Jimmys Travel Report

Airline Industry

Defining the Six Fundamental Types of Airlines

Periodic Table r

I’m in the process of reviewing different airlines and trying to figure out my future strategy for elite status with a specific carrier next year. In studying the different services and loyalty programs that exist in the aviation industry, the similarities and also variation between the contrasting operations are telling. Warning, this is one of my more abstract posts.

definition

When looking at the airlines as a whole, it is very interesting all the different types of carriers that exist. This got me thinking as to what are the different kinds of airlines? Is there a basic subset of airline types that can define, in one manor or another, all the types of passenger airlines that the public uses. By nature, people love to define and categorize things, and in looking at airline definitions there are a multitude of terms the industry at large uses.

  • National Airlines
    International Airline
    Regional Airlines (large, medium, small) including affiliated, independent, local service airlines
    Commuter Airlines
    Network Carriers
    Mainline Carrier
    Cargo Airline
    Charter Service
    Legacy Carrier
    Low Coast Carrier
    Ultra Low Cost Carrier
    Hybrid Airline
    Budget Airline
    Discount Airline
    Passenger Airline
    Business Class Airline
    New World Carrier

Just to list of few. This list is too long and it’s not even most likely complete. After doing some research and giving it some back of envelope analysis I believe almost all passenger airlines can be defined as one of six basic type(s) of commercial passenger carriers. That’s right six, and there is nothing magical about the number other than what it is. These six fundamental airline types seem to cover the entire gambit of passenger travel. The six fundamental airline types are:

Type 1. The Legacy Carrier
Type 2. The Regional Carrier
Type 3. The Low Cost Carrier (LLC)
Type 4. The New Era Carrier (NEC)
Type 5. The World Carrier
Type 6. The All Business Class Airline (ABC)

Additional Notes on the six fundamental airline types.

Just so we’re on the same page this analysis is limited to public passenger airlines with a defined route and schedule structure. Essentiality you have to be able to purchase a ticket for a future predetermined flight from point A to point B. No cargo, no military, no government and no private type of operations. A passenger airline could have a charter service, but a charter airline is not a passenger operation (for our analysis).

In looking at these six fundamental airline types, the real world can be a little messy. A particular Regional Carrier my have some Legacy Carrier qualities. A specific Low Cost Carrier may have some routes more common to a World Carrier. A New Era Carrier may have services also offered by Legacy Carriers. And so on. But, in the final definition and analysis when looking at a specific and unique “Airline”, the majority of routes and services will be characterized by one of these six fundamental types.

That’s it. There are no other fundamental types of airlines other than one of these six basic types. In the following posts I’ll be defining these “fundamental types of carriers” and what makes them unique. We’ll be looking at the history, size, route types, geographic regions served, network and services of the different carrier types. Where they are similar, where they are not, and where they fit in relation to one another.

Susan walked by me at the kitchen table as I typed at my laptop. “Hey, want to know what the six fundamental type of airlines there are?” I asked excitedly. “Nope.” was her quick answer a she walked pass me into the living room. “At least she still likes traveling with me” I thought to myself.