GB/T 18764-2026Vocabulary for civil aviation passenger transport (English PDF)

Foreword

This document complies with the provisions of GB/T 1.1-2020 "Standardization Work Guidelines Part

1.Structure and Drafting Rules of Standardization Documents". Drafting. This document replaces GB/T 18764-2002 "Civil Aviation Passenger Transport Terminology". Compared with GB/T 18764-2002, the only differences are in the structural design. Aside from integration and editorial changes, the main technical changes are as follows:

a) Added "Civil Air Transport", "Commercial Air Transport", "Free Air Transport", "Public Air Transport Passengers" "Services", "Carrier Regulations", "Aircraft", "Airport", "Flights", "Passengers", "Air Transport Enterprises", "Air Rights", "Passenger Transport Contracts", "Travel" Terms and definitions for "Legacy Transport Rules", "Intermodal Transport Agreements", "Airline Codes", and "International Civil Aviation Organization Airport Codes" (see 3.2). 3.5~3.8, 3.13~3.15, 3.18, 3.19, 3.22, 3.26~3.29, 3.30, 3.32); (b) The terms and definitions for "air transport," "intra-regional routes," and "designated air carriers" have been removed (see sections 3.2.1, 3.7.7, and

3.2.1 of the.2002 edition). 3.3.2);

c) The definitions of "segment" and "route" have been changed (see 3.16, 3.17, and

3.7.1 in the.2002 edition);

d) The chapter on "Markets" has been deleted (see Chapter 4 in the.2002 edition);

e) Added "civil transport airports", "large civil transport airports", "stopover airports", "hub airports", "international hub airports", and "regional hub airports". Terms and definitions for "New York Airport" and "Civil Airport Operator" (see 5.2, 5.3, 5.7-5.10, 5.12);

f) Added terms and definitions for "international segment," "domestic segment," and "domestic express" (see 6.1, 6.2, and 6.9);

g) The definitions of "feederline," "trunkline," and "regional route" have been revised (see 6.5-6.7, and 3.7.6, 3.7.5, and

3.7.4 in the.2002 edition);

h) Added terms and definitions for "extra flights," "stopover flights," "connecting flights," "outbound flights," and "return flights" (see 7.3, 7.7,...). 7.8, 7.12, 7.13);

i) The definition of "direct flight" has been changed (see 7.6,

3.8.5 of the.2002 edition);

1 Scope

GB/T 18764-2026 is the Chinese national standard covering the vocabulary of airline passenger operations - the ticket and the contract behind it, the fare and its conditions, check-in, boarding and baggage, denied boarding and delay, code-share and interline, and the terms that appear in a claim. At 31,000 words it replaces GB/T 18764-2002 after twenty-four years, a period in which the whole distribution and pricing of air travel changed. It was issued on 28 January 2026 and has been in force since 1 August 2026, replacing GB/T 18764-2002. The document is under the responsibility of the Civil Aviation Administration of China. This page is published from the official record of the 2026 edition; the clause text of a standard this recent is not yet in circulation, and the figures, limits and tables it contains are those of the document itself, delivered in full with the English translation.

This document defines the terminology related to passenger transport operations in the civil aviation sector. This document applies to the transportation management, services, research, and teaching of public air passenger transport operations.

2 Normative references

This document has no normative references.

3 Basic General Terminology

3.1 Civil aviation Use all types of aircraft to engage in all aviation activities other than national aviation activities such as defense, police, and customs.

3.2 Civil air transport Aviation activities involving the use of civil aircraft for scheduled or unscheduled flights to transport passengers, baggage, mail or cargo.

3.3 Domestic air transport According to the air transport contract concluded by the parties, air transport where the place of departure, the agreed stopover point, and the destination are all within the same country. transportation.

3.4 According to the air transport contract concluded by the parties, regardless of whether the transport is interrupted or transshipped, the place of departure, destination, or agreed upon Air transport with one of its designated stopover points not located within the same country.

3.5 Air transport that involves the transport of passengers, air cargo, or mail for a fee or charge.

3.6 Free air transport Air transport that uses civil aircraft to transport passengers and baggage without charging fares (excluding taxes and fees).

Note. This includes, but is not limited to, complimentary passenger transportation provided for purposes such as courtesy, marketing promotions, employee travel for personal or business purposes, and frequent flyer rewards.

3.7 public air transport Corporate entities that operate civil aircraft for profit, transporting passengers, baggage, mail, or cargo. The transportation of passengers, luggage, or goods.

Note. This includes free transportation provided by public air transport companies using civil aircraft.