In aviation terminology, what is a carrier?

• A. A type of footrest
• B. A fuel supplier
• C. An airline meal
• D. A company involved in the transportation of people

Answer: (D)

In aviation, a carrier is the company that provides air transportation—essentially the operator that moves people or goods using aircraft. This is why the best description is a company involved in the transportation of people: the carrier is the organization that runs flights to carry passengers (and often cargo) from one destination to another. A carrier isn’t a footrest, a fuel supplier, or a meal service; those are separate roles or items in the aviation ecosystem. Some carriers focus on passengers, others on cargo, and many do both.