Flag carrier

A Boeing 777-300ER of Garuda Indonesia, the flag carrier of Indonesia

A flag carrier is a transport company, such as an airline or shipping company, that, being locally registered in a given sovereign state, enjoys preferential rights or privileges accorded by that government for international operations.

Historically, the term was used to refer to airlines owned by the government of their home country and associated with the national identity of that country.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref> Such an airline may also be known as a national airline or a national carrier, although this can have different legal meanings in some countries. Today, it is any international airline with a strong connection to its home country or that represents its home country internationally, regardless of whether it is government-owned.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Flag carriers may also be known as such due to laws requiring aircraft or ships to display the state flag of the country of their registry.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> For example, under the law of the United States, a U.S. flag air carrier is any airline that holds a certificate under Section 401 of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 (i.e., any U.S.-based airline operating internationally),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and any ship registered in the United States is known as a U.S. flag vessel.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Background

A Douglas DC-4 owned and operated by El Al, the flag carrier of Israel, in 1948

The term "flag carrier" is a legacy of the early days of commercial aviation when governments often took the lead by establishing state-owned airlines because of the high capital costs of running them. However, not all such airlines were government-owned; Pan Am, TWA, Cathay Pacific, Union de Transports Aériens, Canadian Pacific Air Lines and Olympic Airlines were all privately owned, but were considered to be flag carriers<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> as they were the "main national airline"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and often a sign of their country's presence abroad.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The heavily regulated aviation industry also meant aviation rights are often negotiated between governments, denying airlines access to an open market. These Bilateral Air Transport Agreements similar to the Bermuda I and Bermuda II agreements specify rights awardable only to locally registered airlines, forcing some governments to jump-start airlines to avoid being disadvantaged in the face of foreign competition. Some countries also establish flag carriers such as Israel's El Al<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> or Lebanon's Middle East Airlines<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> for nationalist reasons or to aid the country's economy, particularly in the area of tourism.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In many cases, governments would directly assist in the growth of their flag carriers typically through subsidies and other fiscal incentives. The establishment of competitors in the form of other locally registered airlines may be prohibited or heavily regulated to avoid direct competition.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Even where privately run airlines may be allowed to be established, the flag carriers may still be accorded priority, especially in the apportionment of aviation rights to local or international markets.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Near the end of the twentieth century, many of these airlines have been corporatized as a public company or a state-owned enterprise, while others have been completely privatized.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The aviation industry has also been gradually deregulated and liberalized,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> permitting greater freedoms of the air particularly in the United States and in the European Union with the signing of the Open Skies agreement.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> One of the features of such agreements is the right of a country to designate multiple airlines to serve international routes with the result that there is no single "flag carrier".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

List of flag-carrying airlines

The chart below lists airlines considered to be a "flag carrier", based on current or former state ownership or other verifiable designation as a national airline.

Country or Region	Airline	Details of current state ownership	Details of former state ownership
Template:AFG	Ariana Afghan Airlines<ref name="EU To Impose Ban On Afghan Planes" />	State-owned<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:ALB	Air Albania<ref name="New national carrier for Albania launched" />	Minority state-owned by Albcontrol (10%)<ref name="TopChannel">Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:DZA	Air Algérie<ref name="Air Algerie Eyeing African Tie-Ups" />	State-owned<ref name="Air Algerie to spend $762 million upgrading its fleet" />
Template:AGO	TAAG Angola Airlines<ref name="TAAG Angola Airways boosts capacity, justifying Angola's investment in airport infrastructure" />	Majority<ref name="TAAG Angola Airlines’ new 777-300ER to fly on Portugal route" />
Template:ARG	Aerolíneas Argentinas<ref name="Argentina: Aerolineas Argentinas faces a tough turnaround with government's new liberal mindset" />	State-owned<ref name="Argentina: Aerolineas Argentinas faces a tough turnaround with government's new liberal mindset" />
Template:ABW	Aruba Airlines<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	None
Template:AUS	Qantas<ref name="Brisbane named second Qantas 787-9 base" />	None	State-owned until 1992.<ref name="Accelerating Change in the 1990s" />
Template:AUT	Austrian Airlines<ref name="Austrian Airlines completes Embraer E195 deliveries" />	None – owned by Lufthansa	State-owned until 5 December 2008.<ref name="AUA-Verkauf besiegelt: Kranich soll Flügel verleihen" />
Template:AZE	Template:Nowrap<ref name="Azerbaijan Airlines steps up Saudi links" />	State-owned<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:BHS	Bahamasair<ref name="Bahamasair orders five ATR -600 aircraft" />	State-owned<ref name="Gov't considers Bahamasair withdrawal from local market" />
Template:BHR	Gulf Air<ref name="Bahrain's Gulf Air sets long-touted US flights in motion" />	State-owned<ref name="Gulf Air" />
Template:BGD	Biman Bangladesh Airlines<ref name="UK restores Bangladesh cargo link, with caveats" />	Public limited company	State-owned until 23 July 2007.
Template:BLR	Belavia<ref name="Belavia orders three Boeing 737-800s" />	State-owned<ref name="Belarus aims to privatise Belavia in 2013, with Russian carriers the most likely suitors" />
Template:BEL	Brussels Airlines<ref name="Brussels Airlines to buy seven Airbus A330ceos" />	None – owned by Lufthansa<ref name="Pilot strike forces Brussels Airlines to cancel 75% of flights" />	State-owned in its original incarnation (Template:Nowrap).
Template:BER	BermudAir<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	None
Template:BTN	Druk Air<ref name="Aircraft Briefs-20 April 2018" />	None
Template:BOL	Boliviana de Aviación<ref name="ROUTES: Air Nostrum still keen on Latin American growth post-Sol" />	State-owned<ref name="Boliviana de Aviacion set to expand as re-launch of Aerosur is unlikely due to government roadblocks" />
Template:BWA	Air Botswana<ref name="Air Botswana receives first of two Embraer E170s" />	State-owned<ref name="Air Botswana receives first of two Embraer E170s" />
Template:BRN	Royal Brunei Airlines<ref name="Royal Brunei Airlines takes another step forward as it becomes first 787 operator in Southeast Asia" />	State-owned<ref name="Royal Brunei Airlines takes another step forward as it becomes first 787 operator in Southeast Asia" />
Template:BGR	Bulgaria Air<ref name="Bulgaria Air strengthens its European network with new E-Jets" />	Minority state-owned (0.01%)<ref name="econ.bg" />
Template:BFA	Air Burkina	State-owned<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:CAM	Air Cambodia<ref name="Cambodia's national airline name change">Template:Cite news</ref>	Majority<ref name="Cambodia launches national carrier with Vietnam's help" />
Template:CMR	Camair-Co<ref name="Camair" />	State-owned<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:CAN	Air Canada<ref name="Aircraft News-31 July 2015" />	None	State-owned until privatization in 1989.<ref name="Air Canada Timeline" /> Minority (est. 6.4%) between April 2021 and December 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:CPV	Cabo Verde Airlines<ref name="Cape Verde's airline rebranch">Template:Cite news</ref>	Majority (90%)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:CYM	Cayman Airways	State-owned<ref name="Cayman Airways – Our History" />
Template:CHL	LATAM Chile<ref name="BOC Aviation to lease one new A320-200 to LAN" /><ref name="ATAM Kicks Off Regular Flights, Announces Johannesburg" />	None	State-owned until September 1989.<ref name="lancargo history" />
Template:CHN	Air China<ref name="Air China to take six more 777-300ERs" />	Majority (51.7%): 40.98% through CNAHC and 10.72% through CNACG<ref name="CCA-report-2017" />Template:Rp	State-owned until 2004.<ref name="Air China Transfers Ownership from State-owned to Shareholding" />
Template:COL	Avianca<ref name="Aircraft Briefs-4 Jan. 2017" />	None
Template:CRI	Avianca Costa Rica<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:HRV	Croatia Airlines<ref name="Croatia again seeks airline partner" />	Majority (98%)<ref name="Croatia Airlines: could its network attract a bidder?" />
Template:CUB	Cubana de Aviación<ref name="First direct Brazil flight to take off in July" />	State-owned<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:CYP	Cyprus Airways<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	None – 40% owned by Malta-based SJC Group<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:No wrap	Congo Airways<ref name="Congo Airways to make international debut in mid-4Q" />	State-owned<ref name="Congo Airways to make international debut in mid-4Q" />
Template:DNK	Template:Nowrap	Minority (~26%) state-owned by Ministry of Finance of Denmark<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	SAS was partly owned by the governments of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. SAS is the flag carrier for all three nations.<ref name="SAS aims to capture a larger share of the thriving Scandinavian leisure market" /><ref name="Sweden, Norway sell 7% of SAS Scandinavian Airlines">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="NorGov sell SAS 2018">Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:NOR
Template:SWE
Template:DJI	Air Djibouti<ref name="Africa’s Air Djibouti continues re-fleeting" />	Joint venture
Template:DOM	Arajet<ref name="AraJet, línea aérea comercial local marca el fin de las altas tarifas" />	None
Template:EGY	Egyptair<ref name="Egyptair plans further restructuring as losses mount. But outlook may brighten as Egypt stabilises" />	State-owned<ref name="Egyptair contracts Sabre to help implement transformation plan" />
Template:GNQ	CEIBA Intercontinental<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>	State-owned<ref name="Ethiopian Airlines sets eyes on CEIBA Intercontinental" />
Template:ERI	Eritrean AirlinesTemplate:Citation needed	State-owned
Template:SWZ	Eswatini Air<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:ETH	Ethiopian Airlines<ref name="Ethiopian Airlines finalizes deal for new Chad JV carrier" />	State-owned<ref name="Ethiopian Airlines Fact Sheet" />
Template:FRO	Atlantic Airways<ref name="Island carrier Atlantic Airways seeks new revenue stream" />
Template:FJI	Fiji Airways<ref name="Fiji Airways introduces additional Hong Kong route" />	Majority (51%)<ref name="Fiji Airways' new MD Stefan Pichler sets his sights on the next five years for the rebranded airline" />
Template:FIN	Finnair<ref name="Finnair brings in capacity support" />	Majority (55.8%)<ref name="Finnair Group" />
Template:FRA	Air France<ref name="Air France KLM Group CEO resigns; Spinetta and Van Wijk return" />	Minority state-ownership of Air France–KLM<ref name="AFKLM1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:PYF	Air Tahiti Nui<ref name="Air Tahiti Nui plans metal neutral alliance with Air France and partners as losses continue to mount" />	Majority<ref name="Air Tahiti Nui – Corporal Profile" />
Template:GEO	Georgian AirwaysTemplate:Citation needed	None
Template:DEU	Lufthansa<ref name="Lufthansa cuts back A380 order" />	None	State-owned until 1994;<ref name="Lufthansa privatization" /> remaining government shares were sold in 1997.<ref name="German Cabinet Backs Selling Lufthansa" />Template:PbMinority (20.05%) in the Lufthansa Group acquired in 2020<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> was sold in 2022.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:GRC	Aegean Airlines<ref name="Aegean 1Q losses widen as it invests in capacity" />		The Greek Government had minority shares of the airline due to a COVID bailout. The airline bought back government shares in 2023<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:GRL	Air Greenland<ref name="Airline News-1 May 2015" />	State-owned<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Previously owned by Scandinavian Airlines and Ministry of Finance of Denmark.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Flag	Aurigny<ref name="Hahn Air’s new partner Aurigny now available in 190 markets" />	State-owned<ref name="Guernsey States' ownership of Aurigny 'essential'" />
Template:HKG	Cathay Pacific<ref name="Shrinking Jumbos: Top Ten 747-400 fleets still in service" />	Minority (~29.98% through Air China)<ref>Template:Cite report</ref>	Hong Kong Government owned 6.8% of shares from 2020<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> to 2024.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>
Template:ISL	Icelandair<ref name="Icelandair faces indefinite strike action" />	None – owned by Icelandair Group<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:IND	Air India<ref name="Plane paint: Top 10 Indian liveries" />	None – owned by Tata Group (74.9%) and Singapore Airlines (25.1%)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	State-owned until November 2021.<ref name="Plane paint: Top 10 Indian liveries" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:IDN	Garuda Indonesia<ref name="Garuda Indonesia may be forced to change Amsterdam service" />	Majority (60.54%)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:IRN	Iran Air<ref name="Iran Air takes first Airbus widebody from major order" />	State-owned<ref name="iran-air-plans-share-sale-to-finance-growth-fleet-upgrade" />
Template:IRQ	Iraqi Airways<ref name="Iraqi Airways Expands Fleet As It Works To Lift EU Flight Ban" />
Template:IRL	Aer Lingus<ref name="Aer Lingus to bring back short-haul premium service with A321neo LR" /><ref name="=AER LINGUS GRP Share Price Chart" />	None – owned by IAG	State-owned until September 2006.<ref name="Irish Independent: Key dates in Aer Lingus history" />
Template:ISR	El Al<ref name="Aircraft & Engines-13 March 2015" />	Minority (~1.1%)<ref name="El Al IR 2013" />	State-owned until June 2004.
Template:ITA	ITA Airways<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Majority (59%)	Succeeded Alitalia starting from 15 October 2021<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:CIV	Air Côte d'Ivoire<ref name="Bombardier to sell eight Q400 NextGen aircraft to Palma Holding" />	State-owned<ref name="Air Cote d’Ivoire Plans Paris Launch Using A330neo Aircraft" />
Template:JAM	Caribbean Airlines<ref name="Republic Bank, Caribbean Airlines involved in Guyana’s jubilee celebration" /><ref name="Macquarie AirFinance Ltd press release" /><ref name="Status quo for Caribbean Airlines – chaos surrounds the would-be flag carrier of the region" />	Minority (16%)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:TTO		Majority (84%)<ref name="Caribbean Airlines: News/PR" />
Template:JPN	Japan Airlines<ref name="JAL reports 17.5% net profit drop on deferred taxes" />	None	State-owned until 1987.<ref name=histfu>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=hist80s>Template:Cite web</ref>
	All Nippon Airways<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	None
Template:JOR	Royal Jordanian<ref name="Middle Eastern carriers drop routes" />
Template:KAZ	Air Astana<ref name="Air Astana reports strong 1H traffic on 8% capacity increase" />	Majority (51%)<ref name="Air Astana eyes Paris and Prague services after EU lifts safety ban" />
Template:KEN	Kenya Airways<ref name="Kenya Airways adds flights to Livingstone, Zambia" />	Minority (29.8%)<ref name="Government now largest shareholder of Kenya Airways" />
Template:KIR	Air Kiribati<ref name="Air Kiribati to boost fleet, connectivity with Embraer E-Jets order" />
Template:KWT	Kuwait Airways<ref name="Kuwait Airways prepares for Amadeus switchover" />	State-owned<ref name="Kuwait Airways names new CEO" />
Template:KGZ	Asman Airlines<ref>https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/147622-kyrgyzstans-asman-airlines-eyes-a3201s-for-european-routes#:~:text=Manas%20International%20Airport%20(operator%20of,for%20the%20Central%20Asian%20country.</ref>	State-owned
Template:LAO	Lao Airlines<ref name="Lao Airlines plans route expansion" />	State-owned<ref name="Laos aviation market poised for more rapid growth after doubling in size in only 15 months" />
Template:LVA	airBaltic<ref name="Dubai Air Show: airBaltic takes lead on Bombardier CS300" />	Majority (80.05%)<ref name="New investor completes airBaltic buy-in" />
Template:LBN	Middle East Airlines<ref name="MEA advances Airbus deliveries schedule" />	Majority (99%)<ref name="MEA advances Airbus deliveries schedule" />
Template:LBY	Afriqiyah Airways<ref name="PICTURE: Afriqiyah Airways unveils new livery" />	State-owned<ref name="Libya’s economy recovers as airlines restore networks post-revolution" />
	Libyan Airlines<ref name="Libyan Airlines Takes Delivery of its First Airbus A330" />	State-owned<ref name="Libyan Airlines Takes Delivery of its First Airbus A330" />
Template:LUX	Luxair<ref name="Luxair to increase frequencies and destinations" />	Majority (73.86%)<ref name="About Luxair Group – Shareholders" />
Template:MAC	Air Macau<ref name="Air Macau takes encouraging steps to support the Macau market as resort tourism balloons" />	Minority (5%)
Template:MDG	Madagascar Airlines<ref name="Madagascar Airlines obtains own AOC, OL" />	Majority
Template:MWI	Malawian Airlines<ref name="NyasaTimes" />	Majority (51%)<ref name="NyasaTimes" />
Template:MYS	Malaysia Airlines<ref name="Malaysia Airlines pursues rapid expansion but yields and profits are under pressure" />	State-owned through Khazanah Nasional<ref name="Selected Portfolio of Companies" />
Template:MDV	Maldivian
Template:MLT	KM Malta Airlines<ref name="timesofmalta020823">Template:Cite news</ref>	Majority
Template:MHL	Air Marshall Islands<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:MRT	Mauritania Airlines<ref name="Mauritania Airlines finalizes Boeing 737-800 order" />	State-owned<ref name="Mauritania Airlines resumes B737 MAX 8 operations" />
Template:MUS	Air Mauritius<ref name="Mauritius bids for key Asia-Africa transit hub status" />
Template:MEX	Aeroméxico<ref name="Aeromexico set to put first MAX into service" />	None	State-owned until 2007.
Template:MNG	MIAT Mongolian Airlines<ref name="MIAT Mongolian Airlines to lease two Boeing 737 MAXs" />	State-owned<ref name="MIAT Mongolian Airlines" />
Template:MNE	Air Montenegro<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	State-owned<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:MAR	Royal Air Maroc<ref name="Royal Air Maroc, pilot union reach agreement to end dispute" />	State-owned<ref name="Royal Air Maroc sees fleet, hub growth ahead of oneworld membership" />
Template:MOZ	Template:Nowrap<ref name="Mozambique is latest state to face EU blacklist ban" />	State-owned<ref name="LAM and Boeing disagree on Mozambican airline’s debt" />
Template:Flag	Myanmar National Airlines<ref name="Myanmar Airlines continues fleet upgrade" />	State-owned<ref name="Myanmar Airways inks deal for up to 12 ATR 72-600s" />
Template:NRU	Nauru Airlines<ref name="Nauru Airlines begins new chapter with new brand & rapid growth despite world’s smallest home market" />	State-owned<ref name="Nauru Airlines begins new chapter with new brand & rapid growth despite world’s smallest home market" />
Template:NPL	Nepal Airlines<ref name="Nepal Airlines’ first A330 will expand international network" />	State-owned
Template:NLD	KLM<ref name="KLM expands long-haul network" />	Minority state-ownership of Air France–KLM<ref name="AFKLM1" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Flag	Aircalin	Majority (99%)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:NZL	Air New Zealand<ref name="Air New Zealand boosts network to replace Virgin Australia alliance" />	Majority (53%)<ref name="New Zealand government cuts stake in Air New Zealand to 53%" />	State-owned until 1989, partially re-nationalized in 2001.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="CompanyHistory">Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:PRK	Air Koryo<ref name="SOLDIERING ON: 10 veteran airliner types still in service" />	State-owned<ref name="Air Koryo" />
Template:OMN	Oman Air<ref name="Omani flag carrier names new CCO" />	Majority<ref name="Oman Air reports record passengers, but also record losses" />
Template:PAK	Template:Nowrap	State-owned<ref name="Pakistan International Airlines privatization plans delayed to 2016" />
Template:PAN	Copa Airlines<ref name="United, Avianca and Copa consider joint business agreement" />	None
Template:PNG	Air Niugini<ref name="Aircraft, Engine & Leasing Briefs-25 April 2018" />
Template:PAR	LATAM Paraguay<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:PER	LATAM Perú<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:PHL	Philippine Airlines<ref name="Philippine Airlines to open new LAX service" />		State-owned until 1992.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:POL	LOT Polish Airlines<ref name="First seats from Boeing partner LIFT enter service" />	State-owned<ref name="LOT cancels flights, fires workers as week-long crew strike continues" />
Template:PRT	TAP Air Portugal<ref name="TAP reports 11.3% traffic growth on African routes in 2018" />	Majority (72%)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:QAT	Qatar Airways<ref name="Qatar Airways to increase service to Iran" />	State-owned
Template:REU	Air Austral<ref name="Vanilla Islands carriers Air Seychelles and Air Austral make capacity cuts" />
Template:ROU	TAROM<ref name="Brussels blesses €1.9mn state aid for Romania’s Tarom" />	Majority (97.22%)<ref name="Brussels blesses €1.9mn state aid for Romania’s Tarom" />
Template:RUS	Aeroflot<ref name="Aeroflot commits to another 20 Superjets" />	Majority (51%)<ref name="Aeroflot profits up on regional airlines turnaround" />
Template:RWA	RwandAir<ref name="RwandAir" />	State-owned<ref name="Ethiopian Airlines, RwandAir eye strategic partnership">Template:Cite news </ref>
Template:WSM	Samoa Airways<ref name="Air of confidence about Samoa's new flag carrier" />	State-owned<ref name="Samoan government says state airline must be self-sufficient" />
Template:STP	STP Airways<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	None
Template:SAU	Saudia<ref name="Air Partner remarkets 15 Saudia Boeing 777-200ERs" />	Majority
Template:SEN	Air Senegal<ref name="Air Senegal signs for two ATR 72-600s" />
Template:SRB	Air Serbia<ref name="Air Serbia’s 2015 net profit up 44%" />	Majority (51%)<ref name="Air Serbia records first full-year profit in 2014" />
Template:SYC	Air Seychelles<ref name="Air Seychelles looks to ride Chinese boom & grow in tandem with part-owner Etihad – Australia next?" />	State-owned (100%)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:SLB	Solomon Airlines<ref name="Solomon Airlines to resume services following grounding" />	State-owned<ref name="Honiara forgives $2mn Solomons' debt" />
Template:SLE	Air Sierra Leone<ref name= "Sierra Leone unveils new privately owned airline" />
Template:SGP	Singapore Airlines<ref name="Singapore Airlines in $20 million government-led tourism push" />	Majority (54.5% through Temasek Holdings)<ref name="Reuters profit" />
Template:ZAF	South African Airways<ref name="South African Airways to receive financial support" />	State-owned<ref name="South African Airways clarifies recovery plan funding" />
Template:KOR	Korean Air<ref name="Cho: Korean Air deciding on new widebody orders" />	None<ref name="Member Airline Korean Air" /> – owned by Hanjin<ref name="HanjinOwnership">Template:Cite web</ref>	State-owned until 1969.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:ESP	Iberia<ref name="Iberia increases frequencies to six Latin American destinations" />	None – owned by IAG
Template:LKA	SriLankan Airlines<ref name="New SriLankan board to push through restructuring" />	State-owned<ref name="SriLankan Airlines buys back 43.6 pc stake from Emirates" />
Template:SDN	Sudan Airways	State-owned<ref name="Sudan Dreams Big With New Airports" />
Template:SUR	Surinam Airways<ref name="Putting Surinam on the map" />	State-owned<ref name="Suriname state oil company considers share offering" />
Template:CHE	Swiss International Air Lines<ref name="Lufthansa Group orders 15 A320neos for SWISS subsidiary" />	None – owned by Lufthansa<ref name="Lufthansa Group Corporate Structure" />
Template:Flag	Syrian Air<ref name="Syrian Arab Airlines" />	State-owned
Template:TWN	China Airlines<ref name="Taiwan’s China Airlines takes delivery of first Boeing 777-300ER" />	Majority<ref name="China Airlines Majority Ownership" />	State-owned until 1991. 51.28% held by non-profit Civic Aviation Development Foundation.<ref name="China Airlines ABOUT" />
Template:TLS	Aero Dili<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:TZA	Air Tanzania	State-owned
Template:THA	Thai Airways International<ref name="International airlines increase capacity, frequencies to Russia" />	Minority (47.86%)<ref name="Thai Airways submits bankruptcy request court says" />
Template:TUN	Tunisair<ref name="Tunisair’s sluggish attitude towards change makes it ill-prepared for Open Skies" />	Majority<ref name="Tunisair’s sluggish attitude towards change makes it ill-prepared for Open Skies" />
Template:TUR	Turkish Airlines<ref name="Turkish Airlines swings to net profit in 1Q" />	Minority (49%)
Template:TKM	Turkmenistan Airlines<ref name="Turkmenistan Airlines receives first Boeing 777-200LR" />	State-owned<ref name="Turkmenistan Airlines finalises B777-300ER purchase" />
Template:UGA	Uganda Airlines<ref name="Revived Uganda flag carrier orders CRJ900s, A330neos" />
Template:UKR	Template:Nowrap
Template:Nowrap	Etihad Airways<ref name="Etihad, Avianca Brasil ink new codeshare" />	State-owned by the Government of Abu Dhabi<ref name="Etihad Holds Roadshows To Finance Aircraft" /><ref name="Etihad Slightly Ahead in Plan to Return to Profitability" />
	Emirates<ref name="Etihad Suspends Flights To Damascus" />	State-owned by the Government of Dubai through the ICD.<ref name="Emirates and Dnata now under ICD" />
Template:GBR	British Airways<ref name="IAG reports strong 1Q as passenger revenues improve" />	None – owned by IAG	State-owned until 1987.<ref name="Profile: British Airways" />
Template:UZB	Uzbekistan Airways<ref name="Uzbekistan Airways takes first Boeing 787" />	Majority
Template:VEN	Conviasa<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:VNM	Vietnam Airlines<ref name="Vietnam Airlines continues to dominate international market" />	Majority (86.2%)<ref name="Vietnam Airlines continues to dominate international market" />
Template:YEM	Yemenia<ref name="Yemenia suspends services" />	Majority
Template:ZMB	Zambia Airways<ref name="Zambia Airways re-registers its B737" />
Template:ZWE	Air Zimbabwe<ref name="flyafrica.com and fastjet give Zimbabwe its first taste of LCCs with local start-up" />	State-owned<ref name="flyafrica.com and fastjet give Zimbabwe its first taste of LCCs with local start-up" />

See also

• List of charter airlines
• List of low-cost airlines

Notes

<references group="nb" />

External links

• International Air Transport Association
• Template:Cite web.