.AERO - General FAQs

What is .aero?
.aero is a new Top Level Domain (TLD) dedicated to the aviation industry. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) delegated the .aero registry to SITA - the world's leading provider of global information and telecommunications solutions to the air transport industry.

Who can register a .aero domain name?
.aero domain registration is exclusively for companies, organizations, associations, government agencies, and individuals in the aviation and related industries. Non-aviation related companies cannot register .aero domain names.

What is the benefit for an aviation community member to register a .aero domain?
Aviation community members benefit from a structured and controlled Internet domain in which specific priorities are defined for specific Registrant Groups and Domain Types. In short, .aero is your Top Level Domain for domain name registrations.

Who is registering .aero names?
Early adopters are aviation companies registering trademarks and brand names, as well as industry specific codes, that were not available before due to others already using the ".Com" domain names. Aviation entities all over the world are registering .aero domains for their company name, their brands, their airports, their trademarks, and their slogans.

How is .aero securing Internet exchanges for the aviation community?
The main advantages are that the authentication of all domain name holders protects the assets of the community, while enhancing the level of trust in Internet-based transactions.

Will my .aero web address be able to co-exist with my current .Com websites and web addresses?
Yes, .aero domains work just like a .com domain name. If your domain administrator configures your DNS accurately, your .aero address will display the desired web site. Same principle applies for email service. See your DNS or email administrator for more information. Conversely, Domain Bank offers free web redirect and forwarding service of all .aero domain registrations to existing .com web addresses upon request.

How can I obtain a .aero domain?
If you are eligible for a .aero domain, search for a domain through our search tool. We will process your domain registration(s). If the registry accepts your request, we will notify you of completion of your domain registration(s). All .aero domain names are $99.00 per year with available registration terms of 2 to 10 years per domain name.

Can I transfer my .aero domain name to another entity?
The .aero registry does not allow transfer of ownership for .aero domain names. This is not a Domain Bank rule however we must abide by it.

How can I find out if a domain name is available?
Check the .aero Whois located here.

Who sets the eligibility criteria?
Eligibility criteria is set by the registry. The criteria is defined in the Domain Management Policy in collaboration with associations acting as Representative Bodies for each Registrant Group. (Please note: This file requires Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing.)

How much is it going to cost me to register a . aero domain name?
Each .aero domain name costs $99.00 USD per year and is available in 2 to 10 year increments.

When can I start using my .aero domain name?
As soon as your domain registration is completed, you can start using your new .aero domain.

FAQs concerning re-assignment of pre-registered names

Why is SITA, the Sponsor of .aero, pre-registering and activating domain names?
.aero, as a sponsored domain, is different from other domains in that registration and use of domain names must comply with the set policies of the domain. For example, two-character domain names can be only used by airlines-code holders, and names corresponding to flight numbers can be only used to provide information about the flight and so on. This is very good news for end-users, people as well as systems, because they can always "guess" what domain name to use based on their knowledge of the industry codes, and access desired information quickly. Say, as a passenger, you use the LA airport frequently, you know the code is LAX, so you just type www.lax.aero and you are on the web site of the airport. That's fast! The problem is what to do before each and every member of the community activates their name, if there are gaps, they break the principle of predictability - the biggest asset of .aero. Pre-registration and activation of domain names was introduced to make sure that complete sets of codes are active at the same time and that no gaps are present in the structure to break the predictability. Once all recognized codes are present, a traveler or an industry professional can always receive a valid answer when using a recognized industry code in .aero. Also, pre-registration and activation also serves as a very useful tool for demonstration and testing of new concepts like minimum presentation standards for mobile and wireless devices. For more on development, proceed here.

What names are pre-registered?
Currently, SITA pre-registered all two character airline codes, all location codes allocated to municipal areas and airports and all three letter airline codes if IATA airlines. This list will increase with time. All pre-registered names are "activated" and work as web sites. Simply type www.name.aero to see if a name was pre-registered.

Will pre-registered names remain with the Sponsor or can someone else use them?
Pre-registered names will be re-assigned to eligible registrants, typically airports and airlines using those codes, at their request, at any time. For details of eligibility and allocation policy refer to .aero Domain Management Policy.

I am the code holder, how can I get the name?
If you are eligible for the name, you can request re-assignment of the relevant domain name. You will need to provide Domain Bank with your .aero ID, which is associated with your code. Most airlines and airports have already received a letter containing the .aero ID and listing of their codes. If you do not have your .aero ID, you can submit a request for an ID, listing the code as credentials value or simply request SITA directly at aero.enquiries@sita.aero to resend your ID.

I am not a code holder but I would like to use this name, can I get it?
No. All pre-registered names are only available for the holders of relevant codes.

I know about existing domains corresponding to codes, which are not registered to airlines or airports. Will those be cancelled?
No. Policies develop over time and new restrictions are introduced gradually. For example, it was possible in the past to register names corresponding to airport codes by other aviation entities. Today, under the new policy, this is no longer possible.

SITA will not cancel domain names because the rules have changed. However, if such name is deleted and attempted to be registered again or if a request is made to transfer the domain to a new owner, the registration rules, valid at the time of the new registration or transfer, will apply.