Definition
A control area, or portion of one, established in the form of a corridor and equipped with radio navigation aids, used for the routing of air traffic under ICAO standards.
Plain English
An airway is a published sky-corridor that aircraft fly along, marked out by ground-based or satellite navigation aids so pilots and controllers can route traffic in a known, predictable path.
Context Anchor
Seen on aeronautical charts, in flight planning, and in air traffic control route clearances.
Derivation
From 'air' plus 'way' (a path or route). The ICAO tag indicates this is the definition adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization, which standardizes aviation terms across member countries. The ICAO version may differ slightly from the FAA's domestic definition, which is why it is listed separately.
Why Pilots Care
Using an airway keeps the aircraft inside controlled airspace with guaranteed navigation coverage and traffic separation during instrument flight.
Intuition Check
Airway does not mean a breathing passage here. In aviation, it means a published route or corridor in the sky.
Example Sentence 1
The flight plan routed the aircraft along an ICAO airway from the departure airport to the first international waypoint.
Example Sentence 2
The pilot checked the en route chart to confirm the airway remained inside controlled airspace.