Airline call sign
Most airlines employ a distinctive and internationally-recognised call-sign that is normally spoken during airband radio transmissions as a prefix to the flight number. The flight number is normally that published in their public timetable and appearing on the arrivals and departure screens in the airport terminals served by that particular flight. In cases of emergency, the airline name and flight number, rather than the individual aircraft's registration, are normally mentioned by the main news media.
Some call-signs are less obviously associated with a particular airline than others. This might be for historic reasons, or possibly to avoid confusion with a call-sign used by an established airline. Some of these less obvious examples are listed below. Not all of these operators of aircraft are civilian and some only operate ad-hoc chartered flights rather than scheduled flights; some operate both types of flight. Some cargo airlines specialise in freight transport, an emphasis that may be reflected in the company's name.
Clearly companies' names will change over time, normally due to bankruptcies or mergers occurring. Country names can also change over time and new call-signs may be agreed in substitution for traditional ones. Please make the alterations required if you are certain of their authenticity. The country shown alongside an airline's call-sign is that wherein most of its aircraft are believed to be registered, this may not always be the same as the country in which the firm is officially incorporated or registered. There are many other airlines in business whose radio call signs are more obviously derived from the trading name.
See also Air Traffic Control[?]
Aircraft Operator Call Sign Country
Dantex Aalborg Airtaxi Denmark Aces ACES - Aerolineas Centrales De Colombia Colombia Action Air Action Airlines USA Aer Lingus Shamrock Eire Aeris Francecharter France Aero Aviation Centre Sunrise Canada Aero Services Bird Express France Aerolineas Argentinas Argentina Argentina Aeromar Airlines Trans Aeromar Mexico Aeropostale Aeroposta France African International Airways Flycargo Swaziland African Safari Airways Zebra Kenya Air 2000 Jetset UK Air Alsie Mermaid Denmark Air BC Aircoach Canada Air Caledonie Aircal New Caledonia Air Caledonie International Aircalin New Caledonia Air Care Drake UK Air Cargo America Pegasus USA Air Cargo Carriers Night Cargo USA Air Cat Eurocat Switzerland Air Center West Birdie Denmark Air Chaparral Maverick USA Air Charter Services Zaire Charter Democratic Republic Of Congo Air Continental Night Air USA Air Europa Express Air Regional Spain Air Foyle Broadspeed UK Air Foyle Cutlass UK Air Foyle Foyle UK Air Foyle Kris UK Air Foyle/Sunjet Skyman UK Air Holland Orange Netherlands Air Jamaica Juliet Mike Jamaica Air Liberia November Lima Liberia Air Madagascar Madair Malagasy Republic Air Mauritius Mike Romeo Mauritania Air Medical Airmed UK Air Mongol / Miat Mongol Air Mongolia Air Nelson Mot Air New Zealand Air Newark Newair USA Air Niagra Express Databird Canada Air Nippon Kasushika Gaisha Ank Air Japan Air Outre Mer/Minerve Frenchlines France Air Panama Internacional Arpa Panama Air Portugal Tap Portugal Air Schefferville Scheff Canada Air Senegal Sonatra Air Senegal Senegal Air Shot Byte UK Air South Airways Shawnee USA Air Tchad Hotel Tango Tchad Air Traffic Gmbh Snoopy Germany Air Vanuatu Air Van Vanuatu Air VIA Varna Air Bulgaria Air Wales Red Dragon UK Air World Envoy UK Airborne Express/ABX Air Abex USA Airtran Airways Citrus USA Airways International Airnat USA AJ Air Services Ajay UK AJT Air International Turjet Russia AMC Air Charter Bavaria Germany America West Airlines Cactus USA American Airlines (turboprops) Eagle Flight USA American Trans-Air Amtram USA Arrow Air[?] Big A USA Atlantic Airways Faroeline Norway/Faroe Islands Atlantic Coast Airlines Blue Ridge USA Atlantic Island Air Triangle Iceland Atlantic Southeast Airlines Candler USA Atlas Air Giant USA Aurigny Air Services Ayline UK Austrian Airlines Austrian Austria Aviaexpress Avex Hungary Aviair Caribou Canada Avial Rushair Russia BAC Express Airlines Rapex UK Bali Air Biar Indonesia Bangladesh Biman Airlines Bangladesh Bangladesh Baron Aviation Services Show Me USA Benair Scoop Denmark/Norway Bmi Baby or Midland UK Bo-S-Aire Airlines Bowman Air USA Bond Air Services Ugabond UK Braathens Helikopter Bee Copter Norway Brasil Central Lineas Aereos Regional Central Brazil Britannia Airways GmbH Windsor Germany Britannia Airways Sweden Bluescan Sweden British Aerospace - Filton Sapphire UK British Aerospace - Warton Tarnish UK British Airways Speedbird or Shuttle UK British European Jersey UK British International Helicopters Lion UK British Mediterranean Airways Bee Med UK British Regional Airlines British UK British West Indian Airways West Indian Trinidad And Tobago Britten Norman Vectis UK Buffalo Airways Buffalo Air USA Business Air Granite UK Business Aviation Services Coastrider The Netherlands Business Express Biz Ex USA Cameroon Airlines Cam-Air Cameroon Canada 3000 Airlines Elite Canada Canadian Forces Canforce Canada Cape Air Cair USA Capital Air Service Capair USA Capital Aviation Prestige UK Caribbean Airways Caribjet Barbados Centennial Airlines Wyo Air USA Centre Airlines Dutch Valley USA Centreline Air Clifton UK Channel Express Channex UK Chicago Express Airlines Windy City USA China Airlines Dynasty Taiwan China United Airlines Lianhang China City Air(Chester) Air Chester UK Cityjet City Ireland Eire Civil Aviation Authority Minair UK Cologne Commercial Flight Tomcat Germany Continental Express Jetlink USA Continental Micronesia Air Mike Guam Cooper Aerial Survey Surveyor UK Corporate Air Air Spur USA Corse Mediterreanee Corsemed France Coval Air Odyssey Canada Dairo Air Services - Das Air Cargo Dairair Uganda Danish Air Transport Dantrans Denmark Deutsche BA Speedway Germany Dragonair Loongair China Dravidian Aviation Firestone UK Druk Air Bhutan Bhutan Dynamic Air Dynamite The Netherlands Eagle Air Service Swiss Eagle Switzerland Eagle Aviation Gypsy Not Known East-West European Silver Wing Bulgaria Eastern Air Executive Eastex UK Eastern Airways Eastflight UK Eastern Flying Service Speedair Canada easyJet Switzerland Topswiss Switzerland Edinburgh Air Charter Saltire UK EFS Flug Service Gmbh Flightservice Germany Euro Exec Express Echo Express Sweden Euro Flight Sweden Eurowest Sweden Euroair Transport Alexandra Not Known Eurobelgian Airlines Belstar Belgium European Air Taxi Neat UK European Air Transport / Dhl Eurotrans Belgium European Aviation Air Charter Eurocharter UK Euroscot Express Scotair UK Executive Aviation Services Ltd Jester UK Executive Jet Aviation Execjet Switzerland Express Airlines Flagship USA Express One International Longhorn USA Express One International Spartus USA Farner Air Transport Blue Strip Hungary Fast Air Carrier[?]/Tnt Faster Chile Faucett Peru Charlie Foxtrot Peru Federal Express FedEx US Finnaviation Bluebird Finland Finnish Air Force Finforce Finland Flight Precision Cobham UK Flugdienst Fehlhaber Witchcraft Germany Flugfelag Austurlands Austurflug Iceland Flugfelag Nordurlands Norland Iceland FR Aviation Broadway UK FR Aviation Rushton UK French Air Force Foxtrot Mike France French Air Force - Transport Sq. Cotam France Frontier Airlines Frontier Flight USA Garuda Indonesia Airways Indonesia Indonesia GB Airways Geebee UK German Air Rescue Ambulance Germany Germania Joker Germany Go Fly Goflight UK Gojet Aviation Gojet UK GP Express Airlines Regional Express USA Great Lakes Aviation Lakes Air USA Great Wall Airlines Changahang China Greenlandair Glace Denmark GT Aviation Geetee Avia UK Gulfstream International Airlines Gulf Flight USA Hapag Lloyd Express Excellence Germany Heliair Heli-Bulgaria Bulgaria Helikopter Service Helibus Norway Helikopterservice Euro Air Swedcopter Sweden Hokkaido International Airlines Air Do Japan Hummingbird Island Airways Hum Maldives IMP Aviation Service Bluenose Canada Indian Airlines Indair India Indonesia Air Transport Intra Indonesia Industrie Air Charter Induschart France Inter-Island Air Ugly Van USA Irish Air Transport Irish Trans Eire Island Air Alakai USA Isles Of Scilly Skybus Scillonia UK Jamahiriya Libyan Arab Airlines Libair Libya Japan Air Commuter Commuter Japan Japan Airlines Japanair Japan Japan Asia Airways Asia Japan Jetair Flight Academy Speedfox Denmark KD Air Corporation Kay Dee Canada Kitty Hawk International Arthur USA Knight Air Knightway UK Kuwait Airways[?] Kuwaiti Kuwait Labrador Airways Lab Air Canada Langtry Flying Group Proflight UK Lansa - Lineas Aereas Nacionales Uniform Lima Honduras Lapa[?] - Lineas Aereas Privadas Argentinas Lapa Argentina Leeds Central Helicopters Pathfinder UK Legend Airlines Legendary USA Liberia World Airlines Hotel Yankee Liberia Libyan Arab Air Cargo Libac Libya Lineas Aereas Canarias LCN Spain Lineas Aereas Suramericanas Suramericano Colombia Linjeflyg Swedline Sweden Lionair Lair Luxembourg London Executive Aviation Lonnex UK Lte Lufttransport Espana Funjet Spain Lufttransport Unternehmen LTU Germany Luxaviation Red Lion Luxembourg Macedonian Airlines Macair Greece Macedonian Airlines Makavio Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Maersk Air Bluestar UK Magadan Airlines Mavial Russia Majestic Airlines Magic Air USA Manx Airlines British UK Markair Interalas USA May Air Xpress Beechnut USA McAlpine Helicopters Macline UK Meridiana Merair Italy Merlin Express Package Air USA Mesa Airlines Air Shuttle USA Metropolitan Police Special UK Miami Air International Biscayne USA Middle East Airlines Cedarjet Lebanon Midway Airlines Jet Express USA Midwest Airlines Skyship USA Million Air Mill Air USA MNG Cargo Airlines Black Sea Turkey MSR Flug Charter Skyrider Germany MTM Aviation Aviatrans Germany Myanmar Airways Unionair Myanmar My Travel Kestrel UK My Travel Lite Mylite UK Nantucket Airlines Ack Air USA National Airlines Red Rock Not known National Airlines Natchair South Africa Nawa Air Transport Supernawa Hungary New York Helicopter Metrocopter USA Newair Airservice Newdan Denmark Newfoundland And Labrador Air Transport Nalair Canada Nigel Mansell Flight Red UK Norsk Air Norseman Norway North British Airlines Teesair UK North Coast Aviation Air Ohio USA Northamptonshire School Of Flying Norton UK Northern Air Cargo Yukon USA Northern Air Service Nortax USA Northern Executive Aviation Neatax UK Novair / Nova Airlines Navigator Sweden Nurnbergen Flug Flamingo Germany Nwt Air/Air C'Da Connector Territorial Canada Oman Air Oryx United Arab Emirates Ostfriesische Lufttransport Ostfries Germany Pan American World Airways Clipper USA Panorama Air Tours Lani USA Pegasus Airlines Sunturk Turkey PLM Dollar Group Osprey UK Polo Aviation Chukka UK Polynesian Airways Polyair USA Prince Edward Air Comet Canada Pro Air Prohawk USA Propheter Aviation Air Prop USA Provincial Airlines Starlite Canada Qinetiq, Boscombe Down Gauntlet UK Quick Air Dagobert Germany Ravenair Raven UK Raytheon Corporate Jets Manta UK Rex Aviation Tranzair New Zealand Romavia Aeromavia Romania Ross Aviation Energy USA Royal Air Force Rafair UK Royal Air Force - 33 Group Vortex UK Royal Air Force Air Support Command Ascot UK Royal Air Maroc Maroc Air Morocco Royal Airlines Roy Canada Royal Australian Air Force Aussie Australia Royal Flight Kitty/Kittyhawk UK Royal Flight Helicopters (UK) Rainbow or Sparrowhawk UK Royal Navy Navy UK Royal New Zealand Air Force Kiwi New Zealand Royal Swedish Air Force Swedic Sweden Ryanair Budget Jet Eire Saber Cargo Airlines Freighter USA Safair Cargo South Africa Sata International Air Acores Portugal Scot Airways Suckling UK Servair Swissbird Switzerland Sichuan Airlines Chuabhang China Sierra National Airlines Selair Sierra Leone Skyfreighters Skybus USA Skyservice Skytour Canada Skyways Regional Ex-Airborne Of Sweden Midwing Sweden Skywings Skyfox Switzerland SMAC - Sabang Merauke Air Charter Samer Indonesia SMB Stage Line Stage USA SN Brussels Airlines S-Tail Belgium South African Airways Springbok South Africa South East Police Aviation Unit Police UK South West Air Saint Clair Canada Southwest Air Lines Nansei Japan Spanair Sunwing Spain Spanish Air Force Air Mil Spain Spirit Airlines Spirit Wings USA Sports Air Travel West Coast USA Springdale Air Service Spring Air USA Star Air White Star Denmark Star Europe Airlines Starway France Stratford Airways Festival City Canada Suburban Air Freight Sub Air USA Sun Country Airlines Sunshine USA Sun-Air Sunscan Denmark Sunaire Sunbird USA Sunways Intersun Havacilik Intersun Turkey Sunwest Airlines Sunflight Canada Superior Aviation Spend Air USA Surrey And Kent Flying Club Surrey UK Swedewings Wings Sweden Swiftair Swift Spain Swiss Air Ambulance Swiss Ambulance Switzerland Systems International Airways Florida USA TACV-Transportes Aereos De Cabo Verde Transverde Cape Verde Islands Teddy Air Teddys Norway THY - Turkish Airlines Turkair Turkey Thomas Cook Airlines Thomas Cook Belgium and UK Thyssen Krupp Ag Blueline Germany Titan Airways Zap UK TNT International Av'n Nitro UK Tower Air Tee Air USA Trans Air Link Sky Truck USA Trans Continental Airlines Transcon USA Trans European Airlines Eurolines Greece Trans Mediterranean Airways Tango Lima Lebanon Trans States Airlines Water Ski USA Trans World Express Redbird USA Transaero Airlines Tango Oscar Russia Transporte E Trabalho Aero Transaero Mozambique Transportes Aereos Neuquen Taneu Argentina Tropic Air Tropiser Antigua Tulip Air Charter Farnair Europe The Netherlands Tunis Air Tunair Tunisia UK Royal Flight Kitty or Kittyhawk UK United Air Services Unitair Zimbabwe United Parcel Service UPS USA Universal Airlines Airgo USA US Airways US Air or US Air Shuttle USA US Check Airlines Star Check USA USA Jet Airways Jet USA USA Uzbekistan Airways Uzbek Uzbekistan Vanguard Airlines Vanguard Air USA Viking Express Titan Air USA Virgin Atlantic Airways Virair USA Virgin Express France Ladybird France Virgin Express Ireland Green Isle Eire Virgin Islands Seaplane Shuttle Waterbird USA VLM Rubens Belgium Volga-Dnepr Volga Russia Waglisla Air Sea Hawk Canada Warbelows Air Ventures Ventaire USA Warwickshire Aerocentre Airtax UK West Air Sweden Air Sweden Sweden West Coast Air Gambia Coastal The Gambia Western Pacific Air Service Westpac Solomon Islands Williams Racing Grandprix UK Woodgate Air Services Woodair UK Worldways Canada Canada Canada Young Flying Service Young Air USA