.aero domain ownership transfer, new operator is coming

Since its launch in 2001, the top-level domain .aero is now facing a major change. The US registry SITA INC USA has notified its partner companies that the ownership of the .aero domain will be transferred to a new operator.

The identity of the new domain name holder has not yet been officially announced and is subject to formal approval by Internet governance body ICANN. As the first sponsored top-level domain (TLD) in the domain name system, .aero has a unique position. It is supported by a specific community and the registry aims to serve the interests of this specific community through the domain name.

Until now, the .aero domain has been open only to aviation industry practitioners, so its number of registered domain names has remained relatively stable at around 13,500. However, with the entry of a new operator, it is not yet known whether .aero will expand its target audience in the future.

From the background reasons, political factors may be the key determinant of this registry transfer. As of November 10, 2023, SITA will no longer accept registrations or renewals from Russian Federation domain name owners. Although domain name registration services are generally not affected by sanctions imposed by Russia following the war of aggression in Ukraine, some registries and registrars are still concerned about being subject to severe sanctions from the US government.

For the entire aviation industry and domain name field, the change of .aero domain name operator may have a series of impacts. On the one hand, if the new operator broadens the scope of use of .aero domain names, it may attract more aviation-related emerging companies or organizations to join, injecting new vitality into the digital development of the aviation industry. On the other hand, if the existing registration rules are maintained, while stabilizing the existing user base, the domain name can also maintain its uniqueness and authority in the aviation professional field.

In any case, after ICANN completes the approval process for the new operator, the subsequent development of the .aero domain name deserves continued attention from global aviation industry professionals and domain name practitioners.

Source: domain-recht