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.

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 flights. Some cargo airlines specialise in freight transport, an emphasis that may be reflected in the company's name.

Here follows a list of airline calls signs. Defunct carriers are listed in italics.

Aircraft Operator	Call Sign	Country
ACES - Aerolineas Centrales de Colombia	Aces	Colombia
Action Air	Action Airlines	USA
Adria Airways	Adria	Slovenia
Aer Lingus	Shamrock	Eire
Aeris	Francecharter	France
Aero Aviation Centre	Sunrise	Canada
Aero Services	Bird Express	France
Aeroflot	Aeroflot	Russia
Aerolíneas Argentinas	Argentina	Argentina
Aeromar Airlines	Trans Aeromar	Mexico
Aeroméxico	Aeromexico	Mexico
Aeropostal	Aeropostal	Venezuela
Aeropostale	Aeroposte	France
African International Airways	Flycargo	Swaziland
African Safari Airways	Zebra	Kenya
Air Algerie	Air Algerie	Algeria
Air Alsie	Mermaid	Denmark
Air Baltic	Airbaltic	Latvia
Air Caledonie	Aircal	New Caledonia
Air Caledonie International	Aircalin	New Caledonia
Air Canada	Air Canada	Canada
Air Canada Jazz	Jazz	Canada
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 China	Air China	China (PRC)
Air Continental	Night Air	USA
Air Europa Express	Air Regional	Spain
Air Florida	Palm	Miami, Florida
Air Foyle	Broadspeed Cutlass Foyle Kris	UK
Air Foyle/Sunjet	Skyman	UK
Air France	Air France or Airfrans	France
Air Greenland	Greenland or Greenlandair	Denmark (Greenland)
Air Holland	Orange	Netherlands
Air India	Air India	India
Air Jamaica	Jamaica	Jamaica
Air Liberia	November Lima	Liberia
Air Madagascar	Madair	Malagasy Republic
Air Mauritius	Mike Romeo	Mauritius
Air Medical	Airmed	UK
Air Midwest	Air Midwest	USA
Air Mongol / Miat	Mongol Air	Mongolia
Air Nelson	Mot Air	New Zealand
Air Newark	Newair	USA
Air New Zealand	New Zealand	New Zealand
Air Niagra Express	Databird	Canada
Air Nippon Kabushiki Gaisha	Ank Air	Japan
Air Outre Mer/Minerve	Frenchlines	France
Air Pacific	Pacific	Fiji
Air Panama Internacional	Arpa	Panama
Air Schefferville	Scheff	Canada
Air Senegal	Sonatra Air Senegal	Senegal
Air Shot	Byte	UK
Air South Airways	Shawnee	USA
Air Tahoma	Tahoma	USA
Air Tchad	Hotel Tango	Chad
Air Traffic Gmbh	Snoopy	Germany
Air Vanuatu	Air Van	Vanuatu
Air VIA	Varna Air	Bulgaria
Air Wales	Red Dragon	UK
Air Wisconsin	Air Wisconsin	USA
Air World	Envoy	UK
Airborne Express/ABX Air	Abex	USA
AirNet	Star Check	USA
AirTran Airways	Citrus	USA
Airways International	Airnat	USA
AJ Air Services	Ajay	UK
AJT Air International	Turjet	Russia
Alaska Airlines	Alaska	USA
Alitalia	Alitalia	Italy
Allied Air	Bambi	Nigeria
All Nippon Airways	All Nippon	Japan
Aloha Airlines	Aloha	USA
AMC Air Charter	Bavaria	Germany
America West Airlines	Cactus	USA
American Airlines (AMR)	American	USA
American Eagle (AMR regional)	Eagle Flight	USA
American Trans Air (ATA)	Amtran	USA
Ameriflight	Amflight	USA
Arrow Air	Big A	USA
Asiana Airlines	Asiana	South Korea
A-Star (DHL's USA Operation)	DHL	USA
Astraeus	Flystar	UK
Atlantic Airways	Faroeline	Denmark (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
Avianca	Avianca	Columbia
BAC Express Airlines	Rapex	UK
Bali Air	Biar	Indonesia
Baron Aviation Services	Show Me	USA
Benair	Scoop	Denmark/Norway
Big Sky Airlines	Big Sky	USA
Biman Bangladesh Airlines	Bangladesh	Bangladesh
BMED (formerly British Mediterranean Airways)	Bee Med	UK
BMI British Midland	Midland	UK
BMIbaby	Baby	UK
BOAC	Speedbird	UK
Bo-S-Aire Airlines	Bowman Air	USA
Bond Air Services	Ugabond	UK
Braathens	Braathens	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 or Flybe	Jersey	UK
British International Helicopters	Lion	UK
British Regional Airlines	British	UK
British West Indian Airways	West Indian	Trinidad And Tobago
Britten Norman	Vectis	UK
Buffalo Airways	Buffalo Air	USA
Bulgaria Air	Balkan Tour	Bulgaria
Business Air	Granite	UK
Business Aviation Services	Coastrider	The Netherlands
Business Express	Biz Ex	USA
Cameroon Airlines	Cam-Air	Cameroon
Canadian Forces	Canforce	Canada
Canadian North	Empress	Canada
Cape Air	Cair	USA
Capital Air Service	Capair	USA
Capital Aviation	Prestige	UK
Capital Cargo International	Cappy	USA
Caribbean Airways	Caribjet	Barbados
Cathay Pacific Airways	Cathay	Hong Kong
Centennial Airlines	Wyo Air	USA
Centre Airlines	Dutch Valley	USA
Centreline Air	Clifton	UK
Channel Express	Channex	UK
Chautauqua Airlines	Chautauqua	USA
Chicago Express Airlines	Windy City	USA
China Airlines	Dynasty	Taiwan (ROC)
China United Airlines	Lianhang	China (PRC)
City Air(Chester)	Air Chester	UK
Cityjet	City Ireland	Eire
Civil Aviation Authority	Minair	UK
Colgan Air	Colgan	USA
Cologne Commercial Flight	Tomcat	Germany
Comair	Comair	USA
Commutair	Commutair	USA
Continental Airlines	Continental	USA
Continental Express (Express Jet)	Jet Link	USA
Continental Micronesia	Air Mike	Guam, USA
Cooper Aerial Survey	Surveyor	UK
Corporate Air	Air Spur	USA
Corse Mediterreanee	Corsemed	France
Coval Air	Odyssey	Canada
Croatia Airlines	Croatia	Croatia
CSA Czech Airlines	CSA Lines	Czech Republic
Dairo Air Services - Das Air Cargo	Dairair	Uganda
Danish Air Transport	Dantrans	Denmark
Dantex	Aalborg Airtaxi	Denmark
DBA or Deutsche BA	Speedway	Germany
Delta Air Lines	Delta	USA
Dragonair	Loongair	China (PRC)
Dravidian Aviation	Firestone	UK
Druk Air	Royal Bhutan	Bhutan
Duo Airways	Flyduo	UK
Dynamic Air	Dynamite	The Netherlands
Eagle Air Service	Swiss Eagle	Switzerland
Eagle Aviation	Gypsy	UK
East African	Duma	Kenya
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
Egyptair	Egyptair	Egypt
El Al	El Al	Israel
Emirates	Emirates	United Arab Emirates
Empire Airlines	Empire	USA
Estonian Air	Estonian	Estonia
Euro Exec Express	Echo Express	Sweden
Euro Flight Sweden	Eurowest	Sweden
Euroair Transport	Euroair	UK
Eurobelgian Airlines	Belstar	Belgium
European Air Express	Starwing	Germany
European Air Taxi	Neat	UK
European Air Transport / Dhl	Eurotrans	Belgium
European Aviation Air Charter	Eurocharter	UK
Euroscot Express	Scotair	UK
EVA Air	Eva	Taiwan (ROC)
Executive Aviation Services Ltd	Jester	UK
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	USA
Finnair	Finnair	Finland
Finnaviation	Bluebird	Finland
Finnish Air Force	Finforce	Finland
First Choice Airways	Jetset	UK
Flex Jet	Flex Jet	USA
Flight Options	Options	USA
Flight Precision	Cobham	UK
Flugdienst Fehlhaber	Witchcraft	Germany
Flugfelag Austurlands	Austurflug	Iceland
Flugfelag Nordurlands	Norland	Iceland
Flybe or British European	Jersey	UK
FR Aviation	Broadway	UK
FR Aviation	Rushton	UK
Freedom Airlines	Freedom Air	USA
French Air Force	Foxtrot Mike	France
French Air Force - Transport Sq.	Cotam	France
Frontier Airlines	Frontier or Frontier Flight	USA
Garuda Indonesia Airways	Indonesia	Indonesia
GB Airways	GeeBee Airways	UK
German Air Rescue	Ambulance	Germany
Germania Fluggesellschaft	Germania	Germany
Germanwings	German Wings	Germany
Gojet Aviation	Gojet	UK
GP Express Airlines	Regional Express	USA
Great Lakes Airlines	Lakes Air	USA
Great Wall Airlines	Changahang	China (PRC)
GT Aviation	Geetee Avia	UK
Gulf Air	Gulf Air	Bahrain, Oman, United Arab Emirates
Gulfstream International Airlines	Gulf Flight	USA
Hapag Lloyd Express	Excellence	Germany
Harmony Airways	Harmony	Canada
Hawaiian Airlines	Hawaiian	USA
Heliair	Heli-Bulgaria	Bulgaria
Helikopter Service	Helibus	Norway
Helikopterservice Euro Air	Swedcopter	Sweden
Hokkaido International Airlines	Air Do	Japan
Horizon Air	Horizon	USA
Hummingbird Island Airways	Hum	Maldives
Iberia Airlines	Iberia	Spain
Icelandair	Iceair	Iceland
IMP Aviation Service	Bluenose	Canada
Independence Air	Independence Air	USA
Indian Airlines	Indair	India
Indonesia Air Transport	Intra	Indonesia
Industrie Air Charter	Induschart	France
Inter-Island Air	Ugly Van	USA
Iran Air	Iranair	Iran
Irish Air Transport	Irish Trans	Eire
Island Air	Moku	USA
Isles Of Scilly Skybus	Scillonia	UK
Japan Air Commuter	Commuter	Japan
Japan Airlines	Japanair	Japan
Japan Asia Airways	Asia	Japan
Jat Airways	JAT	Serbia and Montenegro
Jet2.com	Channex	UK
Jetair Flight Academy	Speedfox	Denmark
JetBlue Airways	Jetblue	USA
KD Air Corporation	Kay Dee	Canada
Kitty Hawk International	Kitty Hawk	USA
KLM	KLM	Netherlands
Knight Air	Knightway	UK
Korean Air	Koreanair	South Korea
Kuwait Airways	Kuwaiti	Kuwait
Labrador Airways	Lab Air	Canada
Lacsa	LACSA	Costa Rica
LAN	LAN	Chile
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
Libyan Arab Airlines	Libair	Libya
Lineas Aereas Canarias	LCN	Spain
Lineas Aereas Suramericanas	Suramericano	Colombia
Linjeflyg	Swedline	Sweden
Lionair	Lair	Luxembourg
Lithuanian Airlines	Lithuania Air	Lithuania
London Air Ambulance	Helimed	UK
London Executive Aviation	Lonnex	UK
LOT Polish Airlines	Pollot	Poland
Lte Lufttransport Espana	Funjet	Spain
LTU International	LTU	Germany
Lufthansa	Lufthansa	Germany
Luxair	Luxair	Luxembourg
Luxaviation	Red Lion	Luxembourg
Macedonian Airlines	Macair	Greece
Macedonian Airlines	Makavio	Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Maersk Air -> Duo Airways	Bluestar	UK
Magadan Airlines	Mavial	Russia
Majestic Airlines	Magic Air	USA
Malaysia Airlines	Malaysian	Malaysia
Malév Hungarian Airlines	Malev	Hungary
Manx Airlines	Manx	UK
Markair	Interalas	USA
Martinair	Martinair	Netherlands
Martinaire	Martex	USA
May Air Xpress	Beechnut	USA
McAlpine Helicopters	Macline	UK
Meridiana	Merair	Italy
Merlin Express	Package Air	USA
Mesa Airlines	Air Shuttle	USA
Mesaba Airlines	Mesaba	USA
Mexicana	Mexicana	Mexico
Miami Air International	Biscayne	USA
Middle East Airlines	Cedar Jet	Lebanon
Midway Airlines	Midway	USA
Midwest Airlines	Midex	USA
Midwest Connect	SkywayEx	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	Natchair	South Africa
National Airlines	National (1st airline in Miami) Red Rock (2nd airline in Las Vegas)	USA
Nawa Air Transport	Supernawa	Hungary
Net Jets	Skyshare	Portugal
Net Jets	Execjet	USA
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
Northwest Airlines	Northwest	USA
Norwegian Air Shuttle	Nor Shuttle	Norway
Novair / Nova Airlines	Navigator	Sweden
Nurnbergen Flug	Flamingo	Germany
Nwt Air/Air C'Da Connector	Territorial	Canada
Olympic Airlines	Olympic	Greece
Oman Air	Oman Air	Oman
Ostfriesische Lufttransport	Ostfries	Germany
Pacific Wings	Tsunami	USA
Pakistan International Airlines	Pakistan	Pakistan
Pan Am Clipper Connection (Pan Am III)	Clipper Express	USA
Pan American World Airways	Clipper	USA
Panorama Air Tours	Lani	USA
PSA Airlines	Blue Streak	USA
Pegasus Airlines	Sunturk	Turkey
Philippine Airlines	Philippine	Philippines
Pinnacle Airlines	Flagship	USA
PLM Dollar Group	Osprey	UK
Polar Air Cargo	Polar	USA
Polo Aviation	Chukka	UK
Polynesian Airlines	Polynesian	Samoa
Polynesian Air-ways	Polyair	USA
Prince Edward Air	Comet	Canada
Pro Air	Prohawk	USA
Propheter Aviation	Air Prop	USA
Provincial Airlines	Starlite	Canada
Qantas	Qantas	Australia
Qatar Airways	Qatari	Qatar
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	Royalair Maroc	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 Jordanian	Jordanian	Jordan
Royal Navy	Navy	UK
Royal New Zealand Air Force	Kiwi	New Zealand
Royal Swedish Air Force	Swedic	Sweden
Saber Cargo Airlines	Freighter	USA
Safair	Cargo	South Africa
SAS-Scandinavian Airlines System	Scandinavian	Denmark, Norway, Sweden
SATA International	Air Azores	Portugal
Saudi Arabian Airlines	Saudia	Saudi Arabia
Scot Airways	Suckling	UK
Servair	Swissbird	Switzerland
Sichuan Airlines	Chuabhang	China (PRC)
Sierra National Airlines	Selair	Sierra Leone
Singapore Airlines	Singapore	Singapore
Skyfreighters	Skybus	USA
Skyservice	Skytour	Canada
Skyways Regional Ex-Airborne Of Sweden	Midwing	Sweden
SkyWest	Skywest	USA
Skywings	Skyfox	Switzerland
SMAC - Sabang Merauke Air Charter	Samer	Indonesia
SMB Stage Line	Stage	USA
SN Brussels Airlines	Estail or S-Tail (spoken Esstail)	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
Southwest Airlines	Southwest	USA
Spanair	Spanair	Spain
Spanish Air Force	Air Mil	Spain
Spirit Airlines	Spirit Wings	USA
Sports Air Travel	West Coast	USA
Springdale Air Service	Spring Air	USA
SriLankan Airlines	Srilankan	Sri Lanka
Star Air	White Star	Denmark
Star Europe Airlines	Starway	France
Stratford Airways	Festival City	Canada
Suburban Air Freight	Sub Air	USA
Sun Country Airlines	Sun Country	USA
Sun-Air	Sunscan	Denmark
Sunaire	Sunbird	USA
Sundt Air	Midnight	Norway
Sunways Intersun Havacilik	Intersun	Turkey
Sunwest Airlines	Sunflight	Canada
Superior Aviation	Spend Air	USA
Surrey And Kent Flying Club	Surrey	UK
Swedewings	Wings	Sweden
Swedline Express	Starline	Sweden
Swiftair	Swift	Spain
Swiss Air Ambulance	Swiss Ambulance	Switzerland
Swiss International Air Lines	Swiss	Switzerland
Syrian Arab Airlines	Syrianair	Syria
Systems International Airways	Florida	USA
Taca International Airlines	Taca	El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras
TACV-Transportes Aereos De Cabo Verde	Transverde	Cape Verde
TAP Air Portugal	Air Portugal	Portugal
Teddy Air	Teddys	Norway
Thai Airways International	Thai	Thailand
Thomas Cook Airlines	Globe	Belgium and UK
Thyssen Krupp Ag	Blueline	Germany
Titan Airways	Zap	UK
TNT Airways	Quality	Belgium
TNT International Av'n	Nitro	UK
Tower Air	Tee Air	USA
TradeWinds Airlines	Tradewinds	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	Waterski	USA
Trans World Airlines	TWA	USA
Trans World Express	Redbird	USA
Transaero Airlines	Tango Oscar	Russia
Transavia	Transavia	Netherlands
Transporte E Trabalho Aero	Transaero	Mozambique
Transportes Aereos Neuquen	Taneu	Argentina
Tropic Air	Tropiser	Belize
Tulip Air Charter	Farnair Europe	The Netherlands
Tunis Air	Tunair	Tunisia
Turkish Airlines	Turkair	Turkey
UK Royal Flight	Kitty or Kittyhawk	UK
United Airlines	United	USA
United Air Services	Unitair	Zimbabwe
United Parcel Service	UPS	USA
Universal Airlines	Airgo	USA
US Airways	US Air	USA
US Check Airlines	Star Check	USA
USA Jet Airways	Jet USA	USA
Uzbekistan Airways	Uzbek	Uzbekistan
ValuJet	Critter	USA
Vanguard Airlines	Vanguard Air	USA
Varig	Varig	Brazil
Viking Express	Titan Air	USA
Virgin Atlantic	Virgin	UK
Virgin Air	Virair	USA
Virgin Express France	Ladybird	France
Virgin Islands Seaplane Shuttle	Waterbird	USA
VLM Airlines	Rubens	Belgium
Volga-Dnepr	Volga	Russia
Waglisla Air	Sea Hawk	Canada
Warbelows Air Ventures	Ventaire	USA
Warwickshire Aerocentre	Airtax	UK
West Air	Pac Valley	USA
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
Yemenia-Yemen Airways	Yemeni	Yemen
Young Flying Service	Young Air	USA

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, which 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 aircraft spotting and air traffic control.

External links

• US FAA regulation on aircraft identification
• ICAO ATC Callsigns, a searchable database of current and historic callsigns
• Callsigns and Logos - Aerosite Database