What Is Codeshare? Definition & Meaning in Aviation
A codeshare is an arrangement where a flight operated by one airline is also sold under another airline’s flight number.
In plain language
The airline that flies the aircraft is the operating carrier; the one selling the ticket is the marketing carrier. The same flight can therefore have two or more flight numbers.
Example
A traveller may buy a ticket with one airline’s code but board an aircraft run by its partner.
Why it matters
Codeshares explain why one flight can have several flight numbers and why searching the “wrong” number on a tracker finds nothing. Always use the operating airline’s number to follow the aircraft.