holding pattern vs flight path

holding pattern and flight path both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
holding pattern	Yes	No	No	No
flight path	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, flight path is a hypernym of holding pattern; that is, flight path is a word with a broader meaning than holding pattern:

holding pattern: the flight path (usually circular) maintained by an aircraft that is awaiting permission to land
flight path: a designated route followed by airplanes in flying from one airport to another

Other hypernyms of holding pattern include air lane, airway, skyway.

holding pattern (noun)	flight path (noun)
the flight path (usually circular) maintained by an aircraft that is awaiting permission to land	a designated route followed by airplanes in flying from one airport to another
a state of inaction with no progress and no change	the path of a rocket or projectile or aircraft through the air