Airline Status API

Check whether an airline is active, defunct or a start-up awaiting operations. Retrieve its operational status alongside airline codes and names to maintain your directory and build appropriate airline selectors.

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  • Active, defunct and start-up
  • Lookup by code or name
  • JSON, XML and CSV

Check an airline’s operational status

Look up Southwest Airlines using its IATA code WN and read the status field. A value of 1 means the airline is active. Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your assigned key.

Request · cURL

curl --get 'https://content.airhex.com/api/v3.7.10/airlines/' \
  --data-urlencode 'apikey=YOUR_API_KEY' \
  --data-urlencode 'iata=WN'

Response · JSON excerpt

[
  {
    "iata": "WN",
    "icao": "SWA",
    "marketing_name": "Southwest Airlines",
    "status": 1,
    ...
  }
]

Abbreviated response. The ellipsis (…) represents additional airline fields omitted here and is not part of the actual JSON response.

View the full Airline Database API reference →

Request parameters

Look up an airline or download the directory, then read the status field in the response. The documented endpoint does not offer a status query parameter; apply status filters in your application.

ParameterRequiredDefaultDescription
apikey YesNoneYour assigned API key. Get a free test API key.
iata ConditionalNoneLook up an airline by its two-character IATA code, such as WN.
icao ConditionalNoneLook up an airline by its three-letter ICAO code, such as SWA.
name ConditionalNoneFind airline codes by airline name or partial name.
dump Conditional0Set to 1 to export the complete dataset, subject to the onlyscheduled filter.
response_type NoJSONResponse format: JSON, XML or CSV. CSV triggers a file download.
onlyscheduled No1Set to 1 for scheduled airlines only, or 0 for all airline types.

Provide at least one of iata, icao, name, or dump=1. Setting dump=1 overrides the other lookup parameters.

View all request parameters →

Available data

Read status together with the airline identity. The values are 1 for active, 0 for defunct and 2 for a start-up pending commencement of operations. Keep airhex_id when maintaining your local records.

FieldTypeExampleDescription
airhex_id Identifier1046Permanent Airhex record identifier. Use it to associate future updates with the same record.
iata StringWNTwo-character IATA airline designator. Codes can contain letters and digits; store them as text.
icao StringSWAThree-letter ICAO airline designator, useful for mapping between code systems.
marketing_name StringSouthwest AirlinesCommonly used airline name for display in your application.
status Integer1Operational status: 1 = active, 0 = defunct, 2 = start-up pending commencement of operations.

View all available data →

Common implementation tasks

Download the directory and filter by status

Export the directory as CSV and filter the status column in your application: keep 1 for active airlines, 0 for defunct airlines, or 2 for start-ups. Setting onlyscheduled=0 broadens the airline-type coverage; it is not an active-airline filter. Inspect type_code if you need to exclude rail, bus or ferry records.

curl --get 'https://content.airhex.com/api/v3.7.10/airlines/' \
  --data-urlencode 'apikey=YOUR_API_KEY' \
  --data-urlencode 'dump=1' \
  --data-urlencode 'onlyscheduled=0' \
  --data-urlencode 'response_type=CSV' \
  --output airline-status.csv

Find an airline’s status by name

Search with name, select the intended airline from the matching records and read status. Partial name matching can return more than one airline. Include onlyscheduled=0 when you want to search beyond scheduled airlines.

curl --get 'https://content.airhex.com/api/v3.7.10/airlines/' \
  --data-urlencode 'apikey=YOUR_API_KEY' \
  --data-urlencode 'name=Southwest' \
  --data-urlencode 'onlyscheduled=0'

Check status using an ICAO code

Use icao when your source identifies the carrier with a three-letter ICAO code. This example retrieves Southwest Airlines using SWA. Read the returned status value rather than inferring operational status from the presence of a code.

curl --get 'https://content.airhex.com/api/v3.7.10/airlines/' \
  --data-urlencode 'apikey=YOUR_API_KEY' \
  --data-urlencode 'icao=SWA' \
  --data-urlencode 'onlyscheduled=0'

What you can build

Verify active airlines in your booking tools

Build a selector from records with status 1, while applying the carrier-type filters your product needs.

Historical travel reporting

Keep defunct airline identities available to explain older bookings, itineraries and transaction records.

Directory maintenance

Compare refreshed records by airhex_id and flag status changes for review in your internal tools.

Frequently asked questions

What do the airline status values mean?

1 means active, 0 means defunct, and 2 means a start-up pending commencement of operations. These values describe the airline as an organization.

Does active status mean a flight is available to book?

No. Active airline status does not establish availability on a route or date. Use your booking supplier for flight availability and fares.

Can I request only active airlines?

The documented Airlines API has no status query parameter. Retrieve the records you need and filter for status equal to 1 in your application. onlyscheduled=1 selects scheduled airline types; it is not a substitute for a status check. Compare with 1 explicitly: a non-zero check would also include start-ups with status 2.

How can I find defunct airlines or start-ups?

Export the directory and filter returned records for status 0 or 2. Set onlyscheduled=0 if you need all carrier types. For an individual airline, look up its code or name and inspect its returned status.

Does a missing airline code mean the airline has stopped operating?

No. A missing code or unresolved lookup is not an operational-status value. Preserve the original identifier and investigate the match instead of labelling the airline as defunct. Only assign an operational label when a returned record provides a recognized status value.

Should I remove defunct airlines from my database?

Keep records that you need to resolve historical bookings or reports. You can exclude status 0 records from current selectors without deleting their historical identity. Use airhex_id to associate future imports with existing records.

How do I keep airline status current?

Airhex reviews and updates airline data daily. Refresh your local records periodically and retain airhex_id and the updated timestamp from the full response. The Updates API provides a recent change log, including status changes, to support monitoring.

Is this a real-time flight status API?

No. It provides airline operational status, not departures, arrivals, delays or cancellations. Use a flight-data provider for the status of an individual flight.

Keep your airline directory up to date

Keep active airlines visible in current selectors while preserving defunct airline identities for historical bookings and reports.

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Airline Database API →

Explore the complete airline dataset, including IATA and ICAO codes, names, operational status, carrier types, alliances, frequent flyer programs, check-in and baggage policy links, logos and brand colors. View all request parameters and response fields, with individual lookups and bulk exports in JSON, XML and CSV.

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Airline Brand Colors API →

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Airline Frequent Flyer Programs API →

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Airline IATA Codes API →

Look up airline IATA codes, match codes to airline names and ICAO codes, or export the airline coding directory with the Airhex API.

Airline ICAO Codes API →

Look up three-letter ICAO airline codes, match them to airline names and IATA codes, and download the airline directory with the Airhex API.

Airline Metadata API →

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Airline Online Check-in API →

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