Flag carrier
A flag carrier is a transportation 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.[1] 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.[2][3]
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.[4] 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),[5] and any ship registered in the United States is known as a U.S. flag vessel.[6]
Background
The term "flag carrier" is a legacy of the time when countries established state-owned airline companies. Governments then took the lead due to the high capital costs of establishing and running airlines. 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. Most of these were considered to be flag carriers[7] as they were the "main national airline"[8] and often a sign of their country's presence abroad.[9][10]
The heavily regulated aviation industry also meant aviation rights are often negotiated between governments, denying airlines the right 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[11] or Lebanon's Middle East Airlines[12] for nationalist reasons, or to aid the country's economy, particularly in the area of tourism.[13]
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.[14] 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.[15]
In the last two decades, however, many of these airlines have since been corporatized as a public company or a state-owned enterprise, or completely privatized.[16] The aviation industry has also been gradually deregulated and liberalized,[17] permitting greater freedoms of the air particularly in the United States and in the European Union with the signing of the Open Skies agreement.[18] 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".[19]
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.
Notes
References
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Malaysia is the latest nation to see its flag carrier – a label that in times gone by indicated a government-owned airline, and one that embodied a country’s national identity – teeter on the brink.
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Kabul-based Safi is the country's No. 2 airline after national carrier Ariana Afghan Airlines.
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Algeria's national airline Air Algerie is considering tie-ups...
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- "TAAG Angola Airways boosts capacity, justifying Angola's investment in airport infrastructure". CAPA Centre for Aviation. 22 July 2013. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014.
The investment is beginning to pay dividends with flag carrier TAAG Angola Airlines increasing capacity by nearly 40% in the past year.
- Hofmann, Kurt (6 May 2016). "TAAG Angola Airlines' new 777-300ER to fly on Portugal route". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 6 May 2016.
The Angolan government is the majority shareholder in TAAG.
- "Argentina: Aerolineas Argentinas faces a tough turnaround with government's new liberal mindset". CAPA Centre for Aviation. 19 September 2016. Archived from the original on 22 September 2016.
At the same time, Argentina’s state-owned flag carrier Aerolineas Argentinas is attempting to transition to a more commercially minded airline after years of bleeding cash and being propped by the former Argentinian government.
- Dron, Alan (1 September 2017). "Brisbane named second Qantas 787-9 base". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017.
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- Blachly, Linda (17 June 2015). "Bahamasair orders five ATR -600 aircraft". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 17 June 2015.
Bahamasair, the national flag carrier of Bahamas, has placed a firm order for two 70- seat ATR 72-600s and three 50-seat ATR 42-600s.
- Dron, Alan (6 April 2018). "Gulf Air reveals new branding, prepares for first 787". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 13 April 2018.
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- Dron, Alan (23 February 2018). "UK restores Bangladesh cargo link, with caveats". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 2 March 2018.
- Borodina, Polina (26 June 2014). "Belavia orders three Boeing 737-800s". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 27 June 2014.
This is the first direct purchase of Boeing aircraft for the Belarus flag carrier.
- "Belarus aims to privatise Belavia in 2013, with Russian carriers the most likely suitors". Centre for Aviation. 10 May 2012. Archived from the original on 12 May 2012.
- Moores, Victoria (22 May 2017). "Brussels Airlines to buy seven Airbus A330ceos". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 22 May 2017.
Belgian flag carrier Brussels Airlines has decided to replace seven of its 10 Airbus A330s, but is sticking with A330ceos for its fleet renewal and long-haul expansion.
- Moores, Victoria (15 May 2018). "Pilot strike forces Brussels Airlines to cancel 75% of flights". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 16 May 2018.
Lufthansa took full control of Brussels Airlines through its parent SN Airholding in late 2016 and replaced top management Feb. 5, as the group revamps the airline to be more closely integrated with Lufthansa Group’s Eurowings low-fare division.
- Blachly, Linda (20 April 2018). "Aircraft Briefs-20 April 2018". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 24 April 2018.
- Clark, Oliver (24 April 2016). "ROUTES: Air Nostrum still keen on Latin American growth post-Sol". Kraków: Flightglobal. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016.
BoA Regional, a new joint venture in Paraguay with Bolivia's national carrier Boliviana de Aviacion, is "going well" and the airline is busy "developing new routes and working on new traffic rights to Brazil", says Oliver.
- "Boliviana de Aviacion set to expand as re-launch of Aerosur is unlikely due to government roadblocks". Centre for Aviation. 30 June 2012. Archived from the original on 9 July 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
Even though BoA now has a monopoly on domestic trunk routes, it is unlikely the government owned carrier will abuse its new dominant position.
- Dron, Alan (3 January 2019). "Air Botswana receives first of two Embraer E170s". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 8 January 2019.
- "Royal Brunei Airlines takes another step forward as it becomes first 787 operator in Southeast Asia". Centre for Aviation. 19 June 2013. Archived from the original on 24 June 2013.
- "Bulgaria Air strengthens its European network with new E-Jets, but cost reduction is also essential". 4 June 2012. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
As the national carrier of Bulgaria, Bulgaria Air is based at Sofia Airport and operates scheduled services, ad hoc charter services and business jet transportation.
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- "Cambodia poised for more double-digit growth as Cambodia Angkor Air expands and Qatar Airways enters". Centre for Aviation. 18 January 2013. Archived from the original on 22 January 2013.
- "Cambodia launches national carrier with Vietnam's help". Manila Bulletin. Reuters. 28 July 2009. Archived from the original on 3 April 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
- "New Cameroon national carrier Camair-Co fails to reach first year targets, but continues to grow". Centre for Aviation. 30 April 2012. Archived from the original on 2 May 2012.
- Blachly, Linda (31 July 2015). "Aircraft News-31 July 2015". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 1 August 2015.
The Canadian flag carrier took delivery of its first Dreamliner in May 2014 and will receive a total of 29 new 787-9s by 2019, in addition to eight 787-8 aircraft already in operation.
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- Dron, Alan (8 August 2018). "New Chadian national carrier set to launch operations". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 10 August 2018.
- Moores, Victoria (29 August 2018). "Ethiopian Airlines finalizes deal for new Chad JV carrier". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 13 September 2018.
- "BOC Aviation to lease one new A320-200 to LAN". Air Transport World. 3 December 2010. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
This deal marks the second time that BOC has worked with Chile’s flag carrier.
- "LATAM Kicks Off Regular Flights, Announces Johannesburg". Airways News. 5 May 2016. Archived from the original on 9 May 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
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- Kaminski-Morrow, David (7 January 2016). "Air China to take six more 777-300ERs". Flightglobal. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
Chinese flag-carrier Air China has reached an agreement to acquire six Boeing 777-300ERs.
- "Air China Interim Report 2017" (PDF). Air China. 15 September 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 October 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
- Blachly, Linda (4 January 2017). "Aircraft Briefs-4 Jan. 2017". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 7 January 2017.
Boeing delivered the 500th 787 Dreamliner, a 787-8 to Colombia flag carrier Avianca, during the week of Dec. 22, 2016.
- Dron, Alan (30 April 2018). "Croatia again seeks airline partner". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 30 April 2018.
This is the third time in the past five years that the small central European state has tried to find a way of divesting itself of a controlling interest in the national carrier.
- "Croatia Airlines: could its network attract a bidder?". Centre for Aviation. 29 August 2013. Archived from the original on 18 September 2013.
- "First direct Brazil flight to take off in July". Cuba Standard. 29 June 2013. Archived from the original on 18 January 2018.
Flag carrier Cubana de Aviación is resuming direct flights to Brazil with a Havana-São Paulo route on July 10, the tourism ministry said in a press release.
- Hofmann, Kurt (9 October 2017). "Leisure carrier Travel Service is CSA Czech Airlines new owner". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017.
- "Congo Airways to make international debut in mid-4Q". ch-aviation GmbH. 5 August 2016. Archived from the original on 3 September 2016.
Effective November 1, the state-owned national carrier of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) plans to operate a multiple-weekly service between Kinshasa N'Djili and Johannesburg O.R. Tambo, South Africa using A320-200 equipment.
- "Norska staten har sålt sitt innehav i SAS" [the Norwegian Government has sold its holdings in SAS] (in Swedish). TT. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
- "Africa's Air Djibouti continues re-fleeting". Air Transport World. 11 August 2016. Archived from the original on 13 August 2016.
African flag carrier Air Djibouti has taken delivery of its first Boeing 737 as it prepares to launch commercial operations.
- "EgyptAir plans further restructuring as losses mount. But outlook may brighten as Egypt stabilises". Centre for Aviation. 15 June 2014. Archived from the original on 24 June 2014.
- "EgyptAir contracts Sabre to help implement transformation plan". Air Transport World. 19 December 2014. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014.
The state-owned carrier is initiating a major transformation strategy to increase revenues, develop new revenue streams by June 2016 and improve efficiencies.
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- Dron, Alan (6 April 2018). "Nordica 1Q passenger traffic up 17%, forecasts strong growth". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 7 April 2018.
- Hofmann, Kurt (4 April 2016). "Nordica launches services from Tallinn to Vienna, Berlin". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 11 April 2016.
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- Dron, Alan (30 March 2017). "Island carrier Atlantic Airways seeks new revenue stream". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 31 March 2017.
Faroese national carrier Atlantic Airways anticipates a move into the ACMI market as it attempts to offset the effect of new competition on its primary route.
- Torr, Jeremy (16 September 2015). "Fiji Airways introduces additional Hong Kong route". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 17 September 2015.
Flag carrier Fiji Airways will increase flight frequencies on its Fiji (Nadi International)-Hong Kong International route from Oct. 25.
- "Fiji Airways' new MD Stefan Pichler sets his sights on the next five years for the rebranded airline". Centre for Aviation. 19 September 2013. Archived from the original on 1 November 2013.
- Dron, Alan (29 March 2018). "Finnair brings in capacity support". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 7 April 2018.
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- Cathy Buyck (18 October 2011). "Air France KLM Group CEO resigns; Spinetta and Van Wijk return". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 16 June 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
The two men masterminded Europe’s first merger between two flag carriers in 2004.
- "Air Tahiti Nui plans metal neutral alliance with Air France and partners as losses continue to mount". Centre for Aviation. 31 May 2013. Archived from the original on 17 June 2013.
But most of all the flag carrier will need to get its financial situation under control.
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- Kaminski-Morrow, David (4 October 2013). "Lufthansa cuts back A380 order". Flightglobal. London. Archived from the original on 29 June 2014.
German flag-carrier Lufthansa appears to have cancelled orders for three Airbus A380s.
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- Dron, Alan (27 May 2016). "Aegean 1Q losses widen as it invests in capacity". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 28 May 2016.
Greek flag carrier Aegean Airlines recorded a net loss of €21.5 million ($24 million) for 1Q 2016, widened from a €8.3 million net loss for the year-ago quarter.
- Blachly, Linda (1 May 2015). "Airline News-1 May 2015". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 1 May 2015.
Air Greenland has joined the European Regions Airline Association (ERA), bringing the number of airlines in membership to 53. The flag carrier of Greenland is the third airline to join ERA this year.
- "Hahn Air's new partner Aurigny now available in 190 markets" (Press release). Hahn Air. 8 October 2014. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014.
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- Chabrol, Denis (16 January 2016). "Republic Bank, Caribbean Airlines involved in Guyana's jubilee celebration". demerarawaves.com.
- Thisdell, Dan (6 February 2015). "Shrinking Jumbos: Top Ten 747-400 fleets still in service". Flightglobal. London. Archived from the original on 7 February 2015.
For the Hong Kong flag carrier, retiring 747-400s are being replaced largely by 777-300ERs.
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- Dron, Alan (6 June 2014). "Icelandair faces indefinite strike action". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014.
The threat of a potentially lengthy strike hung over Iceland’s national airline, Icelandair, on Friday after the company’s mechanics announced plans for industrial action.
- Thisdell, Dan (14 August 2015). "Plane paint: Top 10 Indian liveries". London: Flightglobal. Archived from the original on 15 August 2015.
With 102 aircraft in service, the state-owned flag carrier is still a big beast, but with just 11 on order it looks set to slip down the fleet size table.
- Torr, Jeremy (2 June 2015). "Garuda Indonesia may be forced to change Amsterdam service". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 5 June 2015.
Indonesian flag carrier Garuda Indonesia may be forced to add a stopover to its recently introduced Jakarta-Amsterdam nonstop service as a result of runway certification problems at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta.
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- Dron, Alan (10 March 2017). "Iran Air takes first Airbus widebody from major order". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 10 March 2017.
The aircraft was handed over to the Iranian flag carrier at Airbus’s final assembly line site at Toulouse, France on March 10.
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Israeli flag carrier El Al received its 50th aircraft, a Next-Generation 737-900ER.
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Bombardier also said Ivory Coast's national airline, Air Cote d'Ivoire, has agreed to buy two Q400 NextGen aircraft.
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- Schofield, Adrian (27 April 2018). "JAL reports 17.5% net profit drop on deferred taxes". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 5 May 2018.
The Japan flag carrier expects its net profit to slip to ¥110 billion in the fiscal year through March 2019.
- Dron, Alan (28 July 2014). "Middle Eastern carriers drop routes". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 29 July 2014.
- Hofmann, Kurt (28 August 2018). "Air Astana reports strong 1H traffic on 8% capacity increase". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 13 September 2018.
- Hofmann, Kurt (11 April 2014). "Air Astana eyes Paris and Prague services after EU lifts safety ban". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 11 April 2014.
Air Astana is a joint venture between Kazakhstan’s national wealth fund Samruk Kazyna and BAE Systems, with respective shares of 51% and 49%.
- Rivers, Martin (12 March 2013). "Kenya Airways adds flights to Livingstone, Zambia". London: Flightglobal. Archived from the original on 24 March 2013.
Livingstone will become the Kenyan flag carrier's second Zambian destination, alongside capital city Lusaka.
- Schofield, Adrian (19 December 2018). "Air Kiribati to boost fleet, connectivity with Embraer E-Jets order". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019.
- Dron, Alan (7 April 2017). "Kuwait Airways prepares for Amadeus switchover". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 8 April 2017.
Kuwaiti national carrier Kuwait Airways is to complete switching over its booking, ticketing and reservations system to the Amadeus Altéa Suite of products within the next six months.
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The state-owned carrier, which had been in the doldrums for much of the 1990s and 2000s, is undergoing a major re-fleeting exercise.
- Torr, Jeremy (9 January 2015). "Lao Airlines plans route expansion". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 10 January 2015.
Lao Airlines, the national carrier of Laos, will add a new route to its 19-destination network across the landlocked Southeast Asian country.
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- Dron, Alan (8 November 2015). "Dubai Air Show: airBaltic takes lead on Bombardier CS300". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 10 November 2015.
Latvian national carrier airBaltic will be the launch customer for the CS300 version of Bombardier’s CSeries, the manufacturer announced at the Dubai Air Show Nov. 8.
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- Rivers, Martin (20 December 2012). "PICTURE: Afriqiyah Airways unveils new livery". London: Flightglobal. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
Libyan flag carrier Afriqiyah Airways unveiled its new livery at an event in the Rixos Al Nasr Hotel, Tripoli on 19 December.
- "Libya's economy recovers as airlines restore networks post-revolution". Centre for Aviation. 10 December 2012. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013.
The country’s two state-owned airlines, Libyan Air and Afriqiyah Airlines, which both suffered extensive damage to aircraft, resumed operations late 2011 and are gradually reestablishing their pre-war networks as aircraft return to service.
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Libya’s national carrier and state-owned Libyan Airlines has taken delivery of its first Airbus A330-200, a 259-seater plane that will be used on the carrier's longer-haul routes.
- Dron, Alan (3 August 2018). "Luxair to increase frequencies and destinations". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018.
- "Air Macau takes encouraging steps to support the Macau market as "resort" tourism balloons". Centre for Aviation. 3 January 2013. Archived from the original on 6 January 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
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- Mkandawire, Lucky (19 February 2014). "Passengers express pride as Malawian Airlines inaugurates J'burg flight". Nyasa Times. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
- "Malaysia Airlines pursues rapid expansion but yields and profits are under pressure". Centre for Aviation. 21 November 2013. Archived from the original on 31 December 2013.
The flag carrier hopes it can eventually improve yields across both cabins, leveraging the improvements in its product and new membership in oneworld.
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- Blachly, Linda (9 August 2016). "Mauritania Airlines finalizes Boeing 737-800 order". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 13 August 2016.
The Mauritanian flag carrier operates a fleet that includes one Boeing 737-700NG and two 737-500s.
- Torr, Jeremy (27 April 2016). "Mauritius bids for key Asia-Africa transit hub status". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 30 April 2016.
In March 2016, the island’s flag carrier Air Mauritius said it would move its Southeast Asian hub from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Singapore’s Changi.
- Broderick, Sean (7 March 2018). "Aeromexico set to put first MAX into service". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 7 March 2018.
- Dron, Alan (3 August 2018). "Government puts Air Moldova up for sale". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 5 August 2018.
- Blachly, Linda (3 April 2017). "MIAT Mongolian Airlines to lease two Boeing 737 MAXs". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 13 April 2017.
The Mongolian flag carrier is expected to operate the 737 MAX aircraft on existing routes to South Korea, China, Japan, Russia, Germany and future new routes.
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- Hofmann, Kurt (20 August 2018). "Royal Air Maroc, pilot union reach agreement to end dispute". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 20 August 2018.
- Dron, Alan (1 February 2019). "Royal Air Maroc sees fleet, hub growth ahead of oneworld membership". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 4 February 2019.
- Kaminski-Morrow, David (19 April 2011). "Mozambique is latest state to face EU blacklist ban". London: Flightglobal. Archived from the original on 28 July 2013.
All carriers from Mozambique, including flag-carrier LAM, are being placed on the European Union's blacklist of airlines, in addition to a pair of Boeing 767s operating for Air Madagascar.
- Torr, Jeremy (5 August 2015). "Myanmar Airlines continues fleet upgrade". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 7 August 2015.
Myanmar flag carrier Myanmar National Airlines has taken delivery of the first of six ATR 72-600s as part of a $296 million order for the regional turboprop aircraft.
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- Ihuhua, Corry (24 February 2012). "Air Namibia aims to soar higher". Windhoek: Namibian Sun. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
Air Namibia intends to further spread its wings by acquiring more modern planes and expanding its routes, in view of restoring its credibility as the country’s flagship air carrier.
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- "Nauru Airlines begins new chapter with new brand & rapid growth despite world's smallest home market". CAPA Centre for Aviation. Archived from the original on 10 September 2014.
- Hofmann, Kurt (13 April 2018). "Nepal Airlines' first A330 will expand international network". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 19 April 2018.
- Hofmann, Kurt (13 May 2016). "KLM expands long-haul network". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 14 May 2016.
The Dutch flag carrier also added a twice-weekly Amsterdam-Salt Lake City service on May 5, becoming 3X-weekly from July 4.
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- Schofield, Adrian (9 April 2018). "Air New Zealand boosts network to replace Virgin Australia alliance". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 30 April 2018.
The New Zealand flag carrier will launch two new routes to Australia and will add frequencies elsewhere, boosting capacity by 15% in the Australia-New Zealand market.
- Paylor, Anne (25 November 2013). "New Zealand government cuts stake in Air New Zealand to 53%". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 9 December 2013.
- Morrison, Murdo (28 November 2014). "SOLDIERING ON: 10 veteran airliner types still in service". Flightglobal. London. Flight International. Archived from the original on 30 November 2014.
If sightings of the Ilyushin Il-18, a Cold War era Russian large turboprop that first flew in 1957 and had its heyday in the 1960s, are fairly scarce these days – with 11 examples in service – ticking off the one example flown by Air Koryo must rank high on any planespotter’s wishlist. North Korean travel agencies offer trips to enthusiasts to fly on aircraft belonging to the flag-carrier, described by one unkind journalist as the “world’s only one-star airline”.
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- Dron, Alan (10 April 2018). "Omani flag carrier names new CCO". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 13 April 2018.
- "Oman Air reports record passengers, but also record losses". Centre for Aviation. 19 April 2012. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
Since the Oman Government took majority ownership in early 2007, the airline has lost a staggering OMR295 million (USD766.9 million).
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According to the Pakistan flag carrier, the A330s will be used primarily for a 6X-weekly premier service to London Heathrow, which is being launched Aug. 14.
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- Nensel, Mark (9 August 2018). "United, Avianca and Copa consider joint business agreement". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 30 August 2018.
- Blachly, Linda (25 April 2018). "Aircraft, Engine & Leasing Briefs-25 April 2018". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 29 April 2018.
Avmax leased one Bombardier Dash 8-Q315 to Air Niugini, the National Airline of Papua New Guinea.
- Torr, Jeremy (11 August 2015). "Philippine Airlines to open new LAX service". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 15 August 2015.
Filipino flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) plans to launch Cebu-Los Angeles (LAX) service from March 2016.
- Moores, Victoria (20 December 2017). "First seats from Boeing partner LIFT enter service". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 2 January 2018.
LOT Polish Airlines has become the launch customer for aircraft seating newcomer LIFT by EnCore, with the company’s first product entering service on the Polish flag carrier’s Boeing 737 MAXs.
- Hofmann, Kurt (25 October 2018). "LOT cancels flights, fires workers as week-long crew strike continues". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 12 November 2018.
- Hofmann, Kurt (4 February 2019). "TAP reports 11.3% traffic growth on African routes in 2018". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 5 February 2019.
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- Dron, Alan (29 November 2018). "Qatar Airways to increase service to Iran". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 20 December 2018.
- "International treaties not being implemented – Cabinet". New Era Newspaper Namibia. 10 September 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
Equatorial Congo Airlines SA, operating as ECAir, is headquartered in Brazzaville and currently operates as the flag carrier of Congo.
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...La Reunion’s national carrier, Air Austral, is planning to take a similar approach to some destinations in its long-haul network.
- Hofmann, Kurt (6 July 2018). "Romania's Tarom issues RFP to dry lease 13 regional jets". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 13 July 2018.
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- Kaminski-Morrow, David (15 January 2015). "Aeroflot commits to another 20 Superjets". Flightglobal. London. Archived from the original on 15 January 2015.
Russian flag-carrier Aeroflot has agreed to take another 20 Sukhoi Superjet 100s, under a tentative agreement with the airframer.
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- Hofmann, Kurt (7 March 2016). "Ethiopian Airlines, RwandAir eye strategic partnership". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016.
- Ah-Hi, Elizabeth (21 November 2017). "Air of confidence about Samoa's new flag carrier". Samoa Observer.
- Schofield, Adrian (14 November 2017). "Samoan government says state airline must be self-sufficient". Air Transport World.
The government of Samoa said the South Pacific country's state-owned airline must remain financially self-sufficient, as it relaunches international services. Samoa Airways began scheduled services with a flight to Auckland, New Zealand, on Nov. 14, and also will offer service to Australia.
- Hofmann, Kurt (26 July 2017). "Air Partner remarkets 15 Saudia Boeing 777-200ERs". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 27 July 2017.
- Blachly, Linda (20 June 2017). "Air Senegal signs for two ATR 72-600s". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 24 June 2017.
Air Senegal, the new Senegalese national airline, has signed a firm contract for two ATR 72-600s at the Paris Air Show.
- Dron, Alan (5 May 2016). "Air Serbia's 2015 net profit up 44%". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 6 May 2016.
The Serbia flag carrier said the full-year results were achieved on the back of "significant growth" in passenger numbers, which increased 11% to 2.55 million year-over-year (YOY).
- Dron, Alan (3 March 2015). "Air Serbia records first full-year profit in 2014". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 3 March 2015.
The government of Serbia retains a 51% majority stake.
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- Torr, Jeremy (9 June 2016). "Solomon Airlines to resume services following grounding". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 12 June 2016.
Pacific island flag carrier Solomon Airlines will resume services following a grounding of its fleet over a payment dispute with its main funding partner, the Solomon Islands government.
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- "Singapore Airlines in $20 million government-led tourism push". Air Transport World. 2 July 2015. Archived from the original on 1 August 2015.
Singapore flag carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) plans to participate in a $20 million government-led initiative to promote inbound travel to Singapore.
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State-owned carrier Sudan Airways, known for its delays, has lost out to new carriers offering better service.
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The country’s flag carrier is Surinam Airways, a small airline with ambitions to carve out a profitable niche connecting this former Dutch colony with the world.
- Blachly, Linda (17 September 2014). "Lufthansa Group orders 15 A320neos for SWISS subsidiary". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 17 September 2014.
SWISS, the national airline of Switzerland, has a fleet of A319s, A320s, A321s, A330s and A340s.
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Taiwanese flag carrier China Airlines has taken delivery of its first of 10 Boeing 777-300ERs.
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The Thailand flag carrier ceased Moscow operations in March 2015 because of weak demand.
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- "Status quo for Caribbean Airlines – chaos surrounds the would-be flag carrier of the region". Centre for Aviation. 21 April 2014. Archived from the original on 21 April 2014.
The board of beleaguered carrier Caribbean Airlines, the national airline of Trinidad and Tobago, has reportedly undertaken an evaluation of the airline’s routes as its long-haul operation to London continues to underperform.
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As a majority state-owned airline in North Africa, Tunisair has retained most of the flag carrier privileges that are cemented in the 1944 Chicago Convention, but those protectionist practices run counter to the present realities of passengers wanting choice and low fares.
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The Istanbul-based flag carrier flies to 45 domestic and 226 international destinations in 109 countries and operates 274 aircraft, comprising 62 widebody, 202 narrowbody and 10 cargo aircraft.
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The flag carrier of Turkmenistan operates scheduled flights on 15 routes in 11 European and Asian countries including Frankfurt, London, Moscow, Beijing and Istanbul.
- Nensel, Mark (18 July 2018). "Revived Uganda flag carrier orders CRJ900s, A330neos". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 18 July 2018.
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While a relatively large country (both in land mass and population – it has about 45 million people), the Ukrainian market (like many other markets in Eastern Europe) cannot easily sustain two large flag carriers, particularly as low-cost competition continues to increase.
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The website of the UAE's other flag carrier, Emirates, says flights to Damascus remain operational.
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UK flag carrier British Airways (BA) continued to be the most profitable unit, with a 9.9% operating margin, followed by Iberia (1%).
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In May the airline reported a sharp rise in profits and revealed that it was making more money from each customer than it has done since it was privatised in 1987.
- Montag-Girmes, Polina (31 August 2016). "Uzbekistan Airways takes first Boeing 787". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 3 September 2016.
The flag carrier of the Republic of Uzbekistan has trained 18 pilots and two pilot-instructors for the new aircraft type.
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The Yemen national carrier said it was suspending flight operations "until further notice due to the prevalent unfavorable operational situation and restriction imposed on Yemen airspace".
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Government-owned flag carrier Air Zimbabwe currently operates only two international routes although it has been trying for some time to resume more international services.
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