A crossword clue referencing a piece of information typically displayed on airport arrival and departure boards, such as estimated time of arrival (ETA), estimated time of departure (ETD), or airport codes, serves as a prompt for solvers to fill in the corresponding grid entry. For example, “Expected time of arrival (Abbr.)” could lead to the answer ETA.
Such clues offer a specific challenge, requiring solvers to possess a familiarity with air travel terminology. They contribute to the overall educational value of crosswords by introducing or reinforcing this vocabulary. Furthermore, these clues can be crafted to varying degrees of difficulty, accommodating both novice and experienced solvers. Historically, as air travel became more prevalent, related terminology naturally found its way into the lexicon of crossword puzzles, reflecting the evolving cultural landscape.
