The objective of this study is to present a business model for the air transport industry. In terms of its purpose, this research is classified as applied-developmental. Adopting a qualitative approach and utilizing thematic analysis, the study aimed to develop the proposed model. The participant population for the qualitative phase comprised theoretical experts (academic elites and distinguished faculty members from universities) and executive experts (managers of airline companies and the aviation industry). Concurrent purposive and snowball sampling methods were employed. Theoretical saturation was achieved following semi-structured interviews with 14 experts. Data collection in the qualitative phase was conducted through semi-structured interviews. To ensure the reliability of the qualitative phase and confirm theoretical saturation, an inter-rater agreement correlation matrix and a dual-coder diagram were utilized. Model design and the identification of primary and secondary themes were performed using MAXQDA 2020 software. Based on the findings, the business model in the air transport industry encompasses seven main themes: technological infrastructure and smart data architecture, analytical capabilities and evidence-based decision-making, operational optimization and flight performance, customer experience and data-driven marketing, smart revenue and financial management, sustainability and corporate social responsibility, and organizational culture and data governance. Each main theme comprises at least three sub-themes.