'airwise' originates from the combination of 'air' and the suffix '-wise', where 'air' refers to the invisible gaseous substance surrounding the earth, and '-wise' denotes manner or direction.

'Airwise' was formed by combining the word 'air' with the suffix '-wise', a common English practice to create adverbs or adjectives indicating manner.

Initially, it meant 'in a manner related to air', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.