.aero is a
generic top-level domainA generic top-level domain is one of the categories of top-level domains maintained by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority for use in the Domain Name System of the Internet....
(gTLD) used in the
Domain Name SystemThe Domain Name System is a hierarchical distributed naming system for computers, services, or any resource connected to the Internet or a private network. It associates various information with domain names assigned to each of the participating entities...
of the
InternetThe Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
. It is the first
sponsored top-level domainA sponsored top-level domain is one of the categories of top-level domains maintained by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority for use in the Domain Name System of the Internet....
based on a single industrial theme. The
aero domain is reserved for companies, organizations, associations, government agencies, and individuals in
aviationAviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
-related fields. It was created in 2002 and is operated by
SITASITA is a multinational information technology company specialising in providing IT and telecommunication services to the air transport industry...
. SITA created and operates the
Dot Aero CouncilThe Dot Aero Council is a group created by SITA to advise on the development of the .aero TLD. Various groups involved in aviation are represented on the council....
.
Two-letter codes under
.aero are reserved for airlines according to the IATA Airline Designators. While three-letter codes were initially reserved for airports (
IATA airport codeAn IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier, is a three-letter code designating many airports around the world, defined by the International Air Transport Association...
), they were released for registration by the larger aviation and aerospace community on December 1, 2008.
The
aero top-level domain was initially approved in 2001 for a 5-year term expiring December 17, 2006 as part of a proof-of-concept of new top-level domains. The agreement was extended in October 2006 for a six month term until June 17, 2007, and continued to be renewed on a June–December six-month cycle through June 17, 2009. In 2009, SITA and ICANN completed a new 10-year sponsorship agreement for the operation of
aero.
External links