM) (Airlines): A credit note issued by a member of the BSP in favor of a travel agency, detailing the amount due by the air carrier.

Agency Debit Memo (ADM) (Airlines): A debit note issued by a member of the BSP detailing the amount due by a travel agency in favor of the air carrier.

Agency List (Tourism): The list of appointed agencies kept in files of the ARC and IATAN.

Agency Manager (Tourism): The person who is engaged to run full time the agency’s business and its other activities.

Agency Total Cost (Tourism): The total sum of the cost of all bookings made by a specific travel agency.

Agent (Business): A person who acts on behalf of another person before a third party.

Agent (AGT) (Tourism): 1. An appointed representative who acts on behalf of travel providers. 2. An accredited Passenger Sales Agent location having direct access to one or more System Providers and Servicing Carriers. 3. In a more extensive meaning, an agent is also an employee of a retail travel agency, a carrier employee who sells tickets, or a general agent.

Agent Air Waybill (AWB or MAWB) (Airlines): The document made out by or on behalf of the shipper, giving evidence of the contract existing between the shipper and the carrier(s) for carriage of goods over routes of the carrier(s).

Agent Bypass (Airlines): The practice of suppliers by which they prefer to sell their products directly to customers, avoiding the agent’s intermediation.

Agent Coupon (Airlines): Copy of the ticket that remains in the travel agency’s files for control.

Agent Eligibility List (Airlines): A list of an agency’s employees who are eligible to receive travel benefits, which is submitted to ARC or IATAN by the agency manager. It is also known as The ARC List.

Agent Reporting Agreement (Airlines): The arrangement concerted by ARC with travel agencies regulating their relationships and dealings.

Agent Sine (GDS): A two-letter identification code assigned to each individual in the agency.

Agentless Booking (Airlines): A booking that is made by means of an automated system ignoring the mediation of a travel agency.

Agile Reader (Airlines): A generic term that usually refers to a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader that can read tags, which operates at different frequencies or uses different methods of communication between the tags and readers. 

Aging (Hospitality): A process in the production of alcoholic beverages in which spirits and wines are stored in casks or barrels after fermentation, but before bottling. Its purpose is to improve quality by allowing further chemical reaction to occur with a small amount of air. 

AGL (Air Traffic): See Above Ground Level.

Agoraphobia (Tourism): A morbid fear of public or open spaces. Some agoraphobics fear of being caught alone in some public place.

AGR (Air Traffic): Code meaning Air-ground Ranging

AGR (GDS): Code meaning Agree, Agreeing.

AGR Slant Range (Air Traffic): Straight-line distance from the aircraft to a point on the ground.

AGRD (GDS): Code meaning Agreed.

Agreement (Airlines): The act of coming to a meeting of the minds, even without legal obligation. An agreement is accorded between two people who reach an understanding about a particular issue, including their obligations, duties and rights. In law, an agreement is a contract that includes all the elements of a legal contract: offer, acceptance, and consideration (payment or performance), based on specific terms. There are different types of agreements, such as that by which airlines agree the interchangeable use of tickets. Another type of agreement is settled between an air carrier and a travel agency, in which the airline permits the agency the sale of travel products.

AGRMT (GDS): Code meaning Agreement.

Agri-tourism (Tourism): See Agrotourism.

Agricultural Tourism (Tourism): See Agrotourism.

Agroforestry (Ecology): Land management for the simultaneous production of crops and trees, using methods similar to agriculture.

Agrotourism (Tourism): Recreational travel organized around agricultural areas, a farm or any agricultural, horticultural or agribusiness operation, for the purpose of participating in agricultural activities, enjoyment and education. Visitors have the opportunity to work alongside real farmers and to walk with fishermen with the feet immersed in the sea. As a concept, agrotourism is considered to be a branch of ecotourism, which encourages visitors to experience agricultural life. It involves usually hotel, restaurant and recreational services. Agrotourism is strongly supported by rural communities, since they benefit of sustainable tourism development. It is also known as Agritourism, Agri-tourism, Agricultural Tourism, or Farm Tourism.

AGT (GDS): Code meaning Agent.

AH&LA (Organizations): An acronym for American Hotel & Lodging Association.

AHC (Airlines): Acronym for Airport Handling Committee.

Ahead (Cruise): In front of the ship’s bow.

AHM (Airlines): Airport Handling Manual.

AHMA (Organizations): An acronym for American Hotel and Motel Association.

Ahoy (Cruise): The traditional greeting onboard ships. The term originated as a Viking battle cry.

AHRS (Air Traffic): Attitude Heading Reference System.

AI (Airlines): Two-letter IATA code for Air India.

AID (Air Traffic): Code meaning: 1. Aircraft Identifier; 2. Aircraft Identification

AIDS (Tourism): See Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. 

AIH (GDS): Code meaning Animal in hold.

Aileron (Aeronautics): A control surface located on the trailing edge of each wing tip. Deflection of these surfaces controls the roll or bank angle of the aircraft.

AIM (Air Traffic): Aeronautical Information Manual

Aim (Air Traffic): To strive for a mission objective, such as flying toward a radial of a radio station.

Air Ambulance (Aeronautics): An aircraft equipped to take care of sick or injured people and transport them to a medical facility.

Air Boat (Tourism): A light, flat-bottomed vessel powered by an airplane propeller mounted on the stern and revolving in the air. It is used for tours in swamps or rivers.

Air Boat Line (Airlines): Name of the first commercial airline founded in the United States by Tony Janus, on January 1rst, 1914 to operate services between St. Petersburg and Tampa. Its first flight took place on March 22 of that same year, using a Benoist Model 14 built by St. Louis manufacturer Thomas Benoist. The flying boat was made of three layers of wood; the power was provided by a Roberts 6-cylinder, in-line, liquid-cooled engine; the wings were constructed of spruce framing and covered with linen. The aircraft reached a maximum speed of 64 mph and accommodated one passenger besides the pilot. Several newspapers around Florida were opposed to the airboat operation and questioned its safety when service was begun.

Air Broker (Airlines): A company that intermediates between Tour Operators and Airlines.

Air Cargo Agent (Airlines): A freight forwarder specialized in air cargo who acts on behalf of airlines that pay him a commission or fee. He has to be registered with the International Air Transport Association to obtain his/her operating authorization.

Air Change (Hospitality): Ventilation rate in terms of room or building volume. It is usually expressed as air changes per hour. 

Air City (Cruise): The city chosen by the passenger to serve as the origin and termination point for his flights to and from the cruise.

Air Courier (Airlines): An air courier is a person or company whose activity is delivering messages, packages and mail, in such a manner that speed, security, tracking, specialization and individualization of services are featured.

Air-Cushion Vehicle (ACV) (Tourism): It is a craft designed to travel above ground or water, also called a Ground-effect Machine or Hovercraft. It has varied propulsion systems. Some are equipped with a specially designed wing that lifts the craft just off the surface when it reaches a sufficient horizontal speed (the ground effect). Others are supported by fans that force air down under the vehicle to create lift. Air-cushion vehicles can attain higher speeds than ships or land vehicles. Air-cushion vehicles are not regarded as aircraft by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and the practice is not ruled yet by governments.

Air Data Computer (ADC) (Aeronautics): A navigation sensor based on atmospheric data sensors that usually measures static pressure, dynamic pressure, and outside air temperature.

Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) (Air Traffic): The area of airspace over land or water, where aircraft need to be indentified, located, and controlled in the interest of national security.

Air Density (Air Traffic): The density of the air in terms of mass per unit of volume.

Air Freedom Rights (Airlines): See Freedoms of the Air.

Air Freight Forwarder (Airlines): A freight forwarder specialized in air cargo. He often consolidates the shipments of many exporters, issuing his own air waybills. He negotiates consolidated rates from airlines, is licensed by the Aeronautics Authority, and has the status of an indirect air carrier. See also Air Cargo Agent, and Forwarder.

Air/Ground Radio (A/G) (Air Traffic): See Mandatory Frequency.

Air Handling Unit (Hospitality): An all-air system through which steam, hot water or chilled water circulates from central boilers and chillers. 

Air-inclusive (Tourism): A price or a service package that includes airfare and other components, such as lodging, food and sightseeing.

Air Interface Protocol (Airlines): The rules governing the way bag tags and readers communicate.  

Air Law (Airlines): The body of laws, rules, and regulations directly or indirectly concerned with civil aviation. Aviation in this context extends to both heavier-than-air and lighter-than-air aircraft. A 1784 decree of the Paris police forbidding balloon flights without a special permit is considered to be the earliest air law legislation. The development of air transport after World War I upraised the need for regulation, both national and international. The first International Convention for Air Navigation, commonly called the Paris Convention was signed 1919. It recognized the sovereignty of each state over its air space and stated the requirement that each aircraft must have a registered nationality. The second air law body is known as The Warsaw Convention on International Carriage by Air signed in 1929. In the main part of the dispositions, it determined that the owner or operator of the carrier is liable for any injury, death, or damage to baggage and cargo. Other important international agreements were accorded in Chicago in 1944, when 53 countries signed the Chicago Convention that introduced the International Transit Agreement and the International Traffic Agreement. Additional treaties and agreements have been signed later to regulate the international air transport. Every country has its own sets of air laws governing the use of the space for transport purposes. In the broadest sense, Air Law is concerned to all law connected with the use of the air, including radio and satellite transmissions.

Air Mass (Geography): A very large body of atmosphere defined by essentially similar air temperatures and moisture throughout its horizontal levels.

Air Mile (Airlines): A unit of distance measuring approximately 6,076 feet or 1.6 kilometers.

Air Passenger Duty (Airlines): Charge payable on tickets for flights departing from some countries.

Air Passes (Airlines): Passes for travel flown on the same airlines, created for travelers who need to take many domestic flights in one country. Air passes contain a minimum number of flight coupons and have to be bought outside the country where they will be used.

Air Piracy (Airlines, Air law). The appropriation or hijacking of an aircraft by force during a flight. See Hijacking.

Air Pressure (Geography): 1. The force created by air over a surface. 2. The weight of the atmosphere over a given point that equals approximately to 14.7 pounds (6.8 kg) of force on every square inch at sea level.

Air Rage (Airlines): A phenomenon in which airline passengers express an uncontrolled anger in aggressive or violent behavior.

Air Route Surveillance Radar (ARSR) (Air Traffic): A radar of the Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) that detects and displays an aircraft’s position en route between terminal areas. The ARSR allows controllers to provide air traffic control service when aircraft are in its area.

Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) (Air Traffic): A Control Center in the United States, which supervises aircraft’s navigation in a particular region of airspace at high altitudes between airport approaches and departures.

Air/sea (Tourism): A term referring to arrangements or fares that include both air and land services as in a cruise package with air included.

Air Shuttle (Airlines): Flights operating over regular and frequent routes, not requiring prior reservation.

Air Speed Indicator (Aeronautics): An instrument that measures the air speed of an aircraft through an air mass.

Air Taxi (Aeronautics): A small aircraft operating within a limited range of no more than 250 miles with restricted seating capacity (10, 15, maximum 19 passengers).

Air Terminal (Airlines): A building located in an airport or near an airport where passengers gather before their flight departs or from which they leave after their flight arrives.

Air Traffic (Aviation): Traffic generated by the circulation or movement of aircraft in the air.

Air Traffic Control (ATC) (Air Traffic): A service provided by appropriate authority through ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. A controller’s main task is to keep aircraft away from each other by use of lateral, vertical and longitudinal separation. Other of their important responsibilities is to ensure safe, orderly and expeditious flow of traffic, and to provide information to pilots, such as weather, navigation information, and Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs). To ensure communication, all pilots and all controllers everywhere are required to speak and understand English. They may use any compatible language in their respective regions, but English must be used if requested. ATC’s services are available to all users (private, military, and commercial).

Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC) (Air Traffic): Usually known as Command Center, it is the largest and most sophisticated facility of its kind in the world, using  the most advanced automation tools enabling the Command Center to manage the US National Airspace System (NAS) in an efficient way.  It is aimed to planning and regulating the flow of air traffic in order to reduce delays and avoid congestion while maximizing the overall operation.

Air Traffic Controller (Air Traffic): A person at an air traffic control tower or radar approach control facility that monitors and directs the takeoffs, coordinates the safe, orderly and expeditious flow of air traffic within a delimited airspace, and supervises the landing of airplanes.

Air Transportation (Aviation): The commercial activity to convey people, cargo, and mail by aircraft vehicles.

Air Transportation (Cruise): The optional, extra-cost air travel portion of the cruise package.

Air Transportation Association (ATA) (Organizations): Founded in 1936, it is a trade organization for the principal U.S. airlines. Its core purpose is to support and assist its members by promoting the air transport industry and the safety, cost effectiveness, and technological advancement of its operations, as well as advocating common industry positions before state and local governments.

Air Travel (Airlines): A type of travel made by air, using an airplane. Air travels start and end at a commercial airport, where a set of procedures have to be completed, such as passenger and baggage check-in, security, migration, customs and health controls.

Air Travel Card (Airlines): A credit card sponsored by an airline, good to purchase air travel only. It is also known as the Universal Air Travel Plan Card (UATP).

Air Travel Organizer’s Licence (Airlines/Tourism): A document issued by a Civil Aviation Authority to a business before selling air packages.

Air Walls (Hospitality): Portable flat section panels that are used to divide a large room into smaller areas, as in a meeting saloon.

Air Waybill (AWB) (Airlines): A bill of landing issued to cover the transportation of goods to a specific destination either on international or domestic flights. This is a non-negotiable document of air transportation, stating that the carrier accepts the goods handed by the shipper to carry the consignment to the airport of destination according to specified conditions. According to IATA, the AWB is a contract between the shipper and airline that states the terms and conditions of transportation. There are two types of air waybills: 

1. The Airline Air Waybill, with preprinted identification of the issuing carrier; and,

2. The Neutral Air Waybill without preprinted identification of the issuing carrier that can be used by companies other than air carriers.

Air Waybill Data (MAWB) (Airlines): An electronic document that eliminates the need for paper AWB or data re-entry.

Air Waybill Data Message (FWB) (Airlines): Standard Cargo IMP message identifier for electronic Master.

Airborne (Aeronautics): Something supported only by aerodynamic forces, that is, something that is conveyed by or through the air.

Airbridge (Airlines): A covered passage attached to the plane door by which passengers can embark and disembark between an airport terminal and an aircraft.

Airbus (Aeronautics): A European aircraft constructor. Airbus was officially formed in 1970 as a consortium of France’s Aerospatiale and Deutsche Airbus. A short time later Spain’s CASA joined the consortium. In 1974 the Airbus Industrie GIE, as it was known (Groupe d’Intérêt Economique) moved its headquarters from Paris to Toulouse. British Aerospace joined Airbus Industrie in 1979. Each of the four partners acquired special responsibilities for producing parts of the aircraft that are transported to Toulouse for final assembly. Their initial and successful productions were the A300/A310 Family, the A320 Family and the long-range A330/A340 Family. Airbus put the seal on its successful evolution with the unveiling, in January 2005, of the A380, the world’s largest and most advanced passenger aircraft.

Aircraft (Aeronautics): Any vehicle built to travel through the air. Specifically, a transport vehicle certified as airworthy by a competent aeronautical authority.

Aircraft Code (Airlines): An alphanumerical code created by ICAO and IATA to identify types of aircraft. Below is a simple list of IATA and ICAO Aircraft Type Designators.

Aircraft Configuration (Airlines): An arrangement or layout of an airplane’s interior

Aircraft, Narrowbody (Aviation): Single-aisle airplanes, such as Airbus A319 and A320; Boeing 727, 737, and 757; McDonnell Douglas DC9, MD80, MD87, MD90; and all other commercial aircraft not listed as wide bodies.

Aircraft on Ground (AOG) (Airlines): An AOG is an aircraft that has been grounded and is unable to fly for a problem serious enough to prevent the aircraft from flying. It has first boarding priority when it returns to service.

Aircraft Stand (Airlines): An area at an airport where aircraft park.

Airdrome (Airlines): A term once used in the U.S. for Aerodrome. Both terms are considered obsolete.

Airfield (Airlines): A term used in the United Kingdom for Aerodrome.

Airflow (Aeronautics): The motion of air molecules as they flow around an object, such as a wing.

Airfoil (Aeronautics): Any device that provides reactive force when the plane is in motion relative to the surrounding environment. Airfoils, such as a wing, aileron, or rudder can lift or control a plane in flight.

Airframe (Aviation): The structure of an aircraft including the fuselage, wings, empennage, landing gear, and engine mounts, excluding engines, tires and accessories.

AIRIMP (GDS): Code meaning "ARC, IATAN Reservations Interline Message Procedures." It is the name of a communication system created by ARC and IATAN for reservation purposes.

AIRIMP Codes (GDS): The set of codes used in airline reservation and communication procedures.

Airline (Airlines): Any commercial company providing air transport services for passengers or freight, on the basis of an authorized operating certificate or license. To supply these services, airlines lease or own their aircraft with and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit.

Airline Alliance (Airlines): An agreement between airlines to cooperate in the commercial air transport business on defined levels. The extent of cooperation differs according to the type of the alliance. Alliances were born when Lufthansa, United Airlines, and a few other airlines formed the Star Alliance in 1997. Today more than 50 of the world’s largest airlines are alliance members. The three largest alliances are, in its order of size: Star Alliance, SkyTeam, and Oneworld. They carry approximately 60 percent of airline traffic globally. Cargo carriers formed recently the WOW Alliance. Alliances provide a wide range of benefits to both international passengers and the airlines themselves. Alliance members benefit mainly by an optimization of their networks, and cost reduction. The benefits for the traveler can consist of: Lower prices due to a decrease of operational costs, more flights to choose, more destinations, a wide range of airport lounges, and mileage rewards by earning miles for a single account on several different carriers. By May 2007, Star Alliance was formed by 32 airlines, transporting 492.8 million passengers to 965 destinations; Sky Team grouped 15 airlines transporting 427.6 million passengers to 841 destinations; Oneworld comprised 11 carriers and transported 320 million passengers to 700 destinations.

Airline Appointed Agency (Airlines). A travel agency qualified by IATA, IATAN, or other authorized body, to sell air transportation services.

Airline Codes (GDS): The two-digit alphabetic or alphanumeric code or the three-digit numeric indicators that identify specifically each airline in GDS systems, tickets, or any means of communication.

Airline Designator (GDS): Two or three-digit alpha, numeric or alphanumeric code assigned to every airline.

Airline Fare (Airlines): Price charged for air transportation between designated points of origin and destination. There is a large amount of airline fare types that change according to the type of class of service, type of trip, season, market conditions, etc. Some of the broad categories are: Normal, Excursion, Promotional, Discounted, and Advance Purchase.

Airline Passenger’s Bill of Rights (Airlines): Due to some irregular services airlines provide, a coalition of air travelers are filing a project to obtain from