Abflug

Abflug is a German noun meaning takeoff or departure by air. In aviation and travel contexts it designates the act of an aircraft leaving the ground and ascending, as well as the scheduled time at which a flight is set to depart. It is commonly used in flight plans, airport information, and announcements. The corresponding verb is abfliegen, meaning to take off.

Etymologically, Abflug combines the prefix ab- meaning away with Flug meaning flight. The term is well established in modern German and is used in both formal and everyday language to refer to departures from airports or other locations.

Beyond its literal aviation sense, Abflug also appears in cultural and commercial contexts as a title or name. It is used by various musicians, filmmakers, publishers, and other media producers to convey themes of departure, escape, mobility, or abrupt exit. In such uses the word often carries metaphorical or symbolic meaning rather than a purely technical one.

In German, Abflug serves as the basis for several compound terms related to travel and airports, including Abflugzeit (departure time) and Abflughalle (departure hall), among others. The word remains a common and recognizable term in airline schedules, signage, and related discourse.