The airborne multi axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy (AMAXDOAS) is employed to retrieve tropospheric vertical columns of NO2. The differential slant columns of NO2 are retrieved combined with the spectra in different viewing directions by the DOAS method and the vertical columns are calculated with the radiative transfer model SCIATRAN. The dependences of AMF on altitude, surface albedo, and solar zenith angle are studied. The measurement campaign in pearl region delta region on December 10 in 2008 is reported. The NO2 vertical column distribution is obtained in zenith and nadir directions. The results from airborne multi axis DOAS are compared with those from a ground-based multi axis DOAS in Zhuhai, with a deviation of 0.08. The results show that AMAXDOAS can be used to measure the tropospheric NO2 in a large area within a short time.