A flag carrier refers to a transportation company, such as an airline or shipping company, that is locally registered in a given country. They may be state-run, state-owned or state-designated companies or organisations with preferential rights or privileges accorded by the government. Flag carriers may be known as such due to maritime law requiring all aircraft or ships to display the state flag of the country of their registry. A flag carrier (if it is an airline) may also be known as a national airline or a national carrier, although this can have different legal meanings in some countries. The United States is the only country in which the official flag carrier tradition is illegal, because of strict antitrust laws, but it has five major international airlines; American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Continental Airlines, and US Airways; they function in a similar manner and size as other countries' flag carriers.

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