'airway' originates from English as a compound of 'air' and 'way'; 'air' ultimately from Latin 'aer' (via Old French 'air' and Middle English 'air'), and 'way' from Old English 'weg', where 'air' meant 'the atmosphere' and 'way' meant 'path/road'.

'air' and 'way' existed in Middle English; the compound appeared in Early Modern English as 'air-way/air way' and eventually solidified into the modern English word 'airway'.

Initially, it meant 'a passage through which air moves (especially in the body)'; in the 20th century it broadened to include 'a designated route in the sky for aircraft' and by extension 'an airline'.