Aviation is a core component of tourism and there are different types of air transport within the aviation industry. Whilst most people immediately think of commercial aircraft (the ones used for holidays and business trips), there is actually much more to the air transport industry!
This article explains the different types of air transport, with examples of each, along with the main types of airlines.
What is air transport?
Before looking at the types, it is important to understand what air transport actually is.
Put simply, air transport is any type of transport that moves through the air.
Any vehicle that can sustain flight is part of the air transport industry, and there are various different types.
From short domestic flights to long haul international travel, air transport is a big part of the travel and tourism industry.
Types of air transport
There are many different types of air transport.
They provide different uses, whether that be for cargo transportation or tourism, and operate in different ways due to how they are built and the ways in which they are made to fly.
Aeroplanes
Also known as aircraft, airplanes or simply planes, an aeroplane is a powered, fixed-wing aircraft.
Using a jet engine, propellers or a rocket engine, an aeroplane flies through the air and is one of the most popular types of air transport.
Planes come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes with different wing configurations, and are used in many ways.
They are used to transport people and goods, for research, within the military, simply for recreation and more.
Planes are flown by an on-board pilot or a group of pilots, with the help of automated technologies.
The first successful powered aeroplane was invented and flown by the Wright brothers in 1903. Aeroplane technology was used in a limited way during World War I, and it continued to develop from then on. It is ever-evolving, and planes make up a huge portion of all types of air transport vehicles.
Current manufacturers of commercial aircraft include:
- Airbus (Europe – with major operations in France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom)
- Boeing (United States)
- Embraer (Brazil)
- COMAC (China), whose C919 airliner entered commercial service in 2023
- ATR (France/Italy)
- De Havilland Aircraft of Canada (Canada)
- United Aircraft Corporation (Russia)
- Antonov (Ukraine)
Helicopters
A helicopter is a rotorcraft – lift and thrust actions are supplied by horizontally spinning rotors which allow the helicopter to take off and land vertically, hover, and fly forward, backward and laterally.
The first operational helicopter was made in 1936.
Helicopters can be used in congested areas where a fixed-wing aircraft (a plane) wouldn’t work so well. Helicopters are used by search and rescue groups as well as law enforcement and news & media companies. This is because they can hover in one area for an extended period of time which is useful for searching and filming. They are also used by firefighters for this reason.
Other helicopter uses include medical transport, tourism and small cargo transportation.
Hot air balloons
Primarily used for tourism, hot air balloons were the first ever successful human-carrying types of air transport.
Back in 1783 in Paris, the first untethered, manned hot air balloon flight was performed by Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent d’Arlandes. The hot air balloon they used was created by the Montgolfier brothers.
A hot air balloon is lighter-than-air, and consists of a bag (known as an envelope) containing heated air. A wicker basket or ‘gondola’ is suspended beneath it, which carries both the passengers and the source of heat. This is usually an open flame made by burning liquid propane. Because the hot air inside the balloon has a lower density than the colder outside air, it becomes buoyant and able to fly.
Modern hot air balloons are now made in a variety of shapes such as rockets, bees and more.
Blimps
A blimp is a non-rigid airship. This is a dirigible or barrage balloon with no internal framework or keel.
Blimps rely on the pressure of the lifting gas (helium, usually) inside the envelope as well as the strength of the envelope itself. There is a solid passenger car as well as tail fins. These are the only solid parts of a blimp.
These types of air transport need to be overpressured in order to fly, and they have propellors too.
Blimps were used extensively by the US Navy, particularly during the Second World War. Other military forces have used them too, and blimps are often used in advertising as they can ‘float’ above an arena or field to showcase a brand’s logo and draw attention. The famous Goodyear ‘blimps’ have, since 2014, actually been semi-rigid Zeppelin NT airships.
Gliders
A glider is another form of fixed-wing aircraft. However, its free flight doesn’t rely on an engine – so most do not have one.
Motor gliders do have small engines for extending their flight, but most rely on the dynamic reaction of the air against the lifting surfaces.
There are many different types of gliders. They differ in the construction of their wings, where the pilot sits, the types of controls and their aerodynamic efficiency.
Gliders are primarily used for sports: gliding, paragliding and hang gliding. Though very rudimentary, a paper plane is actually a glider!
Types of airlines
The vast majority of passenger air travel takes place on aeroplanes, as described above.
Aircraft are purchased by the airline and then configured to suit their business model. Airlines tend to be split into a class model service with one, two, three or four classes on each plane ranging from economy to first or business class.
Generally, air travel starts and ends at a commercial airport involving border control.
Longer flights may involve a layover too.
There are three categories of airline that operate commercial flights around the world. These airlines are low cost, charter and scheduled. Each of these is explained briefly below.
Low cost airlines
Otherwise known as a budget airline, a low cost carrier (LCC) or a no-frills airline, there are plenty of low cost airlines around the world.
Low cost airlines aim to get passengers from A to B for a low cost with no frills involved.
These airlines tend to come without amenities you may experience on other flights (there are rarely any meals or entertainment included in the fare), and passengers often need to pay extra to take luggage or to choose their seats.
By adding on a range of additional costs, known as ancillary products and services, low cost airlines are able to provide budget-friendly international flights.
Some examples of low cost airlines around the world include:
- Ryanair
- Southwest Airlines
- Eurowings
- SunExpress
- Wizz Air
- easyJet
- Spring Airlines
- Allegiant Air
The term low-cost airline originated within the airline industry to refer to airlines which have a lower operating cost structure than their competitors.
The term is often applied to any carrier with low ticket prices and limited services regardless of their operating models.
However, low-cost carriers should not be confused with regional airlines that operate short flights without service or cut-price flight prices during seasonal sales.
Charter airlines
Chartering a flight is the business of renting an entire plane, rather than booking an individual seat on a plane.
Charter airlines are also called air taxi or ad-hoc flights, and require certification from that country’s national aviation authority. Regulations are different from typical commercial flights as they offer a non-scheduled service.
The planes offered by charter airlines tend to be smaller vehicles – primarily business jets – there are more than 20,000 business jets in service worldwide, many of which are available for charter – although larger airliners are also chartered, for example by tour operators and sports teams.
Private aviation is most popular in the US, but it is also common in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Some charter airline companies include:
- NetJets
- VistaJet
- Titan Airways
- Arab Wings
- Condor
- TUI Airways
- Smartwings
There are plenty more airlines around the world.
Many scheduled airlines also offer charter services, for example for sports teams, governments and tour operators.
Tour companies can charter flights too, which is common for package holidays – passengers on a TUI cruise package, for example, often fly with TUI Airways alongside other passengers on the same cruise.
Scheduled airlines
Scheduled airlines operate flights that adhere to a particular schedule drawn up months – or even years – in advance. Even if the flight is not full, it should continue to operate.
Tickets are sold via various sales channels, such as through travel agents, the airline website or ticket offices.
Flights cater to both business and leisure passengers, and these flights often have several cabin classes.
Low cost and charter airlines don’t tend to offer much variety in terms of seating, but scheduled airlines will have a variety of options:
- Economy
- Premium Economy
- Business Class
- First Class
The higher the class, the closer to the front of the aircraft the seat usually is, and the more expensive the ticket.
Each class offers different benefits, whether that’s free drinks, toiletries, more comfortable seats, a more private space, refund policies, extra baggage and more.
There are many different scheduled airlines providing air transport around the world. Some of them are:
- British Airways
- Emirates
- Virgin Atlantic
- Gulf Air
- Pakistan International Airlines
- KLM
- Cathay Pacific
- Delta
- Singapore Airlines
- Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL)
Conclusion: The types of air transport
As this article has shown, there are different types of air transport, which together make up the important aviation sector. Some types of air transport are used predominantly for leisure and tourism, while others have practical functions such as transporting cargo or supporting military operations.
Types of air transport: FAQs
Below are answers to some of the most common questions about the different types of air transport.
What are the main types of air transport?
The main types of air transport are aeroplanes, helicopters, hot air balloons, blimps and other airships, and gliders.
What are the three types of airlines?
The three main types of airlines are low-cost airlines, charter airlines and scheduled (full-service) airlines.
What was the first type of air transport to carry people?
The hot air balloon was the first type of air transport to carry people. The first untethered crewed flight took place in Paris in 1783, in a balloon built by the Montgolfier brothers.
What is the difference between a blimp and an airship?
A blimp is a type of airship. Blimps are non-rigid, meaning they have no internal framework and keep their shape through the pressure of the gas inside, while rigid airships have an internal structure.
Who are the biggest aircraft manufacturers?
Airbus and Boeing are by far the largest manufacturers of commercial aircraft, followed by companies such as Embraer, COMAC and ATR.
Types of air transport: Further reading
If you found this article on the different types of air transport useful, these articles may also be of interest:
- The 3 important types of airlines + how they work
- 20 fascinating types of aircraft
- 150 types of tourism! The ultimate tourism glossary
- The fascinating story of the first commercial flight
- 50 types of transport from around the world
