---
title: "What is Operating carrier? | Benefit Systems"
description: "The operating carrier is the airline that actually flies the aircraft, as distinct from the airline whose name sold the ticket."
source: "aus dem gebauten HTML abgeleitet"
---
# 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](/de/glossar/ausfuehrende-airline)

## Related terms #

- [Codeshare](/en/glossary/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](/en/glossary/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](/en/glossary/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?](/en/knowledge/codeshare)
- [What do US airlines owe you when your flight is cancelled?](/en/knowledge/us-cancellation-rights)
- [What do you do first when your flight is cancelled?](/en/knowledge/flight-cancelled-what-to-do)
- [Why award space disappears while you’re booking it](/en/knowledge/disappearing-award-space)
- [How do you find award space an airline’s own site won’t show?](/en/knowledge/award-availability)
- [What is a fare class and why does it decide everything?](/en/knowledge/fare-class)