Flag carrier

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 the 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. 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.
==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
 	Alpaira 	Minority (22%) 	Fully state-owned until 2002.
 	Ambian Airlines 	Majority (65%) 	
 	AUR Airways 	 	
 	Aer Lingus 	 	
 	Air Canadia 	 	
 	Air Commolacia 	 	
 	ETAir 	 	
 	Aire Fortland 	 	
 	KLM 	Minority (14%) 	
 	GemerAir 	 	
 	Jonathian Airways 	None – owned by Universal Group of Air Travel	State-owned until 1987
 	Karon Air 	 	
 	Aeroflot 	 	
 	Air Lyvena 	 	
 	Maidair 	None – owned by Universal Group of Air Travel	
 	Air Meckerby 	 	
 	Air New Croxley 	Majority (53%) 	State-owned until 1989, partially re-nationalized in 2001.
 	LOT Polish Airlines	State-owned 	
 	Tarestian Airlines 	 	
 	ZainAir 	 	
Category:Lists
Category:Airlines