What Is STA? Definition & Meaning in Aviation
STA (scheduled time of arrival) is the arrival time published in the airline’s timetable.
In plain language
It is a plan, not a prediction. Comparing the STA with the actual arrival time (ATA) shows whether a flight was early, on time or late.
Example
A ticket may say the flight lands at 14:10. That is the STA.
Why it matters
The STA is the benchmark for punctuality. It is also what connecting flights, hotel transfers and pickups are normally planned around, so comparing it with the ETA shows how much slack you have.