Airways and Waypoints: How Planes Navigate

Airways are the “roads in the sky” that aircraft follow, defined as lines between named waypoints. They keep traffic organised, so controllers know where aircraft will be.

Waypoints

A waypoint is a named point defined by latitude and longitude, or by a navigation aid such as a VOR. Waypoints have short five-letter names that are easy to say on the radio. Pilots enter them into the flight management computer.

Airways

An airway connects waypoints and has a code, such as a letter and number. High-altitude airways carry airliners; low-altitude airways serve smaller aircraft. Airways have set altitudes in each direction so opposite-direction traffic is separated vertically.

Departures and arrivals

Near airports, aircraft follow standard routes: a SID after takeoff and a STAR before landing. These connect the airport to the airway network.

What you see on a tracker

On a map, many aircraft follow the same lines because they use the same airways. Over busy corridors you can see aircraft stacked in a line.

Direct routing

Controllers sometimes clear aircraft “direct” between two points, saving distance. That is one reason the same flight may follow slightly different tracks on different days. See also why planes fly curved routes.

General information only, not legal or safety advice. Details change; check with your airline and the relevant authority. See our editorial policy.