.aero

aero
IntroducedDecember 22, 2001; 22 years ago (2001-12-22)
TLD typeSponsored top-level domain
StatusActive
RegistrySITA INC B.V. (registry agreement ends in December, 2005 and new registry operator is being sought)
SponsorSITA SC; a Dot Aero Council was formed to take input from community; various industry associations have partner status
Intended useAirlines, airports, and other parts of the air-travel industry
Actual usePlayers in this industry seem to be using it, further usage just like .com, .info and other TLDs
Registration restrictionsCredentials of applicants are checked before registration is permitted, but then any domain can be registered
StructureSome categories of users can register at the second level and others at the third level within appropriate second level names; some industry codes such as those of airports and airlines were automatically linked to appropriate sites even if unregistered
DocumentsICANN registry agreement
Dispute policiesUDRP, Charter Eligibility Dispute Resolution Procedure (CEDRP)
Registry websiteinformation.aero

.aero (derived from aeronautics) is a sponsored top-level domain (sTLD) used in the Domain Name System of the Internet. It is the first sponsored top-level domain based on a single industrial theme. The .aero domain is reserved for companies, organizations, associations, government agencies, and individuals in aerospace-related fields. It was created in 2002 and is operated by SITA. SITA created and operates the Dot Aero 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 code), they were released for registration by the larger aviation and aerospace community on December 1, 2008.[1]

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,[2] 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.[3]

  1. ^ "Airports codes released". SITA. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
  2. ^ "Amendment No. 2 to TLD Sponsorship Agreement (.aero)" (PDF). ICANN.
  3. ^ "New .aero sponsorship agreement with ICANN". SITA. Retrieved 2012-09-02.