What is Operating carrier?

The operating carrier is the airline that actually flies the aircraft, as distinct from the airline whose name sold the ticket.

Also called: Operating airline.

How it works#

The distinction decides who a claim is addressed to: compensation, duty of care and re-routing are owed by the operating carrier, even when the booking was made with another brand or an agency. On a codeshare the selling airline appears on the ticket while the operating one sits in the flight details, marked as the carrier actually running the service.

Not to be confused with#

The operating carrier is not the same as the issuing carrier: the issuing airline sold the ticket and handles refunds, the operating one flies it and owes the disruption entitlements.

In German#

The German term is Ausführende Airline. German version of this term

Related terms#

• Codeshare: A codeshare is a flight sold by one airline under its own flight number while a different airline actually operates it.
• EU passenger rights regulation: The EU passenger rights regulation is the European law governing claims for cancellation, long delay and denied boarding, regardless of ticket price.
• Online travel agency: An online travel agency is an intermediary that sells flights and hotels in its own name, sitting between the traveller and the airline or hotel.

Articles that use this term#

• What is a codeshare and why does it matter?
• What do US airlines owe you when your flight is cancelled?
• What do you do first when your flight is cancelled?
• Why award space disappears while you’re booking it
• How do you find award space an airline’s own site won’t show?
• What is a fare class and why does it decide everything?