flag carrier
noun[C]
ukus(alsoflag airline)TRANSPORT
anairlinethat is or wasownedby agovernment, often with thenameof thecountryinitsname:
AirIndia, the country'sflagcarrier
The AustraliangovernmentraisedA$1.45billionfrom thesaleofits75%stakein thenationalflagcarrier.