This article presents a retrieval method and a statistical analysis of the bulk micropysical properties of semi-transparent ice clouds using the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS). Global and long-term coverage provides information on the effective diameter (<i>D</i><sub>e</sub>) and habits of ice crystals in relation with their environment, ice water path (IWP) and temperature. The method relies on spectral absorption differences between 8 and 12 μm that depend on ice crystal properties. Using single scattering properties for column-like or aggregate-like ice crystals, the method is sensitive to <i>D</i><sub>e</sub> of up to 85 μm and IWP of up to 120 g m<sup>−2</sup>. Uncertainties due to the hypotheses on atmospheric parameters and ice crystal single scattering properties as well as horizontal heterogeneities have been demonstrated to be small. The behaviour of bulk microphysical properties as a function of temperature demonstrates that pure ice clouds only occur when <i>T</i><sub>cld</sub><230 K. On a global scale, these clouds represent practically 25 % of all high clouds and are mainly encountered in the mid-latitudes during winter and in the tropics. Colocated Radar-Lidar Geometrical Profiling (GEOPROF) data reveal an increase in the vertical extent of these cloud layers during mid-latitude winter but which does not significantly impact ice crystal characteristics. A comparative study with bulk microphysical properties from the TIROS-N Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS) reveals improvements, especially for optically thin and thick semi-transparent ice clouds. Finally, we investigated parametrizations of <i>D</i><sub>e</sub> as a function of IWP or Ice Water Content (IWC), which could be useful for modelling cirrus in General Circulation Models.